Reviewing the Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station

[@PatrickWagz]

Thanks Ray. I like your "no-nonsense" reviews where you're not afraid to tell us the negatives. Plus, your thorough, practical tests (i.e. running the 480 watt heater for 50 some minutes). Just great.

[@joelonderee2872]

This is an excellent review. I wish more KZbin reviews were as straight forward, thorough, and impartial! I am going to Amazon right now to buy the 500. Thanks!

[@wornwater3537]

Ray, as always you give such a thorough review of products sent to you with pros and cons no matter what they are. Please keep these up as they really help us that are looking for products like you get form a clearer understanding of whether or not the product is right for us as an individual.

[@LoveYourRV]

Will do Roger, thanks

[@CheaperJeeperTV]

Great video. If I had two Solar Saga 100W panels, is there any way to take advantage of that to charge the Jackery 500 quicker? Thanks

[@LoveYourRV]

It looks like you need a Jackery 1000 to run 2 of them according to this Jackery page www.jackery.com/products/solarsaga-100w-solar-panel There may be some hacks out there that I'm not aware, though. People can be quite inventive. :)

[@CheaperJeeperTV]

@@LoveYourRV Thanks for the reply. Cheers.

[@rebellucy5610]

I own multiple solar generator style power banks. I have to say the Jackery is my favorite. There are numerous cheaper Chinese brands, but I would recommend getting a Jackery or Goal Zero. I have had a few of the cheap ones and they stopped working. Getting any warranty repairs was impossible.

[@2fluffybunnies]

I’ve been looking for a battery pack to power movie night in the back yard, But I don’t understand watts and amps so this review really puts everything in perspective. Thanks for making it simple. Even your weight comparison to a pack of beer was helpful. I think this will me more than enough for a few movies :)

[@myvenusheeler]

This review is the best I have seen on these devices.It is disappointing how much time it takes to get the device back in action after it runs flat without the use of A/C power.

[@TheGbortnick]

I have the 500 and love it and it will run anything I have. When I run the refrigerator I wish it would run longer but the question I have is could I piggyback a battery so it will last longer

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, they say they support pass through charging so could be rigged up

[@friedpickles342]

You can't piggy back a jackery.

[@cameraman1234567890]

I own a Jackery 240, Plus my homemade portable power station, I didnt know they made a 500! Wow!

[@arnoldosuna3990]

Just got my Jackery 500 and I guess they do listen to what you have to say. I'm not a technical person but the only I thing I can tell they fixed from your review, was the fan coming on all the time. Nice! Thank you for your review. Read more Show less

[@ngoandrew8]

Many thanks for such comprehensive test and useful comments. I now have better ideas on its limitations and can buy with confidence.

[@LoveYourRV]

You are welcome!

[@LeftyMcgee808]

Just charge with solar while using it.. the battery would last a little longer right?

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes

[@WilliamParmley]

Mine arrived this week. When I turn on the AC outlet the fan spins up and then immediately shuts down. Does not come on again until I run a fairly "large" load for a while (say, 100w). Doesn't run at all with light loads such as charging a laptop.

[@LoveYourRV]

Cool, good to hear they changed that. Cheers, Ray

[@ib516]

I just bought one of these. They updated the way they operate the fan (8:20 in your video). When AC is powered up, the fan runs for 2 or so seconds then shuts off. It then runs intermittently or continuously depending on AC wattage load, and ambient temp after that. I ran my 26 cu ft fridge on it for 8 hrs and the fan cycled on and off (150w load when the fridge was cooling). They also updated the auto-off time when the load is under 10w to 12 hrs from the original 6 hrs.

[@LoveYourRV]

Thanks for letting us know, I noticed when I reviewed the new Jackery 1000 box that was the case, they must have listened to the reviewers and updated it. Also of note, I just published a video letting people know there has been a recall on early Jackery 1000 boxes and mine actually failed - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpWWeIquopWml9E Cheers, Ray

[@ChannelGregg]

Solid review, top to bottom. I bought one based on your video.

[@DCash-lx4jr]

Hi, thanks for the video. I’m not a technical guy. Do you think this will power a projector for about 4 hrs?

[@LoveYourRV]

I'm not sure how much power a projector uses. You'd have to look at the label on it and see the power consumption of your projector. If it says say 100 watts then this box could power it for 5 hours but if it says 200 watts it could only be 2 1/2 hours. That's just a rough guess. Cheers, Ray

[@motlay]

First timer here. Great review... And a side bonus, it's quite a kick to hear a tech review from Rand Paul.

[@randydicotti3975]

Good review. thanks. When you run the unit at high discharge rate the battery gets hot. It will not charge (to protect the battery from further heating) until the battery has cooled down. perfectly normal. Also, unless you're going to be using it right away, keep the battery at 40-50% charge level. Lithium Ion batteries do not last as long when stored fully charged. For MAXIMUM battery life, always operate the unit between 20% and 80% charge. No lower and no higher except for 40-50% battery charge when not in use. Finally, in your compressor test, you used an adapter that says 2.1A right on it...yet you are using it to draw over 8 Amps. Is there a flaw in your test?

