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Are You Looking For the Best Solar Generator Reviews?

Solar GeneratorHow is your household going green? They are a number of ways that every home can proactively work to limit carbon emissions to protect the environment, but nothing is as exciting or as beneficial as a solar generator. With the right setup, your home could go completely off of the grid because it will use the energy of the sun to create power independently. The best solar generator reviews can help you find the perfect generator to meet your needs today!

Here Is the Best Chart for Solar Generators

How good is the quality of the solar panels? Will the generator just produce heat… or will it produce electricity as well? With the best chart for information below, you’ll be able to quickly find the best generators to meet your needs.

PictureNameWattagePriceOur Rating
PictureNameWattagePriceOur Rating
Solar Generator Plug 'N Play Kit30
$$
4.6
Goal Zero 23000 Yeti300
$$
3.8
Emergency Survival Solar Generator85
$$
5
Go Power! Weekender160
$$$$$+
3.4
Goal Zero 39004 Yeti60
$$$$$+
3.1
5000 Watt 200AH Solar Generator & 2x 100 Watt Solar Panels200$$$$$+
3.8
KISAE Technology HS1800-60-00 Home Solar Kit1,800
$$$$$
3.0
Nature Power 404021,800
$$$$
5
Portable Solar Generator with 100 Watt Solar Panel100$$$$$5
Aspect Solar Sunsocket Sun-Tracking Solar Generator250$$$$$4.5

Who Can Benefit From Using a Solar Generator?

Every single household in the world today can benefit from a solar power generator. Because there is no gasoline, propane, or natural gas involved, even people living in apartments, flats, or other rentals can benefit from owning this type of generator, even if you haven’t investigated how solar power works. You simply set up the solar panels where they can be exposed to daylight and you’ll generate a power reserve that can be used to create the power you need when it is needed most.

The quality of the solar panel is the most important aspect of the shopping process. Inferior panels can warp when exposed to direct sunlight, which effectively renders them useless. The best solar generator reviews will tell you everything you need to know about the quality of the panels and how easy they are to hook up into the generator so that you won’t have to spend a lot of money on what ends up being a giant paperweight because the sun destroyed the power generation capabilities of your unit.

You’ll also want to make sure that you’re getting photovoltaic solar panels for your generator. These are the type of panels that can produce electricity for you that will either charge the battery pack of your generator or feed it the power it needs to run. When you take these considerations into account as you shop for your solar generator, you’ll be able to get the perfect generator to meet your home’s electrical needs.

How Can I Find the Best Solar Generators Today?

The first consideration that you’ll want to look at in a solar generator is the amount of time that it takes to charge the unit if it is running from a battery. Some charging times can exceed 12 hours, which means you’d have no power at all throughout the day so that you could fully charge the generator to use at night.

If you have a constantly running generator that runs from solar panel, you’ll want to make sure you have solar panels that run from daylight instead of sunlight. Daylight panels will run the generator even on days when the sky is overcast, giving you more power for when you need it. Direct sun panels, on the other hand, may not operate on cloudy days and this could limit how much power you can generate.

The best solar generators will also be able to produce enough watts to meet your home’s needs. Many solar generators are under-powered, with some generating as few as 600 watts. That’s the equivalent of powering just 10 standard light bulbs! Think about what needs you’d have, either at home or while you travel, and then look for the right strength of generator so that those needs can be met.

The one advantage of solar generators over any other? They are extremely lightweight. If you needed power during an extended backcountry trip, some small watt solar generators can be packed along so water can be heated, phones could be charged, or other basic needs could be met.

What Are the Basics of Using the Best Solar Generators?

The best solar generators are a robust system that will combine all of the features you need to maintain your lifestyle. You’re going to want to look for these specific features within the best solar generator reviews today:

  • A power supply with an inverter. Even though you’re generating power from a clean source of energy, that doesn’t automatically mean that the electricity being produced has low harmonics. If you want to run sensitive electronics, like a computer, from a solar generator, you’ll want to look for one that has an inverter included with the power supply.
  • A source for AC and DC power. Most solar generators will provide an alternating current for electrical needs, but not all of them have a direct current outlet. You’ll want to look for a generator that has at least one DC outlet so that you can have all of your unanticipated needs met.
  • An non-interruption power supply. Having your power supply interrupted can do a lot of damage to your electrical grid, your appliances, and virtually anything you have plugged into the generator at the time – even if it has been hooked up through a surge protector.

It is important to realize before purchasing a solar generator that major appliances are typically not going to be able to be powered by this generator. That means large refrigerators, electrical dryers, or even electrical stoves are not generally a good option with this type of generator. You may be able to rotate these appliances and run just one at a time, but be sure to check the maximum wattage ratings of each appliance before you actually proceed.

How Much Do Solar Generators Cost Today?

The one disadvantage that solar generators have is that you typically need to purchase the solar panels and the generator itself because most people don’t have a solar setup in place already. This means you’re going to add about $150 per solar panel to your order and stronger generators require at least two good photovoltaic panels to operate efficiently. That means your average cost on websites like Amazon could approach $1,000.

