00 Watt Solar 6000 Watt Inverter/Charger 24VDC
1,200 Watt Solar 6,000 Watt Inverter/Charger 24VDC 120/240V Output [Lithium LiFePO4 Batteries] | Complete Off-Grid Solar System [OGK-9] from Aims Power for retail price 9,389.00.
1200 Watt Solar 6000 Watt Inverter/Charger 24VDC – Complete Off-Grid Solar System [Lithium Kit] 6 x 200 Watt Solar Panels 6,000 Watt Pure Sine Wave 24V Split Phase [120/240V] Complete Off-Grid Solar Kit FREE Shipping, NO Sales Tax Lifetime Customer Support Looking for a solar kit that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg just…
00 Watt Solar 6000 Watt Inverter/Charger 24VDC 120/240V Output [Lithium LiFePO4 Batteries] | Complete Off-Grid Solar System [OGK-9]
Looking for a solar kit that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg just to get installed? Tired of getting outrageous quotes from solar installation companies? Look no further. Our complete off-grid solar kit comes with all of the parts and pieces needed to get up and running with clean, quiet, off-grid solar power.
Although we do recommend having a certified solar installer/master electrician install our off-grid kits, these are meant to be extremely simple to set up and we include a professional wiring diagram/schematic for you to follow – meaning there’s no guessing as to how it’s supposed to be setup.
You might be wondering – is this really all I need? Especially considering some of the we’ve heard our customers getting from other solar installation companies. But the answer is yes. This is a complete off-grid solar power system that includes all of the parts and pieces you’ll need.
What Does Off-Grid Mean?
Great question. It means this system does not tie in with your local power grid/utility company. So there’s no “selling” excess power back to the power company. Off-grid means your system operates 100% independently of the grid. Any excess power you’re making during the day goes right into your 6 lithium batteries included with the kit so that you can run your home / RV / cabin/shop/business all night long when the sun isn’t shining.
Is Off-Grid Better Than Grid-Tie? Or Do I NEED to be tied to the grid?
This is a good question and it really depends on who you ask. Most of our customers are looking to gain “grid independence”. They don’t want to rely on the local power company to keep their lights on and food cold. When you install a grid-tied solar system, this means that if the grid goes down… The solar power on your roof is useless. You NEED batteries on your system to be considered off-grid.
There’s a lot more involved with a grid-tie system (think permitting, AC coupling, remote monitoring, etc.) which typically makes these types of solar power systems much more expensive. Whereas off-grid solar systems require a lot fewer bells and whistles and are much easier to install.
What comes with this kit?
Our Complete Off-Grid Lithium Kit comes with 1200 watts of monocrystalline solar panels, a 60A MPPT charge controller, and a 6,000 Watt pure-sine inverter charger – providing you with both 120 240V of AC power and enough power for all your off-grid needs! Simply choose your batteries and everything else you need is included with the kit.
This kit was created to help make buying and setting up a complete off-grid solar kit simple, quick, and easy. You won’t need anything else as the kit includes all the necessary products needed for proper installation, all bundled for your convenience. We also include a setup diagram with your order.
The 6,000-watt inverter/charger has a built-in charger and can recharge the batteries when grid tie or generator power is available. It also has an 18,000-watt surge meaning there’s really nothing this inverter CAN’T handle. From well pumps and air conditioners to fridges, freezers, TV lights, and more – you’ll have plenty of power.
The 1200 watts or 1.2kw of solar panels are covered in tempered glass to protect from hazardous weather and the pre-installed PV wiring is also protected against UV, water, ozone, fluids, oil, salt, and general weathering. Depending on your battery bank – there are enough solar panels here to recharge 600-800Ah of batteries in one day (6-8 hours). They will also keep a charge on the batteries all day long so you can use the power at the same time that you’re harnessing it from the sun.
Our off-grid lithium kit is ideal for small devices such as appliances, fans, pumps, compressors, electronics, and more all up to 50 amps. Perfect for remote locations, off-grid homes, tiny houses, and/or as an emergency backup system.
What’s Included with the Off-Grid [Lithium Kit] Order?
