🔋 No permit, electrician, or rooftop install needed

Solar Generators: What They Power, and Which One to Buy

A solar generator — a battery power station charged by a detached solar panel — gives you backup electricity for a fridge, CPAP machine, router, or laptop during an outage, or just to cut down what you pull from the grid. Plug appliances straight into the unit, no wiring or permits involved. Below: what each battery size can actually run, how long it lasts, and our ranked picks for 2026.

Battery Backup vs. a Gas Generator

Feature

Solar generator

Gas generator

Safe to run indoors

Zero emissions / no carbon monoxide risk

Silent operation

Recharges free from sunlight

No fuel to store or stabilize

Runs high-draw tools indefinitely

What Can It Power, and For How Long?

Estimates assume 85% inverter/cabling efficiency and typical device draw. “—” means the device's wattage exceeds that unit's continuous AC output rating. ❄️ marks kits with enough continuous output to run a small window AC unit.

Continuous load	~300Wh / 300W class	~1,070Wh / 800W class	~1,008Wh / 800W class	~1,024Wh / 1,800W class❄️ Runs a window AC	~2,040Wh / 2,200W class❄️ Runs a window AC	~3,600Wh / 3,600W class❄️ Runs a window AC
💡LED lantern / string lights(5W)	~49h	~180h	~170h	~175h	~345h	~610h
📶WiFi router + modem(10W)	~24h	~91h	~86h	~87h	~175h	~305h
😴CPAP machine(40W)	~6.1h	~23h	~21h	~22h	~43h	~77h
🌀Box fan(45W)	~5.4h	~20h	~19h	~19h	~39h	~68h
🧊Mini fridge(60W)	~4.1h	~15h	~14h	~15h	~29h	~51h
📺43" LED TV(65W)	~3.8h	~14h	~13h	~13h	~27h	~47h
🧊Chest freezer (avg draw)(100W)	~2.4h	~9.1h	~8.6h	~8.7h	~17h	~31h
🍽️Full-size fridge (avg draw)(150W)	~1.6h	~6.1h	~5.7h	~5.8h	~12h	~20h
💧Sump pump (1/3 HP, running)(800W)	—	~1.1h	~1.1h	~1.1h	~2.2h	~3.8h
☕Coffee maker(900W)	—	—	—	~1.0h	~1.9h	~3.4h
❄️Window AC unit (small, 5–8k BTU)(900W)	—	—	—	~1.0h	~1.9h	~3.4h
⏱️Microwave(1000W)	—	—	—	~0.9h	~1.7h	~3.1h
❄️Window AC unit (large, 10–12k BTU)(1500W)	—	—	—	~0.6h	~1.2h	~2.0h
🫖Electric kettle(1500W)	—	—	—	~0.6h	~1.2h	~2.0h
🔥Space heater(1500W)	—	—	—	~0.6h	~1.2h	~2.0h

Full charges from empty	~300Wh / 300W class	~1,070Wh / 800W class	~1,008Wh / 800W class	~1,024Wh / 1,800W class	~2,040Wh / 2,200W class	~3,600Wh / 3,600W class
📻Bluetooth speaker / radio(~10Wh/charge)	~24×	~90×	~85×	~87×	~173×	~306×
📱Smartphone(~15Wh/charge)	~16×	~60×	~57×	~58×	~115×	~204×
📲Tablet(~25Wh/charge)	~9×	~36×	~34×	~34×	~69×	~122×
💻Laptop(~60Wh/charge)	~4×	~15×	~14×	~14×	~28×	~51×

Reference units: Jackery Explorer 300 Plus · Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 · EcoFlow DELTA Mini · EcoFlow DELTA 2 · Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 · EcoFlow DELTA Pro. Actual runtime varies by battery age, temperature, and your specific device's power draw — check the label on your appliance for its rated wattage.

Recommended Solar Backup Kits

Each kit pairs a battery power station with a solar panel for charging. Independently selected — see our affiliate disclosure.

Budget start

Jackery Explorer 300 Plus (288Wh Battery)

Compact 288Wh LFP power station with MC4 solar input (100W max). Lightweight (8.3 lbs) entry point for pairing with a single 100–200W plug-in panel — good for topping off small daytime loads before stepping up to a bigger battery.

Battery

0.288 kWh

Solar input

100W max

Recharge*

~4.4h

*Full recharge from empty with the 100W Jackery panel above, in direct sun.

The lightest, cheapest way in. Enough to keep a phone, router, and lantern running through a multi-day outage, or top off small loads daily.

$299+ $199 for the Jackery panel

Check battery price ↗View panel ↗

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (1kWh Battery)

1.07kWh LFP power station with MC4 solar input (400W max). Store excess daytime generation for evening use. 4,000+ cycle LFP battery. Multiple AC and USB outputs.

