How We Selected The Contenders
We created a spreadsheet of 26 panels after researching other reviews and scouring through preparedness, outdoor, and electronics forums for common recommendations. From there we chose the models that seemed like the best candidates, narrowing the field down to 15 for in-person testing.
Although size is always an issue, we focused on panels with advertised power over 10 watts, except for the Goal Zero Nomad 7, which we included due to its popularity among preppers. Most of the panels were provided by the manufacturer, but that never breaks our Prepared Promise.
How we tested
Besides normal qualities like price and durability, our goal was to isolate the panels and test their efficiency under different weather conditions, honing in on what kind of power output you can get depending on sunlight and changing environmental conditions.
Properly testing portable chargers takes a lot of time and specialized equipment. Weve yet to find another review online that does this properly .
We bought an irradiance meter to measure the energy of the sun hitting the panel, a multimeter to measure the output from the panels USB port, and a USB load tester that acts like a battery .
We laid each panel out flat in the sun on an elevated Coolaroo pet bed over a light-colored stone deck so that air could circulate underneath. We placed our testing apparatus in a small box underneath the bed/panel for shade, with the irradiance meters sunlight sensor in the same place for every test.
How We Researched: Outdoor Media Experts And Professionals
When researching the best camping solar chargers, we explored websites in the outdoor media sphere, and the tech and science spheres as geeks and gear heads are the most likely to use portable solar chargers to power their electronics.
We chose the models we tested based on reviews and articles we read and analyzed from other reliable sources, including Lifewire, Gear Institute, Backpacker, Wirecutter, The Adventure Junkies, Popular Mechanics, Outdoor GearLab, and others . We also looked at verified customer reviews to gather data from professional reviewers and actual users.
We tested foldable solar panels in the field at campsites and also at home using a USB digital tester .
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Direct Solar Charging Speed
This device’s solar panel acts more as a backup than the main feature and so it had a minimal performance with the solar charging speed. The 1.5-watt solar panel catches some sunlight but only gained a 4.2% charge, about 210 mAh during our testing. Plugging in the device with a USB cable will provide a faster and more reliable charge. Think of this device as a battery pack with the addition of a solar panel rather than a solar charger alone. Charging it directly through the micro USB takes about 12 hours with the 5v charger.
Consider the solar panel as an emergency power source for this charger and less of a reliable source of energy. Just for fun, we tested how long it would take the OEUUDD to charge when fully reliant on solar. Turns out, it took over two hours for the battery pack to charge from 25% to 50%. This is slow and steady progress but is surprisingly efficient for such a large battery. Compared to other battery packs we’ve tested, this is actually a fairly impressive charging rate. Though not nearly as reliable as a traditional solar charger with a capacity of 10W or more, the OEUUDD is still fully functional. Plus, its large capacity battery means that you’ll be able to get a fair number of charges out of the battery pack, even without relying on the sun.
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Dont Expect To Charge Exclusively With Small Solar Panels
This might be a bit of a shock to you, but most of the solar power banks above cant really be charged by their solar panels. Yes, its a bit sad and confusing, but its true. The solar panels are simply too small to fully charge the batteries in a reasonable amount of time. Most manufacturers say itll take about 40 hours to fully charge the battery via the solar panel. Yikes!
Instead, consider the solar panels as auxiliary or emergency charging. They can keep your battery pack topped up when youre on the trail or running around town, but thats about it. All the solar power banks above can be charged via a wall outlet in just a few hours with the included USB or micro USB input, so youll want to fully charge the power bank at home before leaving for any adventures.
If you want to keep your smartphone or tablet charged completely via solar energy, you have two options. You can use a larger solar charger instead of a solar power bank, but remember, this will only allow you to charge during the day. If you want to have a battery backup and use exclusive solar power, you will want to invest in a battery pack that can be connected to a larger solar panel.
Goal Zero Nomad 20 Solar Panel
The Nomad 20 is perfect for typical backpacking trips. At just over two pounds it isnt crazy heavy to carry with you.
This portable solar charger is more versatile and provides more power output. It also will pair nicely with bigger power banks or small power stations so your entire group can stay powered up.
Double the output capacity of the Nomad 10, for just 50 percent more cost. Scale up, get more value, charge more devices and bigger power banks.
This solar panel has an integrated 8mm cable and USB port. This allows you to charge a wider range of small to medium size devices. Using the cable, you can also chain together additional solar panels for even greater charging capacity and faster charge times.
The Goal Zero Nomad 20 is great for charging:
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Best Solar Generators Reviews & Buying Guide In 2022
Solar Generators: Efficient and Affordable Power Back-Up Solution
As the name implies, Solar Generators use sun light to charge up the battery so you dont have to spend money on electricity from utility.
They can produce anywhere between 900 watts to 5,000 watts of electricity per hour which is sufficient to power up refrigerators, lights and several other appliances in your home.