[@LoveYourRV]

Thanks for the info, folks need to know all this limitations not found the Jackery marketing hype. Cheers, Ray

[@friedpickles342]

It says on the box . leave plugged in or charge every 3 months when not in use. Lol

[@mistereasygoingtoapoint3554]

The 2.1 amp output is a usb port for cameras, etc.

[@kleenmary7060]

Great information! I have a question, I have a 500 watt electric bike and am looking to be able to power it. Would this be a good choice for recharging my bike?

[@LoveYourRV]

Thanks, I;m not sure about that. I guess the information to know would be how much capacity is in the bike battery in watt or amp hours and how much amperage the bike battery charger draws. I believe 500 watts is just the power of the electric motor.

[@ZeebNinja]

I really like my Aeiusny Portable Generator, 288Wh 500W. it is only $279.00 on Amazon. I mainly use it for my CPAP when boondocking. Runs much longer ( 4 nights) if the CPAP runs on 12v vrs 120v

[@MarisaFotosensible]

Very good, very accurate, very scientific test, based on tests not passions... I wished to have your advice on what would be the suitable portable power station vs a second battery installation, to fulfill all the needs for heavy work, without being afraid of running out of power... I am planning ahead, very carefully, to camperizar my family car for two with the minimum but the maximum essentials... Water and power. Thanks very much

[@LoveYourRV]

Check out my recent review of the upcoming Himcen H740 power station. I think it has the potential of being a great product - www.loveyourrv.com/himcen-h740-pro-portable-power-station-w-removable-battery-pack/ Cheers, Ray

[@WilliamParmley]

Good, honest technical review, lots of detail, answered all of my questions about the unit. I do feel that this could have been "tightened up" a bit and been about ten minutes shorter. Overall, thanks very much for a superb effort.

[@LoveYourRV]

Thanks! I have a second video where I take it apart for a look inside if you're interested - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmiZoZyuaM5jbcU Cheers! Ray

[@WilliamParmley]

@@LoveYourRV Yes, thank you! I'll check it out. I like to understand as much as possible about any technology that I use, and taking things apart and poking around inside is a great way to do that.

[@seekingjoynow1722]

Such a good review. Lots of detail. I think I want to buy a Jackery 500.

[@mikemysicka7717]

Well thought out review, thank you. I am leaning towards this box for a backup/charging power source.

[@hauk3839]

Go around like hobotech on you tube to get discount coupons. Jackery great concept. I have harbor fright solar kit which is very nice but jackery is very simple and has the safties. Good luck. 440 can't use solar fyi

[@KillerRaptorr]

I would suggest goal zero vs jackery. Their power output and recharge is far superior then Jackery's and smaller form if you go lithium. If you go Lead acid. You can mix 4 EXTRA 33/34ah lead-acids with the pack, for having 5x more power then the lithium version and Jackery (So lead acid would be 400x400x400 for around 600$, or 2 400x400 batteries of 800$. Yes heavier, but for a RV, Van/truck that you aren't carrying on/off all the time. worth it.). + I believe their 400+ systems have boosted ampage DC ports. So each port is it's own port, allowing for you to parallel use all 2-3-4 12volt ports for 20-30-40amps vs just 10amp of each port max. Which lets you use truck off-road cooking hardware, Heaters, etc that require more then 10amps of power or around 10-20amps of 12volt DC. (And no the myth of Lead-Acid can't go below 50% only applies to Flooded Cells. Not AGM Lead acid which Goal zero uses. So they can be drained to 0% and still work well with no cramp in performance.).

[@denim_joey]

Have you used your Jackery solar generator to run a heated blanket for winter camping? If so, I’m curious about how much battery draw one could expect with using a heated blanket for about 3-6 hours a night. Thanks!

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, my wife has a electric throw that is rated at max 135 watts and will use about half the Jackery boxes battery capacity during one night give or take depending on how cold it is.

[@denim_joey]

Love Your RV thanks for the reply, I appreciate it!

[@msb11221]

The best review ever. Thank you.

[@LoveYourRV]

Glad you liked it!

[@jordenlafortune1811]

Will it be possible to plug in a power surge to have access to more outlets? Running 2 rokit speakers and a laptop to dj at the beach?

[@LoveYourRV]

Sure, that would work fine.

[@john543]

Battery University has a section on Lithium chemistries. This NMC chemistry should have 1000-2000 cycles but is affected by temperature and DOD. I suspect they have reduced the battery mass to bring down the price so are either running hotter or to greater DOD to make competitive power as Lensun for instance which advertises 1,200 cycles. For me this is a good choice as a UPS substitute. Since shelf life is only 3 to 6 months, I would leave this plugged into the truck to keep it topped up. Since I would only use it for keeping my MacBook Pro and iPhone plus misc topped up it seems like a good fit. Certainly lighter and more power than a conventional UPS and recharges from truck. This is best choice so far compared to Lensun and Goal Zero.

[@john543]

Ray, I am sure you are in direct contact with the Jackery folks, can you find out if it is ok and good practice to just leave the box plugged into truck 12V ALL the time? I am asking as that chemistry does not like overcharging so it would be good to know if there is some sort of protection.

