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bougerv solar generator

BougeRV 1200W/1100Wh Portable Power Station Review

The BougeRV 1200W, 1100Wh portable power station is a great choice if you are shopping for a portable or home backup solar generator that can charge devices and power small to medium size appliances. 

It’s light enough to take on camping trips, and powerful enough to keep essential appliances running during a blackout. It’s also great for powering select electronics like a chest freezer, mini fridge, TV and lights in a van or RV. 

Read on for my full review of the BougeRV power station, including what I like and don't like about it. 

If it’s not what you are looking for, see my reviews of other top-rated portable solar generators

Pros & Cons Of The BougeRV Power Station

Pros

  • Great for running small and medium size appliances.
  • Lightweight and portable.
  • Hardy aluminum shell.
  • Multiple outlets and charging options.
  • Long-lasting lithium ion battery.

Cons

  • Slow recharging.

Best Features 

bougerv solar generator

1100Wh Li-ion Battery

It’s not the biggest power station you can get but for a portable solar generator, 1100Wh is pretty good. 

With that capacity, you can run smaller appliances for a number of hours. It can also power recharge smartphones and other devices numerous times.

What Can The BougeRV Power Station Power?

Here are the approximate run times to expect when various appliances and devices are plugged into the BougeRV power station.

Device/Appliance

Approx runtime

CPAP (40W)

24hrs

Mini fridge (60W)

16hrs

Smartphone (10Wh)

99 recharges

Laptop (60Wh)

16 recharges

Drone (40Wh)

25 times

43” TV (47W)

21hrs

Coffee maker (600W)

1.6hrs

Microwave (1000W)

1hr

1200W Output

bougerv solar generator

The BougeRV comes with a built-in 1200W pure sine wave inverter. It’s powerful enough to run most household appliances like a fridge, TV, small microwaves and some coffee makers. 

It’s certainly capable of powering most of the small appliances used when camping and in RVs like a CPAP machine, mini fridge, fan and so on. 

The inverter has a peak power output of 2000W, so it should be able to handle things like refrigerators and microwaves that have a high startup wattage.

10 Outlets

The BougeRV comes with enough outlets to power or charge any kind of appliance or device you might have. 

There are three 110V AC outlets, so you can power multiple appliances at the same time as long as you do not exceed a total draw of 1200W. 

For all your 12V electronics and appliances, there are three 12V DC ports on the BougeRV power station: two DC5521 outlets and one 12V car outlet. 

For your gadgets and devices, there are four USB ports. They include one input/output 60W USB-C PD port, a Quick Charge USB-A port, and two regular USB-A ports.

Three Ways To Recharge

Similar to most portable power stations, the BougeRV 1200W solar generator has three recharge options: AC, solar, and vehicle. All the charging cables you need are included. 

The AC charger delivers 200W of power to the power station, recharging it in about 4.5 hours.

If you opt to use solar charging, you can only put in up to 200W of solar power. On a good day, it takes the BougeRV power station 4.5-5.5 hours to charge from the sun. 

You can also charge the solar generator from your vehicle’s 12V/24V port, but that takes a lot longer.

Easy Portability

bougerv solar generator

One of the best features of the BougeRV power station is its easy portability. It weighs 29 lbs, which is impressive considering it’s not all-plastic like most power stations. 

The aluminum and plastic shell help protect the power station while keeping it lightweight. 

This makes BougeRV one of the best power stations for outdoor adventures like camping, road trips, fishing and picnics. 

It’s also great for RVs, boats, camper vans and overlanding trucks. 

The two integrated handles make it easy to move it to and from your vehicle.


Issues & Limitations

Limited Capacity and Output

If you want a solar generator that can power large appliances, the BougeRV power station is not it. It’s limited 1200W output and 1100Wh, meaning it cannot power things like space heaters, portable ACs, and large coffee makers. 

And even for appliances it can power, you need to be careful what you plug in. For instance, the BougeRV power station can easily run a 300W kitchen refrigerator, but it’ll only do so for about three hours.

Overall, I recommend the BougeRV power station for powering smaller appliances and recharging devices.

Slow Recharging

One of the features we are seeing in newer solar generators is fast charging.

The days of a power station taking 5+ hours to recharge are over. Popular power stations these days from companies like Bluetti, EcoFlow and Jackery take 1-3 hours tops

The BougeRV is on the slower side of the scale. Both AC and solar input is 200W, which is too little compared to similar sized power stations from other brands.    

It doesn't even offer dual AC + solar charging, which would speed things up.


Top 3 Alternatives To The BougeRV 1200W/1100Wh Portable Power Station

1. Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro - Fast Charging Solar Generator 

bougerv solar generator

The original Jackery Explorer 1000 had the same slow charging issue as the BougeRV power station. But Jackery has revamped it with the new fast charging Explorer 1000 Pro

The Explorer 1000 Pro, which is only slightly more expensive than the BougeRV power station, has an impressive AC input of 800W. That’s four times what the BougeRV solar generator takes in. 