- 6 x 200 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panels
- 1 x SCC60AMPPT – 60 amp MPPT solar charge controller
- 1 x PICOGLF60W24V240VS – 6,000 watts pure sine inverter charger- 24 volt / Split Phase [120/240V]
- LCD Display Remote
- 1 x COM3IN60A – Combiner Box 3 String
- 1 x DC1600V32A2IO – Quick Disconnect Switch
- 1 x PICOGLFBATS – battery temperature sensor
- 1 x PVEXT20FT10AWG – PV female male extension cables for a solar array to combiner box and disconnect to the solar charge controller
- 1 x PVM100FT10AWG – 100 foot PV wire for solar panel (male) from the combiner box to disconnect
- 1 x PVF100FT10AWG – 100 foot PV wire for solar panel (female) from the combiner box to disconnect
- 1 x CBL08FT6AWGC – 8 ft set charge controller to battery cables
- 1 x CBL08FT1/0- 8 ft set of 1/0 AWG cable battery bank to the inverter
- 2 x CBL02FT1/0 – 2 ft 1/0 AWG cable (battery cables)
- 4 x CBL01FT1/0RED – 1 ft jumper for fuse kit and battery jumpers
- 1 x ANL300KIT – 300 amp inline fuse kit for the battery to inverter
- 1 x ANL80KIT – 80 amp inline fuse kit for the charge controller to battery
- 2 x PVEXT15FT10AWG – 15 ft PV extension wires male and female to connect solar panels in parallel
- 6 x Sets of Z-Brackets for mounting solar panels
- Select your battery bank (Minimum 600Ah 24V configuration)
- Wiring Setup Manual / Diagram
- FREE Shipping No Sales Tax
- Lifetime Customer Support (Via Phone, Email Live Chat)
Choice For Off-Grid Solar Kits. Everything You Need For Setup Install. Order Yours Today! Limited Supply.
What Can 1200 Watt Solar 6000 Watt Inverter Kit Actually Power?
- Fridge/Freezer (100 watts): 80 hours
- 50″ TV (65 watts): 125 hours
- LED Lights (6 watts): 1,000 hours
- House Fan (50 watts): 150 hours
- Smartphones (5-7 watts): 1,000 hours
- Tablets (25-40 watts): 175 hours
- Laptops (50 watts): 150 hours
- Electric Blanket (Queen Size, 75 watts): 100 hours
- CPAP Machine (30 watts): 250 hours
Off-Grid [Lithium Kit] Features:
- Very easy to connect and use
- Works with all size devices up to 6000 watts, 50 AC amps at 120 VAC or 25 amps at 240 VAC
- Ideal for appliances, lights, tools, pumps, compressors, and more
- Perfect for small homes or cabins that need 120 and 240 VAC power
- 120/240V so you can expand and grow the system!
- Total weight: 380 lbs
200 Watts Solar Panel Specs:
- Maximum Power(Pmax): 200W
- Maximum Power Voltage(Vmp): 20.4V
- Maximum Power Current(Imp): 9.80A
- Open Circuit Voltage(Voc): 24.3V
- Short Circuit Current(ISC): 10.2A
- Weight: 26.5 lbs
- Dimensions: 58.7 x 26.8 x 1.4 in
- Warranty: 25 years output warranty
EcoFLow Delta Pro has a huge expandable capacity that you can customize to meet your energy needs. With two Smart Extra Batteries, you can increase your capacity to a whopping 10.8kWh.
Best Solar Generators: Buyers Guide (2023 Updated Review Guide)
This review guide has helped thousands of homeowners save time and money when searching for a reliable, clean source of backup energy that they can use to remain worry free during power outages.
Each product and or company featured here has been independently selected by the writer. You can learn more about our review methodology here. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Written by Josh Hurst
Writer and editor with more than a decade’s experience in journalism. Josh worked for Christianity Today for seven years, and has contributed to special assignments for Apple Music and iTunes. Josh lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife, Kati, and two sons, Henry and Dylan.While he mainly focuses on musical journalism he is excited to save the earth on article at a time through sustainability best practices articles as well. Learn About This Person
Reviewed by Irma Omerhodzic
Irma joined the EcoWatch team in August 2015. She holds a Master’s degree and Bachelor’s degree from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She is a member of Kappa Tau Alpha – a national honor society of journalism. Learn About This Person
Why You Can Trust EcoWatch
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.
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Find the best price from solar installers in your area.