Overall, however, the cost savings can come back to you right away. With a system that generates enough power for your home, in theory you could get off of the grid entirely. That means no more unpredictability in utility costs!

What Do Our Reviews Have To Say?

Emergency Survival Solar Generator

Producing up to 85 watts of power that can be stored in an emergency power pack, you’ll be able to get the basic power needs you have met with this backup power system. It’s a DC system that works well with 12v charging systems, so your electronics will be able to be recharged with ease.

These panels can be combined for greater power output using a combiner box as well if you have greater power needs than these. Although pretty basic, sometimes you just need to have basic needs met. That’s what this emergency power system can do.

Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the Emergency Survival Solar Generator

Duracell Plug ‘N Play

You’ll be able to light 9-10 standard light bulbs with this generator, have some basic power for other needs that need to be met if you prefer, and be able to do so without consuming any fossil fuels whatsoever. The solar panel works on daylight, not sunlight, so you don’t even need direct sun to charge the battery.

Then, when you need some power the most, you’ll be able to have it and continue to have power supplied to the generator during the day. You don’t even need a charge controller because the battery automatically goes to a trickle charge once it is at 100%!

Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the Duracell Plug ‘N Play

Aspect Solar Sun Tracker

With a total of 60 watts of solar power generation, this system will take a little while to charge the 250W battery that is included, and you’re not going to be able to power anything that requires a lot of power – that means no microwaves, refrigerators or hair dryers.

No assembly is required for this solar generator either – it comes ready to go straight from Amazon. Just open it up and let it capture some sunlight. It automatically tracks the sun position too, so you’re always going to get the maximum possible power into your battery.

Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the Aspect Solar Sun Tracker

KISAE Nature Power 40402 1800W Kit

This complete solar generator system offers up to 1800 watts of power and has four AC outlets for added convenience so that this power can be easily accessed. There’s a transfer switch that has been integrated into this generator’s design, which is really easy to use. Offering a lot of plug and play capabilities, you can set up this generator in just a few minutes.

Have more power needs? That’s ok too because you can purchase auxiliary batteries and more solar panels to have as big of a system as you need for an emergency backup system that doesn’t rely on any fuel source beyond daylight.

Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on the KISAE 40402 1800W Kit

5000 Watt Inverter and 2x 100W Solar Panels

Although this solar generator is one of the most expensive that you’ll find on the market today, it is also one of the best. It’s a 2 part, 12v system that comes with 2x 100 watt photovoltaic solar panels. You’ll get a 25 foot charging cord and the installation of the generator is easy thanks to the weather and UV resistant cabinet with built-in wheels that comes with the power pack.

It works with custom wiring solutions and is flexible enough to still have plug and play capabilities. It’s a sealed system, is maintenance free, and you’ll never have to worry about spills again!

Click here to check the price on Amazon and find a great deal on this Solar Generator Kit

Are you ready to get off of the grid? With a solar energy, it is possible to have the right level of backup power without needing to rely on a traditional fossil fuel source every again. The best solar generator reviews can help to make this happen quickly and easily. If it is time to have a viable backup energy source that you can rely upon every day, then it is time to own a solar generator.

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12 Comments

  1. Jim Logan

    November 10, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    I would like to know what solar powered generator it would take to run a refrigerator, and freezer 24 hours per day and 3 light bulbs 10 hours per day and the cost of the generator.

    Reply

    • Brian Martin

      November 10, 2015 at 6:23 pm

      Hey Jim,

      Thank you for your question. Solar generators are comprised of three components – the solar panels themselves, the battery system and the inverter that changes the 12v stored in the batteries back into 110v that you can use from your home’s outlets. To go totally off grid, you’ll need to have enough power generation capacity from your solar panels to generate electricity during the daylight hours as well as power storage capacity from your batteries to store it overnight.

      Refrigerators and freezers have two energy consumption figures to take into consideration – the starting wattage (which is the amount of power that it draws when the motor first kicks in) and the running wattage. Your average $500-$700 refrigerator/freezer combination has a running wattage around 700w, but requires a surge of about 2200w when the motor starts. Larger units may have running wattages as high as 1200w and with the average 3x multiplier of running to surge wattages, this would mean a surge wattage of up to 3600w required.

      If you’ve bought an Energy Star refrigerator rated Five Stars, then it may be as low as 200w running and 1200w surge.

      The average fridge uses 500hWh per year, which is 1.37 kWh per day – or 1300 watt hours per day.

      Your light bulb usage may vary as well, but assuming you’re using energy efficient bulbs like these compact fluorescent bulbs, you’d use a total of 3 x 13 watts x 10 hrs = 390 watt hours per day.

      This 5000 Watt/200 Amp Hour system from Be Prepared Solar is less than $1500 and has a battery bank consists of 2x 100ah batteries which provides a total of 2400 watt hours, although you should avoid running the batteries below 50%, which means you’d only have 1200 watt hours per day. Therefore, you’d really need two of these systems linked together to have enough power. Total cost around $2900.