Plug the 1000 Pro into a wall outlet and it charges fully in just 1.8 hours. Max solar input is also 800W, ensuring fast charging during blackouts and when you are outdoors.

The Explorer 1000 Pro comes with a 1002Wh Li-ion battery and 1000W AC output. So it’s about as capable as the BougeRV power station. 

The 1000 Pro has fewer outlets, though. It has eight in total: 3 AC, 2 USB-C PD 100W, 2 USB-A 18W and one 12V car port. 

The Jackery 1000 Pro weighs 25.4lbs. It has the same easy portability as the BougeRV power station.

2. Bluetti EB70S - Long-lasting LiFePO4 Battery (Also Cheaper)

Jackery Explorer 500

One of the downsides of the BougeRV solar generator that I did not mention is the type of battery it uses. 

It comes with a li-ion battery. The manufacturer says it’s an EV-grade battery that lasts longer than other lithium ion batteries (1500+ cycles to 80% vs. 500-800 cycles for other li-ion batteries). 

But it still doesn't match the longevity of LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries that can last over 3000 cycles to 80% capacity. 

If you plan to use your solar generator often, I highly recommend a LiFePO4 solar generator like the Bluetti EB70S. You can charge and discharge it daily and it will still last 10 years or more. 

The EB70S is also a great pick if you are shopping for a cheaper power station. 

The Bluetti EB70S has a lower capacity of 716Wh and a lower output as well of 800W. It’s best for running small appliances and keeping gadgets charged. On the upside, it’s lighter at just 21.4lbs.

The Bluetti EB70S features 12 outlets including 4 AC sockets, 3 12V DC outlets, 2 100W USB-C PD ports, 2 USB-A ports and 1 wireless charging pad. 

The main limitation of the EB70S is similar to that of the BougeRV power station - it charges slowly. 

The EB70S has a max AC and solar input of 200W. It takes 3-4 hours to charge it from a wall outlet or solar panels. 

3. EcoFlow Delta Max - Best For Running Most Household Appliances

ECOFLOW DELTA Max Solar Generator

If you want a portable solar generator that can power most household appliances, get the EcoFlow Delta Max

With a capacity of 2016Wh and AC output of 2400W, it can run even large appliances. 

The Delta Max is expandable. So if 2016Wh is not enough for your needs, you can add two extra battery packs to reach 6048Wh. 

The added capacity is great for longer blackouts or if you often go off-grid for extended periods. It’s also handy if you want to run power-hungry appliances like a space heater or portable AC. 

The AC output is also expandable. The Delta Max has a feature called X-Boost that increases output up to 3400W, so you can power larger appliances or multiple appliances at the same time. 

The Delta Max has 15 output options including 6 AC outlets, 6 USB ports (including 2 USB-C), and 3 12V DC outlets. 

Charging is super fast, whether you are using solar or a wall outlet. Max solar input is 800W, which charges the Delta Max in about 2.5 hours. 

AC input is 1800W, which recharges the Delta Max in just 1.8 hours. You can also charge with AC and solar at the same time for even faster charging. 

The main downside of the Delta Max power station is that it’s heavier. It weighs 48.5lbs. If you are shopping for a highly portable power station, stick with BougeRV or get one of the two alternatives I’ve recommended above (Explorer 1000 Pro or Bluetti EB70S). 

The Delta Max also uses a Li-ion battery that doesn't last as long as a LiFePO4 battery. If you want a LiFePO4 power station capable of powering most appliances, consider the Bluetti AC200P or AC200MAX


Care and Maintenance

The BougeRV doesn't require much in terms of maintenance. Just keep it away from the elements (it’s not waterproof) and use it within the recommended temperature range. 

If you plan to store it away for a long time, keep it in a cool dry place away from any flammable materials. It’s a good idea to recharge it every 3-6 months to keep it from fully discharging, which can damage the battery. 


Warranty 

BougeRV offers a 1.5 year warranty on the 1200/1100Wh solar generator. That’s on par with the 1-2 year warranty offered by other brands. 


Specifications

Weight:  

29lbs

Size:

16 x 12 x 14 in

Capacity:

1100Wh

Expandable:

No

AC output:

1200W continuous, 2000W surge pure sine wave inverter

Outlets:

3xAC, 4xUSB, 3x12V DC

Max solar input:

200W

Charging time:

 4.5hrs with AC adapter, 4.5-5.5 hours with 200W solar

Battery chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Claimed battery lifespan:

1500 cycles to 80%

Operating temperature:

 32°F-105°F


Where To Buy?

The BougeRV 1200W/1100Wh power station is available on the official BougeRV website. You can also order it on Amazon.

About the Author David Roberts

I'm a Mechanical Engineer who's obsessed with solar energy and sustainable living.

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