What Are The Best Solar Powered Generators In 2023?
Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. You can learn more about our review methodology here. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
How Did We Review Each Solar Generator?
There are a number of factors we considered when choosing which solar power generators to recommend, including:
Battery Capacity
Battery storage capacity is an important ranking factor. A greater battery capacity means the generator can store more energy, which ultimately means it will last longer without requiring a recharge. This is measured in watt-hours (Wh).
Power Output
When your generator is up and running, it will put out a certain amount of energy, measured in watts. It’s important to select a generator that offers enough watts for you to power your essential home appliances.
Inverter Rating
The inverter is a critical part of any backup power generator. Basically, this is the component that turns solar energy into AC (alternating current) electricity. Inverter rating, along with battery capacity, determine how much power you can get from your home backup generator.
Expandability
In order for your backup generator to function, you’ll need some way of charging it. And if you plan to rely on solar energy, that means using solar panels.
Expandability means that you can add solar panels to your generator as needed, making it easier to absorb more sunlight for energy. You will typically need a special solar adapter cable to facilitate this, which may need to be purchased separately.
Number of Outlets
How many devices, power tools, or appliances do you need to plug in? The functionality of your backup generator will be determined by how many outlets are available.
The type of outport ports is equally important. The most common types that buyers check for include mobile device charging ports (USB-A and USB-C), AC ports (the normal household wall outlet), and even 12-volt DC ports (what you probably have in your car).
Price
Of course, as you look for the best home backup generator, one of the most crucial considerations of all is your budget. We’ve sought to emphasize generators that offer maximum value.
Based on these criteria, we’ve determined the solar backup generators that offer the most consumer value. Check out our complete list of recommendations below. You can also read our complete review of the best solar energy companies for rooftop home solar systems. If you’re interested in learning more about going solar, fill out the form below to get connected with a local solar installer in your area.
Our Complete Reviews of Solar-Powered Generators
Best Overall: Renogy Lycan Powerbox
Renogy produces several different power stations and chargers, but we especially like the Lycan Powerbox, a solar power solution that’s only a little bit bigger than a suitcase. It comes with an easy-grip handle and heavy-duty wheels, making it one of the most portable solar generators around while still offering 1200W of output, which is enough power for most electronic devices and some appliances.
Why buy: The Lycan Powerbox can provide 1075 watt-hours of continuous power without the noise or fumes associated with gas generators. It offers great portability and includes an LCD display and easy, intuitive controls that allow you to switch between DC power and AC power as needed, as well USB ports and 12 volt car charger ports.
Best All-Purpose: Goal Zero Yeti 6000X
The Yeti 6000X is actually a portable power station that can be used for off-grid camping or powering an RV. With 6,000 watt-hours and two 2000W AC charger ports, it will give you plenty of power for your home. With a home integration kit, it’s easy to use the Goal Zero Yeti 6000X to power essential circuits.
Why buy: Though it isn’t exactly cheap, the Yeti 6000X power station is a great all-purpose backup generator, including a top-of-the-line charge controller and two robust AC outlets that make it easy for you to keep your household essentials up and running. It can even power a full-size refrigerator or microwave.
Best for Camping: Jackery Explorer 1000
The Jackery Explorer 1000 portable power station is one of the best all-around options, equally suited for outdoor activities and for emergency power readiness. Though it’s rated for 1,000 watts, it can actually get closer to 2,000. The lithium battery pack offers a capacity of 1,200 watt-hours, and Jackery’s professional MPPT technology makes it easy to get your unit fully charged in a relatively short span of time (usually just eight hours if you have two panels going).
Why buy: Jackery is one of the leading names in outdoor equipment and in clean energy products. This portable power station is a great pick for campers and can also be a very effective home backup power solution for small appliances and electronics thanks to its pure sine wave inverter AC outlets.
Most Affordable: Westinghouse iGen600s
Westinghouse Outdoor Power
Westinghouse is another company that specializes in solar powered generators, most of which are more ideally suited for camping trips. Their iGen600s portable generator, however, offers a wattage of up to 1,200 peak watts, which can certainly function as a decent emergency backup for certain household appliances and small devices.
