Solar Generator Pros and Cons

Free Power...Well Kinda!

A traditional gas powered generator is typically one of the first purchases in a preparedness solution. It is typical to find a gas generator of some sort in the majority of rural America. They are a staple on the RV camping scene as well and keep our freezers...well frozen when our power grid is down. They range from a few hundred dollars... the Predator series from Harbor Freight, to full home multi thousand dollar auto startup Generacs. Do solar generators fit into your preparedness solution? Glad you asked

Solar Generator Basics

Solar Generators differ in one major way from gas generators. You guessed it, instead of the traditional gas motor it uses solar panels to recharge a battery bank. That battery bank then powers your devices no different than a gas generator would. Solar Generators are scaled in size measured in watts just the same as traditional gens. An example would be a old school 100w light bulb. If your solar generator has a 1500w capacity, your lightbulb would stay lit for 15 hours. In comparison, a 12watt LED lightbulb would stay lit for 125 hours.

"Do solar generators fit into your preparedness solution?"

Calculating your power needs is the first step in determining if solar power generation is right for you. If you are running multiple refrigerators and house full of lights and 220v oven, then traditional gas may be a smarter way to go. However, if you are looking for a quiet off grid bug out solution to keep your electronics charged and a few lights in the evening, then solar generators could be the best bet for you.

Lithium Ion vs Lithium Phosphate

A big consideration when choosing a solar gen is what s of batteries are being used inside. There are two main choices, Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) and Lithium Phosphate LiFePO₄). Li-Ion batteries are an older technology of battery and are used in the more economical solar power generators. Lithium Phosphate batteries are used in the higher end generators and naturally come at a higher cost. A Li-Ion battery generator may have a 500 rated life cycle. In contrast a Lithium Phosphate may have 1500 rated life cycle. That means you would be getting 3x more uses out of a LiFePO battery than a Li-Ion. Again look at your needs. Are you using this to recharge your phone while tent camping where an Li-Ion would work just fine or is this a off grid long term power solution?

USB Port Consideration

When deciding which solar generator is right for you consider the amount of power that is being outputted by the USB ports. Some of the generators even come with USB-C ports which can provide charging for the newer cell phones and Apple MacBook. There is a catch though, all USB-C ports are not equal. A MacBook Pro which is my on the go computer, needs 85 watts of power to charge and use at the same time. For instance, the Jackery 1000 only provides 15watts at its USB-C port. That is plenty to charge a phone or iPad quickly but will not power your MacBook. The Bluetti 1500 provides 45 watts getting closer. Yes, you can always plug in your AC power adapter into the 110v outlets and your MacBook will charge just fine. However, if your desire is to use the USB-C cable and plug directly in to the solar generator then you need to shop wisely with that in mind.

Pros and Cons

The pros and cons are compared to a traditional unleaded gas generator.

Pros

Silent Operation! This is huge and could make a life or death difference in a unfriendly environment.
No gas needed. If there is a major reset, gas is likely to run out in days. Solar will be your best choice for long term survival
It only outputs what you need. A gas generator sucks gas whether a phone is charging or a fridge running. Solar gens only output what is needed making each watt count.
Lightweight. 20-50 pounds for a typical solar gen with solar panels. Gas gens can run into the hundreds of pounds and take a large footprint.
Pure Sine Wave. Used to run sensitive electronics like laptops, phones, and computers. Basic gas gens can not safely run sensitive electronics without damage.
3 way Recharge. Solar recharge, plug it in to 110v outlet when you have power back, or plug it into 12v car power when your on the move.

Cons

Little more pricey. Your initial investment will be significantly higher. Remember though, no gas or oil needed with solar and that adds up.
Sunshine. You may not get a full solar recharge on cloudy days or in the winter.
Battery life cycle. Depending on battery chemistry and quality, your life cycle is between 500 and 3500 cycles from 100% to 0%. You may only have 80% capacity after that.
Mindful of the sun. For best and fastest charging you need to change the direction of your panels every few hours.

In the video below Matt with Ozark Overland goes over his thoughts on solar generators. Here are the links to the main generators he discusses:

Solar Solution or Solar Headache

Is a silent Solar Generator right for your preparedness solution? Only you can answer that. I feel it is logical part of your power package and has its place. The gas generator can be used to run a couple hours every day to run your fridges and microwaves. While the solar gen is used for lights, electronics, and all your small needs. Having two power solutions, gas and solar may just be the best of both worlds, but that is for you to decide!

Jim Rutske

Jim is the owner of Burgeon Defense. He enjoys fishing on sunny summer days and all the other days too.