      The next problem comes in charging the battery pack. Assuming that you get a reasonable 5-7 hours of daylight per day to the panels, you will need about 12 of these 100w solar panels to charge your battery system. All up, you’re looking at about $2100 roughly for the solar panels as well.

      So, your total all in cost would be just below $5000 to run your refrigerator and those three lights completely off grid.

      I hope this helps you in your purchasing decision and thanks for visiting my web site.

      – Brian.

      Reply

  2. Cene

    November 18, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    So – These generators cant be used to power the whole house in event of power loss ? Is their a solar version of a whole house backup system to run tv’s, hvac, lights, fridge etc ? I want the Mac Daddy

    Reply

    • Brian Martin

      December 14, 2015 at 12:09 am

      Check the response to Jim Logan’s question (here) – it really depends on how long you want to be able to power everything and how frequently you expect interruptions to your power supply. A system like this 5000 Watt/200 amp Hour system will cost around $1500, and will keep things going for about six hours, but will take up to 12 days to fully recharge the battery system. Add extra solar panels for faster recharging, or more batteries for longer run times.

      Reply

  3. Judy

    November 26, 2015 at 8:32 pm

    Is there a large enough solar generator to run a whole home? Refrigerator, water heater, stove, washer & dryer, computer etc.? If so, what would the cost be?
    Thanks

    Reply

    • Brian Martin

      December 14, 2015 at 12:13 am

      There certainly is, but to know exactly how big of a system you’ll need, you’ll need to calculate the energy use of all of your appliances. I did some quick calculations in response to Jim Logan’s question – to get your usage numbers, either record how much power your electricity meter uses in a 24 hour period or look at the power consumption stickers on all of your devices, multiply by the number of hours you’ll be using it and you’ll start to find out how much power you’ll need (roughly) per day, or per week.

      Once you know that, just add enough battery packs to supply that power and solar panels to keep the system fully charged, and you’re set. A low power usage home like Jim’s example would be around $5000, your usage may be higher.

      Reply

  4. Dave Youngman

    January 18, 2016 at 11:45 am

    I have a 1800 sq foot home with an additional 1200 sq ft finished basement. We have a refrigerator, a freezer, high efficiency heating & air conditioning system by Carrier corporation, and laptop computer with iPad and two cell phones, plus lighting throughout the home.

    How much would I have to spend for a solar generator, panels and batteries to provide energy for my home and appliances for an extended period of time? My thinking is that if I spend $10,000 now I could get some tax credits and would save gas and electric – the simple payback (investment cost divided by annual savings) might be in the 5 – 10 year time frame. If not, even a longer payback period would be acceptable if the equipment would last for 20 years or so with little maintenance.

    Reply

    • Brian Martin

      January 29, 2016 at 9:59 pm

      The best way to work this out is to look at exactly how much power your house uses across a 24 hour period. To do this, go to your electricity meter, record the number – wait 24 hours and do the same. Calculate the difference between the two and you’ll know your household’s daily energy usage in kilowatt hours. Obviously this will only factor in the appliances that you’ve used during that time, so if you have a washing machine that only runs once a week, your usage will appear to be higher if you run it on the day that you’re tracking, or lower if you don’t run your heating/cooling system but normally do.

      Armed with this, you can then do the sums based on what I explained in the response to Jim Logan here, keeping in mind the amount of time that it’ll take to charge the batteries, how long you’re expecting to be “off grid” for, and also that the batteries shouldn’t dip below 50% charge on a regular basis which is important if you’re doing a completely off grid home, but less important if you are just trying to keep the power on for 24 hours or less.

      Based on Jim’s very low requirements without heating/cooling or considering the small amounts of power drawn by laptops, iPads, cellphones to charge, or a chest freezer, the system for his usage pattern was estimated to be around $5000. Heaters and air conditioners use large amounts of electricity so you might find that your requirements are 4x higher than his.

      Reply

  5. thomas meisenheimer

    February 12, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    I have solar electric now. Can I use the “house” solar panels to run a solar generator. If so, whom would I contact to get this accomplished?

    Reply

    • Brian Martin

      February 16, 2016 at 2:14 am

      You’d need to install a battery system to store the power from the solar panels, and then connect that into your inverter. Speak to a local electrician to find out more.

      Reply

  6. EVARISTO

    February 28, 2016 at 10:54 am

    I just need a very good system to get water from my well of 200 feet deep
    how many panels or watts do I need? and about the cost. Thank you

    Reply

    • Brian Martin

      March 4, 2016 at 9:44 pm

      Check the specifications of the pump that will be moving the water out of your 200 feet deep well, and that should tell you how many watts uses when running. Add a buffer of 20-50% on top of that, and you should have a reasonable idea of how many watts worth of power you need from your panels if it’s only going to operate during the day, or double that number for the panels plus batteries if you want to charge panels during the day and operate the pump 24 hours.

      Reply

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