But to find the right model for your needs may not be such as an easy task. To help out find the best solar generator, we have provided key factors below
1. Battery Capacity
It represents how much electricity the battery can hold. If you want to provide backup for more appliances, then go for higher capacity. For example, a 518 watt hour solar generator will last much longer than a 240 watt hour generator.
2. Battery Type
Common batteries used in solar generators are lead acid and lithium-ion.
- Lead acid batteries are cost-effective and suitable for home use but have a limited span.
- Lithium-ion batteries are light in weight, smaller in size and have long lifespan. However, they are expensive.
You have to choose based on your requirements.
3. Power Backup
The power backup provided by solar generator in continuous watts and surge watts.
Using this information and other factors mentioned in the Buying Guide, our experts have tested and analyzed several models. And came up with the Best Solar Generators list. A detail review of each solar generator is also mentioned below for your convenience.
Milin Portable Solar Power Generator
Next comes a reliable yet affordable product from the brand MILIN. They have a wide range of products ranging from budget-friendly to expensive.
Their solar power generator comes with 600W wattage and 622Wh capacity which provides enough juice for running some of the essential devices that include phone, fan, laptop, LED light, radio, digital cameras and others.
It can be recharged from 1 to 80% within 2.5 hours. And on a complete charge, it can provide 6 to 8 hours of power. When you are outside, you can recharge it completely in 10 hours under the sun. Some of the safety features of this product include overcharging, short-circuit protection and overheating and overcurrent.
Highlights
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Universal Power Group Deep
Universal Power Group is one of our top picks because of its batterys versatility, durability and reasonable price. You can use this battery for home solar power storage or mobile charging systems. SLA/AGM technology means this battery is low maintenance and spill-proof.
The battery is excellent for solar systems in small cabins, campervans and boats. Consumers say four of these batteries can run 100 watts all day or 1,500 watts for 30 minutes without a significant voltage drop. Universal Power Group provides a one-year warranty on this battery.
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Powerplus Energy Life Premium
Based on direct experience and feedback from many professional off-grid designers and installers, the self-managed lithium batteries from Powerplus Energy in Melbourne, Australia, stood out as the best and most reliable choice for off-grid solar systems. Unlike the many common managed** lithium battery systems on the market from manufacturers such as BYD and LG, self-managed lithium battery systems do not require a communication connection with the inverter and are compatible with almost all leading off-grid inverter-chargers. These batteries can also be used as a drop-in replacement for older lead-acid battery banks and generally do not shut down after a low-voltage or low SOC event. We should also note, in certain situations, self-managed battery modules can be âhot-swappedâ or replaced without shutting the down site if there is an issue.
** Some managed lithium battery options that rely on communications can be problematic, especially at a low state of charge and very low temperatures.
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Bigblue 28w Solar Charger
The BigBlue 28W solar charger is the best among the portable solar chargers available in the market today. This solar charger is available at a very reasonable price and comes with a rather large panel that is foldable and reliable at the same time.
The charger boasts a power output of 28 watts and provides a quick charging solution. The SmartIC technology in this charger detects the device youre charging and delivers optimal speeds based on that. The two USB outlets ensure that you can charge multiple devices at one time.
Jackery Portable Power Station
The first solar generator in our list is from Jackery. Jackery has become a reliable brand in terms of portable power stations and solar generators.
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000 is one of the most powerful options on our list with 1002 Wh capacity. With this portable station, you can power up to 8 AC appliances simultaneously. The power of this solar generator makes this an automatic choice for powering mini-fridges, ovens, power blenders, and pellet smokers.
The solar generator has 2 USB C-type ports and 1 quick charge port to power your digital devices.
Jackery has used MPPT technology that allows you to recharge this solar generator quickly. The generator will reach its full capacity in 8 hours if you charge it using two SolarSaga 100W solar panels. If you use one solar panel, it will take 17 hours for a complete recharge.
You can also recharge the generator using AC outlets and 12v vehicle accessory ports. It will take 7 hours to reach full capacity if you recharge from an AC outlet and 14 hours from 12v vehicle accessory ports.
There has not been any warranty period specified on the products page. But the brands official website states that all its power products including solar generators come with a 24 months warranty.
Highlights
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Blavor 20000mah Solar Power Bank
- Can charge three devices simultaneously
- High power capacity power bank
- Fast charging technology
- 3 level brightness LED flashlight
- The product is built to last with rugged durability
- The leather cover and rubber edge are not heat-resistant
Here is another solar power bank from our trusted brand, Blavor. Blavor continues to offer the best solar solutions in the industry. Now with more power, this 20000mAh solar power bank can be used for multiple charges.