Why buy: For a portable yet still very versatile solar generator, Westinghouse is a company to keep on your list. The iGen600 power system can run a mini fridge for up to 42 hours or a CPAP machine for up to 46 hours thanks to its lithium-ion battery that offers 592 Watt-hours of energy and a long battery life.
Fastest Charging: EcoFlow DELTA
The EcoFlow DELTA power station is a wonderfully rugged, dependable backup generator that can help meet your power needs during a blackout. For one thing, the charging time is incredible; you can potentially go from zero to 80 percent in under an hour with a wall outlet. Should you ever find yourself facing a power outage, this is an emergency energy solution you’ll be really thankful for.
Why buy: The DELTA station from EcoFlow offers a lot of value and usability; in particular, it has one of the fastest recharging times of any solar generator, which may be reason enough for you to choose it over the competitors. The DELTA unit offers 13 ports, meaning it’s compatible with pretty much any device or appliance you could ever need to charge.
Best for Appliances: MAXOAK Bluetti AC200P
For a heavy-duty emergency power solution, look no further than to MAXOAK, and particularly to a product called the Bluetti AC200P. With a 2000 Watt-hour capacity, this is one of the most robust solar generators you’ll find anywhere.
Why buy: MAXOAK’s Bluetti AC200P is the one you’re going to want for really heavy-duty home energy backup. With massive AC inverters that offer up to 4800W surge capacity, it can provide more than enough power to fuel all your most critical home appliances, even some HVAC units. Also note the two-year warranty, a generous consumer protection.
Most Powerful: Point Zero Energy Titan Solar Generator
Point Zero Energy is one of the foremost names in disaster preparedness, and when you take a look at their product specs, you’ll see why. Their Titan model solar generator offers almost twice the storage of similarly priced units with a high-capacity 2,000-watt-hour battery capacity and 3,000 watt high-efficiency inverter.
Why buy: On a purely technical level, this is the beefiest generator on our list, though of course, it’s also one of the priciest. The unit is made with high-efficiency components, meaning it doesn’t waste a lot of energy running the system; instead, it just supplies you with plenty of functional electricity when you need it the most.
How Does a Solar Generator Work?
Solar generators capture energy from the sun using photovoltaic solar panels, and store it in a built-in battery. Note that in order to absorb the sun’s energy, your portable generator will need solar panels.
These are typically sold separately, or as a package with the unit, so you’ll need to factor in this additional cost. Solar panels contain solar cells, which are typically made of monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicone that acts as a semiconductor.
Once the sun’s energy is stored in the battery, it is converted into AC energy. This happens via a component known as an inverter. AC power is required for most of your household appliances, as well as for charging devices like your phone, laptop, or tablet that normally require a wall charger or AC outlet.
We’ve included a short video below for a more in-depth look at how they work.
Can a Solar Generator Power My Entire House?
Generally speaking, a rechargeable solar generator won’t be able to power your entire house if you lose power. With that said, even a smaller generator can be used to power key devices or appliances, sometimes for days at a time depending on its power consumption. For instance, you can keep your refrigerator up and running, and/or ensure plenty of sustained use for medical devices, like CPAP machines.
With an especially robust generator, you may also be able to connect to core circuits, running multiple appliances at one time.
So, while having an emergency power supply from a solar generator may not mean that you can go about your life just like you would normally, you can at least keep the lights on at home, run your air conditioner, or ensure your perishable food items remain fresh until your electricity comes back on.
What Are the Advantages of Using a Solar Generator?
There are a number of advantages you can anticipate from an emergency generator, especially when you choose to go solar. Consider:
You can minimize the disruption of a power outage.
Again, inclement weather can cause power outages that last for hours, sometimes even days. During that time, you can use a backup generator to keep your essential appliances and devices up and running. This level of preparedness can offer ample peace of mind.
Solar generators offer a clean alternative to other energy sources.
Most generators are powered by fossil fuels, which means they emit a lot of noxious emissions. If you want a clean power source and a minimal environmental footprint, these solar solutions are just the ticket. They are also much quieter than traditional gas or diesel generators.
They can be very cost-effective in the long run.
While the initial purchase price of a solar generator may seem steep, keep in mind that sunlight is free. You don’t have to worry about buying fuel or any additional expenses associated with your solar unit.
