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Portable power station buying guides

What to buy for home backup, camping and the road, new or refurbished, with specs from each maker.

31 guides

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These guides answer the first question every buyer has: which solar generator, for what job. Start with the best solar generators, which compares 1 kWh and 2 kWh models from EcoFlow, Jackery and BLUETTI on capacity, output, chemistry and warranty, then sorts them by who will use them.

For outages, solar generators for home backup works out which critical loads a unit can carry and when you need expansion batteries or a transfer switch. How much a solar generator costs explains what moves the price and how to compare listings on price per watt-hour, and refurbished solar generators sets out whose warranty applies to a secondhand unit.

Buying for someone else? Solar generator gifts is sorted by interest: campers, RV owners, prepper parents, tailgaters and balcony renters. Renters should also read balcony solar in the US: plug-in kits trim daytime use but shut off in a blackout, so they are no substitute for a battery.

A classic camper van with its pop-top raised and camp chairs set up in a wooded field at sunset

New solar generators

Live prices from Anker Solix and ALLPOWERS, updated 9 hours ago

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01

Best Solar Generators (Portable Power Stations) for Home and Camping

Compare solar generators (portable power stations) by capacity, output, battery chemistry and warranty, with sourced specs from EcoFlow, Jackery and Bluetti.

Buying guides
02

Solar for Pools and Water: Covers, Pumps and Fountains

Solar Home's guides to solar gear for water: pool covers that hold heat, solar water pumps for wells and gardens, and solar bird bath fountains.

Buying guides
03

Outdoor Solar: Lights, Lanterns and Gear That Charge Themselves

Solar Home's guides to outdoor solar gear: motion and flood lights, post cap lights and lanterns that charge from their own panel, with no wiring to run.

Buying guides
04

Portable Power Stations: Sizing, Brands, Backup and Charging

Every Solar Home guide to portable power stations (solar generators): how to size one, home backup, brands, battery types, charging, cost and refurbished units.

Buying guides
05

Solar Panels for Homes, Balconies and Power Stations

Solar Home's guides to solar panels: plug-in balcony kits and state laws, and how portable panels charge a power station within its solar input limit.

Buying guides
06

Black Friday Power Station Deals 2026: What to Compare First

Size a portable power station in watt-hours, then compare output, battery type, warranty and seller terms before Black Friday on November 27, 2026.

Buying guides
07

Solar Bird Bath Fountains: How They Work and What to Look For

How a solar bird bath fountain works, direct-sun vs battery backup pumps, where to place the bath and how often to clean it to keep mosquitoes away.

Buying guides
08

Solar Generators for Hurricanes and Storms: A Recharge Plan

How to use a solar generator for hurricane and storm outages: what to charge before landfall, what to run first, and how to recharge over several days.

Photo: Sirtrentalot / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0), CC BY 2.0
Buying guides
09

Solar Pool Covers: Do They Work and What Size Do You Need?

How a solar pool cover keeps heat and water in the pool, clear vs blue covers, and how to pick the right size for a round, oval or rectangular pool.

Buying guides
10

Solar Powered Fans for Greenhouses, Sheds, Coops and Camping

How to pick a solar powered fan: sizing a greenhouse exhaust fan, venting a chicken coop without drafts, and when a fan needs a battery for cloudy hours.

Buying guides
11

Solar Water Pumps for Wells, Irrigation and Stock Tanks

Which solar water pump suits a well, a garden or a stock tank: submersible vs surface pumps, how much water to plan for, and why tanks beat batteries.

Buying guides
12

How to Clean Solar Panels Safely, and How Often to Do It

How to clean solar panels on a roof, ground mount, RV or folding kit: soft water, soft brushes, cool glass, what makers ban and when to hire a pro.

Buying guides
13

Small Solar Panels: What 10 to 100 Watt Panels Can Charge

What a 10, 20, 50 or 100 watt solar panel can charge: phones, 12V batteries, gate openers and trail cameras, with simple sizing math and losses.

Buying guides
14

Solar Panel Mounts: Roof, Ground, Pole and RV Racking Explained

How to pick a solar panel mount: roof racking, ground mounts, pole mounts, trackers, RV brackets and portable stands, plus tilt and the UL 2703 listing.

Buying guides
15

Are Solar Attic Fans Worth It? When They Help and When They Hurt

Whether a solar attic fan is worth it: when it cools an attic, why ENERGY STAR warns it can raise cooling bills, the end of the tax credit and what to check.

