If you’re looking for a reliable and versatile portable power station, you might have come across Jackery. Jackery is a leading brand in the industry, offering a range of battery-powered generators that can power your appliances and devices on the go. Whether you need a backup power supply for your home, a portable power source for your RV or camping trips, or an alternative energy solution for your off-grid living, Jackery has something for you.
But how do you choose the best Jackery portable power station for your needs? There are many factors to consider, such as the capacity, output, weight, size, charging options, and compatibility of each model. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve compared every Jackery portable power station in this comprehensive guide. We’ll look at their features, pros and cons, and how they stack up against each other in different categories.
What is a Jackery Portable Power Station?
A portable power station is a battery-powered inverter generator that features AC outlet, DC carport, and USB charging ports, to power your appliances like a fridge, coffee maker, and CPAP machine. Unlike traditional gas generators, portable power stations are quiet, eco-friendly, and safe to use indoors or outdoors. They can be recharged from various sources, such as wall outlets, car chargers, or solar panels.
Jackery is one of the most popular and trusted brands of portable power stations. Founded in 2012 by a former Apple engineer, Jackery aims to provide innovative and high-quality products that enable people to enjoy life with mobile power. Jackery has a wide range of portable power stations, from the compact Explorer 160 to the powerful Explorer 3000 Pro. All Jackery portable power stations have the following features:
- All-round safety: They have 12 layers of protection and 9 temperature sensors to prevent overcharging, overloading, overheating, short-circuiting, and other potential hazards. They also have the best fire rating (94V-0) and shock-resistant level in the industry.
- Less to carry, more to power: They are designed to be lightweight and portable, with ergonomic handles and sturdy cases. They can power up to 99% of appliances under their rated wattage, such as refrigerators, electric grills, CPAP machines, sump pumps, and more.
- Long battery life: They have high-quality lithium-ion batteries that can last up to 20 years with proper maintenance. They can also go on standby for up to 4 years when fully charged.
- Quick charging anywhere: They offer multiple charging options, including wall outlets, car chargers, and solar panels. They also support pass-through charging technology, which allows you to charge the power station and your devices at the same time.
How to Compare Jackery Portable Power Stations?
To compare different models of Jackery portable power stations, you need to look at some key specifications and features. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Capacity: This is measured in watt-hours (Wh) and indicates how much energy the battery can store. The higher the capacity, the longer the power station can run your appliances and devices.
- Output: This is measured in watts (W) and indicates how much power the power station can deliver at a given time. The higher the output, the more appliances and devices you can run simultaneously.
- Weight: This is measured in pounds (lbs) and indicates how heavy the power station is. The lighter the weight, the easier it is to carry around.
- Size: This is measured in inches (in) and indicates how big the power station is. The smaller the size, the more space-efficient it is.
- Charging options: This indicates what sources you can use to recharge the power station. Most Jackery models can be charged from wall outlets (AC), car chargers (DC), or solar panels (PV).
- Compatibility: This indicates what types of appliances and devices you can run with the power station. Most Jackery models have AC outlets (110V/60Hz), DC carports (12V/10A), USB-A ports (5V/2.4A), USB-C ports (5V/3A or PD 60W), and cigarette lighter sockets (12V/10A).
Comparison of Every Jackery Portable Power Station
Now that you know what to look for when comparing Jackery portable power stations let’s take a look at every model available on the market.
Explorer 160
The Explorer 160 is the smallest and lightest model in the Jackery lineup. It has a capacity of 167Wh and an output of 100W (150W surge). It weighs only 3.84 lbs and measures 7.4 x 4.59 x 6.73 in. It has one AC outlet, one DC carport, two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port. It can be charged from a wall outlet, a car charger, or a 60W solar panel (sold separately). It can power small devices like smartphones, laptops, cameras, drones, and lights for several hours.
