Best Portable Solar Generator Reviews: The Guide For 2018

The best portable solar generator is one of the smartest energy source solutions that a household could be in possession of. These devices are specifically designated to store up energy and deliver it to you on demand. However, what makes them different from the normal portable generators is that these are capable of being attached to a solar panel. The latter would then collect the sunlight and convert the sunlight energy into electricity. Nevertheless, this process is a lot more complicated and this is the exact reason for which you should be aware of the most important specifications of the solar generators.

Having this in mind, we have compiled an informative list of what we consider to be best portable solar generator reviews. We aim to enable you to understand what this device could be used for and why is it so beneficial to have one. After going through this article, you are going to be able to make a proper comparison and shop accordingly.

• Solar Generator Plug N Play
• 4.3 customer rating
• Includes: three pronge outlets 300watt max
• Dimensions: -

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• Goal Zero Yeti 400
• 4.8 customer rating
• Includes: USB, 12V, AC
• Dimensions: 10.25 x 8 x 8

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• Goal Zero 23000
• 4.2 customer rating
• Includes: 1.5 ampere USB outlet, 12 volts outlet and 300 watts pure sine AC inverter
• Dimensions: 8 x 10.2 x 8

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• Renogy® Firefly
• 4.5 customer rating
• Includes: AC, USB
• Dimensions: 15.20 x 11.81 x 3.84

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• Aspect Solar Sunsocket
• 4.5 customer rating
• Includes: 4 USB ports and a 12V DC outlet
• Dimensions: 20.2 x 4.2 x 16.5

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• Offgridsolargenerators
• 4.2 customer rating
• Includes: AC
• Dimensions: 34 x 26 x 1.4

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Top 6 Portable Solar Generators

Goal zero 23000 Yeti 400 Portable Solar Generator

Being one of the best solar generators for home usage, this particular unit is in this list due to the fact that it would allow you to easily power up a lot of applications conveniently. You can use it to provide electricity to your TV, radio or any other utility tool, regardless of where you are by using this effective solar generator.

The unit features power lights and built-in AC inverters. It is chainable with other Goal Zero Yeti 400 technology for even longer runtimes. It is particularly safe for indoor use which is another reason to include it in our list. You can recharge by a variety of methods like simply plugging it into a power outlet, connect it to the battery of your car with alligator clamps or use a solar panel, which is sold separately.

The feature has 1.5 ampere USB outlet, one 12 volts outlet and 300 watts of pure sine AC inverter which is included in the kit. The item is however non-returnable. The size is 8 x 10.2 x 8 inches and it only weights around 29 pounds which makes it perfect to easily carry around.

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Solar Generator Plug n Play Kit By Offgridsolargenerators

There are variety of reasons for which we have included this particular unit in the top 6 list. It is without a doubt one of the best portable solar power systems and its incredible features are there to show for it. The unit is perfect to use as an alternative power source and the solar panel powering solution is there to ensure a constant flow of electricity, regardless of the situation.

The unit has a 30 watt and 12v polycrystalline solar panel which is wired with an AC plug that goes straight into the battery box. It has a Duracell powerpack with three pronge outlets capable of delivering a maximum output of 100 watts. It also features a sealed 12 amp hour AGM battery. The panel is fully waterproof and is capable of withstanding rain, wind and hail.  The solar panel is extremely sturdy and has polycrystalline cells which are known for being more efficient than the mono version.

This particular unit is a great generator for apartments because it is easily usable inside without having to worry about a toxic gas poisoning. The unit also comes with a 25ft wire which would allow you to install the panel and place the battery wherever you need it.

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Goal Zero Yeti 400 Portable Solar Generator Kit

This particular unit is one of the most efficient and practical portable solar energy generator kits for some good reasons. It is highly versatile and it is capable of powering up a number of applications which include phones, lights, tablets, cameras, CPAP or a TV. The unit is perfect if you experience short power outages. It could be also be used to power up a base camp.

The unit is rechargeable with an AC inverter, a common 12 V power outlet or a solar panel. The unit is also designated for inside use as it won’t emit any kinds of gas fumes as it does not require petroleum to operate. This means that you can freely use it wherever you want without having to worry about a toxic gas poisoning. The unit has an AC inverter output, a USB out as well as a 12 V outlet. It is highly portable and could be easily carried from one location to another.

This is even further complemented by the relatively small size and light weight of about 40 pounds. The unit also doesn’t produce any noise while operating.

