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       These portable power stations can keep the lights on during power outages and camping trips (and may even offer more).
       Solar generators have only been around for a few years, but they’ve quickly become an essential part of many homeowners’ storm plans. Also known as portable power stations, solar generators can power appliances like refrigerators and stoves during a power outage, but they’re also great for campsites, construction sites, and RVs. While a solar generator is designed to be charged by a solar panel (which must be purchased separately), you can also power it from an outlet or even a car battery if you prefer.
       Are solar generators better than gas backup generators? Gas backup generators used to be the best choice in case of a power outage, but our experts recommend considering solar generators. While gas generators are efficient, they are noisy, use a lot of fuel, and must be used outdoors to avoid harmful fumes. In contrast, solar generators are emission-free, safe for indoor use, and operate much quieter, ensuring that they won’t disturb your home while still keeping everything functioning properly.
       At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we’ve personally tested more than a dozen models to find the best solar generators for every need. During our testing, our experts paid special attention to charge time, capacity, and port accessibility to ensure that units can withstand extended power outages. Our favorite is the Anker Solix F3800, but if that’s not what you’re looking for, we have a number of solid recommendations to suit a variety of needs and budgets.
       When a power outage occurs, whether due to extreme weather conditions or grid issues, the best battery backup solutions automatically take over.
       Here’s why we recommend the Solix F3800: It works with an Anker Home Power Panel, which costs about $1,300 on its own. The panel allows homeowners to program specific circuits, like refrigerator and HVAC circuits, to turn on automatically when the power goes out, similar to a propane or natural gas backup generator.
       This portable power station has a battery capacity of 3.84 kWh, which is enough to power a variety of large home appliances and electronic devices. It uses lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, the latest technology that features a long lifespan and fast charging capabilities. You can add up to seven LiFePO4 batteries to increase the capacity to 53.76 kWh, providing backup power for your entire home.
       One of our testers in Houston, where weather-related power outages are common, installed the system in a day with the help of a professional electrician, then successfully simulated a power outage by cutting off power to his home. He reported that the system “worked very well.” “The outage was so short that even the TV didn’t turn off. The air conditioner was still running and the refrigerator was humming.”
       The Anker 757 is a mid-sized generator that impressed our testers with its thoughtful design, solid build, and competitive price.
       With 1,800 watts of power, the Anker 757 is best suited for moderate power needs, such as keeping basic electronics running during a power outage, rather than powering multiple large appliances. “This came in handy at an outdoor party,” said one tester. “The DJ has a habit of running an extension cord to the nearest outlet, and this generator keeps him going all night.”
       The Anker offers a solid set of features, including six AC ports (more than most models in its size category), four USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. It’s also one of the fastest-charging generators we tested: Its LiFePO4 battery can be charged to 80 percent in less than an hour when plugged into an outlet. That’s useful if a storm is approaching and you haven’t used your generator in a while and it runs out of power or is completely out of power.
       When it comes to solar charging, the Anker 757 supports up to 300W of input power, which is average compared to similarly sized solar generators on the market.
       If you’re looking for an ultra-compact solar generator, we recommend the EB3A portable power station from Bluetti. At 269 watts, it won’t power your entire home, but it can keep essential devices like phones and computers running for a few hours in an emergency.
       Weighing only 10 pounds and about the size of an old cassette radio, this generator is perfect for road trips. With its small capacity and LiFePO4 battery, it charges very quickly. The EB3A can be fully charged in two hours using an outlet or a 200-watt solar panel (sold separately).
       This portable power station features two AC ports, two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and a wireless charging pad for your phone. It lasts for 2,500 charges, making it one of the longest-lasting solar chargers we tested. Plus, it comes with an LED light with strobe function, which is a very useful safety feature if you need emergency assistance, like if you break down on the side of the road.
       The Delta Pro Ultra consists of a battery pack and an inverter that converts the battery pack’s low-voltage DC power into the 240-volt AC power needed by appliances like ovens and central air conditioners. With a total output of 7,200 watts, the system is the most powerful backup power source we tested, making it a top choice for homes in hurricane-prone areas.
