This article is a starting point to get into the know regarding “solar generators.” What is a solar generator? Do they actually work? What do I need to know before I buy one? What can I use them for? Read on and find out…
What is a solar generator?
At its most basic level, a solar generator combines a large battery with solar panels. They work by capturing sunlight via your solar panels, storing the energy captured by sunlight into a battery, and then converting that energy into AC power for you to use. They typically come with wall outlets, USB outlets, and even DC outlets.
While the “generator” isn’t entirely accurate, as they don’t generate power in the way fossil-fuel-powered generators do, the term has stuck. We often use the term “portable power station,” but for the purposes of this article, we’ll be using “Solar Generator.”
Do solar generators really work?
In short, solar generators work for virtually anything a traditional generator can be used for without the fumes, smell, or high maintenance. While it’s true that a significant limitation in the past has been output, with solar generators lacking when it comes to powering heavy-duty devices, this has been remedied in recent years with EcoFlow’s X-Boost technology. More on that later.
The key thing that sets solar generators apart from their archaic counterparts is that you’ll need to charge them rather than give them fuel. If you’re charging with solar panels, you’ll just want ones with an solar panel connector for maximum compatibility, such as EcoFlow’s range of portable solar panels and, of course, sun. You can read more about what kinds of solar panels you might consider here.
That being said, solar isn’t the only way to charge up. Almost all solar-powered generators can charge via wall outlets too, with some supporting various charging methods. In this way, solar generators are much more flexible than traditional generators. EcoFlow DELTA Pro, for example, lets you use wall outlets, car outlets, solar panels, Smart Generators, or even EV charging stations. Storing renewable energy is now easier than ever.
What should I consider before buying a solar generator?
Okay, so let’s assume you’re on board with the idea of solar generators replacing traditional petrol generators, or perhaps as a generator alternative. What factors should you then consider with this new technology?
Capacity: The thousand-watt question
The first and most crucial factor you’ll want to look at is how big the battery itself is since you won’t be using a tank full of petrol to power your appliances. A larger battery usually means more capacity, which is measured in ‘watt-hours.’ The more watt-hours, the longer you can power your devices before needing a recharge. Let’s take two extremes for comparison when it comes to capacity and portability:
EcoFlow River 2
Perhaps the most portable solar generator going, River 2 is the smallest of the River 2 series and comes in at 256 watt-hours. It’s almost like a giant powerbank with AC, DC, and USB outlets to power your devices. It’s great for short trips, camping, or just to throw in your on-the-go bag.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro
DELTA Pro — on the other hand — is the most significant deviation from old-school generators. It starts at 3600Wh and can be expanded all the way to 25,000Wh with extra batteries and smart generators. It can integrate directly with your home circuits via accessories and can power your home for days on end during an emergency. And you can monitor it all from your phone. That’s a whole lot more functionality than a traditional generator.
How many watt-hours do I need?
Here, a bit of math comes in handy. Just add up the amount of watts your devices require and multiply that by how many hours you’ll need to use them. Then, leave yourself a buffer for conversion inefficiencies. Here’s an example:
Let’s say an extended power outage hits, and you need to power a fridge for 4 hours. A large fridge can use up to 200W an hour, especially if turn-on cooling is required. In this case, you need a battery with more than 1000Wh (200×4). A good fit here might be the 2000Wh EcoFlow DELTA Max. With 2000Wh, you’ll be able to keep your fridge running throughout the blackout, with a spare 1000Wh or so left over to account for any inefficiency. With that excess energy, you could even use your microwave and charge up your personal devices.
You can browse numerous solar generator sizes here, varying from 210Wh–3600Wh.
Output & Outlets: What can you run on a solar generator?
Different solar generators come with different sets of outlets and can run different things. At a minimum, you’ll want AC wall outlets so you can easily plug in your appliances, as you would at home. However, newer offerings are much more convenient, offering fast-charge USB outlets, DC outlets, and even wireless charging pads. A good middle ground might be the EcoFlow DELTA, a 1200Wh power station that allows you to power up to 13 devices simultaneously.