[@LoveYourRV]

The unit has a built-in BMS (Battery Management System) to regulate the charging of the lithium pack, also has overvoltage protection and temperature protections. I would imagine though the battery life could be extended by not leaving it plugged in. I'll ask.

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, they said it has over-charge protection

[@mikesmultimedia]

Nice comparison for weight “like carrying around a case of beer.” 27:08. Was looking for the type of solar controller. Most likely MPPT but haven’t heard someone say it next. Thanks.

[@DASOSinAZ]

Once again, a very useful video. Thanks, Ray.

[@JackeryInc]

Thanks for the review Ray. Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 now is available at amazon.com, check the link to explorer more >>www.amazon.com/dp/B07SM5HBK1.

[@JoelWelter]

Very thorough review. Thanks, Ray!

[@LoveYourRV]

You're welcome, was fun to test it.

[@john543]

Looking at a few of these, and for RVing, the 12V charge port (truck) is mandatory.

[@dogpatch75]

Great review! Your thoroughness is impressive!

[@LoveYourRV]

Thanks!

[@JasonMatison]

Fantastic information! Much appreciated.

[@Geoffr524]

Looks like it uses 8mm Goal Zero input, for charging, and the 2 DC outputs, are a 6mm Goal Zero connector size, also. Just checked, those are the same as Goal Zero connectors. There are accessories on Amazon, that will work with 6mm DC outputs. Try looking for 6mm Goal Zero on Amazon. I have the Goal Zero, Yeti 400, with the same connectors on the front, and 8mm connectors on the solar panels.

[@LoveYourRV]

Thanks, you are much more helpful than the Jackery manual or website. :) I assume all the Goal Zero stuff is center positive outside negative as well.

[@Geoffr524]

@@LoveYourRV I don't know about polarity though.

[@thedot3814]

Hi. How many charges you think this has before it fails?

[@dudemiesterification]

Hi Ray, those small dc ports are for laptops, it’s a fairly standard port for that use. Great reviews, keep up the good work.

[@LoveYourRV]

Ah I see, I've only had laptops that plug into a regular shore power socket through an adapter. My laptop runs on 19.5VDC. I think most Macs use a square white thing. At least, that's what Anne's Macbook Air has. I never knew there was some standard 12VDC adapter plug for them Do you know the size or have a link to one I can see. Thanks! Ray

[@dudemiesterification]

I believe it’s a cable like this: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1396130-REG/omnicharge_oa51a001_dc_magface_2_cable_f.html You see this type of port on smaller portable power packs to top up your laptop in a pinch.

[@LoveYourRV]

That one looks like it uses a 5.5 x 2.1mm Barrel Port which is much smaller than the Jackery port by the looks of it, the Jackery uses a 2* DC 6MM port at least that's what the 440 uses, looks the same as the 500 ports www.jackery.com/products/explorer-440-portable-power-station

[@trustinwwjd1997]

Thanks for sharing such a through review to consider,,, Safe, happy & blessed travel on your all journey,,,,

[@vickieatl4358]

The trick is to keep it charging either by leaving it hooked to a solar panel or car battery as your using it for laptops, fans, etc. This will provide continuous use.

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, if you're using low wattage items, not a problem. But still the overall recharge time is poor. I'm currently reviewing similar power box that recharges over twice as fast. Cheers, Ray

[@BruceS42]

In the context of a typical RV, what advantage would something like that have over the house batteries? ISTM you could spend the money on upgrading those, instead of buying separate units, but maybe I'm missing something. I agree that those 12V ports seem useless, as they have neither cables nor a technical description. Anyway, thanks for the review.

[@LoveYourRV]

I guess portability away from the fixed RV power systems. These boxes are mostly aimed at people with small rigs, tenters or folks that lack the expertise or don't want to spend the money to have a system built into their RV. They are simple to use and convenient. The inverter and solar charge controller are built right into the box. Cheers, Ray

[@BruceS42]

@@LoveYourRV Thanks, Ray, that makes sense.

[@BettHouston]

I bought a small RV (like a camper van on steroids) and the generator needs replacement. I hate generators and wouldn’t watch TV or use the microwave in my rig. So I bought a Jackery 240 and their Solar Saga 60 Watt panel. That ran my little lamp, fan and charged my phone and laptop very well. I just ordered the Jackery 500 for $399 (Black Friday) and purchased their 100 Watt panel a few weeks ago when it was on sale. My plan is to remove the current apartment size residential (compressor) fridge and microwave and install a small 12v fridge that the 500 will run for me. Fingers crossed!

[@bobcattt8]

would this run just a mini fridge for a weekend? Thanks

[@LoveYourRV]

Possibly, depends on the fridge, how many watts does the mini fridge use on average per hour? If it uses 50 watts per hour this box will run it about 10 hours.