       Like the Anker Solix F3800 system, the Delta Pro Ultra can be expanded to 90,000 watts by adding 15 batteries, enough to power the average American home for a month. However, to achieve maximum performance, you’ll need to spend around $50,000 on the batteries and smart home panel needed for automatic backup power (and that doesn’t include installation costs or the electricity needed to recharge the batteries).
       Because we chose the Smart Home Panel 2 add-on, we hired a professional electrician to install the Delta Pro Ultra. This feature allows homeowners to connect specific circuits to a backup battery for automatic switching, ensuring your home stays powered during a power outage, even when you’re not home. Or connect appliances and electronics to the unit like any other solar generator.
       In addition to programming the circuit, the Delta Pro Ultra’s display also allows you to monitor the current load and charge level, as well as estimate the battery life under current conditions. This information can also be accessed through the EcoFlow app, which our testers found intuitive and easy to use. The app even allows homeowners to take advantage of their utility’s time-of-use rates, allowing appliances to run during off-peak hours when electricity costs are lower.
       For homeowners who don’t need to power their entire home during a storm, our experts like another budget-friendly option: the EF ECOFLOW 12 kWh Power Station, which comes with an optional battery for under $9,000.
       Solar generators that provide whole-home backup power are often too large to transport during an emergency evacuation. In this case, you’ll want a more portable option, like the Explorer 3000 Pro from Jackery. Although it weighs 63 pounds, we found that the built-in wheels and telescopic handle greatly enhance its portability.
       This generator delivers a solid 3,000 watts of output, which is the most you can get from a truly portable mid-size generator (whole-house generators, by comparison, can weigh hundreds of pounds). It comes with five AC ports and four USB ports. Notably, it’s one of the few solar generators we tested that comes with a large 25-amp AC outlet, making it ideal for powering heavy-duty electronics like portable air conditioners, electric grills, and even RVs. Charging the lithium-ion battery from a wall outlet takes two and a half hours, while charging from a solar panel takes less than four hours.
       During testing, the Jacker’s battery life proved exceptionally long. “We left the generator in a closet for almost six months, and when we turned it back on, the battery was still at 100 percent,” one tester reported. That peace of mind can make a big difference if your home is prone to sudden power outages.
       However, the Jackery lacks some features we appreciate in other models, like LED lighting and built-in cord storage.
       Power: 3000 Watts | Battery Type: Lithium-ion | Charging Time (Solar): 3 to 19 hours | Charging Time (AC): 2.4 hours | Battery Life: 3 months | Weight: 62.8 pounds | Dimensions: 18.1 x 12.9 x 13.7 inches | Lifespan: 2,000 cycles
       This is another whole-home solution that uses semi-solid-state battery technology, known for its longevity and fast-charging capabilities. With 6,438 watts of power and the ability to add additional batteries to increase output, the SuperBase V6400 is suitable for any size home.
       The base can support up to four battery packs, bringing its total power output to over 30,000 watts, and with a Zendure smart home panel, you can connect the base to your home’s electrical circuits to power your entire home.
       Charging time from a wall outlet is very fast, taking just 60 minutes even in cold weather. Using three 400-watt solar panels, it can be fully charged in three hours. While it’s a significant investment, the SuperBase comes with a variety of outlets, including 120-volt and 240-volt AC options, allowing it to be used to power larger systems and appliances, such as an oven or central air conditioner.
       Make no mistake: This is a heavy solar generator. It took two of our strongest testers to lift the 130-pound unit out of the box, but once unpacked, the wheels and telescopic handle made it easy to move.
       If you only need to power a few devices during a short outage or brownout, a mid-sized solar generator will suffice. The Geneverse HomePower TWO Pro provides an excellent balance between power, charge time, and ability to hold a charge for a long time.
       This 2,200-watt generator is powered by a LiFePO4 battery that took less than two hours to fully charge using an AC outlet in our tests, and about four hours using a solar panel.
