Home backup power stations with solar input

The only configuration on this site that can outlast a multi-day outage — and the one where the panel budget is easiest to underestimate.

Every figure here is taken from the manufacturer’s published listing and measured against the rest of the group. We do not test power stations. Where a listing is silent, this site prints not stated rather than a plausible default.

What this group looks like

The middle-half column spans the 25th to 75th percentile, so it describes where most of this group sits rather than being pulled about by one unusual unit.

The runtime figure is arithmetic, and it is optimistic. It is the published capacity divided by the published output, which is the best you could ever get. Real inverters are 85 to 90% efficient, so the usable figure is lower — and no listing on this site states its inverter efficiency, so we do not estimate it. Treat the number as a ceiling and a way to compare like with like, not as a promise.

Against the market as a whole this group runs about as long at full output as average — a median of 51 min against 51 min overall.

What these listings publish

Specification coverage is uneven, and knowing where it runs out is part of shopping honestly.

What they cost

Bands, not prices. Panels, where you need them, are almost always a separate purchase.

Solar is what turns a finite battery into an indefinite one

A battery alone is a fixed number of kilowatt-hours; with enough panel it becomes a daily allowance. That is the difference between covering an outage of hours and one of days, and it is the reason this combination exists. It also means the honest unit of comparison is the whole system rather than the station, and only the station is listed.

The input rating is the ceiling, the roof is the reality

A 1,000 W solar input needs about a kilowatt of panel to be worth anything, angled and unshaded. That is a real installation, not a folding panel on the grass, and it is a cost no listing on this page includes.

Solar and backup are different use cases sharing a machine

A home-backup station is bought for outages, which are measured in hours and end on their own. Solar is for situations with no mains at all, measured in days. The combination makes sense for a household that expects long outages — days rather than an evening — and for one that also camps or works off-grid. For a typical power cut the station starts full and the panel never contributes, which is worth knowing before buying one.

Refilling a pack this size from a panel

At home-backup capacity the arithmetic is unforgiving: the median rated solar input in this corpus against a pack this large is measured in days of good sun, not hours. Multiple panels in parallel help and are constrained by the station’s maximum input current, which is a separate figure from the wattage and is stated less often. Anyone planning to run indefinitely from solar needs to compare the array against the daily load rather than against the battery.

What it does not replace

A station of this size covers a fridge, a router, lights and phones through an outage of hours, which is genuinely useful. It is not a whole-house supply: it does not connect to the panel, it will not run electric heating, a well pump or an electric cooker for any useful time, and it does not transfer automatically when the power fails. Adding solar changes how long it lasts and changes none of that.

Surge is the figure that decides whether a motor starts

Stations quote a continuous rating and a surge rating roughly double it, and the surge covers the instant a compressor or a pump starts. It is stated on only about half the listings in this corpus, which is why the finder keeps unstated values visible rather than assuming them. A station rated comfortably above a device’s running draw can still fail to start it, and the specification that would have predicted that is the one most often missing.

Measuring what you actually draw

The arithmetic is only as good as the wattage that goes into it, and most people take that from a label describing the maximum a device can draw rather than what it usually does. A plug-in energy meter costs very little and turns a guess into a measurement — a fridge rated at a few hundred watts averages a fraction of that across a day because the compressor is off most of the time. Measuring the real load is the single change that makes every other figure useful.

The total output is not the per-socket rating

A station quoting a large continuous figure is describing what the inverter delivers in total, not what any one outlet will carry. Individual sockets are frequently rated lower, and a single heavy load in the wrong one trips it while the station reports plenty of headroom. Where a station has several AC outlets it is worth knowing whether they share one rating or divide it, and that detail sits in the manual rather than the listing on almost every model here.

Before you buy

Check watts before watt-hours

A station rated below your appliance’s draw will not start it for one second, whatever its battery holds. Establish the output ceiling you need first; the capacity question only matters once the appliance runs at all.

Find the surge rating

Anything with a motor or compressor draws several times its running wattage for a fraction of a second at startup. Where a listing does not state a surge rating, this site says so rather than assuming it is generous.