[@notyoung]

The charge power is limited by the small size. The lack of ventilation during charging is probably the biggest factor limiting the recharge power and thus the time for recharging as you discovered when you turned on the inverter with no load and the fan cooled things down enough to allow charging to begin. Having the fan powered when there is power at the charging port would probably be a good thing and should allow faster charging. Just remember that the heat generated in reversing the chemical reaction that provides power from the batteries must go somewhere and it must be removed fast enough to prevent overheating of the battery pack and it's potential for self-ignition - remember seeing the videos of Sony laptops going up in smoke while sitting idle on a conference table? That's what happens when you're not careful with the heat generated during charging. A temperature-controlled fan would need two temperature sensors - one for the inverter temp and the other for the battery temp. If you're comfortable with disassembling and rewiring commercial products, you can get 35C (95F) NO (normally open) thermostats on Ebay for a dollar or so. Put one on the warmest part of the battery pack and the other on the warmest part of the inverter after 30 minutes at a 500 watt load. Break one line to the fan and put the thermostats in parallel so either will close the circuit when it heats up. Probably less than an hour to have a temperature controlled fan. You could even make a video about how it's done ;-) I have a no-name (there's a name in the ads but nothing on the case) 500 watt "box" with a 288WH battery on order and at $80 I won't be too concerned about opening the case and making changes. (The box is a clone of the Kyng and several other units. Factory overruns?) We'll see how the fan and the charging are handled when the unit arrives. I mostly work with larger solar power: my "Wait until daylight" backup system can run fridge, lights, internet and gas furnace for 8 to 20 hours depending on the season so I'm not out in a thunderstorm or in the dark at 30F and shoveling 7" of snow to get a gasoline generator out of the shed. Longest outage we've used it in so far is 12 hours and it worked fine (420AH AGM battery bank, 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter, 4 circuit transfer switch). I need to have a tree taken down (budgeted for this year) to put up adequate solar power to have limited long-term power, but a single 250 watt panel on an MPPT controller keeps things topped off and ready for use.

[@drumdude46]

Running mine the other day ... charging a laptop....and after a bit..suddenly hear what sounded like an 'internal Fan'...come on? this thing has it's own Cooling, built in or something? assumed it was because it had reached some sort of 'threshold' temp, pre-designated'....and when so....the Fan Kicks on! is this correct?

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, it has a temp controlled cooling fan

[@jamesscott1932]

Sometimes the comments look so good I could skip the video and just read the comments.

[@johnpoelking1264]

Way to much of breakdown on all the juice usage, and time required ..let's go we get

[@TC-tw5zk]

Wondering if would be ok when we dry camp, just using it at night to watch TV and charge phones, saving my main batteries for the rv heater and lights. Then recharge all in the morning with the generator

[@LoveYourRV]

Phones are no problem at all but would depend a lot on the amperage draw and duration of TV watching. The Jackery doesn't recharge very fast, so if you draw it down too low it may take a lot of generator run time to recharge.

[@TC-tw5zk]

@@LoveYourRV thank you Ray, I hear it takes at least 7 hours to recharge.. and my TV is 50 watts.. a couple hourss of tv at night ,will only be discharged 50 percent...? I'll have to see

[@LoveYourRV]

The box has over 500 watt hours capacity, so two hours TV time at 50 watts will draw it down 20%.

[@georgewilken4210]

I have bought this and found a problem with solar charging. When using solar, if the voltage of the panel drops due to a cloud or shadow, the Jackery 500 will stop charging, The light will come back on, but will not charge or draw current. I am considering returning it.

[@LoveYourRV]

Thanks for the feedback, I'll have to check if mine has the same bug. Ray

[@balkangetaway]

Thanks - that's good to know since i would only use it with solar

[@dkatec]

what did you add to the solar panel to get it charging quicker?

[@LoveYourRV]

I used my NOCO battery booster box as a 12VDC testing source, put it in series with the 18V solar panel to get about 30VDC input for the Jackery charging port. More info on the NOCO booster box here --> www.loveyourrv.com/noco-gb150-battery-booster-review/ Cheers, Ray

[@steveqhanson6835]

This was really helpful. Thank you

[@BoondockingBears]

I have an alpicool cooler that the specs say uses 0.2kw/h 24. How long can the Jackery 500 (or Jackery 240) run the cooler for before needing recharging? Electricity is not my thing. lol

[@LoveYourRV]

Looking at some specs online I'd guess between 1 and 3 days. Depending on how it's set and outside temperatures.

[@Minnesota76]

Do you think I can use for my Bose F1 812? I need one so I can bring my speaker out

[@LoveYourRV]

I looked up the Bose F1 812 speaker and it says it has a 1000 watt rated power amp but not sure the startup wattage but this little box even if it could power it up wouldn't last very long. So not suitable. Even the Jackery 1000 would only last about 1 hour if the Bose was cranked up to the max 1000 watt output.

[@Minnesota76]

@@LoveYourRV ok thanks I will try contact the battery company

[@garyemerson7135]

Will it run a cpap

[@LoveYourRV]

Depends on the cpap, they are not all created equal. If its max power draw is under 500 watts then yes it will run it. How long will depend on how much wattage the cpap uses per hour? For example, if it draws 250 watts per hour on average then the Jackery 500 will run for approx 2 hours before the internal battery is depleted.

