Power stations with solar generators enable a self-sufficient and mobile power supply far away from the power grid. The internal battery is charged either via a power supply or with the help of a photovoltaic panel. Thanks to the many connection options and high performance, the devices are ideal not only for camping and leisure, but also for work or as an emergency power supply.
In this individual test, the editorial team took on the power station model Jackery Explorer 1000. The manufacturer's Amazon shop provided us with the test device together with the Jackery Solarsaga 100 solar panel. In addition to the integrated solar generator and a capacity of over 1000 Wh, the Explorer series attracts with high continuous performance and decent features.
Update
At the time of testing at the beginning of 2022, the Jackery Explorer 1000 still cost a whopping 1,320 euros. Although quality and performance are clearly on the manufacturer's plus side, low prices are less so.
That has finally changed. At Amazon, the Jackery Explorer 1000 is currently reduced to 799 euros – which wouldn't be a bargain considering the price. However, there is also a 300 euro coupon to click on. Then the price drops to its all-time low of 499 euros.
Design and scope of delivery
With a size of 33 × 23 × 28 cm, the Explorer 1000 is even a bit larger than the recently tested Bluetti Poweroak EB70 (test report), but also offers a little more capacity. The weight of around ten kilograms is identical to the Poweroak model. This means that this power storage device is still mobile, but is by no means suitable for hiking or cycling.
The solid, orange-gray plastic housing of the power station has a fixed handle on the top and leaves a stable overall impression. The workmanship is flawless and high quality. While the side panels, company logo and parts of the front section shine bright orange, the rest is kept in subtle anthracite. The white labeling of the connections is easy to read.
All connections, the power buttons for the display, alternating and direct current as well as the status display are located on the long side. Only the emergency lamp and its power button are located on one of the short sides of the housing.
The distribution of the elements looks like this: At the top left are the two inputs for charging the power station. In addition to a round plug for a car or 230 V power supply, there is also a special Anderson solar input. At the top in the middle is the unlit but clearly visible status display with battery capacity, input and output power. The battery level is displayed in whole percent and is therefore pleasantly precise. At the bottom left are the DC outputs in the form of a 12 V car socket (cigarette lighter), two USB-C and two USB-A ports (5V, 2.4 A and Quick Charge 3.0). To the right of it are the two AV sockets with 230 V. Although the cigarette lighter and 230 V sockets are closed with soft plastic caps, the USB outputs and inputs are unprotected.
Photo series – Jackery Explorer 1000 & SolarSaga 100
Jackery Explorer 1000 & SolarSaga 100
In addition to the Explorer 1000, our rental package also includes two foldable 100 W solar panels of the type Solarsaga 100. These have practical carrying handles and a stylish and protective textile back. The panels each have a USB-A (5 V, 2.4 A) and a USB-C port (5 V, 3 A) and an 8 mm round plug with an approximately two meter long connection cable, like it also used in the Bluetti EB70.
To connect two panels together, the manufacturer has included an Anderson adapter cable. A power supply was not included when we rented it, which is why we used a power supply from another manufacturer.
Practical test
The operation of the power station is self-explanatory thanks to clear labeling. If you want to know how many watts are being charged or output, you can read the values directly. Unlike the Bluetti power station, the display has its own power button. If the user does not intervene, the values are permanently displayed during use.
If you want to switch the LED or the outputs for direct and alternating current on and off, you have to press the respective switch for about two seconds. A small LED in the respective button shows whether the outputs are active. It is possible to charge and discharge the power station at the same time, but the manufacturers recommend against it because this operating mode shortens the lifespan of the batteries.
First, we charge the Poweroak EB70 using the power adapter at the socket. About two seconds after plugging in, the display switches on and shows the incoming charging power. Despite a charging power of 150 watts, the Explorer remains cool even without a running fan.
Now we start with the load tests and plug the power strip from our workplace directly into the Jackery Explorer. In addition to a Macbook Pro, two 24-inch monitors, printer and telephone, active speakers and various USB consumers also need to be supplied. Although the power station's internal fan switches on immediately and is clearly audible, the continuous output of around 120 to 140 watts is not a problem.