Find the Solar Generator That’s Best for You
Disaster preparedness begins by identifying a reliable power source, and if you want that power source to be clean and renewable, solar generators are ideal. Take a moment to explore the options and find the generator that’s right for you.
In addition to the criteria we used to review solar generators, you may also want to consider the following when selecting a model:
- Charging Options: does it offer fast charging? Quick charge settings are always convenient when you need a full charge
- Durability: if you need a generator for camping, finding a durable one may help to extend its lifespan
All EcoWatch solar companies are pre-vetted for your convenience.
Writer and editor with more than a decade’s experience in journalism. Josh worked for Christianity Today for seven years, and has contributed to special assignments for Apple Music and iTunes. Josh lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife, Kati, and two sons, Henry and Dylan.While he mainly focuses on musical journalism he is excited to save the earth on article at a time through sustainability best practices articles as well.
Irma joined the EcoWatch team in August 2015. She holds a Master’s degree and Bachelor’s degree from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She is a member of Kappa Tau Alpha – a national honor society of journalism.
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CleanTechnica Tested: The UGREEN PowerRoam 1200 Solar Generator
UGREEN is a new player in the solar generator space, and is rushing the scene with its brand new PowerRoam 1200 Power Station to lead the charge. Supporting the base unit, UGREEN is also introducing its own 200 watt folding solar panels that transforms the power station into a full blown solar generator. The company sent us a PowerRoam 1200 and a few of its 200W folding solar panels for us to run through the paces and we gladly obliged.
Right out of the gate, it’s worth mentioning that the UGREEN Power room 1200 only has a storage capacity of one kilowatt hour or 1024 watt hours. The 1200 in the name refers to the maximum AC output capability. That’s a bit confusing, as most power stations use the storage capacity as the naming standard and not the AC power output capability.
Charging The UGREEN PowerRoam 1200
Recharging the UGREEN PowerRoam 1200 can be done from a standard AC wall outlet, DC from solar panels, and DC from a standard automotive 12v outlet. Recharging from a wall is straightforward. Just plug it in and the unit starts to pull down up to 1800 watts of power at a time. It can recharge from zero to 80% in 50 minutes, with a full charge coming in it just over an hour based on the charging curve it’s currently using.
The PowerRoam 1200 can also be recharged with a pair of solar panels for up to 400 watts of charging. To accomplish this, the panels must be connected in series, not in parallel. If they are connected in parallel, the output will be much lower. For folks on the go, the unit can also be recharged from a 12 volt automotive outlet. It can pull down just under 100 watts from this, recharging in a full day on the road or trickle charging enough power to keep constant draw appliances such as refrigerators running.
Using The UGREEN PowerRoam 1200 Solar Generator
The UGREEN PowerRoam 1200 lets you pull power out from three grounded AC connections and three non-grounded AC connections on the right hand side of the unit. It also hosts a pair of 12 volt DC barrel connectors and one 12 volt automotive outlet on the front, as well as a handful of USB ports.
To make it easier to see when you’re out camping or otherwise adventuring with the PowerRoam, UGREEN included a light at the front of the unit. It’s a handy addition that we’d love to see on more power stations, as they’re typically being used where no power and thus lighting infrastructure exists.
With its ability to push out 1,200 watts of continuous AC power and a peak output of a staggering 3,000 watts, we were eager to see what the unit could actually handle. To test its ability to push out power for longer durations, we ran a 500-1,200 watt heat gun off it for a few hours off and on and it happily kept up.
Connecting it up to our cadre of kitchen appliances cranked all the way up, the UGREEN PowerRoam 1200 happily chugged along and kept them all running at a stated power draw of 1,200 watts. We see this number range anywhere from 1,000-1,500 watts depending on the unit, so this is well within the standard range. It’s impressive to see such a lightweight unit handling such a heavy load without even kicking on the fans or shutting down.
Overall Impression
With its lightweight and comfortable easy-to-grasp handle up top, the UGREEN PowerRoam 1200 is well suited to portable applications like camping, sports functions, picnics, and the like. Its one kilowatt hour of storage capacity and 1200 watts of AC output capability are more than enough for most casual applications, though they’re not quite enough to support a full home during a grid outage. It could also be used as a primary power source for lighter duty portable living situations.
