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That $400 solar generator still sits in my garage, dead weight
Back in March I bought a portable solar generator after a power outage scare, thinking it would be my emergency backup for the whole house. The specs looked great on paper, but the 100W panel takes 8 hours to fully charge it, and the battery barely runs a mini fridge for 5 hours. I tested it once in my backyard in Portland, got maybe 40% charge on a sunny day, and realized I'd have been better off with a $50 inverter for my car battery. Has anyone else bought into the hype of these things, or did I just pick a dud brand?
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michaeltorres1mo ago
So you're mad that a portable solar setup can't power your whole house, but what did you actually expect from a 100W panel? That's like buying a bicycle and complaining it can't haul a couch. The mini fridge for 5 hours sounds about right for the math, and if you tested it in Portland in March, yeah, you're getting clouds and rain. I mean, the whole point of these things is to keep your phone charged and maybe a lamp on, not run your life. The car inverter idea works fine until your battery dies and you can't jump your own car. Honestly, the real issue is people think "solar" means unlimited power, but it just means slow and steady. You didn't buy a dud, you bought a toy for a job that needed a different tool.
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My neighbor paid $600 for a similar one and now uses it to charge his phone at the tailgate. I figured out mine makes a great paperweight for my old camping gear. Honestly, my car battery inverter has been the real MVP, it just sits there and works when I need it.
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lewis.terry1mo ago
Bought one too, learned to pair it with a small battery bank for nights. Works fine now.
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