How to Choose the Right Solar Generator for You
If you’ve been following 4Patriots in recent years, you know that we’ve offered a number of different solar-powered generators to folks who want to prepare for an uncertain future.
We no longer have to convince people that a generator is a necessity rather than a luxury. Extreme weather events and other electric grid disruptions have done that job for us.
But with all the choices out there, many folks aren’t sure which generator is best for their specific needs. Or which generator they should purchase in order to keep food safe, lights on, and important devices powered up —whether in everyday life or an emergency situation.
And they are right to wonder about that. Generators vary in their power, performance, and price. Let’s face it: a generator is an investment. It’s important to figure out which one will serve you best before spending your hard-earned money on one.
The purpose of today’s article is to inform you about which solar-powered generators we currently offer. And how they differ from each other. That way you can determine which one – or ones – you’d like to add to your preparedness arsenal.
So, let’s take a close look at our three current generators in a Q&A format:
Patriot Power Sidekick
>> Learn more about this small "Miracle" Generator.
Q. What size is it?
A. 9” x 7.68” x 6.2”
Q. How much does it weigh?
A. 8.6 pounds
Q. What type of battery does it have?
A. Lithium-iron-phosphate
Q. How much power does it possess?
A. 300W of continuous power and 360W of peak power
Q. How often does it need gas?
A. NEVER. It’s powered through an AC outlet, the sun, hand-crank, or wind turbine. It’s silent, fume-free, and safe to use indoors.
Q. How often can it be drained down and charged up?
A. Over 2,000 times
Q. How does it usually recharge?
A. Via solar panel or AC wall outlet
Q. How long does it take to fully recharge?
A. 5 hours using the included AC cord; 8 hours using the included 40W solar panel in sunny conditions
Q. What can it charge/run?
A. Mini fridge (80W), TV (60W), CPAP machine (50W), laptop (45W), insulin pump (15W), tablet (10W), LED lights (10W), smart phone (5W), and much more.
Q. Can it recharge while in use?
A. Yes, but charge time will increase
Q. How many charging outlets does it have?
A. 9 (AC, USB-A, and USB-C outlets)
Q. Does it come with a solar panel?
A. Yes, and best of all, the included 40W solar panel is FREE. The panel also has a USB port, so you can use it to charge critical devices directly.
Patriot Power Generator 1200
Small enough to move easily, yet strong enough to run your essential devices like your fridge. Think of it as the "goldilocks" of solar generators
Q. What size is it?
A. 13.39” x 8.66” x 10.35”
Q. How much does it weigh?
A. 26 pounds
Q. What type of battery does it have?
A. Lithium-iron-phosphate
Q. How much power does it possess?
A. 1,200W of continuous power and 2,400W of peak power
Q. How often does it need gas?
A. NEVER. It’s powered through an AC outlet, the sun, hand-crank, or wind turbine. It’s silent, fume-free, and safe to use indoors.
Q. How often can it be drained down and charged up?
A. Over 4,000 times
Q. How does it usually recharge?
A. Via solar panel or AC wall outlet
Q. How long does it take to fully recharge?
A. 1 hour using the included AC cord; 15 hours using the included 100W solar panel in sunny conditions (with 2 panels, 7 hours; with 3 panels, 5 hours; with 4 panels, 4 hours)
Q. What can it charge/run?
A. Freezer (200W), fridge (120W), tactical drone (100W), mini fridge (80W), CPAP machine (50W), radios (50W), cooler/fridge (50W), portable fan (40W), camera battery (20W), insulin pump (15W), camera (15W), LED lantern (10W), night vision goggles (10W), two-way radios (10W), hearing aid charger (5W), phone charger (5W), headlamp (5W), trail camera (5W), and much more.
Q. Can it recharge while in use?
A. Yes, but charge time will increase
Q. How many charging outlets does it have?
A. 8 (AC, DC, USB-A, and USB-C outlets)
Q. Does it come with a solar panel?
A. Yes. And best of all, the included 100W solar panel is FREE. It folds easily for discreet storage and includes a sturdy carrying handle.
Q. Does the solar panel have daisy chain capabilities?
A. Yes. It’s as simple as connecting the long cable on the back of your first solar panel to the generator, then connecting the long cable on the back of your second solar panel to the short cable on the back of your first solar panel.
