Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500, 518Wh Portable Power Station Mobile Lithium Battery Pack with 1xSolarSaga 100 for RV Road Trip Camping, Outdoor Adventure

I bought this originally with the intention of going semi-nomad in an RV. I ended up getting a used skoolie with solar power already installed. The Jackery 500 has since become my back-up unit. It's extremely portable and works as it's supposed to. I've used it to power a small Alpicool fridge, my laptop and even charge my vehicle's battery. In fact, I also bought the 100 watt Jackery panels that pair with this unit and was able to pull almost enough wattage to replace what I was using in real time (for the battery charge). I keep it plugged when not in use so as to not waste charge cycles. I recommend unit this for small to medium range electrical needs such as those I described above. It's easy to use and doesn't require any complicated knowledge of how to set-up solar power systems. Just plug-in and go! The only real work required--and it's not much--is some simple math to figure out how long you can run any particular device from the Jackery.

I purchased this Jackery as a Christmas gift to my husband. However, the first use came when he was two states away on a fishing trip and I was home alone during a dangerous ice storm. Before he could get back I spent three days and two nights alone without power. Because of the widespread outage, it was DARK at night for as far as the eye could see which made me quite unnerved. However, the Jackery came to my rescue and provided power for my electronic devices and (maybe the most comforting thing) power for a regular lamp. Instead of trying to read by candlelight or flashlight, the lamp lit up the room and made the living room feel safe and pleasant. With that and our wood burning stove, I was just fine. In addition, it ran the CPAP machine all night!Recently we began our camping season and on our first trip after the sun went down and the COLD air settled, we used the Jackery to run our tv inside the RV. The campground had no power, and since it's rude to run the generator in the evening we were very pleased to have some entertainment without disturbing our neighbors. Again, it ran the CPAP all night and by day we simply recharged using the solar panel we had bought with the Jackery.I'm looking forward to using the Jackery all summer and fall for camping and then should another disaster befall, I'll be ready. It certainly adds a layer of confidence when my husband decides to head out on another one of his adventures!

We've had ours a couple of years now, and I highly recommend it. Even if you don't travel with it very often, it's still usable around the house. I've been using it to plug my Xbox controller in to instead of using batteries. It sits behind my chair, and I can play for months without the charge dropping below 100%!!! Extremely versatile and handy to have around. Recommend!

Had to save up for this and it is worth it. Holds a charge like no other and lasts a reasonable amount of time, depending on what you're plugging in, of course. Haven't had a chance to try out the solar panel yet, but plan to once I go on my Summer camping trip.I originally wanted the Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus Portable Power Station with 2x 500W Solar Panels and Smart Transfer Switch for camping and emergencies, but the price tag was a bit much for a product and company I wasn't familiar with. So I got this one as a test drive, and I'm glad I did.I definitely plan to save up for the 5000 Plus. The 500 is great too, and I plan to keep it as it's great as a small portable generator. It's not heavy at all and all of the available ports are very convenient and easy to use. The Solar panel is a big bonus as well, I can't wait to try it out this Summer.

I bought this unit just over 2 years ago and it’s still going strong. And I’m a full-time digital nomad with an overland setup. However, knowing what I know now about Solar Generators, I would not have bought it. First off… this is a Lithium battery and as such charges very slowly. 89w is the fastest it charges even with the AC. DC on my 4Runner can get as high as 75w and my 300w solar panel about 74. I’ve since bought a higher capacity (700wh) LiFePo battery that reaches 296w input on AC and my 300w panel and is capable of keeping my portable fridge, Starlink satellite kit, WeBoost, laptop, tablet and phone charged while maintaining capacity. This Explorer 500 unit can keep the fridge going and provide one, maybe two charges for the laptop and not much else. As such, this unit is a backup. Which is very handy for bad weather days or when my LiFePo battery’s input unit failed — this unit has never failed. So that’s a huge plus. Also, my limited experience with Jackery’s Customer Service is very positive. The Solar Saga 100w panel I bought with this failed after 6mos, and after sending them a video demonstrating the problem, the sent a warranty replacement right out the next day. When you’re out on your adventure, having fast and reliable support is critical to keeping you in action. And they were definitely there for meThe only other drawback is the — sorry to say — STUPID — “fisher-price” handle. I mean c’mon! Why design the unit to prevent stacking? Two batteries is ideal, you want backup. And this design actively prevents that. However, their higher end batteries have a folding handle like their competitors. And they are also offering LiFePo4, which I highly recommend over Lithium for lifespan as well as the rapid charge which this unit lacksI know I’ve poo-poo’d this item a bit, but it’s still going strong and as a reserve battery that stacks ON TOP of my main battery, so I have no real complaints as evidenced by my 5 star review which it deserves because it’s been rock solid and because I know their support is greatSo if you have very lightweight power needs and aren’t needing something to keep you going for extended tripe in the outdoors, this item would be ok. But for the price, you can get better value with a LiFePo battery. Hopefully they’ll upgrade the Explorer series since they really are weak sauce compared to what’s out there