One of the things I like about this upgraded Blavor solar power bank is its foldable solar panels. It has four premium foldable solar panels that charge more efficiently using solar energy. With a higher conversion rate, recharging is simple and easy if there is sunlight.
You will not regret getting this solar power bank with fast charging features. With its fast charging technology, it automatically detects your batterys power and delivers the most efficient charging results. With this power bank, charging time is relatively shortened.
What makes this power bank an even more practical tool are built-in flashlight and compass. The flashlight even has three brightness levels that you can easily adjust according to your preference. It is perfect to lead your way through the dark. It can come in handy during a power outage. The compass is also convenient to have and works well.
How To Use A Solar Power Bank
Read the user manual
As with any tech product you buy, first things first, read the user manual.
Even though solar power banks are easy to use, and you may want to rip them out of there, be mindful.
Ask yourself some user-friendly questions how do I preserve the performance, battery life, and capacity of my solar power bank?
All your answers will be found in the user manual.
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Most Versatile: Byd Battery
What We Like:
- This modular tower battery is available at a number of different voltage levels so that you can choose the option best suited for your home or business energy needs.
- Its a cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate battery, which performs well at high temperatures and has a longer cycle life than other lithium solar batteries.
- Battery modules can be stacked in order to increase the total capacity thats available to you.
- The BYD battery comes with a 10-year warranty and claims to be good for around 3,000 total cycles.
What We Dont Like:
Get free solar quotes.
How Much Does The Patriot Power Cell Cost
On the 4Patriots website, a single Patriot Power Cell costs $29.95 so about $40 all-in. With that said, you can save some money if you are buying for the whole family. The company also has a Patriot Power Cell 4 Pack which costs $99 . A lifetime access pass to the company’s Preparedness Digital Guidebooks is also included in the purchase of the 4 Pack of patriot power cells.
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Interested In Learning More About Solar Generators 4patriot’s Also Makes The Patriot Power Generator
The most popular and best patriot power generator alternative is by far the EcoFlow Delta 1800 Solar Generator Quad kit with 4 x 100 watt solar panels.
The Delta solar generator has twice as much battery capacity, same size inverter with a bigger surge and comes in 15 lbs lighter and charges up twice as quick!
Check out the comparison chart of the two solar generators below and you’ll quickly see why…
Best Single Panel: Goal Zero Nomad 5 Solar Panel
Weight: 0.79pounds | Dimensions: 9.5 x 7 x 0.8 inches | Output ports: USB Port: 5V, up to 830mA | Accessories: Kickstand, small battery pack
The compact size of most single-panel power banks limits the solar charging capability of the panel, but the Goal Zero Nomad 5 is both portable and powerful. The Nomad 5 offers a 5-watt, rugged solar panel thats lightweight and water-resistant .
The simple design includes a kickstand on the back to angle it into the sun, or carabiners can connect to the top and attach to a backpack for charging on the go. The Nomad 5 kit comes with Goal Zeros Flip, a small battery pack with a USB port so you can charge devices after the sun goes down. When the sun is out, the Nomads panel can charge the Flip in just three hoursmaking it one of the fastest single-panel chargers.
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Total Panel Size Is The Biggest Power Factor
Regardless of the brand, technology, or price, total panel surface area is the number one factor behind solar charger performance. You cant beat this by throwing money at it, either for max power and best output under a wide range of conditions, its generally better to go big and cheap than small and expensive.
The scatter plot below compares each chargers total panel area against the average power output during the best-performing test run. For the scientifically inclined, theres a strong correlation with a p value of 0.8.
Chargers with smaller overall panel area were also more sensitive to a wider range of sunlight conditions. It took more sunlight to max them out, and they dropped off quickly under less-than-ideal light.
Although bigger is clearly better, the idea is to be portable, which is why we chose not to include panels we felt were too big for a common go-bag. Just get the biggest you can within your space, weight, and budget constraints.
How Does A Solar Generator Work
Every solar generator has 4 basic components.
- Solar Panels They convert sunlight into electricity
- Battery The converter solar energy will be stored here
- Charge Controller It controls the current flow to the battery
- Inverter It converts the solar energy stored in the batteries into the current required to power up household appliances.
Now that you know the basic mechanism of each component of a solar generator, we will discuss it a bit further.
Batteries are the storage area for the solar energy converted by the panels. Some solar generators use lithium batteries while others use lead-acid batteries. We recommend a model with lead-acid batteries as they are more compatible and durable.
A charge controller is actually a safeguard that controls the current flow and also improves the life of the battery. Different charge controllers have different features that charge or discharges the battery.
The inverter is responsible for switching the DC or Direct Current present in the battery to AC or Alternating Current to charge the AC units in the house.
Finally, to say in simple terms a solar generator converts energy from the sun through solar panels and stores it in the battery. This will convert from DC energy into AC energy by the inverter when you have to charge household appliances.
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