Ultra portable Solar Generators:
What you need to look for when buying these small solar generators:
- MPPT Charge Controller: This will speed up charging by 30% when charging from a solar panel
- Large Solar Charge Rate: I have been testing the generators below with various solar panels and I find that they can be over-paneled. That means you can connect them to 200-300 watts of solar panel power, no problem (even though the manual states 50 watts. But this does not apply to bigger generators like the inergy apex or the goalzeros). The reason for this is that the charge circuit has current limiting because it's designed to be used with a solar panel OR a car alternator. So the current is limited, but not the voltage. So that means that the solar panels you connect to them need to be 12v, and need to be connected in parallel. You need to make sure that the solar input voltage is not exceeded, unless you will damage your generator. But the limiting factor is not how much power your solar panels produce, but the charge rate limit of the generators. Below I have posted the max watt charge rate I have measured with my watt meters. They can vary quite a bit, and having a fast charge rate is EXTREMELY important for these small batteries. The faster, the better.
- Regulated 12v Output: This is actually hard to find! The Jackery is the only one on the market with a regulated 12v output (13.2 volts). This will allow your 12v appliances to run at peak performance. In my testing, most other generators 12v output was only 10-12v, which means that most 12v were only able to output 50% of the power!
- QC 3.0 USB Ports: In my tests, these will charge your phone/tablets much faster!
- Built-in LED Flashlight: Not required, but I find them to be extremely useful
- MC4 Adapter Cable Included: Many of them are bought separately, which are usually overpriced
- Pure Sine Wave Inverter: Practically every small generator on the market has this, so you are set!
How to safely over-panel a micro solar generator
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If you wish to over panel your solar generator, make sure to connect the 12v solar panels in parallel so that the input voltage limit is not exceeded. You can safely connect 100-300w of solar panels to any of the generators listed on this page (minus the goal zero and renogy).
Also understand that you can only over panel when the input port is designed to be used with an alternator and solar panel. If you try to do this with a goal zero or inergy apex, it will destroy it. All of the other solar generators, including jackery/rockpals/expert power are able to handle over paneling. I have had all the generators shown below connected to 200w of power for weeks without problem. Just make sure that the open circuit voltage of your panel does not exceed the input voltage limit of your generator, and you will be good to go.
Just make sure that the open circuit voltage is less than the max input voltage of the solar generator, and that the port can be connected to either a alternator or a solar panel, and you can safely do it.
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Rockpals 300w: Best performing micro generator I have tested
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Best generator I have tested. 2x the charge rate of most of the generators below for its size. It also has a MPPT charge controller, so in my tests I get 40-50% more power in low light conditions. This thing is awesome! It works great with 200 watts of 12v solar panels connected in parallel
Battery Size: 280 watt hours
Max Solar Charge Rate: 83 watts
Max Solar Voltage Input: 22 volts
Inverter Output: 300 watts
Weight: 7.3 pounds
Click here to purchase
Battery Size: 280 watt hours
Max Solar Charge Rate: 83 watts
Max Solar Voltage Input: 22 volts
Inverter Output: 300 watts
Weight: 7.3 pounds
Click here to purchase
Expertpower 200w: Best value Micro generator
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Super tiny generator that destroys the other generators below for the price. Great charge rate and output. Usually can be bought for under $200!
