If there is one thing you need to add to your home, then it is a solar generator. You will definitely find a couple of benefits of solar-powered generators, including the fact that they can work as a great backup option in case you face a disruption in the power supply. In addition, these solar generators are especially perfect options for outdoor usage. In this post, we will comprehensively look at the best solar generator for refrigerators and other home appliances. Read on to find out more!
What Is a Solar Generator?
A solar generator is a huge-capacity rechargeable power station with a large battery and potable solar panel that makes a device that offers power backup for off-grid activities and during emergencies at home. Solar generators are simpler and safer to store and maintain than gas generators.
With that understanding, let's dive in and look at the best solar generators for refrigerators and other appliances.
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1. Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300, Solar Generator
- SPEED UP YOUR RECHARGEABILITY: It takes only 2 hours to recharge...
- SAFE & STEADY POWER SUPPLY: Armed with a 293Wh lithium-ion...
- POWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS: Featuring 2* AC outlet, 1* PD 60W USB-C...
- GREEN POWER SUPPLY: The power station is compatible with the...
- WHAT YOU GET: 1* Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station ,...
Jackery portable power supply explorer 300 is our top recommendation. Our generator had a lithium-ion battery pack of 293Wh and two Pure Sine Wave AC outlets that provided safe and stable 300W power. The device was portable with a dimension of 23 x 13.3 x 19.9 cm and a weight of 7.1 pounds or 3.2 kg.
The generator remained compatible with Jackery SolarSaga 100 solar panel. In addition, it had an incorporated MPPT controller that allowed the solar generator to function at optimal power points and fasten the recharge of the battery.
The solar generator took only two hours to recharge the battery at 80 percent through a 60W OD USB-C port and standard wall outlet simultaneously. In addition, it provided an option of recharging the generator at home using an AC adaptor and car outlet.
The power generator featured one PD 60W USB-C port, two AC outlets, one USB-A port, and one fast charge 3.0 port. Moreover, the station recharged itself and recharged approximately six devices simultaneously.
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2. FlashFish Portable Power Station Generator
- 222Wh Back-up Power Supply: Wide applications make it suitable...
- Cool Features: The silver case is metal and the black ends are...
- Recharge Solar Generator: The battery pack can be recharged from...
- Safety Warranty: Built-in multi safety protections like...
- Enjoy Outdoor Activities: Our generator has an easy-to-carry...
FlashFish Portable Power Station is a powerful generator with a compact station of 151Wh to fulfill the electricity needs for travel trailers, camping, outdoor home usage, and long road trips. Our generator is super light and weighs 4.07lb. The amazing bit is that it came with a soft handle that allowed us to move around.
Image Source: flashfishtech.com
Additionally, the power station came with a lithium battery pack which we charged using a 15 to 24-volt panel, car charger, or standard AC wall adapter. It was exciting to note that it did not have any memory effect, and we did not worry about reducing battery capacity. Moreover, it had two DC outputs, a 110 AC output of 200W, one USB port, and two QC 3.0 fast charge US ports to charge any appliances and devices.
FlashFish had a standalone DC/AC that made it easy to operate when charging various gadgets. Moreover, the LCD showed us the remaining charge, energies, DC output, and AC output status. Plus, the ultra-bright LCD screen lets us view the battery pack status.
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3. MAXOAK Portable Power Station 2400Wh/1000W EB240 Solar Generator
- [Sweet Spot] - With a fabulous capac of 2400Wh and an efficient...
- [8 Versatile Ports] - EB240 is equipped with 2 AC outlets, 1 car...
- [Multi-Recharging] - EB240 can be recharged from 0-80% within 10...
- [2500+ Life Cycles] - The Auto-level 3C High Rate Li-ion Battery...
- [What You Get] - BLUETTI EB240 Portable Power Station, AC Adapter...
The MAXOAK portable power station solar generator is another perfect choice you can go for. Our generator had a large lithium battery of 2,400 Watt Hours. It could power devices such as television, mini-fridge, laptops, CPAP machine, heated blankets, and lights for more than 24 hours on one charge.