With its lower storage capacity, the UGREEN PowerRoam 1200 also boasts a lower price point that is sure to be attractive to many prospective buyers. At just 999 dollars MSRP and with a 200 off promotion already running on Amazon, it is priced to sell. For more information about the UGREEN PowerRoam 1200, head over to the official UGREEN website or Amazon. You can also get an additional 5% off through June 18th using code 05UG1200 on Amazon.
UGREEN PowerRoam 1200 Solar Generator Specs
- Weight: 11.5 kilograms / 25.4 pounds
- Capacity: 1,024 Wh / 1 kWh
- Chemistry: LiFePo4 cells from BYD
- Recharge Time: 0-80% in 50 minutes
- Total Continuous Output: 1,565 watts max
- Peak Output: 3,000 watts max
- AC Output: 1,200 watts max
- DC Output USB-A: 45 watts max
- DC Output USB-C: 200 watts max
- DC Output 12v Automotive: 120 watts max
- AC Input: 1,800 watts max
- DC Solar Input: 400 watts max
- DC Automotive Input: 96 watts max (8A @ 12v)
Disclaimer: UGREEN provided the power station and solar panels to the author for the purposes of this review.
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How Big Should My Solar Generator Be?
Before purchasing a solar generator, you need to know what size will suit your needs. There are so many different capacities on the market to choose from, knowing which one is right for you can be quite overwhelming. Take Bluetti for example, we already sell around 9 different solar generators, all with different capacities. So, how do you know which size solar generator is right for you? In this article, we will explain how to size a solar generator based on your electrical needs.
Differences in solar generator capacity
Are you looking for 300Wh of power or perhaps a 2000Wh generator? What do these numbers even mean? Understanding whether you have a solar generator with a large capacity or small capacity is quite easy. Look for the number ending off with a Wh. The higher that number, the more capacity your solar generator has. Wh stands for Watt Hours. We will go into a little more detail here later on in the article. For now, just know that a solar generator marked 2000Wh has much more capacity than a 500Wh generator for example. Solar generators with larger capacities are also notably bigger than their lower capacity cousins. The reason for this? Simple, the higher the capacity, the larger the internal battery, therefore the bigger the solar generator.
How big should my solar generator be?
To begin figuring out what size solar generator you need, first think about the task you would like it to perform. By that I mean what will its application be, how much appliances do you need powered and for how long? The more appliances you need powered, the bigger the generator will have to be. This is pretty standard among most things in life, nothing changes here with solar generators. The reason sizing a generator to suit your exact needs can seem complicated, is usually due to the variety of things people want powered. There is no one size fits all solution here. Your best bet will be figuring out more or less the exact amount of power you require based on the exact amount of appliances you use.
Don’t worry about small appliances
If you plan on powering small appliances like phones and cameras with your solar generator, do not worry so much about getting the capacity exactly right. In these scenarios you are affectively looking for a large power bank, and in this case a 500Wh solar generator will offer you many efficient charges at full capacity.
How to know the working times for my device?
(Working time = 500Wh (capacity) 0.85 / operating wattage of your device) For reference, assuming the power consumption of your device is 60W (might be a Laptop ), working time will be 500Wh 0.85 / 60w = 7 hours (roughly calculated). So if you own a laptop that draws 60 watts, you would be able to run it for 7 hours on a 500Wh solar generator. The formula stated above holds true for most of the solar generators here at Bluetti. Further on in the article we will provide you with a table outlining the different run times based on your solar generators capacity.
Why the wattage is important?
Watt hours indicated how much capacity your solar generator is capable of storing and the watts reading indicates what type of inverter it has built in to it.
Remember, all solar generators store DC electricity, but all your appliance use AC electricity. Therefore, before your generator can power your device, it needs to convert its DC electricity to AC electricity.
It does this by using the built-in pure sine wave inverter. Just like batteries, inverters also have a max limit they can handle.
Inverters are rated by the wattage they can handle.
So if your solar generator is rated 500Wh/300W really what its saying is the built-in battery can store 500Wh and the built-in inverter can power devices rated 300 watts and below.
Therefore, it is VERY important that you know which appliances you want to power before buying your solar generator.
