Best Solar Generators for Home Backup
The best solar generators for home backup, compared by battery size, AC output, 240V support and expandability, plus how to size one for outages.
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The short answer
For whole-room or multi-circuit home backup, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 is the best solar generator for most homes: a 4,096Wh LiFePO4 battery, 4,000W of AC output with 120/240V support, and expansion batteries if you need more. The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus is the pick if you need more output (6,000W, 120/240V) for heavy appliances. For lighter backup on a smaller budget, the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 or the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 covers a fridge, lights, internet and phones.
Our top picks
- Best overall: EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 + 2x 400W panels — 4,096Wh and 4,000W with 120/240V support. Check price on Amazon
- Best budget: Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 — Covers a fridge, lights, internet and phones on a smaller budget. Check price on Amazon
- Most power: Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus — 6,000W at 120/240V for heavy appliances. Check price on Amazon
Not sure what size you need? Tick your appliances in our generator size calculator and get a recommended wattage in seconds.
What a “solar generator” really is
A solar generator is a portable power station (a large lithium battery with an inverter and outlets) paired with solar panels that recharge it. There is no engine and no fuel, so it’s silent and safe to use indoors, unlike a gas generator. The trade-off is energy: a battery stores a fixed number of watt-hours, and solar refills it slowly, depending on panel wattage and sun. Think of a solar generator as a way to keep essentials running for a day or more, not a whole-house replacement for a standby generator.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Model | Capacity | AC output | Best for | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 + 2x 400W panels | 4,096Wh (expandable) | 4,000W, 120/240V | Multi-circuit home backup | Check price |
| Most power | Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus + 400W panel | 3,840Wh (expandable) | 6,000W, 120/240V | Heavy loads, well pumps, 240V appliances | Check price |
| Best mid-size | Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 + 2x 200W panels | 2,042Wh | 2,200W | Fridge, freezer, internet, lights | Check price |
| Best modular | BLUETTI Apex 300 + B300K battery | 5,529.6Wh total (expandable) | 3,840W, 120/240V | Building capacity over time | Check price |
| Best budget | Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 + 200W panel | 1,070Wh | 1,500W | Short outages, apartments, essentials only | Check price |
Capacity and output are manufacturer ratings. Bundles and panel counts vary by listing, so confirm what’s included before you buy.
How we picked
We compared manufacturer specifications, owner reviews and published reviews from outdoor and tech outlets. For home backup we focused on usable battery capacity, continuous AC output, 240V support (needed for well pumps and some appliances), expandability, solar input, battery chemistry (all picks use long-life LiFePO4) and whether a home-panel connection option exists.
1. EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 — Best overall
The DELTA Pro 3 is a 4,096Wh LiFePO4 power station with 4,000W of AC output and 120/240V capability, which is what lets it run 240V loads that smaller units can’t. It’s expandable with extra batteries (EcoFlow sells 8kWh and 12kWh bundles), and the solar bundle we list pairs it with two 400W panels. Wheels and a telescoping handle help, because at this size it’s heavy.
Who it’s for: homeowners who want to back up a handful of circuits, including a fridge, furnace blower and possibly a well pump, through a transfer switch or EcoFlow’s home-integration accessories.
Good to know: two 400W panels in good sun will take most of a day to refill 4kWh. If you want faster solar recharge, add panels up to the unit’s solar input limit.
Check the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 solar bundle on Amazon → or the power station alone.
2. Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus — Most power
Anker’s F3800 line is built for home backup: 3,840Wh of LiFePO4 storage and 6,000W of AC output at 120V or 240V. That output headroom is the reason to choose it: it can start motor loads like well pumps and run 240V appliances more comfortably than 3,000–4,000W units. Anker also sells a Home Power Panel and expansion batteries to grow the system.
Good to know: high output drains a battery quickly. Running 6,000W would empty it in well under an hour, so use the headroom for starting surges, not continuous heavy loads.
Check the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus on Amazon →
3. Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 — Best mid-size
This bundle pairs the Explorer 2000 v2, with 2,042Wh of LiFePO4 capacity and 2,200W of AC output at 39.5 pounds, with two 200W solar panels. It’s a sensible middle ground for keeping a refrigerator, a chest freezer, the router, lights and phones going through an overnight outage, then topping up with solar the next day.