[@adamheeley285]

Random Question: Would I be able to plug in a power bar into the outlet so I could get maybe 2-4 more outlets??? For instance, if there are two laptops that need to be plugged in out on a picnic table or something, etc.

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, that would work fine as long as the total wattage of all the items plugged in doesn't exceed the rated power output of the Jackery box. For example, the Jackery 500 has a 500 watt rated maximum. Exceeding that won't permanently hurt the Jackery but will likely trip the auto overload protection circuitry and shut it down temporarily. Cheers, Ray

[@adamheeley285]

@@LoveYourRV Cheers!

[@swaggercat]

Great review. The one thing you missed is the going price

[@LoveYourRV]

Was $599 now it's $499 www.jackery.com/products/explorer-500w-portable-power-station Also check out some other videos as often reviewers are given special discount codes to hand out.

[@dennisjs]

Will the100W solar saga to charge both the240 and the 500 or is there a better solar panel to use?

[@LoveYourRV]

Looks like that's the biggest one they offer. Seems expensive for a 100-watt panel but I guess its really thin and lightweight. I'm not sure exactly what panel would work better, but one with a higher voltage should allow a faster charge time.

[@Jilted13]

Are you able to charge the Jackery Power Station while powering other devices simultaneously?

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes

[@NeverGiveUp-ib3xb]

I noticed when you turned on the ac outlet that the fan kicked in. Mine had the fan start and stop. Nothing was connected. Do you think I have a bad unit?

[@LoveYourRV]

Not sure, maybe I have the bad unit or your model is an upgraded version as its quite annoying when running low powered things to have the fan running. You would think it would be temperature controlled and only kick in when the box needed cooling, not all the time. I'd test yours with a high power load and see if the fan comes on as the box begins to work hard. Cheers, Ray

[@BradMorrisKA3YAN]

Mine also shuts off after first spinning up. I think this is the correct (expected) function. My guess would be they updated the firmware.

[@dirtroadsailing6418]

Nice review as usual Ray. Maybe it was the update speed of your meter, but I noticed that when you were testing the DC output to your compressor that the voltage seemed to ramp down and your compressor seemed to slow down as well at the same time. If they are going to protect the DC output, I would prefer a hard cutoff so as to not potentially damage my equipment connected to it. I also looked on their website to see what kind of connectors that they sell for the DC barrel connectors and they offered nothing. Under the spec's they list the following for included in the box: AC Adaptor, DC to Car Adaptor and AC to DC cable, User Guide. I can guess what two of the cables are, but the AC to DC cable has me baffled.

[@LoveYourRV]

The Fluke meter speed is pretty quick, looks like the do lower the voltage.

[@PDX53]

Not sure how long it would last but my Bi-Pap machine with a heated water reservoir draws about 27 watts.

[@LoveYourRV]

I think they vary in wattage quite a bit, depending on the brand, heater, pressure and some use a humidifier. Some cycle on and off to do certain things, some aren't as efficient. I see they range from 30-60 watts usually. I think 27W would last quite a while with this unit. Likely 18 hours or so.

[@PDX53]

@@LoveYourRV Mine has a humidifier & is on continuously for at least 8 hrs. I was worried about running down my single 200 ah AGM battery & used one of those plug in Kill-a-Watt (?) brand monitors. My battery went down a little but the gauge only has a 4 light indicator (1/4, 1/2, etc) so the Jackery or the other one would work great. A Bi-Pap specific Li battery for mine is $325 - ouch.

[@Ojeramup12]

Is the 110 plug/receptacle a 2 prong or 3 prong ? I can't tell from the video.

[@LoveYourRV]

Its a two conductor output, neutral and hot, with a hole so the 3rd ground pin fits but its not hooked to anything, so basically the inverter output is a floating neutral. Cheers, Ray

[@Ojeramup12]

@@LoveYourRV Thanks for the quick reply.

[@LoveYourRV]

No probs, I did a disassembly video as well if you want to see what's inside - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmiZoZyuaM5jbcU I've used it for a few months and like it, good for light loads, but the slow recharge time is a definite negative if people are running higher wattage things off it. Cheers, Ray

[@Zkpe02]

Charging through the vehicle I bought a 300 watt inverter and plugged the power brick into the inverter…Decreased the charging time substantially ….

[@VANquishedAdventures]

charging the battery while hot degrades the battery prematurely, it was protecting the battery by not charging

[@LoveYourRV]

Yeah, that's a good thing for battery life but a downfall of these compact all in one power boxes usability wise, they have to squeeze the inverter heat sinks right next to the battery so will have issues in hot climates and under heavy loads. The fan helps but obviously it's not enough to keep the battery cool. Cheers, Ray

[@normanmcintosh396]

The test after you ran the heater was not fair to the unit. The heater has a max draw on the unit. Lith Batteries do not charge well after coming off a hard draw off the unit. They delay the charge slightly to prevent the break down of the batteries over time. They allow for a short cool-off period to give max life to the batteries. If you are in a really hot environment then a gas generator might be your best option. I find in my view the company who made the unit made the right choice not to let it charge again coming off a heavy load like a heater use.