Battery Size: 193 watt hours
Max Solar Charge Rate: 60 watts
Max Solar Voltage Input: 30 volts
Inverter Output: 200 watts
Weight: 4.41 pounds
Click here to purchase
Battery Size: 193 watt hours
Max Solar Charge Rate: 60 watts
Max Solar Voltage Input: 30 volts
Inverter Output: 200 watts
Weight: 4.41 pounds
Click here to purchase
The Jackery 240 Explorer
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Battery Size: 240 watt hours
Max Solar Charge Rate: 43 watts
Max Solar Voltage Input: 30 volts
Inverter Output: 200 watts
Weight: 6.6 pounds
Click here to purchase
50 watt solar panel that works well with the jackery: Click Here
Video on how to connect your own 50 watt solar panel to jackery: Click Here
Max Solar Charge Rate: 43 watts
Max Solar Voltage Input: 30 volts
Inverter Output: 200 watts
Weight: 6.6 pounds
Click here to purchase
50 watt solar panel that works well with the jackery: Click Here
Video on how to connect your own 50 watt solar panel to jackery: Click Here
Power Expert Alpha 3000
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Battery Size: 270 watt hours
Max Solar Charge Rate: 60 watts
Max Solar Voltage Input: 24 volts
Inverter Output: 300 watts Pure Sine Wave
Weight: 7.28 pounds
Click Here for a cheap price
Max Solar Charge Rate: 60 watts
Max Solar Voltage Input: 24 volts
Inverter Output: 300 watts Pure Sine Wave
Weight: 7.28 pounds
Click Here for a cheap price
Jackery 440wh
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Battery Size: 440 watt hours
Max Solar Charge Rate: 80 watts
Max Solar Voltage Input: 30 volts
Inverter Output: 300 watts
Outputs: 1x AC, 3x USB, 1x Cigarette lighter, 2x dc plugs
Weight: 12.57 pounds
Click here to purchase
100 watt solar panel that works well with the jackery. Just strip the wires of the solar panel, and crimp them to the power plug wires of the jackery. Make sure the polarity is correct! This solar panel is 4x cheaper than the jackery solar panel, but you will need to wire it up yourself: Click Here
Max Solar Charge Rate: 80 watts
Max Solar Voltage Input: 30 volts
Inverter Output: 300 watts
Outputs: 1x AC, 3x USB, 1x Cigarette lighter, 2x dc plugs
Weight: 12.57 pounds
Click here to purchase
100 watt solar panel that works well with the jackery. Just strip the wires of the solar panel, and crimp them to the power plug wires of the jackery. Make sure the polarity is correct! This solar panel is 4x cheaper than the jackery solar panel, but you will need to wire it up yourself: Click Here
Expert Power 400
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Battery Size: 440 watt hours
Max Solar Charge Rate: 60+ watts
Inverter Output: 300 watts Pure Sine Wave
Click Here for a Cheap Price
Max Solar Charge Rate: 60+ watts
Inverter Output: 300 watts Pure Sine Wave
Click Here for a Cheap Price
Other Small Solar Generators:
GoalZero Lithium 400
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Battery Size: 428 watt hours
Max Solar Input (not charge rate. it is PWM, so pretty slow charging): 120 watt solar panel
Inverter Output: 300 watts Pure Sine Wave
Outputs: 2x AC, 3x USB 3.0, 1x Cigarette lighter
Weight: 16 pounds
This solar generator cannot be over-paneled!
Click Here for a Cheap Price
This generator, like all goal zero generators, are horrible to use unless you buy the MPPT add-on module to increase the charge efficiency: Click Here for a Cheap Price
Max Solar Input (not charge rate. it is PWM, so pretty slow charging): 120 watt solar panel
Inverter Output: 300 watts Pure Sine Wave
Outputs: 2x AC, 3x USB 3.0, 1x Cigarette lighter
Weight: 16 pounds
This solar generator cannot be over-paneled!
Click Here for a Cheap Price
This generator, like all goal zero generators, are horrible to use unless you buy the MPPT add-on module to increase the charge efficiency: Click Here for a Cheap Price
The Renogy Phoenix
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An ultra mobile solar battery! Comes with a integrated 20 watt solar panel that folds out, and can be expanded with an additional 100 watt solar panel.
This solar generator cannot be over-paneled!
Battery Size: 210 watt hours
Max Solar Input: 120 watts (but also has a built it 20 watt solar panel)
Inverter Output: 150 watts Pure Sine Wave
Outputs: 1x AC, 4x USB, 1x Cigarette lighter, 2x DC plugs
Weight: 12.7 pounds
Click Here to Buy on Amazon.com
This solar generator cannot be over-paneled!
Battery Size: 210 watt hours
Max Solar Input: 120 watts (but also has a built it 20 watt solar panel)
Inverter Output: 150 watts Pure Sine Wave
Outputs: 1x AC, 4x USB, 1x Cigarette lighter, 2x DC plugs
Weight: 12.7 pounds
Click Here to Buy on Amazon.com