The Explorer 160 is ideal for solo travelers, backpackers, and adventurers who need a compact and portable power source for their essential devices. It can also serve as an emergency backup power supply for your home or car. However, it cannot power appliances that require more than 100W, such as mini-fridges, electric kettles, hairdryers, or microwaves.
Explorer 240
The Explorer 240 is the next model up from the Explorer 160. It has a capacity of 240Wh and an output of 200W (400W surge). It weighs 6.6 lbs and measures 9.05 x 5.24 x 7.87 in. It has one AC outlet, one DC carport, two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port. It can be charged from a wall outlet, a car charger, or a 60W or 100W solar panel (sold separately). It can power small to medium devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, drones, lights, fans, and CPAP machines for several hours.
The Explorer 240 is ideal for campers, RVers, and off-grid enthusiasts who need a reliable and versatile power source for their devices and appliances. It can also serve as an emergency backup power supply for your home or car. However, it cannot power appliances that require more than 200W, such as mini-fridges, electric kettles, hairdryers, or microwaves.
Explorer 290
The Explorer 290 is a newer model that is similar to the Explorer 240 but with slightly more capacity and output. It has a capacity of 293Wh and an output of 200W (400W surge). It weighs 6.83 lbs and measures 9.05 x 5.24 x 7.87 in. It has one AC outlet, one DC carport, two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port. It can be charged from a wall outlet, a car charger, or a 60W or 100W solar panel (sold separately). It can power small to medium devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, drones, lights, fans, and CPAP machines for several hours.
The Explorer 290 is ideal for campers, RVers, and off-grid enthusiasts who need a slightly more powerful and longer-lasting power source than the Explorer 240. It can also serve as an emergency backup power supply for your home or car. However, it cannot power appliances that require more than 200W, such as mini-fridges, electric kettles, hairdryers, or microwaves.
Explorer 550
The Explorer 550 is another newer model that is similar to the Explorer 290 but with more capacity and output. It has a capacity of 549Wh and an output of 300W (500W surge). It weighs 13 lbs and measures 11 x 9 x 7 in. It has two AC outlets, one DC carport, three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and one cigarette lighter socket. It can be charged from a wall outlet, a car charger, or a 100W solar panel (sold separately). It can power medium to large devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, drones, lights, fans, CPAP machines, mini-fridges, and electric grills for several hours.
The Explorer 550 is ideal for campers, RVers, and off-grid enthusiasts who need a more powerful and longer-lasting power source than the Explorer 290. It can also serve as an emergency backup power supply for your home or car. However, it cannot power appliances that require more than 300W, such as electric kettles, hairdryers, or microwaves.
Explorer 1000
The Explorer 1000 is the most popular model in the Jackery lineup. It has a capacity of 1002Wh and an output of 1000W (2000W surge). It weighs 22 lbs and measures 13 x 9 x 11 in. It has three AC outlets, one DC carport, two USB-A ports, one USB-C port (PD 60W), and one cigarette lighter socket. It can be charged from a wall outlet, a car charger, or two 100W solar panels (sold separately). It can power large devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, drones, lights, fans, CPAP machines, mini-fridges, electric grills, coffee makers, and sump pumps for several hours.
The Explorer 1000 is ideal for campers, RVers, and off-grid enthusiasts who need a powerful and long-lasting power source for their devices and appliances. It can also serve as an emergency backup power supply for your home or car. However, it cannot power appliances that require more than 1000W, such as air conditioners, heaters, or induction cooktops.
Explorer 1500
The Explorer 1500 is the second most powerful model in the Jackery lineup. It has a capacity of 1488Wh and an output of 1800W (3600W surge). It weighs 33.1 lbs and measures 14 x 10.4 x 12.7 in. It has four AC outlets, one DC carport, two USB-A ports, one USB-C port (PD 60W), and one cigarette lighter socket. It can be charged from a wall outlet, a car charger, or four 100W solar panels (sold separately). It can power large devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, drones, lights, fans, CPAP machines, mini-fridges, electric grills, coffee makers, sump pumps, and air conditioners for several hours.