[@LoveYourRV]

I think it was a fair test, I was trying to see how it performs at its max rated *advertised* AC power output. I'd think this something a buyer would like to know. Now we know if you use the inverter at near its max rated power that it can overheat the Jackery box at room temps, so we can surmise it will be worse if used in a hot environment, may even shut down completely. imho opinion the company is pushing the AC inverter capability cramming it into a small package with poor cooling so they can put out the spec 500 watts. Their solution is to shut off functionality while they cool things down. Maybe they can improve the cooling system design in future models. Cheers, Ray

[@normanmcintosh396]

@@LoveYourRV It was not that bad

[@CG-kf5vh]

Well done. Thanks.

[@Blastfence1]

What would happen if you had two solar panels connected in parallel would the Jackery charge twice as fast?

[@LoveYourRV]

Unfortunately as far as I can tell the max solar charging amperage is 3.5 amps, so adding another panel in parallel won't do anything to increase that if it is already at max with one panel.

[@terrimccain9697]

I was interrested with this product ty Ray

[@bruceh3786]

If you were to only keep one, would it be the Jackery or the Lensun?

[@LoveYourRV]

I think I'm leaning towards the Jackery, I like the case design and display better and they have been making these type of products longer.

[@bruceh3786]

@@LoveYourRV Thanks.

[@johnw.7584]

Great review you did. Would be nice for temp back when power goes down in Rv or boat. Thks for the great review on this and all your great toys you have. ..john Wino...

[@hauk3839]

Use your car port in your car to charge also. Very versatile.

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, good feature, just wish it charged faster when hooked to the cat port.

[@LeonAllanDavis]

So if you try to charge this on a hot Arizona day using solar panels it will shut off? I guess you'll have to use the solar panels at night when it's cooler.

[@LoveYourRV]

I would guess so if it was really hot and left in the direct sun. Can't say I have tested it though, maybe that's maybe a good idea, I should pull out the heat gun! :) Cheers, Ray

[@listenheremeow2637]

What portable battery station do you have that charges faster? Thanks

[@LoveYourRV]

ecoflow.com/products/delta1300 RECHARGE 0%--80% WITHIN 1 HOUR EcoFlow patent X-Stream Technology empowers DELTA1300 to recharge at 10 times the speed of most portable power stations in the market

[@killerzone115]

Can you plug in a tv to it for when your power is out

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, sure could. :)

[@welcometoreality3450]

very good review sir

[@mishu3271]

Hi Ray 👋 This was one of the best and honest tech review on a portable solar battery I have seen. 👍👍 By chance will you get your hands on an Kodak Inergy with the RV 30 amp plug? Just bought a Roadtrek class B RV and would like to know if it has any technical benefits for boondocking as my new to me rig right now only has 2 lead acid batteries and engine alternator to charge them. Hesitant to spend $$$$ as I am in Ontario and as you know everything in Canada is more expensive! 😩

[@LoveYourRV]

Thanks, no I haven't had a look at the Kodiak Inergy Apex, looks pretty good though with a 3-hour recharge at max 500W charge power.

[@rebellucy5610]

The Kodiak is a nice battery. This Jackery is much, less expensive. I think they are not in the same class. 500w vs 1500w. $500 vs. $1800. Both great batteries.

[@eileenmurphy4985]

Will Prowse does an excellent review on the Kodak Inergy and I've wanted to get one for over a year but after seeing his review he does not recommend it for the money. He basically told Inergy they should fire their engineers! Check Will out, he's the best solar expert I have come across on KZbin and highly respected in his solar research..

[@BigFireDave]

It may be this is using lithium ion, the charge difference could be the newer more expensive stations use lipo batteries. The lion bats have a fire hazard when charged too quickly but as I understand the lipo batteries can accept a high chare rate.

[@LoveYourRV]

The website says they use Li-ion NMC Nickel Manganese Cobalt which is different from my new 12V lithium batteries I installed for the RV which are LiFePo4 Lithium Iron Phospate. I can charge my 12V LiFePO4 battery at 100 amps. I can only guess the choice is based on price or maybe energy density to keep the box small.

[@john543]

The batteries that catch fire are a different chemistry again. The key number here is thermal runaway temp and it is 150C for those types. The LiFePO4 house battery is 270C while this LiOn NMC is 210C. Both much safer. Also this chemistry has the lowest self heating so runs cooler than the rest.

[@KillerRaptorr]

@@LoveYourRV NMC has a higher energy density to it. But this in turn reduces it's life in general. Lithium Lifepo4 has less energy density to it and a safer cell system compared to NMC. This in turn gives it better overall life and lower heat while discharge/charging. But isn't the greatest in storage power compared to NMC. that's why you see there is more cells in Lifep04 then there are in NMC packs.

[@LoveYourRV]

@@KillerRaptorr Thanks for the info. My new LiFePO4 12-volt 90Ah battery has 4 prismatic cells in it. Here's a look at the inside - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXWygIKXZ8eaqZo Charges at max 100 amps and discharges at max 150 amps, 3500+ life cycles.

[@bertkelly7650]

Is that a hole under the plug for ground plugs?