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Renogy Firefly Portable Solar Generator

We have compiled this list of the best portable solar generators based on a variety of useful qualities. This particular unit strictly exceeds our expectations in each one of our pre-set standards. The unit is easy to use with the straightforward LCD display. It also provides a great versatility throughout the various outputs that would allow you to run a number of different devices. It can charge a US or AC appliance that is under 150 W.

The unit is also incredibly portable and it has a carrying handle. The main purpose of this generator is to be used as an off-grid solution. It is capable of providing up to 175 Wh of energy and it also includes a LED flashlight with two modes – lightning and SOS which further complements that off-the-grid usage designation. The unit is also an upgraded version. The Firefly’s internal 10A charge controller is included to allow the addition of a 12 V solar panel.

It also comes with a 5.5mm adaptor and a cable with DC to MC4 connectors that would allow you to o expand the system quite quickly and with no significant effort. The unit has a height of 4.13 inches and length of about 15.75 inches. It only weighs around 10.8 pounds which makes it a lot easier to carry around as well as to store.

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Aspect Solar Sunsocket Sun-Tracking Solar Generator

There are a lot of things that we take under thorough and serious consideration in order to put up a unit in this list. This particular solar generator manages to exceed our expectations in a variety of different ways. This is a portable solar powered generation that has an exclusive sun-tracking solar panel. Literally everything that it requires to operate is included in a carrying briefcase which eliminates the need of assembly.

The unit is capable of charging up in no more than 5 hours if there is a good sunlight available and in about 9 hours if there is only poor sunlight. The solar generator has 60W solar panels as well as a 250W battery that is designated to produce consistent as well as reliable and long-term power usage. It also supports 4 USB ports as well as a 12V DC outlet. The unit has a lithium ion phosphate battery that extends the life of the device for your own personal convenience.

The size of the unit is 20.2 x 4.2 x 16.5 inches and it only weighs around 25 pounds which makes it significantly easy to carry from one location to another.

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Offgridsolargenerators Portable Solar Generator Plug N Play

In order to get in the top 6 list, a unit has to possess a range of qualities that determine its utility, portability and general efficiency. This particular unit falls within our category during each step of the test. It is a 100 watt solar panel that has incredibly long 30ft of wire that would go straight into the power pack.

There is a powerful 1500 power pack that has built-in charge controller which transforms the unit into a plug n play one. The only thing you would need to do is to put the panel out in the sun. The battery goes wherever you need it because it is highly portable and easy to carry around. This particular solar generator is great for using inside of an apartment due to the fact that it does not emit any kind of toxic fumes and it is especially quiet. It has a deepcycle 60 amp battery for added convenience.

The unit comes in a 34 x 26 x 1.4 inches size and weighs around 60 pounds. Despite the rather significant dimensions, the unit comes with built-in wheel kit for convenient portability.

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Best Portable Solar Generators Comparison Chart

What Is a Solar Generator?

A solar generator is a specifically designed device that would allow you to convert solar energy into electrical energy. This is a general physics principle that is commonly referred to as photovoltaic power. The truth is that the usage of nonrenewable energy sources such as gas, petroleum, coal and literally everything that can’t be restored, has reached dangerously staggering amounts, alternative energy solutions are growing in popularity.

A solar generator is typically going to be composed of several different parts. There is the apparatus that is designated to collect the solar energy through the sunlight. This complicated device is known as a solar panel or a photovoltaic cell. It is a delicately produced panel which is made with crystalline silicon or amorphous silicon in order to properly collect as well as convert sunlight into electricity.

The location that the panel is going to be mounted at is of huge importance. Make sure that you install it at a place that has a direct sunlight reaching it if you want to achieve maximum results. However, sunlight is also collected if the sky is cloudy. As you can imagine, despite of the clouds, the sunlight is still reaching the surface of our earth and so the panels are capable of collecting and converting it. This process of course would be a lot faster if there were no clouds. However, the panel should be placed in a place which would allow it to capture all the sunlight it can.

Solar Energy Advantages

The fact is that the energy that we draw from the sunlight is a consistent and steady source of power throughout the entire year. This could help us in the battle against nature because we are steadily draining up the nonrenewable resources such as petroleum, natural gas or coal, for instance. It is a great chance to take advantage of energy sources that do not threaten the bare existence of our kind, such as wind, water, biomass and of course – the sun. However, the main benefit is that it could be easily deployed for both domestic and business usage as it won’t be requiring a complicated set up. With this in mind let’s take a look at some of the main advantages of solar energy.

• It won’t be polluting the environment

  This is certainly the first thing that pops into mind when we think of a solar energy source. This is an alternative for using fossil fuels because it is clean, reliable as well as renewable source of power. It won’t pollute the air because it does not release any kind of harmful gases like carbon dioxide, for instance. The risk of contaminating the air around it is literally none. The solar fuel systems also do not require any kind of fuel to get powered up or to produce the electricity and it also gets rid of the problem related to radioactive or toxic waste.

