Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro: Reliable Performance Without the Bells and Whistles

You are frequently asked for recommendations when you test equipment for a living. Family members, friends, and passersby while you test the best solar generators or hiking water filters. I occasionally give individuals drawn-out responses about their particular requirements or the really narrow difference between this and that option. But not when it comes to solar generators, as the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro is the best-in-class configuration for anything from overlanding to household emergencies. Let’s examine the reasons.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro Specs and Features

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Power Station Capacity: 1002 watt hours
Lithium-ion battery
1000 cycles to 80+ percent capacity
Max AC Output: 120 volts and 1000 watts
USB-C Output: 100 watts
Four 200-watt solar panels
Solar panels are IP68 waterproof and dustproof certified
Also available with a 2000Wh power station or 3000Wh power station
Also available with two 80-watt panels

Every solar generator consists of a power station and one or more sun panels. It’s the Explorer 1000 Pro with Solar Saga 200W for the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro.

Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro

The interface of the Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro is straightforward. The amount of power being utilized (or generated) and the amount of time needed to fill the power plant in its current state are both shown on a display screen. The three AC ports, the USB ports (two USB-A and two USB-C), and the car charger port all have their own on/off buttons. In the event that you leave your camping lantern at home, the unit also has a light. Two solar panel plugs and a wall plug are located on the back of the device.

With a maximum output of 1000W (with a peak of 2000W), the Explorer 1000 Pro can power a lot of contemporary refrigerators. It can only provide that electricity for around a day (assuming it isn’t charging anything else) due to its 1002Wh battery life, unless it is also receiving fresh juice from a solar panel system at the same time.This won’t be a problem for some people because they’ll just use the battery to power other devices as it charges during the day and more subdued equipment like the finest camping fans or perhaps a single high-energy gadget like a portable refrigerator at night. Setups utilizing the Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro or Explorer 3000 Pro are recommended for people with greater power requirements.

Jackery SolarSaga 200W

The accordion-style Solar Saga 200W panel is packaged in a basic carrying case that has a zip pocket for the cords that are attached. Simply remove the panel from its bag, unfold it, remove the kickstands, and align it with the sun to get it set up. All you need to do is plug the cord into one of the power station’s two input ports and the solar panel.

A single panel is quite easy to set up, however using all four panels at once is a little more difficult. The four panels must first be connected to the two Jackery Solar Panel connections, which must then be connected to the power station. Set up the panels as close together as you can to avoid doing this twice because there is a limit to how far apart they can be from each other (and the power plant).

Testing the Jackery 1000 Pro in the Field

To benefit from my home’s eastern exposure, I usually always have a solar panel on my covered patio. Every time a new panel from companies like Anker, Zendure, BioLite, EcoFlow, or Goal Zero arrives, I’ll set it up for a few days to observe how it performs under various circumstances. After that, I remove it and restart the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro. It will remain there until the next test unit arrives, producing adequate electricity for my family’s laptops and phones, barring any severe weather conditions.

This configuration has surpassed everything I’ve tried, which is one of the reasons it takes center stage in my house. In order to assess the greatest solar generators, I placed six separate panels outside simultaneously, making sure they were all positioned similarly. With a power output of 184 watts, the Jackery SolarSaga 200W was by far the best of the three 200-watt panels I examined. In a prior test of the four panels’ combined power, I had observed comparable outcomes: when chained together, they generated 655 watts of electricity, which was sufficient to fully charge the station in a matter of hours.

Additionally, this power plant has kept a charge longer than any other device I’ve tested. It continued to display 100% full power even after months of being stored in an unheated garage; in same circumstances, other power plants lost an average of 10% of their power.

The panel itself, however, consistently strikes me as the most impressive feature. The 200W Jackery panel can produce electricity in very low light levels, whereas most solar panels require at least a little amount of sunlight to excite the electrons inside. In fact, the 200W panel is generating power in complete shade in the early evening, even on the cloudiest days when I can’t even tell where the sun is on the horizon. Additionally, the panel’s power chord is among the most adaptable I’ve tried, so when I’m testing a different power station, I usually don’t need to replace the panel.

What the Jackery solar generator 1000 Pro Does Best

This panel arrangement generates power like a pro, is rather small, and is simple to use. It is a great option for emergency home power demands as well as camping and overlanding because to its adaptability and dependability in low light levels. You can upgrade to the 2000 or, more recently, the 3000 model if you’re worried that the 1000 Pro won’t be enough power for all of your technological needs. It’s also surprisingly frequently on sale, so if you’re feeling sticker shock—I haven’t seen a “budget” solar charger or generator that’s worth the trouble—just remember to check back on the next Cyber Monday or Amazon Prime day.

What the Jackery 1000 Pro Does Worst

Since there is no way to determine which outlet is utilizing which electricity with the Explorer 1000 Pro or track the unit’s lifetime power consumption, true data nerds could miss some of the information offered by companies like Anker or Goal Zero. Additionally, neither the Explorer solar generator 1000 Pro nor the Explorer 2000 Pro have app capabilities (the Explorer 3000 Pro has, along with an RV connector). I also wish there was a method to charge the device with a standard USB-C to USB-C wire, since I often lose charging cords.

The absence of a sundial feature is the only minor complaint I have about this solar panel. In order to use their sundials to determine the sun’s direction during testing, I first set up the Anker 625 and BioLite 100-watt solar panels. Then, I just arranged the remaining panels to match. I would suggest buying a sundial separately to attach to one of your panels because it makes such a significant difference.

Final Thoughts

There are several reasons to invest in a high-quality solar generator setup, ranging from off-grid adventures to unplanned power disruptions. In addition to winning numerous evaluations of the greatest power plants and solar panels, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro is my preferred model at home and what I suggest to friends and family who inquire about buying one for their own residence.