Battery

1.07 kWh

Solar input

400W max

Recharge*

~16h

*Full recharge from empty with the 100W Jackery panel above, in direct sun.

The sweet spot for most households — a full day of essentials (fridge, router, lights, laptop charging) with room to spare, and it recharges in under a day of sun.

$449+ $199 for the Jackery panel

Check battery price ↗View panel ↗

Whole-apartment backup

Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 (2.04kWh Battery)

Whole-apartment-scale 2.04kWh LFP power station, 2200W AC output, MC4 solar input (400W max). Big enough to carry a full plug-in solar day's generation into the evening, or serve as a home-backup battery on its own.

Battery

2.042 kWh

Solar input

400W max

Recharge*

~31h

*Full recharge from empty with the 100W Jackery panel above, in direct sun.

Big enough to run a full-size fridge, CPAP, and lights through an entire multi-day outage, or double as a home-backup battery on its own.

$749+ $199 for the Jackery panel

Check battery price ↗View panel ↗

EcoFlow alternative

EcoFlow DELTA Mini (1kWh Battery)

1kWh LFP battery with solar input (MC4 compatible). Store daytime solar generation and use it at night. 2,500+ charge cycle lifespan. 800W AC output. Pairs with any plug-in solar setup.

Battery

1.008 kWh

Solar input

300W max

Recharge*

~16h

*Full recharge from empty with the 100W Renogy panel above, in direct sun.

If you'd rather buy EcoFlow, the DELTA Mini matches the 1kWh tier — enough for a fridge, router, and lights through a full day outage. LFP chemistry, MC4 solar input, pairs with any MC4 panel like this Renogy 100W.

$499+ $85 for the Renogy panel

Check battery price ↗View panel ↗

❄️ Runs a window AC

EcoFlow DELTA 2 (1kWh Battery)

1,024Wh LFP battery with 1,800W continuous AC output (2,400W with X-Boost) — enough headroom to run a small window AC unit. 3,000+ charge cycle lifespan, 500W max solar input, 0–80% charge in 50 minutes from a wall outlet.

Battery

1.024 kWh

Solar input

500W max

Recharge*

~7.9h

*Full recharge from empty with the 200W Renogy panel above, in direct sun.

Same 1kWh-class battery as the DELTA Mini, but a 1,800W inverter instead of 800W — enough headroom to run a small window AC unit, not just charge devices.

$399+ $100 for the Renogy panel

Check battery price ↗View panel ↗

❄️ Biggest EcoFlow pick

EcoFlow DELTA Pro (3.6kWh Battery)

3,600Wh LFP battery with 3,600W continuous AC output (7,200W surge) — enough to run a window AC unit plus other large appliances at the same time. Expandable up to 25kWh with Smart Extra Batteries. 1,600W max solar input, 3,000+ cycle lifespan.

Battery

3.6 kWh

Solar input

1600W max

Recharge*

~14h

*Full recharge from empty with the 400W Renogy panel above, in direct sun.

3,600W AC output runs a window AC plus other large appliances at the same time, and the battery is expandable up to 25kWh — the closest thing here to whole-home backup.

$1,899+ $175 for the Renogy panel

Check battery price ↗View panel ↗

Which Solar Panel Should You Pair It With?

Every panel below connects to every battery above through the same MC4 connector — the kits just show our default pairing. Pick based on budget, portability, and how fast you want to recharge. A battery with a higher max solar input rating can also take two or more panels wired in at once, which cuts charge time roughly in half per extra panel.

Renogy

Renogy 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panel

$85100W

Cheapest way to add a panel to any battery.

View price ↗

Jackery

Jackery SolarSaga 100W Light Solar Panel

$199100W

Bendable and lightweight — the easiest one-panel balcony or rooftop mount.

View price ↗

Renogy

Renogy 200W Monocrystalline Solar Panel

$100200W

A faster recharge than a 100W panel without stepping up to a bulkier 400W one.

View price ↗

Renogy

Renogy 400W Monocrystalline Solar Panel

$175400W

Fewest panels needed to keep a big battery topped off.

View price ↗

Full recharge, empty → full	~300Wh / 300W class	~1,070Wh / 800W class	~1,008Wh / 800W class	~1,024Wh / 1,800W class	~2,040Wh / 2,200W class	~3,600Wh / 3,600W class
Renogy 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panel($85)	~4.4h	~16h	~16h	~16h	~31h	~55h
Jackery SolarSaga 100W Light Solar Panel($199)	~4.4h	~16h	~16h	~16h	~31h	~55h
Renogy 200W Monocrystalline Solar Panel($100)	~2.2h	~8.2h	~7.8h	~7.9h	~16h	~28h
Renogy 400W Monocrystalline Solar Panel($175)	~1.1h	~4.1h	~3.9h	~3.9h	~7.9h	~14h

Assumes ~65% effective output once panel angle, cloud cover, and less-than-ideal sun tracking are factored in — figures are for a full sunny day, not overnight. Confirm your battery's max solar input rating before wiring in more than one panel.

