I’d been looking at solar generators, and researching them for a very long time before I bought this. I saw it on Kickstarter awhile back, but didn’t have the money to invest in it at the time. That’s really unfortunate, now that I have it, because I could have gotten...
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I’d been looking at solar generators, and researching them for a very long time before I bought this. I saw it on Kickstarter awhile back, but didn’t have the money to invest in it at the time. That’s really unfortunate, now that I have it, because I could have gotten more of them for what I paid for this one.
What motivated me to buy this was an extreme sense of urgency. The weather forecasted a historic winter storm for Central Texas, with constant below freezing temperatures for days. Not just below freezing temperatures, but single digits, and possibly -1 degrees Fahrenheit. That means peak power demand will prompt ERCOT (Energy Reliability Council of Texas) to enact rolling blackouts, which is a phenomenon we Texans will see in summertime when we’re hammered with triple-digit temperatures. Heat is something we Texans understand. This winter stuff? We don’t know how other parts of the country live it it. We just aren’t equipped to deal with it.
The day the generator was scheduled to arrive is the day we got hit with the first wave of the ice (Thursday). FedEx canceled the delivery. I risked life and limb by venturing out onto icy roadways to drive the 25+ miles to FedEx to pick it up. That is how badly I needed this item. I don’t regret the harrowing drive, because we are now iced in for what they say will be another 6 days (9 days total).
Friday morning is when we had our first blackout.
I had the generator already charged at 100%, and it was still plugged into the outlet when the blackout occurred. What’s great about this generator is that it can be used as a UPS power supply, so you can power your computer and other electronic devices while the generator is plugged into an outlet. My iPad Pro was plugged into the USB-C port, and I found that it can also power my HP LaserJet printer at the same time! 🤯👍🏻 As a mobile notary, this generator just increased my productivity and efficiency, because I can now print documents in my car. It’s a great solution for folks who are stuck in a work-from-home situation, because you can stay on those annoying Zoom calls seamlessly when the power goes out. Just keep your Internet router and computer plugged in to the generator, and keep the generator plugged into the wall.
I hadn’t even considered secondary uses for this generator when I bought it. I was completely focused on having power primary for survival. This is probably what cavemen felt like when they discovered fire! 🔥
I don’t have a background in electronics. In fact, I don’t know much about powering appliances and electronics, except for what I read on the internet. I couldn’t tell you the difference between Kwh and Khz and watt and a volt if my life depended on it. All I need to know is will this power my hair dryer? Will this power a nebulizer or CPAP machine? Will this power my computer and printer? Will this power a space heater or electric blanket? Will this power a hot plate, Crock Pot, or microwave for cooking food? The answer to all of those questions is a resounding YES!
I haven’t had a chance to use the solar panels for charging yet, as we have had nothing but clouds for days. No sun.
About the unit. The packaging design is solid, and very thoughtful. You must retain ALL of the packaging, should you have to return the item under warranty. The manufacturer thinks it’s so important that they have posted that information on the inside of the shipping carton, as well as the product box. They REALLY want you to preserve the packaging.
The solar generator comes with it own soft-sided dust cover, which is incredibly smart. I never would have thought about how dust might affect these things. If you buy one only to have it collect dust, why buy it?
The unit is pretty simple to use. The instruction manual is pretty straightforward and easy to read. Don’t test the unit until it is fully charged. Mine came with a 31% charge. Out of the box, it charged to 100% in about an hour, and it is whisper quiet. I have a Rockpals 500 watt solar generator, and I thought it was pretty quiet, but it’s noisy in comparison to the EF ECOFLOW.
I’m so incredibly happy with my purchase that I’m looking forward to buying at least a second unit in the future. They are really expensive, but peace of mind is priceless. Plus, now that I can use it for work, I can write it off my taxes.