Good to know: this unit is 120V in standard form, so it won’t run a 240V well pump on its own.
Check the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 solar bundle on Amazon →
4. BLUETTI Apex 300 + B300K — Best modular system
BLUETTI’s Apex 300 is the core of a modular system: this bundle pairs it with a B300K expansion battery for 5,529.6Wh in total, with 3,840W of output (7,680W surge) and simultaneous 120V/240V. It accepts up to 2,400W of solar on its own, more with expansion, and recharges to 80% on AC in about 45 minutes. Because capacity comes from add-on batteries, you can build the system over time.
Good to know: the modular design means two boxes to move. It’s best set up in one place, such as a garage, rather than carried around.
Check the BLUETTI Apex 300 + B300K on Amazon →
5. Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 — Best budget
For short outages or a smaller home, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 pairs a 1,070Wh LiFePO4 power station (1,500W AC) with a 200W panel. That’s enough to run a full-size fridge for many hours, plus internet, a CPAP, lights and phones. It’s also light enough to double as a camping and tailgating power source.
Good to know: 1kWh goes fast with a space heater, microwave or window AC. Use it for essentials only.
Check the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 on Amazon →
How big a solar generator do you need?
Add up the watts of what you want to run and how many hours. Typical figures (check your appliance labels):
| Load | Typical running watts | Energy per day (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (modern) | 100–200W while running | 1–2 kWh |
| Chest freezer | 50–100W while running | 0.5–1 kWh |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 15–30W | 0.4–0.7 kWh |
| LED lights (several rooms) | 50–100W | 0.3–0.5 kWh |
| CPAP (no humidifier) | 30–60W | 0.3–0.5 kWh per night |
| Gas furnace blower | 300–800W | Varies with weather |
| Well pump (240V) | 1,000–2,000W+, high surge | Depends on water use |
A rough rule: 1–2kWh covers essentials for a day; 3–4kWh covers essentials plus a furnace blower or modest extra loads; 6kWh and up, with 240V output, is what it takes to approach partial-home backup.
Solar recharge reality check
A panel rarely delivers its rated watts. In good sun, expect something like 60–80% of the rating for the middle part of the day, and much less in winter or clouds. A 400W array might put 1.5–2.5kWh into a battery on a good day. If you’re counting on solar during a multi-day outage, size the array for your daily use, not the battery.
Solar generator vs. gas generator
Choose a solar generator if you want silent, fume-free power you can run indoors, mostly for essentials, with little maintenance. Choose a gas or dual-fuel generator if you need to run large loads (central AC, electric ranges, big well pumps) for days. Many households combine the two: a power station for overnight quiet power and a fuel generator for heavy daytime loads.
Buying checklist
- LiFePO4 chemistry for long cycle life and safety.
- Continuous AC output higher than your largest running load, with surge headroom for motors.
- 240V support if you need a well pump or 240V appliances.
- Expandability if your needs may grow.
- Solar input limit (watts and voltage), so you know how many panels it can take.
- Home connection: a transfer switch or brand-specific panel kit, installed by an electrician.
- UPS/pass-through if you want it to switch over automatically for a fridge or computer.
FAQ
Can a solar generator power a whole house?
Not a typical whole house on its own. Large units like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 or Anker SOLIX F3800 can back up selected circuits, and expansion batteries extend runtime, but central AC and electric heat need far more energy.
How long will a solar generator run a refrigerator?
A modern fridge uses roughly 1–2 kWh per day, so a 2kWh unit can run one for about a day and a 4kWh unit for around two days, before solar recharge.
Can you use a solar generator indoors?
Yes. Battery power stations produce no exhaust, so they’re safe indoors. Keep the solar panels outside and follow the manufacturer’s ventilation and clearance guidance.
What size solar generator do I need for a power outage?
For essentials such as a fridge, lights, internet and phones, 1–2 kWh is a practical minimum. For a furnace blower or more appliances, look at 3–4 kWh or an expandable system.
Do solar generators work in winter?
Yes, but panels produce less in winter because of shorter days and lower sun. Plan on more panel wattage or charging from a wall outlet or fuel generator when you can.