Buying guides
16

Are Used Solar Panels Worth Buying? What to Check First

When used solar panels are a good buy: how much output they lose a year (NREL), what to inspect and test, warranty limits, and where secondhand panels fit.

Photo: Steven Lawler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Buying guides
17

Best Solar Generator for Camping: Tent, Car and RV Sizes

Which solar generator suits tent, car and RV camping: the capacity, weight and solar input each trip needs, with a worked 12 V fridge example.

Buying guides
18

Can You Use a Solar Generator in an Apartment? What to Know

How a solar generator works in an apartment: indoor safety, charging from a balcony or window, lease rules, battery fire tips and what size fits.

Buying guides
19

Do Solar Security Cameras Work in Winter and Shade?

When a solar security camera keeps charging in winter and shade: the sun hours Ring and Reolink suggest, the freezing cutoff, and where to put the panel.

Buying guides
20

How to Power a Shed With Solar: Lights, Power Stations and Kits

Three ways to power a shed with solar: a solar shed light, a power station and folding panel, or a fixed kit, and when to call an electrician.

Photo: David Medcalf / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Buying guides
21

Solar Flood Lights: How Bright for a Driveway or Yard?

How many lumens a solar flood light needs for a driveway, yard or side path, how run time and dim modes work, and how to aim it without bothering neighbors.

Buying guides
22

Solar Lanterns for Power Outages: How Bright Is Bright Enough?

Which solar lanterns are bright enough for a power outage: lumens, run time, USB and hand-crank charging, compared on maker specs, and why they beat candles.

Buying guides
23

Solar Light Batteries: Which Replacements Fit Garden Lights?

How to pick replacement batteries for solar garden lights: match the size, voltage and chemistry on the old cell, NiMH vs NiCd, 3.2V lithium, and no alkalines.

Buying guides
24

Solar Panel Kits: What's Included and Which Size Fits Your Home

What comes in a solar panel kit, what usually does not, and how to size a kit for a shed, a cabin or home backup power without overbuying.

Buying guides
25

Solar Post Cap Lights for 4x4, 5x5 and 6x6 Posts: How to Get the Fit

Which solar post cap lights fit 4x4, 5x5 and 6x6 posts: actual post sizes, how cap adapters work, and what to check for wood, vinyl and composite posts.

Buying guides
26

Solar Power Banks: Can They Charge a Phone From the Sun?

What a solar power bank's small panel can really do: why makers say solar charging takes days, the math behind it, and when a foldable panel works better.

Buying guides
27

Balcony Solar in the US: Which States Allow Plug-In Solar Panels

Plug-in balcony solar explained: how it works, the 1,200 W limits, which US states allow it (Utah, Maine, Virginia and more) and what to check first.

Buying guides
28

Solar Generator Gifts for Campers, RVers and Outage Planners

Solar generator gift ideas by interest: campers, RV and van owners, the prepper parent, tailgaters and balcony renters, with what to check before you buy.

Buying guides
29

How Much Does a Solar Generator Cost? What Drives the Price

What sets solar generator prices: capacity, output, battery chemistry, panels, expansion, home wiring and refurbished options, plus how to compare cost per Wh.

Buying guides
30

Solar Generator for Home Backup: What It Can and Can't Run

Can a solar generator run a house? Critical loads, EIA home energy use, expandable batteries and transfer switch options for home backup, with the math shown.

Buying guides
31

Refurbished Solar Generators: Are They Worth It? Warranties Compared

When a refurbished solar generator (portable power station) is a good buy: warranty terms from EcoFlow, Jackery and BLUETTI, and eBay condition labels.

Buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What size solar generator should I buy first?

For phones, lights and a CPAP on a camping trip, a 1 kWh unit covers most needs. To keep a fridge, lights and internet going through a daylong outage, step up to the 2 kWh class or add solar recharging.

Is a refurbished solar generator a safe buy?

It depends on who refurbished it. EcoFlow says its official refurbished units carry the same warranty as new, Jackery's refurbished listings carry 6 months, and BLUETTI's policy says coverage is invalid for units bought from unauthorized resellers.

Does a balcony solar kit work in a blackout?

No. Plug-in balcony kits feed your home's wiring, and the state laws that allow them require them to stop feeding power when the grid goes down. Power during an outage needs a battery unit.

Sources

  1. Test Your Power Station Runtime Before an EmergencyEcoFlow
  2. Official Refurbished EcoFlow ProductsEcoFlow
  3. Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station (Refurbished)Jackery
  4. Warranty & ReturnBLUETTI
  5. Utah HB 340 (2025), enrolled billUtah State Legislature

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