Treat marketing language as a claim

“Solar generator”, “whole-home backup” and “portable” are positioning, not specifications. Look for the number behind each: a solar input in watts, an output in watts, a weight in kilograms.

Compare them

The finder below is already filtered to this group. Every result carries its runtime at full output.

Your requirements

Clear all

How much energy do you need stored?

Watt-hours decide how LONG it runs. Watts — the next question — decide WHETHER a given appliance runs at all. They are different numbers and the box prints them side by side without saying so.

A weekend of phones and lightsunder 500 Wh · 42 statedA camping trip or a CPAP night500 – 1,200 Wh · 40 statedA fridge through a short outage1,200 – 2,500 Wh · 20 statedA day of essential circuits2,500 – 5,000 Wh · 19 statedMulti-day home backup5,000 Wh and up · 12 stated

What can you spend?

A ceiling, not a band — each option includes everything cheaper. Budget for panels separately if you need solar; they are rarely included.

Up to $20062 at or belowUp to $40092 at or belowUp to $800130 at or belowUp to $1,500152 at or belowNo limitall 170 products

What do you need to run?

This is the ceiling, not the runtime. A station rated below an appliance's draw will not start it at all, however large its battery.

Phones, laptops, lightsunder 600 W · 64 statedA fridge or a TV600 – 1,500 W · 25 statedMicrowave or power tools1,500 – 2,500 W · 46 statedHousehold circuits2,500 W and up · 33 stated

How long should it last?

LiFePO4 cells take roughly 3,000 charge cycles before dropping to 80% capacity; older lithium-ion chemistries manage a few hundred. On a station charged weekly that is the difference between a decade and about three years.

LiFePO4~3,000 cycles · 109 statedLithium-ionfewer cycles, lighter · 14 stated

Any brand in particular?

Only brands with at least eight power stations in this corpus are offered — a filter that returns three products is not a filter. Unlike every other question here, this one excludes power stations whose listing does not name a brand: a seller who did not say who made it has not made a GRECELL.

GRECELL16 power stationsBLUETTI16 power stationsJackery14 power stationsEcoFlow14 power stationsAnker13 power stationsDaranEner11 power stations

Must recharge from solar

Shows only stations that publish a solar input rating. Panels are almost always sold separately, and a station that accepts 200 W of panel will not recharge meaningfully in a day.

Yesonly power stations that state it

35 power stations match

Sort results Best documented first Largest capacity Smallest capacity

BLUETTI Apex 300 Portable Power Station & B500K Expansion Battery 7884.8Wh

Home backupLiFePO4Over $1,500

At full output

122min

Continuous output

3840W

Surge

7680W

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

not stated

Weight

84lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

7,800Wh

Home backup · 5,000 Wh and up · 12 power stations

Energy per kilogram

205Wh per kg

-50% vs the 408 median — heavier than most of its class for the energy

Capacity is -24% against the class median of 10,240.

ABOK Ark3600 Portable Power Station 3600W, 3840Wh LiFePO4 Battery

Home backupLiFePO4$800–1,500

At full output

64min

Continuous output

3600W

Surge

4500W

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

not stated

Weight

92lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

3,840Wh

Home backup · 2,500 – 5,000 Wh · 19 power stations

Energy per kilogram

92Wh per kg

-7% vs the 98 median — typical for its class

Capacity is +25% against the class median of 3,072.

BLUETTI Elite 400 Portable Power Station 3840Wh LiFePO4 Battery 2600W

Home backupLiFePO4Solar input$800–1,500

At full output

89min

Continuous output

2600W

Surge

not stated

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

1000W

Weight

86lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

3,840Wh

Home backup · 2,500 – 5,000 Wh · 19 power stations

Energy per kilogram

98Wh per kg

0% vs the 98 median — typical for its class

Capacity is +25% against the class median of 3,072.

EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station 3600Wh DELTA Pro, 120V 3600W AC Output

Home backupLiFePO4Solar inputOver $1,500

At full output

48min

Continuous output

4500W

Surge

not stated

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

400W

Weight

99lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

3,600Wh

Home backup · 2,500 – 5,000 Wh · 19 power stations

Energy per kilogram

80Wh per kg

-18% vs the 98 median — heavier than most of its class for the energy

Capacity is +17% against the class median of 3,072.