Image Source: MAXOAK .com
Moreover, the power station had two AC outlets, one USB-C, four USB-A, and one car outlet to handle gadgets below 1000W. Surprisingly, the power station charged from 0 to 80 percent within ten hours.
The EB240 possessed a strong 2400-watt inverter. As a result, it handled various appliances at the same time. We charged the generator from compatible solar panels and a standard wall outlet, making it an ideal portable power supply.
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4 EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station
- 【Multiple Charging Outputs Provide More Options】DELTA...
- 【Triple Rechargeable Modes Efficient Solar Generator】EcoFlow...
- 【Recharge From 0% TO 80% Within 1 Hour】EFDELTA can be...
- 【High Performance and Handy Power Source】DELTA is a portable...
- 【Product Guarantee & What You Can Get】 EcoFlow provides our...
ECO FLOW portable power station is another one of our favorites. Our portable solar generator had a large capacity of 1260Wh, which was perfect for professional work, outdoor activities, and power outages. The power stations had 6x 1800W AC outlets, allowing us to access important power devices and heavy-duty power equipment, including refrigerators.
Image Source: EF ECOFLOw.com
Amazingly, it charged from zero to eighty percent in less than an hour, always giving us a power boost. Moreover, it powered approximately thirteen devices at the same time. The power stations allowed us to use the three 160W solar panels to harness the sun's power. It charged in three and a half to seven hours.
More so, it offered an alternative of linking to four 110W solar panels to charge fully in four to eight hours. Using a car adaptor, the power station charged in 13.5 hours and 96 minutes to get charged fully when plugged into a standard AC wall outlet.
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5. BLUETTI Portable Power Station EB70S Solar Generator
- [Great Capacity to Size Ratio] - With 716Wh LFP cells and an 800W...
- [Power All Loads for the Road] - EB70S has everything you need in...
- [Fast Recharging] - With the built-in MPPT controller, EB70S can...
- [2500+ Life Cycles to 80%] - The solar generator outshines the...
- [What You Get] - BLUETTI EB70S portable power station, AC...
The EB70S portable power station was developed from stay-of-the-art technologies and innovations. Our generator came with a 716Wh LiFePO4 battery pack and the 800W/ 1000W power inverter, which was adequate to power most of our devices during a power outage and when on the road. With a dimension of 12.6*8.5*8.7inch, 21.4lbs in weight, and a built-in ergonomic handle design, we found EB70s portable and could power our mini-refrigerators efficiently.
Image Source:BLUETTI.com
What's more, the generator has various DC and AC ports for charging or powering devices. The 12 output ports allowed us to charge various gadgets simultaneously. In addition, the generator charged fully from an AC wall outlet in three to four hours or seven to eight hours using a 12V car port. Moreover, it charged fully in three to four hours using solar panels with 200W as the maximum input.
Interestingly, the generator offered power output while charging and had over-heating, overdraw, and overcharge protection circuity. However, the generator could not handle a full-size fridge with more than 800W. But the good news is that it comes with a circuity that protects it from damage when we run the fridge with more than 800W.
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What to Consider When Purchasing the Best Solar Generator for Refrigerator
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1. Size and Weight
Before you purchase the best solar generators, you must first consider the size of the generator you need. Solar power generators come in different sizes, which might impact your experience.
Again, keep the weight in mind if you need a portable solar power generator. You should purchase a generator that is compact and lightweight. However, if you intend to use it for home use only, weight does not matter.
2. Wattage and Voltage Rating
The wattage and voltage rating of a solar-powered generator is other vital factor you must consider. Generally, these ratings illustrate the generator's capabilities ans show you which devices can be powered by this generator.
The wattage rating is usually the total power output obtainable from the generator's battery. For instance, if your refrigerator needs a higher power output than the generator's, you won't be able to power the refrigerator at full capacity. Therefore you need to ensure thay the generator you purchase can power up the refrigerator you have.
On the other hand, the voltage ratings are provided for the output ports of the generator. Therefore, these units must have the identical voltage port required by the refrigerator you have to power.
3. Number of Ports
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In addition to checking the voltage and wattage ratings, you must check the number of ports the generator you intend to buy has. The more ports, the better compatibility the generator offers. Getting a generator with at least 2 or more output ports is typically best.
