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jackery battery review

Jackery Explorer 1000 Solar Generator – Full Review & Top 3 Alternatives

The Jackery Explorer 1000 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-capacity solar generator that’s portable.

The Explorer 1000 balances perfectly between power and portability. It’s powerful enough to handle larger appliances like a fridge or TV, yet light and compact enough to carry around in your truck, boat or RV.

This makes it a great choice for campers, small off-grid cabins, as well as boat and RV owners.

It can also provide backup power at home for essential devices, gadgets, lighting and some appliances.

Here are the main specs:

  • 1002Wh lithium battery
  • 1000W continuous AC output
  • a variety of outlets including USB-C PD, three charging options
  • weight of 22lbs.

Keep reading for our full review of the Jackery Explorer 1000

If you are still unsure about getting the Jackery Explorer 1000, see our reviews of other top-rated solar power stations for camping, boating and RVs.

If you need more power than the Explorer 1000 offers, Jackery also sells a 2000W solar generator


Pros

jackery 1000
  • Powerful, yet easily portable.
  • Powers larger appliances.
  • Cheaper than competing brands.
  • Wide range of outlets + three charging options.
  • Solid build quality.
  • Efficient built-in MPPT charge controller.
  • Easy to see display. 

Cons

  • Inconvenient fixed handle.
  • The display turns off too quickly. 

Unique Features

jackery explorer

1. 1002Wh Power Station

The 1002Wh lithium-ion battery in the Jackery 1000 packs plenty of power, allowing you to charge more and larger appliances for longer.

It handles everything from small devices and gadgets like smartphones, cameras, and laptops, to small and medium-size appliances such as mini-fridges, TVs and small space heaters.

The higher capacity of the Explorer 1000 is especially great for campers that love camping for days. Add a solar panel kit, and you could easily camp for weeks.

It’s also great for RVs, boats, and off-grid cabins. You can power most of your appliances and keep your devices charged.

What Can The Jackery Explorer 1000 Power?

Appliance/device

Run time/recharges

CPAP (40W)

21.3hrs

Mini fridge (60W)

14.2hrs

Smartphone (10Wh)

85 recharges

Laptop (60Wh)

14 recharges

Camping lantern (10W)

85hrs

43” TV (47W)

18.1hrs

2. High Output

The large-capacity battery wouldn’t be handy if you couldn’t get lots of power for your appliances.

That’s why the Jackery Explorer 1000 has an impressive 1000W continuous output and a 2000W max peak/surge output.

You can plug in any appliance that uses under 1000W of power, including a mini-fridge, TV, fan, a small heater, and even a small blender or coffee maker.

How long you can run different appliances depends on their power draw and how many appliances and devices you’ve plugged in.

On average, Jackery says a full battery can charge a smartphone 100 times, a laptop eight times, a mini-fridge for 17 hours, and a small coffee maker for 50 minutes.

To estimate run time for a particular appliance, calculate 1002Wh*0.85 / operating power of the appliance.

3. Versatile Output

The 1000W output is available through three 110V AC ports, allowing you to power multiple appliances simultaneously (just be careful not to exceed 1000W in total power).

For lights, air mattress pump, CPAP, and other DC-powered tools and appliances, there’s a single 12V, 10A DC outlet.

For gadgets and devices, you get three USB ports. They include a USB-C port, a USB-C port with Quick Charge 3.0, and a regular USB-A port.

You can plug in your laptop or charge devices like smartphones, drones, cameras and others.

4. Three Charging Options

jackery solar generator

You can recharge the Jackery Explorer 1000 in one of three ways, depending on your situation.

Chilling at home? Plug it into a wall outlet using the included AC adapter. It’ll go from 0 to 80% in 5.5 hours.

On the road? Plug it into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter socket using the included car charger. It’ll go from 0 to 80% in 11.5 hours.

Having fun outdoors? Hook up the Explorer 1000 to a solar panel. The built-in MPPT charge controller ensures the battery charges quickly and efficiently.

This solar option is also handy if you are at home and there’s a blackout.

Note that the Jackery Explorer 1000 doesn't come with a solar panel. But Jackery sells a bundled version with the Explorer 1000 and a pair of SolarSaga 100W solar panels (200W combined).

If you buy just the Explorer 1000, you can pair it up with any solar panels as long as you don’t exceed an input of 200W. The Explorer 1000 uses an 8mm DC input.

5. Lightweight and Compact

The Jackery Explorer 1000 is light (just 22lbs), considering its capacity and power.

It’s perfect if you’ll often need to carry it by hand and its compact design takes up minimal space in your truck or RV.


Issues & Concerns

Fixed Handle

We prefer the fold-down handle on Goal Zero power stations. The handle gets out of the way, giving you a flat surface to place a laptop or a device. It also allows for more efficient storage.

In contrast, the Jackery Explorer 1000 has a fixed handle that inconveniently stays up and in the way.

Display

The display is mostly great. It’s bright and shows you all the info you need (incoming power, outgoing power, and remaining charge).

The main issue is that it turns off too quickly. You have to keep pressing the display button to light it up again. Jackery should have provided a way to keep the display on.

Slow Recharging

Whether you’ve plugged it into a wall outlet or connected it to solar panels, the Jackery 1000 takes a long time to recharge compared to solar generators from brands like Bluetti and EcoFlow. 