Jackery HomePower 3000 Portable Power Station, 3072Wh, 3600W AC Output

Home backupLiFePO4$800–1,500

At full output

50min

Continuous output

3600W

Surge

7200W

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

not stated

Weight

60lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

3,000Wh

Home backup · 2,500 – 5,000 Wh · 19 power stations

Energy per kilogram

111Wh per kg

+13% vs the 98 median — more energy for the weight than most of its class

Capacity is -2% against the class median of 3,072.

BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station 2073.6Wh 2600W Solar Generator

Home backupLiFePO4Solar input$800–1,500

At full output

48min

Continuous output

2600W

Surge

not stated

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

2600W

Weight

53lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

2,074Wh

Home backup · 1,200 – 2,500 Wh · 20 power stations

Energy per kilogram

86Wh per kg

0% vs the 86 median — typical for its class

Capacity is +3% against the class median of 2,016.

BLUETTI AC200L Portable Power Station 2048Wh 2400W LiFePO4 Battery

Home backupLiFePO4Solar input$400–800

At full output

34min

Continuous output

3600W

Surge

not stated

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

1200W

Weight

62lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

2,048Wh

Home backup · 1,200 – 2,500 Wh · 20 power stations

Energy per kilogram

74Wh per kg

-14% vs the 86 median — heavier than most of its class for the energy

Capacity is +2% against the class median of 2,016.

Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station, 2042Wh, 3000W AC Output

Home backupLiFePO4Solar input$800–1,500

At full output

40min

Continuous output

3000W

Surge

not stated

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

200W

Weight

62lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

2,000Wh

Home backup · 1,200 – 2,500 Wh · 20 power stations

Energy per kilogram

71Wh per kg

-17% vs the 86 median — heavier than most of its class for the energy

Capacity is -1% against the class median of 2,016.

Jackery HomePower 3000 and 2x200W Solar Panels, 3072Wh, 3600W AC Output

Home backupLiFePO4Solar inputOver $1,500

At full output

not stated

Continuous output

3600W

Surge

7200W

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

200W

Weight

60lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

Not stated

This listing does not publish a figure, so it cannot be placed against the baseline.

Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus Portable Power Station with 2X 200W Solar Panels, 3600W AC Output, 3584Wh LFP Solar Generator, Expandable up to 21kWh, Essential Home Backup for Home Use, Emergencies, RV

Home backupLiFePO4Solar inputOver $1,500

At full output

350min

Continuous output

3600W

Surge

not stated

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

200W

Weight

77lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

21,000Wh

Home backup · 5,000 Wh and up · 12 power stations

Energy per kilogram

600Wh per kg

+47% vs the 408 median — more energy for the weight than most of its class

Capacity is +105% against the class median of 10,240.

AFERIY 3840Wh Portable Power Station,Expandable Solar Generator to 11520Wh

Home backupLiFePO4$800–1,500

At full output

192min

Continuous output

3600W

Surge

not stated

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

not stated

Weight

105lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

11,500Wh

Home backup · 5,000 Wh and up · 12 power stations

Energy per kilogram

242Wh per kg

-41% vs the 408 median — heavier than most of its class for the energy

Capacity is +12% against the class median of 10,240.

AFERIY P280 Portable Power Station 2800W (Peak 5600W) UPS Solar Generator

Home backupLiFePO4$400–800

At full output

219min

Continuous output

2800W

Surge

not stated

Cells

LiFePO4

Solar input

not stated

Weight

44lb

Check price on Amazon

Capacity

10,240Wh

Home backup · 5,000 Wh and up · 12 power stations

Energy per kilogram

513Wh per kg

+26% vs the 408 median — more energy for the weight than most of its class

Capacity is 0% against the class median of 10,240.

Show more (23 remaining)

Related

• The full power station finder — unfiltered, every output class.
• How long does a power station actually run? — the full table.
• Home Backup Power Stations — the full class, with baselines for every specification.
• How we compile these figures.

Computed from the corpus on 2026-08-29.