The Explorer 1500 is ideal for campers, RVers, and off-grid enthusiasts who need a very powerful and long-lasting power source for their devices and appliances. It can also serve as an emergency backup power supply for your home or car. However, it cannot power appliances that require more than 1800W, such as heaters or induction cooktops.
Explorer 3000 Pro
The Explorer 3000 Pro is the most powerful model in the Jackery lineup. It has a capacity of 2934Wh and an output of 3000W (6000W surge). It weighs 77 lbs and measures 17 x 13 x 16 in. It has six AC outlets, one DC carport, two USB-A ports, one USB-C port (PD 60W), and one cigarette lighter socket. It can be charged from a wall outlet, a car charger, or six 100W solar panels (sold separately). It can power large devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, cameras, drones, lights, fans, CPAP machines, mini-fridges, electric grills, coffee makers, sump pumps, air conditioners, heaters, and induction cooktops for several hours.
The Explorer 3000 Pro is ideal for campers, RVers, and off-grid enthusiasts who need the most powerful and long-lasting power source for their devices and appliances. It can also serve as an emergency backup power supply for your home or car. However, it is very heavy and bulky compared to other models.
| Feature | Goal Zero Yeti 200X | Goal Zero Yeti 500X | Goal Zero Yeti 1000X | Goal Zero Yeti 1500X | Goal Zero Yeti 3000X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 187 Wh | 505 Wh | 983 Wh | 1516 Wh | 3032 Wh |
| Battery Type | Li-ion NMC | Li-ion NMC | Li-ion NMC | Li-ion NMC | Li-ion NMC |
| Battery Life Cycle | 500 cycles to 80% capacity | 500 cycles to 80% capacity | 500 cycles to 80% capacity | 500 cycles to 80% capacity | 500 cycles to 80% capacity |
| Inverter Output | 120 W continuous, 200 W surge | 300 W continuous, 1200 W surge | 600 W continuous, 1200 W surge | 2000 W continuous, 3500 W surge | 2000 W continuous, 3500 W surge |
| AC Outlets | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| DC Outlets | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Cigarette Lighter Outlets | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Jackery portable power stations:
- How long does it take to charge a Jackery portable power station?
The charging time of a Jackery portable power station depends on the model, the capacity, the charging source, and the weather conditions. Generally, it takes about 5 to 8 hours to charge from a wall outlet, 7 to 14 hours to charge from a car charger, and 7 to 16 hours to charge from a solar panel. However, these are only estimates and may vary depending on the actual situation.
- How long can a Jackery portable power station run my appliances and devices?
The running time of a Jackery portable power station depends on the model, the capacity, the output, and the power consumption of your appliances and devices. Generally, you can calculate the approximate running time by dividing the capacity (Wh) by the power consumption (W) of your appliances and devices. For example, if you have an Explorer 1000 with a capacity of 1002Wh and you want to run a mini-fridge that consumes 60W, you can estimate the running time as follows:
1002Wh / 60W = 16.7 hours
However, this is only an estimate and may vary depending on the actual situation.
- What are the best solar panels to use with a Jackery portable power station?
The best solar panels to use with a Jackery portable power station are the ones that are compatible with the model and have enough wattage to charge it efficiently. Jackery offers its own solar panels that are specially designed for its portable power stations. They are foldable, lightweight, durable, and water-resistant. They also have built-in MPPT controllers that optimize the charging efficiency. You can choose from 60W, 100W, or 200W solar panels depending on your needs.
Conclusion
Jackery portable power stations are great options for anyone who needs a reliable and versatile power source for their devices and appliances. They are safe, powerful, long-lasting, and easy to use. They can be charged from various sources and can power up to 99% of appliances under their rated wattage. They come in different sizes and capacities to suit different needs and budgets.
We hope this guide has helped you compare every Jackery portable power station and find the best one for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. And don’t forget to check out PortablePowerLife.com for more information and guidance on portable power stations and alternative energy solutions. Happy exploring!