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, I imagine the inverter output has a floating neutral so doesn't use an earth ground but still needs a hole so people can plug in 3 prong plugs.

[@graemequinn5679]

are these avaible in australia

[@LoveYourRV]

Looks like it - www.jackery.com.au/products/explorer-500

[@ceceliabarker2763]

Thank you.

[@KevinGHart]

Thanks for the review. I've just ordered one of these to power a few LED lights, a Fantastic Fan, and CPAP without humidifier at night. I don't plan to run anything like heaters, hairdryers, coffee makers, ice makers, fridges, etc. I plan to top it off every day with solar once I get the 100w panel. I would think draining it 100% would be bad for it. I thought you weren't supposed to drain a batter more than about 50%?

[@LoveYourRV]

The 50% is a rule of thumb for lead acid batteries. The lithium type in the Jackery can be discharged fully without harm since they are lithium versus lead acid and there is also a built in BMS (battery management system) to protect against running them too low. :) I've been running my Jackery for light loads this boondocking season and its been performing well. Cheers, Ray

[@marshallpoe8087]

Ray, good review. I agree with your dislikes. The charge time is a bit long, but the recharge cycles being such a low number raises some concerns on the quality of Li batteries. For reference, what does the Lensun list for recharge cycles?

[@LoveYourRV]

Lensun specs list 1200 life cycles

[@john543]

@@LoveYourRV Cycles is a function of chemistry and DOD. I can't find any info on chemistry used for Lensun so given all the other data I suspect the 1200-1500 claim.

[@LoveYourRV]

@@john543 If you want to see the Lithium pack they use, I showed the inside in my review video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ7TXn1rgpaWn6c They claim they are LG cells

[@thedot3814]

Very pricey, but they all say its worth the cost to have it all in one. The time it will save you you can never get back, and no money can ever buy. it for you.

[@theMekanik]

Oh, nice dual voltage power block

[@PARKERBROTHERSPLUMBING]

could this be charging through the 12v while being used?

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, and the display will show charging wattage and discharging wattage at the same time. Cheers, Ray

[@balkangetaway]

How long would i expectat this to last if i use it daily

[@LoveYourRV]

That's a hard question to answer since the Jackery 500 has only been out such a short time no one has had it very long. The manufacture specs quote a lifespan for the battery inside of at equal to or greater than 500 full cycles from empty to full. It that point the battery should still work but capacity would be reduced to a figure of 80% they say. Now that's full charge/discharge cycles I'd assume the time would increase if the discharges aren't as deep each day. Cheers, Ray

[@Ivansgarage]

Hi Ray, you remind me of the kid in the candy store, more toys to play with.... lol

[@LoveYourRV]

It's been a fun summer. :)

[@bombebomb]

Good video, it seems like he's being a bit critical on the charge speed of his charging devices and NOT the battery.... it's a large battery in there, so it's going to take a while.

[@LoveYourRV]

ecoflow.com/products/delta1300 This competitor's battery is over twice as big and charges way faster. With ultra-fast recharging technology, DELTA provides the fastest recharge rate on the market. ∙ Working 10x times faster than competing battery-powered generators. ∙ Recharging DELTA from 0-80% within 1 hour ∙ Charging through a simple cable and no brick converter needed anymore.

[@popatop75]

hell'o just found your site thank you.... new to rving can i do this ,,,, if i buy a jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station or something like it and just plug it into my rv shore line cord would that recharge my house batteries , ..... i would charge the house batteries at night and recharge the power station with a solar panel suitcase in the day. we don't wish to put panels on the rv... i'm 67 thank you david

[@LoveYourRV]

I guess it could partially depending on the capacity and how many house batteries you have. Keep in mind the Jackery only has about a 46 amp-hour battery, doing what you suggest would also be an inefficient use of power. Would be better to hook the solar suitcase to the house batteries via a small solar charge controller. Cheers, Ray

[@popatop75]

@@LoveYourRV thank you for the quick reply, learning stuff and old fashion some, your doing a kind and great service

[@aslammolani6654]

thanks for very informative and honest review. can you do the review on Lion Safari LT - 500w Power Generator so that i can compare Jackery and lion Safari LT. I want to buy one for my CPAP machine. Thanks Aslam Molani

[@LoveYourRV]

Thanks, I'll see what I can do. Cheers, Ray

[@aslammolani6654]

@@LoveYourRV Thanks for reply.

[@Flowrider25]

What does it power. Refrigerator

[@LoveYourRV]

It will power whatever you want it to up to 500 watts. So it really depends on what kind of fridge you need to power. Likely it would do OK for a small one or cooler type but not a large residential style. How long depends on how many watts are being used per hour it has just over 500 amp hour capacity.

[@amafid]

If I had a dollar for every jackery 500 review lately, I would probably have $500 to buy one.

[@LoveYourRV]

No kidding. :)

[@welcometoreality3450]

at least he does an honest review lol

[@LoveYourRV]

See My Jackery Explorer 500 Full Review Blog Post - www.loveyourrv.com/jackery-explorer-500-portable-power-station-review/ *What's Inside a Jackery Portable Power Station?* (Explorer 500 Model) - See next video where I take the Explorer apart to see what's inside and examine the build quality - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmiZoZyuaM5jbcU

[@raggdoll1977]

Will that run a small coffee maker?