Make a list of your appliances
I want you to go ahead and make a list of the appliances you need powered and for how long. make a table like this:
| Appliances | Wattage | Usage Time |
| Cell Phone | 20 | 2 |
| Laptop | 60 | 3 |
| Fan | 35 | 5 |
| Drill | 1200 | 1 |
By making a list like this you can clearly see what size solar generator would best suit your needs. Also make a note on how many appliances you plan to power simultaneously, you want to always make sure that the combined wattage doesn’t go over the preferred generators max wattage rating.
In our example above, right off the bat we can see that in order to use our cordless drill, we will need a solar generator with a higher wattage rating than 1200 watts.
However, if we were only wanting to power say the fan, laptop and phone, we could get away with a smaller solar generator of say 500Wh/300W.
Well for that we need to apply our formula:
( Working time = 500Wh 0.85 / operating wattage of your device )
Let’s assume we want too run all appliances simultaneously. The combined wattage rating would be: 105 watts.
Therefore, 500Wh 0.85 / 105 = 4 hour running time.
Run Times of Different Appliances
Below we thought to create a simple table which outlines various different sized solar generators and how long they would each run all sorts of appliances.
500Wh/300W Solar Generator
(Please note this assumes you run each appliance independently of each other)
| Appliance | Run Time |
| Laptop (60 Watts) | 7 Hours |
| Drone (50 Watts) | 8.5 Hours |
| Phone (20 Watts) | 21 Hours |
| LED Lamp (30 Watts) | 14 Hours |
| Cordless Drill (1200 Watts) | N/A |
1500Wh/1000W Solar Generator
(Please note this assumes you run each appliance independently of each other)
2000Wh/2000W Solar Generator
(Please note this assumes you run each appliance independently of each other)
Final Thoughts
Please note, we supplied the total amount of hours possible to run each appliance, this assumes you run the appliances entirely off the solar generator.
In actual fact you would need to figure out how many hours each device (not requiring constant power) takes to recharge.
For example a phone may take 2 hours to fully charge, that means a 2000Wh generator could recharge a phone 42 times before being completed depleted.
Here is the formula for thew above:
Run Time / Charge Time = Total recharges possible.
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Ugreen Power Roam portable power station review. Jackery killer?
Today’s RV gadget is the Ugreen PowerRoam GS1200 portable power station. Some folks call these solar generators but they’re really not a generator. What these all are is a battery and a way to use it.
Ugreen sent me one of these along with their 400 watt portable solar panels to try out. I was particularly interested in how it compares to our existing Jackery 1500 and Jackery SolarSaga 100 portable solar panels.
What is the Ugreen Power Roam GS1200
The PowerRoam GS1200 is a portable power station that features a high quality lithium iron phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries which means you can get about 3,000 full charge cycles from them. That’s about eight years if you fully discharge the battery every single day but more like at least a decade or longer of life.
The unit is about 26 pounds.
On board are 13 ports in total including six household outlets, two USB A outlets and two USB C outlets.
Overall this packs about a thousand watt hours of power. that’s running something that consumes 1000 watts for about an hour.
Included in the package are the power station itself along with a little bag that has the power cord for plugging into the wall along with a power cord to plug into a power port or cigarette lighter adaptor in a vehicle. All the connectors on these are standard connectors and the cables are very high quality.
What is a solar generator?
The term solar generator typically refers to the combination of portable solar panels, battery, battery charger, and inverter into a single device that allows you to capture, store, and distribute power from the sun. Solar generators are popular for camping trips, boating, RV trips, and as emergency backup power.
Essentially it’s nothing more than a battery and a way to utilize the battery’s power to operate devices including those powered by 120vac household power and things like phones, tablets, computers, and more.
Good features of the Ugreen 1200 Power Station
There are a number of features that really set this power station apart. The first of those is fast household wall charging. I was able to recharge this in about an hour from 22%.
I also like that all the power connectors are standard connectors, as opposed to the proprietary connectors on our Jackery. That means that, should I lose or damage a cable, I can replace it with standard cables rather than having to go back to Jackery to get a replacement.
It also means that I can get longer cables if need be.
But it also was fun to take on an outing to a car show where the desert conditions prohibited outdoor fires.
We just plugged in induction cook top into the Ugreen and prepared boudin right on the picnic table. No need to worry about fires.
Honestly this totally opens up picnics and boondocking when I no longer have to worry about burning the place down nor lighting nor extinguishing a fire. Game changing.