Beyond just outlets, you’ll also want to consider how much the solar generator outputs. Older, cheaper models tend to lack output, meaning you won’t be able to power larger appliances such as microwaves. However, all EcoFlow solar generators have high output capability and come with X-Boost technology allowing for surges in output requirements. DELTA Pro, for example, can even power appliances that require as much as 4500W. That’s AC units, heaters, and the like all covered.
Battery Chemistry: LFP vs. NCM Batteries
An essential factor that you might not know about coming from a fossil fuel generator is battery chemistry. Different solar generators use different kinds of batteries. The two main ones are NCM batteries and LFP batteries. Each has its own advantages.
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Batteries: The workhorses
LFP batteries — named after their elements (LiFePO4) — are designed for long-term, regular use. If you’re looking for a solar generator to be used as a home battery, you’ll likely want an LFP battery since you’ll be cycling it multiple times a week. These have a cycle life almost 5 times that of the NCM alternative. The sacrifice LFP batteries have is that they’re heavier, so if you opt for an LFP battery, make sure it’s easy to transport. EcoFlow DELTA Pro or any of the River 2 series would be a good pick here.
Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NCM) Batteries: Flexibility first
NCM batteries can be smaller, lighter, and work just fine in temperatures as low as -20°C. They’re the default pick for most portable solar generators as they are easy to carry, throw in your trunk for camping, or move around the house. EcoFlow’s River 2 series is all NCM batteries, as is the DELTA series, excluding the Pro variation. The downside here is the lower cycle life of around 800 cycles before degradation to 80% capacity. That won’t be as significant a factor if you’re only using yours for trips.
Solar Input: What solar panel do I need?
Solar-powered generators don’t necessarily work with any solar panel. You should check the solar input that your solar generator supports to ensure that you can use the solar panel you have or intend to buy. EcoFlow’s solar generators all have high solar inputs for their size. Ranging from 110W for the River 2, to 1600W for the largest model, DELTA Pro.
Just like with fossil-fuel generators, solar generators are used for a ton of applications. Here are three of the most popular:
Solar generators for home backup
Blackouts are on the rise globally, and energy prices are increasing due to scarcity and inflationary pressures. As a result, people are using solar generators to power their home appliances as a source of renewable, emergency power. In general, larger portable power stations like DELTA Pro are an excellent go-to for full home backup. Smaller solar generators such as DELTA are good for powering the essentials.
We wrote a dedicated article here that’ll take you through how people backup their homes with solar generators.
Solar generators for camping
Another widespread use for solar-powered generators is camping. The attraction is that you can take your campsite to the next level with electricity. We take power outlets for granted indoors, being able to just plug in whenever we need them. Now we can do it in the wild. Just make sure not to check your Slack messages – perhaps boil yourself a brew instead.
Here, you’ll likely want to opt for a power station that puts portability first such as River 2 Pro, since you’ll be carrying it around with you. However, if you’re going all out, DELTA Pro or Max works here too.
We wrote a whole article exploring this topic further here.
Solar generators for RVs & Vanlife
Did you know vanlife is booming? Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been looking for alternative ways to travel. Some have even taken to the road permanently, as in the 2021 Oscar-winning movie Nomadland. Solar generators and RVs or vans are an ideal match. They provide power to your setup and paired with portable solar panels attached to your roof, you’ll have renewable energy on the go. Here, your pick depends on your needs. Large RVs might warrant a large power station, with small vans only requiring a kilowatt-hour or two for a few small appliances and devices.
Here’s more detail on the topic with another piece we put together.
Which solar generator is right for you?
With all that in mind, you’ll start formulating an idea of what you need. Calculate how many watt-hours you require, then weigh up your priorities following that. Outlets, solar compatibility, charging methods, and portability are all factors to consider. To make the choice a little easier, we’ve put together two articles for some further reading, one on the more portable River 2 series and the other on the DELTA series.