How This Differs From Plug-In (Grid-Tie) Solar

Plug-in / grid-tie solar

A microinverter converts panel output to grid-matched AC and feeds it into your home's wiring through a wall outlet, in parallel with the grid. Because it interconnects with your home's electrical system and can export to the utility, most states regulate it — that's the plug-in solar law your state may or may not have yet.

Connects to home wiring
May export power to the grid
Regulated state-by-state

Solar generator (this page)

A detached solar panel charges a battery power station through its own built-in inverter. You plug lamps, a fridge, or a laptop into the unit's own outlets — nothing ever connects to your home's circuits. It's the same category of device as a laptop charger, just bigger.

Never touches home wiring
Nothing exported to the grid
No permit, utility approval, or state law needed

This is our understanding of how these categories are typically treated, not legal advice for your specific situation. See our disclosure.

Setting It Up

1
Charge the battery: Set the panel in direct sun (or charge fully from a wall outlet first) — no mounting, permit, or electrician required since nothing connects to your home's wiring.
2
Plug devices directly into the unit: Use the power station's own AC outlets and USB ports — a fridge, router, lamp, or laptop charger, just like plugging into a wall.
3
Recharge from the sun during the day: Leave the panel connected while you use the battery, or move it to catch the sun and recharge for the next outage or evening.
4
Keep it topped off for outages: Store the unit charged and check it every few months. Most LFP batteries used in these kits hold charge for months and support 2,500–4,000+ cycles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a portable solar generator legal even if plug-in solar isn't legal in my state?

Yes, in every state we track. Plug-in (grid-tie) solar laws regulate systems that connect to your home's electrical wiring or export power to the utility grid. A portable power station charged by a detached solar panel never touches your home's wiring — you plug lamps and appliances directly into the unit, the same way you'd use an extension cord. It isn't classified as a grid-tied electrical installation, so it doesn't require a permit, utility approval, or a state plug-in solar law to use.

What's the difference between this and a plug-in balcony solar kit?

A plug-in balcony kit uses a microinverter to convert panel output to grid-matched AC and feeds it into your home's wiring through a wall outlet — that's the part regulated by state law. A solar generator setup (panel → battery → built-in inverter → separate outlets on the unit) never connects to your home's circuits at all. It's a standalone battery you charge with the sun, functionally similar to charging a laptop.

Is there a safe way to use plug-in solar itself as backup power during an outage?

Not the plug-in kit alone — this is a safety requirement, not just a design limitation. Every plug-in (grid-tie) kit uses a UL 1741-certified microinverter with mandatory "anti-islanding" protection, which shuts the inverter off within seconds of a grid outage. That's so it can't backfeed power into lines a utility crew may be working on. There's no safe way to bypass this on a system that plugs into your home's wiring. A solar generator sidesteps the problem entirely by never connecting to your home's circuits in the first place — you plug devices straight into the battery's own outlets, so there's nothing to island and nothing unsafe about it working during an outage. If you want backup power on your home's existing circuits (not an extension cord to the unit), that requires a proper hybrid inverter + battery + automatic transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician — a different, permitted system, not a plug-in kit.

Can I use this instead of waiting for plug-in solar to become legal?

It solves a different problem. A solar generator gives you backup power for specific devices during an outage or to reduce reliance on the grid for small loads — it doesn't interconnect with your home's circuits or offset your utility bill the way a plug-in system does. Many people in not-yet-legal states use one now for resilience and switch to (or add) a plug-in system once their state passes a law.

How long does it take to recharge the battery from the solar panel?

Roughly 5–8 hours of direct sun for a full charge with a single 100W panel, depending on the battery size and panel angle. A 288Wh unit with a 100W panel typically fills in 4–5 hours; a 2,000Wh+ unit can take 20+ hours on one 100W panel, which is why larger units are often sold with two-panel kits or charged partly from a wall outlet overnight.

Do these produce carbon monoxide like a gas generator?

No. Battery power stations store energy and release it electrically — there's no combustion, no exhaust, and no carbon monoxide risk, so they're safe to run indoors (unlike a gas or propane generator, which must always run outdoors).

Get price-drop and new-kit alerts

One email when a kit on this page drops in price or we add a new one — no spam. If you're also curious about full plug-in (grid-tie) solar, we'll let you know when it's legal near you too.

Safety noteBattery power stations are safe for indoor use since there's no combustion or exhaust. Still, use only the manufacturer's cables and panels, don't exceed the unit's rated wattage, and keep it away from direct heat or water exposure.