Patriot Power Generator 2500X
Our NEW Most Powerful Solar Generator Yet.
Q. What size is it?
A. 20.07” x 14.25” x 12.12”
Q. How much does it weigh?
A. 69 pounds
Q. What type of battery does it have?
A. Lithium-iron-phosphate
Q. How much power does it possess?
A. 2,500W of continuous power and 5,000W of peak power
Q. How often does it need gas?
A. NEVER. It’s powered through an AC outlet, the sun, hand-crank, or wind turbine. It’s silent, fume-free, and safe to use indoors.
Q. How often can it be drained down and charged up?
A. Over 3,500 times
Q. How does it usually recharge?
A. Via solar panel or AC wall outlet. The 2500X is our first generator that can charge from a wall outlet and via solar panel at the same time, cutting charge time to under an hour.
Q. How long does it take to fully recharge?
A. 90 minutes using the included AC cord; 3 hours using 4 solar panels in sunny conditions, 7 hours using 3 solar panels, 10 hours using 2 solar panels, and 16 hours using 1 solar panel.
Q. What can it charge/run?
A. Freezer (200W), fridge (120W), tactical drone (100W), mini fridge (80W), CPAP machine (50W), radio (50W), cooler/fridge (50W), portable fan (40W), camera battery (20W), insulin pump (15W), camera (15W), LED lantern (10W), night vision goggles (10W), two-way radio (10W), hearing aid charger (5W), phone charger (5W), headlamp (5W), trail camera (5W), and much more.
Q. Can it recharge while in use?
A. Yes, but charge time will increase
Q. How many charging outlets does it have?
A. 10 (AC, USB-A, and USB-C outlets)
Q. Does it have the ability to kick on when a power outage occurs?
A. Yes, thanks to its Pass-Through Technology.
Learn more about Pass-Through Technology HERE.
Q. Does it come with a solar panel?
A. Yes, and best of all, the included 100W solar panel is FREE. It folds easily for discreet storage and includes a sturdy carrying handle.
Q. Does it have daisy chain capabilities?
A. Yes. It’s as simple as connecting the long cable on the back of your first solar panel to the generator, then connecting the long cable on the back of your second solar panel to the short cable on the back of your first solar panel.
Knowledge Is Power
I hope this Q&A has answered any questions you have about the solar-powered generators 4Patriots offers.
With the variety of power and performance these generators provide, I’m confident you can find one or more that will suit your needs.
We live in turbulent times, with both the number and longevity of power outages on the rise.
None of us can control that. But we can control our readiness for them. And preparedness in the form of back-up power equals peace of mind.
With 15+ years in the emergency preparedness industry, 4Patriots’ new generation of solar generators and portable power stations will keep your lights on when the power goes out.
References:
- All testimonials in this advertisement are from real people; sometimes names and photos have been changed to protect their privacy and some were given free products in exchange for their honest feedback. Testimonials represent exceptional results, don't apply to the average purchaser and are not intended to guarantee that anyone will achieve the same results. The organizations, publications and people referenced on this site are not affiliated with 4Patriots. They have not endorsed, sponsored or recommended this product; no affiliation or endorsement is claimed. Terms & conditions apply. Cade Courtley is a former Navy SEAL and Platoon Commander who served 9 years of active duty and has been compensated by 4Patriots for his hard work in helping us test and endorse this product. Cade Courtley is a former Navy SEAL who served 9 years of active duty and has been compensated by 4Patriots for his hard work in helping us test and endorse products.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC Releases New Report on Carbon Monoxide (CO) Fatalities, Urges Generator Safety in New PSA. August 2022.
- Peak output for the Patriot Power Generator increased from 3,048 W (1800 model) to 4,000 W (2000X model). Continuous output is 1,800 W and 2,000 W, respectively. Storage capacity for DC devices increased from 768 Wh (1800 model) to 1536 Wh (2000 model).
- Refrigerators, freezers and similar appliances maintain a safe temperature by running on cycles. The CDC recommendation is to keep temperature below 40°F and above 32°F. If starting with a cold appliance, running backup power to your fridge for 1 hour will maintain temperature for about 4 hours. Usage conditions will impact this estimate (interior temp, exterior temp, appliance age & features, fridge contents, etc.). Click here for more tips on cycling your fridge or freezer.