AC recharging takes about 5.5-6.5 hours. Solar recharging is similarly slow since the Jackery 1000 accepts a max of 200W solar input. It takes 6-8 hours depending on how much sunshine there is. 

Limited Battery Lifespan

The Jackery 1000 has a lithium-ion battery. It’s a high energy density type of battery that helps keep solar generators light and portable. 

The main issue with Li-ion batteries is their limited lifespan. The Jackery 1000 is good for 500 cycles before capacity drops to 80%. 

On average, a Li-ion solar generator lasts 3-5 years before the battery completely dies. 

In contrast lithium-phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries last 2500+ cycles to 80% capacity. LiFePO4 solar generators can last up to 10 years. 


Top 3 Jackery Explorer 1000 Alternatives 

If the Jackery 1000 is not what you are looking for, here are three alternatives. 

1. Jackery Explorer 1500 - More Power & Capacity

Jackery Explorer 500

If your main concern with the Jackery Explorer 1000 is that it doesn't have adequate power or capacity for your needs, consider getting the larger Jackery Explorer 1500.

The Jackery 1500 packs a 1534Wh Li-ion battery, so it won’t drain as quickly as the Jackery 1000. 

Power output is 1800W meaning the Explorer 1500 can power larger appliances (e.g a coffee maker, microwave) or more appliances at the same time. 

The larger battery doesn't make the Explorer 1500 too heavy. It weighs 35.2 lbs, which most people can lift and carry over short distances. So you can still take it camping and other outdoor activities. 

Another advantage of choosing the Explorer 1500 is that it comes with a more powerful USB-C port rated at 60W compared to the 18W USB-C ports on the Explorer 1000. 

You can plug in your laptop and other high-power devices into the USB-C PD outlet, making it easy to work off-grid. 

If the Explorer 1500 is still not adequate for your needs, the biggest solar generator in Jackery’s line up is the Explorer 2000 Pro with 2160Wh capacity and 2200W power output.

2. EcoFlow Delta 1300 - Charges Faster & Better Value For Money

Jackery Explorer 500

For roughly the same price as the Jackery Explorer 1000, you can get the EcoFlow Delta 1300, which is better in almost every aspect. 

Let’s start with capacity. The Delta 1300 has a 1260Wh Li-ion battery, giving you a longer battery life than the Jackery 1000. 

As for power output, the Delta 1300 has 6 AC outlets with a combined output of 1800W. It can support bigger and more appliances than the Jackery 1000.  

The Delta 1300 also has a wider variety of USB ports. You get two USB-A ports, two Quick Charge USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports rated at 60W. 

But the most impressive feature of the Delta 1300 is the charging speed. It takes just 1 hour 36 minutes to recharge from a wall outlet. Remember it has a bigger battery than the Jackery 1000. 

The Delta 1300 accepts double (400W) the solar input of the Jackery 1000, so it also charges faster with solar panels.

If you don't want to sit around waiting for hours for a solar generator to recharge, I recommend the EcoFlow Delta 1300.

It’s also the best choice if you want the best bang for your buck. 

3. Bluetti EB70S - Cheaper & Longer Lasting

Jackery Explorer 500

Shopping on a budget? I recommend the Bluetti EB70S

It’s about half the price of the Jackery Explorer 1000, but their specs almost match up. The EB70S is just slightly smaller in terms of capacity and power output. 

The Bluetti EB70S has a capacity of 716Wh. Notably, it uses a longer lasting LiFePO4 battery instead of Li-ion. It lasts over 2500 cycles to 80% capacity. 

Power output from the Bluetti EB70S is 800W, just 200W shy of the Jackery 1000. Most of the appliances that you would run with the Jackery 1000 you can also plug into the EB70S. 

Despite having less capacity and power, the Bluetti EB70S has more outlets than the Jackery 1000. 

These include four AC sockets, two USB-C ports rated at 100W, two USB-A ports, and three DC outlets. There’s also a wireless charging pad for QI enabled devices. 

Like the EcoFlow Delta 1300, we feel the Bluetti EB70S offers better value for your money than the Jackery Explorer 1000. 


Jackery Explorer 1000 vs. Goal Zero Yeti 1000X

Torn between the Explorer 1000 and the Goal Zero 1000X? Here’s a quick comparison.

The main difference is that the Goal Zero power station is slightly pricier and heavier, but it offers higher power output (1500W) than the Explorer 1000.

Another key difference is that the Yeti 1000X has more outlets, including three DC outlets. 

Bottom line: 

The Goal Zero Yeti 1000X is the best choice if you need to power bigger appliances with more than a 1000W draw.

But if you prefer a lighter & less expensive power station that handle appliances up to 1000W, then buy the Jackery Explorer 1000.


Warranty

Jackery offers a 24-month warranty on the Explorer 1000 power station.


Specifications

Capacity:

1002Wh

AC output:

1000W, 2000W peak

Ports:

3 AC, 3 USB, 1 DC

Charging options:

Solar, AC outlet, car charger

Max solar input:

200W

Weight:

22lbs

Dimensions:

13.1” L x 9.2” W x 11.1”H

Solar panels:

Not included


Where to Buy the Jackery Explorer 1000 Solar Generator

About the Author David Roberts

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

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