4. Inverter
You will also need to factor in the type of inverter the power generator you want to purchase has. The inverters regulate the flow of electrical power. It converts direct current electricity, which is what a solar generates, to alternating current electricity, which the electrical grid uses. Basically, go for a generator with the best inverter; Pure Sine Wave Inverter is a great option.
5. Battery Type
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The battery type of the solar generator is another factor you need to consider. Although most solar-powered generators are usually lithium-ion batteries, you can find others with lead acid and salt water.
a) Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular batteries used on solar generators since they are usually compact and lighter than batteries. They even last much longer and go for over 5 years or at least 2,000 charging cycles. The one limitation of lithium-ion batteries is that they are usually highly-priced.
b) Lead acid
Lead acid batteries are reliable and well-understood since they have been in the market for years. These batteries are fairly affordable and have a decent life of anywhere from 3 to 5 years. The major limitation is that they threaten human health and the environment if discarded wrongly.
b) Saltwater
Unlike the two types of batteries we have covered, saltwater batteries do not comprise any heavy metals; they fully rely on salt electrolytes. A standard saltwater battery lasts for about 5000 cycles, but you can easily use them beyond this cycle safely.
6. Battery Capacity
Understanding the battery capacity of the solar-powered generator you intend to purchase is also necessary. The battery capacity shows the absolute amount of electricity a solar generator can hold or store. Any generator with more than eight-hour battery capacity is good for a refrigerator or fridge.
7. Reliability
You will need to check the reliability of the solar-powered generator you get. Although reliability is mostly about the unit's power capacity and backup time, we are speaking about the unit's lifespan. Since you will invest heavily, it's only fair that you get a generator that will serve you for a long.
On that note, going for a generator with a long warranty is necessary. This way, you can have peace of mind while using the unit. In case the generator gets damaged due to external factors such as moisture or dust, you have free-of-cost repairs or replacement
Benefits of Using a Solar-Powered Generator
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1. Free Pure Energy From the Sun
When you use solar generators, you essentially use free energy from the sun. By relying on this clean, renewable energy source, you don't have to be concerned about a negative environmental impact caused by other dirty fossil fuels.
2. Low Maintenance Costs
Solar-powered generators are extremely easy to maintain, unlike conventional fuel or gas-powered generators. Since they do not have any moving parts and do not need liquid fuel, you will likely need to pay less for repairs.
3. Quiet Operation and No Pollution
As we have stated above, solar generators do not have any moving parts; this way, they run quietly. Solar generators also do not burn fuel to generate energy, meaning they do not release pollutants during operation.
4. Offset Energy Consumption
The other advantage of solar-powered generators is that they can be used anytime to help offset your energy consumption.
A solar generator can be used anytime to offset your energy consumption at home or in the office.
How Does a Solar Generator Work With a Refrigerator?
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Solar generators can offer off-grid energy consistently, over extended periods, without requiring anything other than the sun's power. In addition, they provide a green solution for power generation, which is more efficient than propane or gas-powered generators.
Solar-powered generators combine a solar panel, the best charge controller, a battery system, and an inverter into a compact system. This system then converts solar energy into a usable electrical current.
The solar panels absorb or take in the sun's rays, and then The batteries store the energy collected for later usage. The inverter then converts the low DC from the batteries to AC, which can power your everyday household items like the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Solar Generators for Refrigerators
1. Does a Solar Generator Require Adapter Cables?
You can use solar generators for different power devices. As a matter of fact, you can basically power anything that requires a standard AC wall outlet. The generators already dedicated AC and DC outlet ports to your electronic gadgets without needing any adapters. However, you will need the adapter cables if you charge multiple appliances.
2. What Can I Power With the Solar Generator?
A solar generator can power almost all types of electrical appliances. Basically, you can power small appliances such as lights and phone chargers and even larger devices like TVs and refrigerators.
3. How Much Do Solar Generators Cost?
The cost of solar generators varies mostly depending on the capacity of a specific generator. Most high-capacity generators usually cost anything between $1000 and $5000. Other generators will cost anything between $140 and $3,400. Additionally, larger generators cost more than portable devices.
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