Solar Generators

[luvrbus]

Ok my son gave me a Jackery 240 solar generator with the panels,my question is since I don't want to hurt his feeling is what are these good for ? since I am not up on solar generators. it takes 16 hours to charge and temperature affectsit too.Do I really need a solar generator to lug around  thanks

[freds]

Ok my son gave me a Jackery 240 solar generator with the panels,my question is since I don't want to hurt his feeling is what are these good for ? since I am not up on solar generators. it takes 16 hours to charge and temperature affectsit too.Do I really need a solar generator to lug around  thanks

Here's a review that I found online: https://theprepared.com/blog/jackery-explorer-240/

I would say it could power some LED lights given its 200 watt 120volt AC output. The panels don't sound too large, but I think you can also use 12V as a charging source.

This would more fit in with someone who is camping in a tent sorry to say.

[luvrbus]

I checked it out again he has the 240 he gave me a Explorer 1000, I still don't believe one will do me any good lol I don't need telephone charging   

[chessie4905]

Cliff, check out the model on Amazon. Good ratings there. Lots of answered questions. Probably good for tent camping or small travel trailer with limited needs.

[luvrbus]

Cliff, check out the model on Amazon. Good ratings there. Lots of answered questions. Probably good for tent camping or small travel trailer with limited needs.

I will check it out Amazon delivered it

[buswarrior]

It would certainly serve a good purpose as a maintainer for something parked/stored away from the extension cord.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[freds]

Ok that's a bit better device. You can certainly run a battery charger to charge your start batteries off of it. So it might help you in a pinch.

While this does have an inverter, my definition of an adequate inverter is if it can run a microwave to nuke a cup of your favorite caffeine or at least warm it up...

 

[windtrader]

Ok my son gave me a Jackery 240 solar generator with the panels,my question is since I don't want to hurt his feeling is what are these good for ? since I am not up on solar generators. it takes 16 hours to charge and temperature affectsit too.Do I really need a solar generator to lug around  thanks

Personally, not done much research on these as I have no need for something like this. To me, it is basically a big battery with an inverter to run 110v ac for small portable jobs where running an AC cord is too much of a pain or simply no AC available.
It is basically a mini solar charging system, battery for storing energy, and an inverter to supply AC. However, it is only rated 1000 continuous so that means no larger current equipment, even a coffee maker or hair dryer is likely to over drive it.
That unit is expensive compared to something like a Predator Predator
2000 Watt Super Quiet Inverter Generator at one third the price. Plus it will run 100% during cloudy days, any nightime, etc.
Since these things are popping up often, they must be a good fit for some uses, just not sure what it for someone with a bus conversion equipped with massive generator, inverter, and battery bank that dwarfs this thing.
More thinking while typing, on second thought, I don't see any reason where this would be useful for someone travelling in a fully equipped RV
 

[chessie4905]

Maybe you and Sonja can go tent camping this summer and use it then...

[benherman1]

I'd agree that this unit is undersized for anything other than tent use. Most of the units of this size are meant to be sold more than to be used.

A real solar system will be independent components that the buyer picks out based on their use case. Yes, a generator is cheaper but then you get to spend your evening listening to a rumbling generator. If I drive out to the middle of nowhere to camp I would be pretty annoyed to have one running all evening. A proper solar system will be a big investment but the return seems worth it to me. I will have a generator on board for when the sun happens to not be out for a few days but it won't be a 20kw monster taking up a whole bay in a fancy box to try to make it make less noise. It will be for the sole purpose of firing it up to charge the batteries for an hour or two only when absolutely necessary.

If I wanted to get super fancy I could set up a basic sun chasing solar setup that would add $400 or so to the build but would allow me to live on solar all winter much farther north than most would expect. I probably wont because I'd rather just get more panels and not have any moving parts to worry about. Panels can be had for cheap and will be a quick upgrade as they continue to get cheaper and more efficient. Batteries can be had relatively cheaply that will last me until they are outdated but still holding plenty of power.

[Jim Blackwood]

I figure I'll wait until my build is complete before adding solar. Maybe by then they will have the efficiencies up on the flexible panels and I'll be able to just glue 'em down to the roof. ;-)

Jim

[luvrbus]

I am not going to install solar on my roof,my 12.5 Onan uses about a 1/2 gal of fuel a hour, under a load and takes 3 hours to fully charge a battery bank of 6 -8D LifeLine batteries, it would take a long time to recoup the price of solar at that rate,the solar generator was a gift so I will keep it 

[richard5933]

I am not going to install solar on my roof,my 12.5 Onan uses about a 1/2 gal of fuel a hour, under a load and takes 3 hours to fully charge a battery bank of 6 -8D LifeLine batteries, it would take a long time to recoup the price of solar at that rate,the solar generator was a gift so I will keep it

The payoff is different for everyone. To me I get paid back by the peace and quiet and not having to endure the noise and vibration of a generator. May not be worth it for everyone, but for me being able to sit and enjoy the quiet when we're dry camping it is.

[usbusin]

I'm with you Richard.  Richard said, "but for me being able to sit and enjoy the quiet when we're dry camping it is"

In 19 years and 135,000 miles in our truck conversion we had a little over 100 hours on the generator.  There is nothing like peace and quiet to sooth the soul in our over busy world.

[luvrbus]

I am totally electric, floors too and I can get 3 days without the generator,me I cannot justify solar we never stay in one place that long,I logged 11,028 miles this year and seems like we never went anywhere and the generator is quite