In fact we are doing more outings now where we take the cooler and cook top to remote locations and preparing pretty elaborate meals just using battery power.
Operating modes for the Ugreen Portable Power Station
Using a free app that’s available for Smart phones, you can select a number of additional features and controls in the Ugreen Portable Power station.
- Standard mode. will shut off the power if it detects no demand
- Power saving mode. optimizes performance to reduce power consumption
- Always-on mode. very unusual and this is great if you have devices that turn on and off such as our Dometic 12 volt refrigerator. Some power stations will shut off which will stop things that may cycle, like a refrigerator, from starting back up. I love this mode for those kinds of uses.
There are also several power delivery modes:
- Quiet mode. doesn’t run the fan and can be great for using overnight such as with a CPAP or even when shooting video
- Battery preservation mode which can allow this to shut off and preserve power
- U-Turbo mode that allows up to 2500 watts of power delivery for brief periods of time. this is useful when starting an electric motor, for example.
Powering the Ugreen Portable Power Station
Recharging the Ugreen Portable Power Station is also an easy task.
Ugreen sent us their 200 watt portable folding solar panels which also have a standard connector on them. These have no charge controller but the Ugreen Power Station does, so all charge control aspects are handled just fine.
The Ugreen Portable Power Station accepts up to 400 watts input. we put the Ugreen portable power station out around 8:30 am on a cloudy day with two Ugreen portable solar panels that are 200 watts each and was able to get to a full charge by lunch.
If you’re plugging into the wall there is a fast charging aspect of the Ugreen Portable Power Station that means you can recharge it from empty in about 90 minutes. That’s fast. it takes several hours for us to charge the Jackery.
Grounded output
Most solar generators, or portable power stations, have accommodation for grounded or three-prong standard power connections. But the grounding post is not functional. That’s not true here, you can ground the Ugreen Portable Power Station if that’s something you need to do which is unique in this field.
UPS functionality for the Ugreen Portable Power Station
Another nifty thing is that the Ugreen Portable Power Station supports UPS mode. This means you can plug in things like computers, pet monitors, CPAP machines or whatever and the Ugreen Portable Power Station will act as a power backup. This is great for if you’re working and the power is sketchy. the system can step up and provide power even if household power goes out. There is no issue with keeping this plugged into your wall and your devices plugged into the unit.
That’s one of the benefits of the LiFePo4 batteries in the Ugreen Portable Power Station. they’re able to offer more performance and flexibility.
I’m also impressed by their five year warranty.
Portable solar panels
We also got uGreen’s 200 watt portable solar panels. These are four panels that fold up into a convenient package for carrying around. They have a built-in stand and a single standard output connector on the back.
There is also a unique bullseye on the front that helps you properly aim the panels to optimize their input.
All solar panels perform best when they are directly facing the sun and this bullseye helps aim them.
Note that these panels do not have a charge controller so you would need that if you plugged into a solar on the side connector on your RV.
We tried these for several uses and, even on a cloudy day, they were able to recharge our uGreen portable power station to fully charged in a few hours.
Downsides
The only main concern I had was with the app for this when connected to Bluetooth. It worked well when it remained connected, but if you power down the Ugreen Portable Power Station or get out of Bluetooth range you have to reconnect the app as a new device.
This is both annoying and fiddly. Not the end of the world, but certainly something Ugreen should resolve since most other devices with apps have done so.
Comparison
A lot of you might already be familiar with products like the Jackery solar generator. How does this compare with our own Jackery 1500?
The battery chemistry in the Jackery only allows for about 500 total complete charge/discharge cycles before it degrades significantly. this offers six times that performance.
The Jackery takes significantly longer to charge and does not have a high-output charge feature. I have had to leave the Jackery connected to solar for an entire day to get it to fully recharge, for example.
The Jackery uses proprietary connectors which I do not like. So if you lose a cable or want something different, you’re stuck with the Jackery cables. This makes sense since the Jackery was created by a former Apple team member.
For my money I much prefer the uGreen GP1200 even to the larger Jackery 1500.
The U-Turbo mode, app control, fast charging, standard connectors and better battery chemistry in the Ugreen make it a far superior product to the Jackery in just about every way, quite frankly.