[@LoveYourRV]

I'd say for the most part no, most coffee makers will take over 1000 watts, usually close to 1500 watts.

[@KillerRaptorr]

If you can find a 12volt specific one and adapter it to a 110-220volt plug. Then yes. But the required time for the 12volt coffee makers will be longer to get hot and get your coffee by maybe 20-40mins vs the 5-10mins you can make 8cups of coffee or so.

[@jeffduflo8204]

Expert review

[@gerald4nomads]

Very nice however I am staying with Goal Zero. I have a goal zero 1400 and I can completely recharge it in 3 hours using their 25 amp fast charger and my Honda EU2200I. Jack biggest disadvantage is it’s recharge time and because of that it’s only good for weekends camping trips, the ones you check in around 3pm Friday and out by 1pm Sunday. I strongly encourage anyone who is considering buying lithium battery packs or AGM battery packs to consider the recharge time. Again the recharge time is very important.

[@LoveYourRV]

I concur, this was my review conclusion: Conclusion The Jackery Explorer 500 is a well-built power station with substantial power output considering its compact footprint and 13 lb weight. The biggest drawback is the long recharge time. Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend it to someone that routinely powers larger wattage items and then needs to have it completely recharged quickly for the next use. In my opinion, its a poor choice as a primary off-grid power source for power-hungry or larger RV owners. Though, it may be useful as an add-on item to a larger boondocking power system. However, I do believe the Explorer 500 is well suited for users that only need to power low wattage loads with the occasional short high wattage use. Or, if they don’t need to have it completely recharged in a timely manner. I can see it being terrific for temporary home power backup, for peoples electronic devices, weekend tent or van campers, or even long term RVers with meager power requirements.

[@zekeisme1]

can this charge with AC 110 plug?

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, I demoed in the video using the included 110 VAC to DC charging adapter

[@BillyTpower]

12:05

[@RobertMememe]

12:33 That symbol under the % looks like a temperature gauge of the unit

[@MrThisIsMeToo]

Pay attention please.

[@LoveYourRV]

A few minutes later in the video, I figure it out after looking in the manual, it's a high temp shutdown symbol. So while it's there you can't charge the battery. Once the unit cooled a bit it went away and could recharge.

[@RobertMememe]

MrThisIsMeToo I stopped the video at that point later I saw him with a manual so I was paying attention

[@pooh4519]

The charge problem is that it is Lithium Ion - for $500 it should have LiFePo4 which are much safer and stable, and can charge much much faster.

[@KillerRaptorr]

Prob is LifeP04 is outdated. It might be safer, and have a higher cycle life and charging ability. But the energy density is far less then NMC at similar AH. NMC holds more energy then LifeP04 with just slightly less to most of it's other characteristics, But for far less cycle life. Companies don't care about how much they can screw people off. So if Cycle life is less, this makes them sell greater cause they can sell a product that'll have people running back to them sooner. If they sold the more stable and reliable cells. They'd have less returning.

[@hauk3839]

Car port two smaller ports are for lights like ones harborfright has

[@LoveYourRV]

Which lights are those?

[@KillerRaptorr]

Correct and not correct. They aren't just for lights. There are adapters for 6mm to Cig lighter ports or other devices. The reason those barrel plugs are there is for reduce sizing for similar power of the cig port.

[@LoveYourRV]

@@KillerRaptorr Would have been nice if Jackery had included some adapters for common sizes and cig lighter sockets. :)

[@KillerRaptorr]

@@LoveYourRV Their there if you have such, to give you more output if you wish. Jackery Does include a 6mm to cig port But only for their 160 model i believe because the 160 does not have a full size 12volt system as the 240-290-500 models do. Goal zero does exactly same deal with their sherpa series of 50-100. Since there is a Full size cig port, they normally don't include any plugs for the others, because their kinda thinking as a optional buy. A way to kinda curve people to order from them abit more. But you can easily find 6mm adapters on amazon for ether optional plug sizes or buy ether 6mm to cig, or 6mm to led lights, etc. In a sense the 2 extra ports are sorta a optional power output if you wish to use. But since the 160 only has 1 and no true cig port. It's required for them to supple that adapter.

[@LoveYourRV]

@@KillerRaptorrThanks, you are much more informative than Jackery owner's manual.

[@brianmartin7964]

One thing none of the videos talk about is rain?

[@LoveYourRV]

I took it apart and didn't see any waterproofing on the grill openings and buttons - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmiZoZyuaM5jbcU It could likely take a bit of a shower and be OK but a pounding rain especially with wind definitely would be a concern.

[@michellelaclair]

just buy 2 units and switch them off every day. **they are on sale 419.00 now** and will be getting cheaper each year or other units are now becoming fancier/affordable

[@LoveYourRV]

Yes, true nowadays, almost 2 years later there are much better, faster charging power boxes than the overpriced Jackery. Some even are coming out with swappable batteries.