After seven hours, the capacity of the power bank fell to three percent and a total of 750 Wh was delivered. With regard to the capacity of 1003 Wh, this corresponds to a loss of around 25 percent. That would be a lot and so the Explorer 1000 has to show what it can do in a second round as soon as possible. In this second run, we only use a powerful 230-volt consumer (toaster with over 950 watts) for a short time and otherwise mainly use USB and 12-volt devices. Since the power bank lasts much longer this time, we let it run overnight. The result the next day was surprising. According to our measurements, this time we get just over 840 Wh, which corresponds to a loss of around 16 percent. As our research confirms, this is due to the different losses when providing direct and alternating current as well as different power levels. The highest losses therefore occur when using low power alternating current. There are the fewest losses when using 12 volt direct current. Accordingly, the values are comparable to those of the Bluetti EB70. Other manufacturers also speak of a usable capacity of around 85 percent.
As a test, we also connect various tools, our 50-inch TV (LED) and various kitchen appliances. While the television, drill, hot glue gun, mixer and ice cube machine work without any problems, the power station reaches its limits with circular saws, deep fryers and induction hotplates with 1800 to 3000 watts. As stated by the manufacturer, peaks of up to 2000 watts lasting several seconds are possible, but the Explorer 1000 switches off during longer use or higher performance, which worked well in the test.
At an output power of over 50 watts, the power station's fan begins to audibly provide cooling. The volume at a distance of around one meter is around 33 to 35 dB, but the frequency is significantly less annoying than that of the power supply used in the test. Such fan noise is not a problem for noise-producing consumers. If you want to charge the equipment overnight, the device should not be placed directly next to it. A pity. We would have expected a whisper fan or, better yet, silent operation. 50 watts is quite decent, but we would have preferred silent operation up to around 100 watts.
We also test charging the power station with the included photovoltaic panels. The manufacturer states that the Explorer 1000 needs around eight hours to fully charge with the two 100-watt solar modules. In the test we use both panels together with the adapter cable. With the tentative and still little assertive spring sun and two solar modules, we needed almost three hours longer than the manufacturer's specifications on two consecutive days. However, given better weather and optimal alignment, we consider the charging time of eight hours to be realistic. Reloading only works with a single module, but then the charging process takes twice as long.
Charging with the power supply (150 watt input) also takes a comparable amount of time in the test, which is very long in our opinion. After one hour the capacity was 17 percent, after three hours and 15 minutes the battery was half charged and after six hours it reached 90 percent. As usual, the last 10 percent takes a relatively long time, so the full charge only took 7 hours and 45 minutes.
Price & variants
The Jackery Explorer is available in three different versions. In addition to the Explorer 1000, there are two smaller models available with just a 230-volt socket and fewer USB ports. The Explorer 1000 costs 1,320 euros in the manufacturer's Amazon shop. The Explorer 500 with a continuous output of 500 watts and a capacity of 518 Wh is available for 660 euros. And the Explorer 240, with 240 Wh and a continuous output of at least 200 watts, is a bargain for 300 euros.
Technical data
Conclusion
The Jackery Explorer is a great power station and, in combination with the Solarsaga photovoltaic module, a powerful and high-quality way to provide yourself with self-sufficient power. The many connection options, the high continuous output of 1000 watts and the capacity of almost 1000 Wh justify the price. In combination with the solar panel, the Explorer is ideal for campers, boaters or cabin owners. But the model is also well suited as an emergency power supply or for charging equipment in the car.
If you don't want to do without an ice cube maker and pedestal fan on your next visit to the quarry pond or campsite, you will get a lot of performance with appropriate quality with the Jackery Explorer. If you want the power station to work in the tent at night, you have to keep in mind that the fans start audibly from 50 watts at the latest. If you can get by with a little less capacity, you should alternatively take a look at the smaller Explorer 500 or the Bluetti EB70 (test report). The second one has an inaccurate remaining capacity display and only 716 Wh, but is also significantly cheaper at around 630 euros. If you plan to operate consumers with more than 1000 watts, you will also have to look for an alternative or wait for the Ecoflow power station to be tested.