• It is renewable, of course

  We can never run out of sun light. Well, actually we can but then the source of electricity would be the least of our problems. Nevertheless, sunlight can be found literally everywhere on the surface of the Earth. This immense energy can be harnessed by mounting solar panels that would also reduce the dependence of entire countries on petroleum and coal, for instance.

• Solar panels are easy to maintain

  When you think about it, the low maintenance directly translates to a cheaper energy. This is due to the fact that the expenses you are going to make in relation to the maintenance of the solution, will increase the overall value of the energy you are producing. Most of the solar panels can be cleaned with a slight brush. The only thing that you would have to consider is that they must not be dusted on the surface because this would diminish the collection of sunlight. Also, during the winter, you would have to make sure that there is no snow on the panels, for the same reason.

• Easy and convenient installation

  Solar panels are really easy to install and they don’t actually require any kind of cords or power sources. Furthermore, you can distribute solar panels over a large area which eliminates the need of huge scale installations.

Reasons to Get a Portable Solar Generator

As you can imagine, the reasons for which you should consider buying a portable solar generator are directly related to the advantages of this device as well as to the advantages of solar electricity in general. Therefore, you should take a look at what we have already described in the previous point. In any case, the already mentioned benefits are surely not the only reasons for which you should strongly consider getting such a device. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of them.

• Obviously, your first reason is going to be the thing that this is a “green” solution. It won’t be harming the environment in any way and it is fueled only by the sun. This also means that you won’t be using nonrenewable energy sources such as coal or gas.
• Due to the fact that no one is able to put a price on the sunlight, the energy you are going to be obtaining throughout your own solar panels is also free. Of course, this is a rather relative statement because you would have to purchase the solar panels, install them and maintain them afterwards, so there is some money to be paid.
• Contrary to popular belief, solar generators can be used when it is not sunny outside. They are also usable when there are clouds or when it is raining or snowing. This is due to the fact that sunlight is getting through the clouds. If it wasn’t it wouldn’t have been bright outside. However, the electricity is going to be produced much slower this way. This is why it is not highly advisable to go after such a solution if you live in an area where sunlight isn’t as common as it should be. The thing is that solar generators store energy that has been gathered and converted when there was sunlight available. This means that even if there are clouds, the generator would have already been charged from when there was sunlight available.

• Another simple truth is that it is incredibly smart to keep an alternative energy source in terms of emergencies or sudden power outages. This would allow you not to worry about being left out with no electricity, regardless of the situation. You are always going to be backed up and if something happens you are going to be able to react accordingly due to the fact that you have a backup plan.
• Solar generators are incredibly easy to maintain. However, keep in mind that you would have to maintain the solar panel as well as the generator itself as they are two different devices. The maintenance of the panel is rather straightforward. Once a year you should conduct a general assessment of the job the unit has done. The generator requires little to no maintenance at all.
• Solar generators are also a viable option if you don’t have a solar panel. You can charge them up by using traditional methods such as plugging them into a standard electricity outlet or connect them to your car by using alligator clamps. In any case you are not going to be necessarily limited to using a solar panel, as these devices can operate like any normal generators.
• Solar generators are capable of powering up a variety of different solutions like mobile phone chargers, cameras, TVs. They are also the perfect choice if you go on camps a lot. You can simply place the panel near your camp and this would ensure that you are going to be supplied with enough electricity for the time being.
• Portable solar generators are also quite mobile and versatile. They are called portable for a reason, after all. They would allow you to carry them around without a lot of effort which means you can use them for a variety of different situations.

In any case, owning a portable solar generator means that you have equipped yourself with an alternative power source in case your main one dies temporary. They would be capable of providing you with electricity for a long enough period of time during which you can fix the problem or wait out for the emergency situation to pass.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best portable solar generator is a device that would further complement the power sourcing in your home. This device would enable you to rest assured that you would be properly supplied with electricity in cases of power outages or emergencies. This is an incredibly convenient solution, especially if you live in an area where power outages are something rather common. However, these units also have a great variety of applications and are perfect of satisfying the lower power demands. This means that you won’t be able to power up appliances which require a lot of electricity, but you may be sure that you will be able to get the most important things running in case of emergency. These carefully compiled portable solar generator reviews are specifically designated to help you compare and pick the most appropriate unit that would best accommodate your particular situation. With all this being said, we are certain that after going through this guide, you will be able to make an informed and adequate choice.