       We appreciated the thoughtful configuration, which includes three AC outlets for plugging in appliances, power tools, or a CPAP machine, as well as two USB-A and two USB-C outlets for plugging in small electronic devices. However, it’s worth noting that the HomePower TWO Pro isn’t the most reliable solar generator we’ve tested, so it’s more suited to home use than outdoor activities like camping or construction sites.
       For those who need less power, the HomePower ONE from Geneverse is also a good choice. While it has a lower output power (1000 watts) and takes longer to charge thanks to its lithium-ion battery, it weighs 23 pounds, making it easy to transport, while still providing enough power for small electronic devices.
       If you want to use a solar generator outdoors, the GB2000 is our top choice thanks to its durable body and ergonomic design.
       The 2106Wh lithium-ion battery pack provides plenty of power in a relatively compact package, and a “parallel port” lets you connect two units together, effectively doubling the output. The generator features three AC outlets, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports, as well as a convenient wireless charging pad on top for charging phones and other small electronic devices.
       Another thoughtful feature our testers appreciated was the storage pocket on the back of the unit, which is perfect for organizing all your charging cables while on the go. On the downside, the battery life is rated at 1,000 uses, which is shorter than some of our other favorites.
       Goal Zero revolutionized the market in 2017 with the launch of the first portable power station. Although the Yeti 1500X now faces stiff competition from more innovative brands, we think it’s still a solid choice.
       Its 1,500-watt battery is designed for moderate power needs, making it a great choice for camping and recreation. However, its slow charging time (about 14 hours using a standard 120-volt outlet, 18 to 36 hours using solar power) and short shelf life (three to six months) make it less suitable for emergency situations that require a quick charge.
       With a 500-cycle lifespan, the Yeti 1500X is better suited for occasional use rather than as a primary backup power source during frequent power outages.
       Our product experts closely monitor the solar generator market, attending trade shows like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and the National Hardware Show to track popular models and the latest innovations.
       To create this guide, my team and I conducted detailed technical reviews of more than 25 solar generators, then spent several weeks testing the top ten models in our lab and in the homes of six consumer testers. Here’s what we studied:
       Like gasoline and electric vehicles, gasoline generators are a reliable and proven option with a wide range of models to choose from. While solar generators have many benefits, they are relatively new and require some training and problem solving.
       When choosing between solar and gas generators, consider your power needs and budget. For smaller power needs (less than 3,000 watts), solar generators are ideal, while for larger needs (especially 10,000 watts or more), gas generators are better.
       If automatic backup power is a must, gas backup generators are reliable and easy to install, although some solar options offer this feature but are more difficult to set up. Solar generators are safer because they produce no emissions and are suitable for indoor use, while gas generators can pose a potential risk of carbon monoxide emissions. For more information, check out our guide on solar vs. gas generators.
       A solar generator is essentially a large rechargeable battery that can power electronic devices. The fastest way to charge it is to plug it into a wall outlet, similar to how you charge your phone or computer. However, solar generators can also be charged using solar panels, and they are very useful when charging from the grid is not possible due to an extended power outage.
       Larger whole-home generators can be integrated with rooftop solar panels and function similarly to battery-based backup power systems like the Tesla Powerwall, storing energy until it’s needed.
       Solar generators of all sizes can be charged using portable solar panels that connect to the battery using standard solar cables. These panels typically range from 100 to 400 watts, and can be connected in series for faster charging.
       Depending on the situation, a full charge of a solar generator can take as little as four hours, but it can take up to 10 hours or more. So it is extremely important to plan ahead, especially when extreme weather conditions are unavoidable.
       Since this is still a new category, the industry is still working out some questions, including what to call this new type of generator. It’s also worth noting that the solar generator market is now divided into “portable” and “whole-house,” similar to how gas generators are divided into portable and standby. In contrast, whole-house generators, while heavy (over 100 pounds), are technically portable because they can be moved around, unlike standby generators. However, consumers are unlikely to take it outside to charge it with solar power.