This Is the Solar Generator I’d Want in an Emergency—and It’s on Sale
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Portable power stations are an emissions-free alternative to gas generators, making them safer to operate, since there's no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or the need to store and handle flammable fuel.
Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab have tested more than 20 portable power stations , which are also known as solar generators, since they can be charged with solar panels. The Jackery HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station is the best of the bunch, combining power capacity and portability better than any model on the market.
It's an even smarter purchase now that shoppers can get the power station and two solar panels to go with it for 34% off—that's a $1,240 savings.
If you've been considering a portable power station, whether as a source of backup power during weather-related outages or to run electronic devices at the campsite, job site, or other remote location, there's no time like the present.
The HomePower 3000 can generate up to 3,600 watts of power output, or 7,200 watts in surge mode,which is plenty of juice to keep a full-size refrigerator running for several days. It's equipped with five AC ports and four USB ports. Our experts like the lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, which charges faster than standard lithium-ion batteries; it reached a full charge in just two hours via a wall outlet in our tests, and about 10 hours using the pair of 200-watt solar panels.
Weighing 60 pounds, the HomePower 3000 is not the lightest portable power station we looked at (the Anker SOLIX F1500 Portable Power Station , for example, weighs in at 43.7 pounds, but its capacity is roughly half that of the Jackery). Like we said, though, it strikes the sweet spot between power and portability, plus it features a relatively compact form factor, and the built-in handles make it easy to transport, especially if you're working with a buddy.
The HomePower 3000 is reliable, too, with a claimed battery life of 4,000 cycles and the ability to hold a charge for months on end. As one GH staffer who evaluated the unit at home told us, "We had the generator sitting in a closet for close to six months, and when we powered it back up the battery was still at 100%."
While the generator alone is also on sale right now, our experts recommend at least 100-watt solar panels to go with any solar generator. Generators can recharge from a wall outlet, but solar panels let you keep them powered during outages or off-grid use using nothing but sunlight.
BLUETTI Elite 300 Portable Power Station
Anker SOLIX S2000 Portable Power Station
EF ECOFLOW Power Station
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