As energy prices (plus the cost of living) continue to soar, coupled with home-owning becoming more unpredictable, more and more people are looking to off-grid living as a means of a better way of life.
It’s also no secret that fossil fuels are extortionate and are becoming a scarce and controversial resource, so it makes perfect sense that a solar generator is the ideal sustainable and cost-effective power source for off-grid living.
But how do you go about finding the right one for your particular needs? This article looks at the five best solar generators for off-grid living in 2023.
5 Best Solar Generators for Off-Grid Living
Bolstering renewable energy is a no-brainer for those that live off-grid, or even for those who enjoy outdoor activities, such as camping, caravaning, and so on. So, if you’re in the market for the best solar generator for off-grid living, here are our top five contenders.
#1. EB70 Portable Power Station | 1,000W 716Wh
Details at a glance:
- Massive 716Wh capacity and 1000W rated wattage(1,400W Surge)
- The ultra-stable LiFePO4 battery chemistry,2500+ life cycles
- 2*230V AC outlets, 2*100W PD ports, 2*5V/3A USB-A ports, 2*regulated 12V/10A DC outputs, 1*12V/10A car port,1*15W wireless charging pad.
- With max input of 200W, this power station can be fully recharged in 3-4 hrs with solar panels (OCV 12-28V, 200W)
- It can also get fully recharged from an AC wall outlet in 3-4 hrs or a 12V car port in 7-8 hrs.
This practical and compact portable solar generator was built with off-grid activities in mind, and allows you to charge all your essentials, as and when needed.
It’s one of the more inexpensive options, and it comes in a range of funky colours (including blue and turquoise) - if this factor is important to you!
Also, unlike the Anker 521 PowerHouse, its state-of-the-art features offer double the AC outlets, but with the exact same LiFePO4 batteries.
Read more about this solar generator here.
#2. EB3A Portable Power Station | 600W 268Wh
(Cheapest option)
Details at a glance:
- 600W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (1,200W surge);
- 268Wh Capacity;
- 430W Max. Fast Dual Charging (Solar+AC);
- LiFePO4 Battery with 2,500+ Life Cycles to 80%;
- 6 Ways to Recharge (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/AC+Solar/AC+Adapter);
- 8 Outputs for Charging Multiple Devices at once;
- Smart Control & Monitor in BLUETTI App;
- 200W Max. Solar Input;
- Easy to Carry/ Fast Charging/ Safe & Reliable/ Cost-effective.
If you’re on a tighter budget, this solar generator is the one for you.
This solar generator may be little, but it packs a punch and supplies you with everything you need during your off-grid way of life. You can charge all of your devices and keep all your smaller appliances going. Owing to the dinky size of this generator, you can stow it away nicely in your vehicle, without taking up too much weight or space. It’s also much more affordable than its rival, the EcoFlow DELTA Mini.
Read more about this solar generator here.
#3. EB55 Portable Power Station | 700W 537Wh
(Award-winning)
Details at a glance:
- 700W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (1,400W Surge)
- 537Wh Capacity
- LiFePO4 Battery with 2,500+ Life Cycles to 80%
- 11 Outputs For Multiple Devices
- 6 Ways to Recharge (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/AC+Solar/Dual AC)
- 200W Max. Solar Input
- 400W Max. Fast Dual Charging (Solar + AC Adapter Simultaneously)
- Eco-friendly/Gas free/Quiet/Cost-effective
If you’re worried about the design and reliability of an appliance, this one has an award to back it up!
The BLUETTI EB55 boasts a powerful built-in inverter (surge 1400 watts) and can be relied upon to supply power to everything requiring it within your off-grid lifestyle. Also, we love that it’s super portable with its own little handle, making it much easier to transport around. It supports a 4-way recharge solution (wall outlet, generator, car outlet, and solar panels).
Buy this solar generator here.
#4. BLUETTI AC200MAX Expandable Power Station | 2,200W 2,048Wh
Details at a glance:
- 2,200W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (4,800W Surge).
- 2,048Wh Capacity.
- LiFePO4 Battery with 3,500+ Life Cycles to 80%
- Expandable Up To 6,144Wh with 2×B230, or 8,192Wh with 2×B300
- 7 Ways to Recharge (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/Lead Battery/Dual AC/AC+Solar)
- 900W Max. Solar Input
- 1300W Max. Fast Dual Charging (Solar + AC Adapter)
- Smart Control & Monitor in BLUETTI App
If your off-grid vehicle or requirements are on a somewhat bigger scale, you’d be well advised to look into a portable power station that offers a total capacity of a whopping 8192Wh.
This no-nonsense portable solar generator provides up to 70 cups of coffee from your coffee maker, 1 hour of electricity for your electric grill, up to 28 hours of power for your fridge, up to 7 hours of air conditioning, over 40 hours of energy for a CPAP, and more than 50 hours of light from 10-watt bulbs - all without a cent going to the electric and gas companies!
Buy this solar generator here.
#5 AC200P + B230 Portable Power Station
Details at a glance:
- 2000W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (4,800W Surge)
- 2,000Wh Capacity
- LiFePO4 Battery with 3,500+ Life Cycles to 80%
- 13 Outputs For Multiple Devices
- 7 Ways to Recharge (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/Lead battery/Dual AC/AC+Solar)
- 700W Max. Solar Input
- 1200W Max. Fast Dual Charging (Solar + AC Adapter Simultaneously)
- Eco-friendly/Gas free/Quiet/Cost-effective
Enough juice to power a construction site! No joke!
This AC200P & B230 portable solar generator talks the talk and walks the walk. It provides up to 150 hours of lighting, up to 4 hours of air-con, over an hour’s worth of hair drying, and as well as that, it boasts AC outlets, USB-A, USB-C, a cigarette lighter port, and 12V/3A DC port. This solar generator also features a 12V/25A RV port and 15W wireless chargers to provide you with more charging options.
Ideal for bigger-scale off-grid living for those who like to rely on more luxury appliances, such as ice machines, blenders, and even projectors.
Buy this solar generator here.
Best Solar Generators for Off-Grid Living: FAQS
#1. What size generator do I need for off-grid living?
When choosing a solar generator for off-grid living, the golden rule of thumb is to go with one that is circa twice the size of the inverter’s output. The reason is that the solar panels need to continually charge the batteries when the generator is in use supplying power to your home.
So, if your inverter is 4000 watts, you would need to purchase an 8000-watt generator (minimum). You really only need to worry about these numbers if you’re building your own solar generator system. When purchasing a solar generator package, such as one from BLUETTI, all of the complicated calculations are done for you. The inverter and generator are built into one, so just plug and play!
The unofficial golden rule of thumb is to go with a generator that provides even more wattage than the “rule of two”. This is because, depending on where your off-grid home is located, you may find that you lose some power - particularly if you’re in a densely wooded/forest area, or at a higher elevation. Altitude, in particular, should be factored in, as you can risk losing up to 3% power every 1000 feet per altitude.
In other words, when it comes to solar generators and off-grid living - bigger is better!
#2. How many watts do you need for living off-grid?
Naturally, this depends on the size of your off-grid home and how many appliances you wish to run using your solar generator.
However, we recommend a minimum of 7 kW (7000 watts) for your entire energy production to be sourced from your solar generator.
#3. How many solar panels do I need to go off-grid?
Much like the wattage factor, the answer depends on certain aspects, including:
- The type of solar panels you use.
- How much power you wish to generate on a daily basis.
- The amount of space you have on your roof to fit solar panels.
- The amount of direct sunlight you have wherever you’re living.
Because solar panels come in various sizes and shapes, you’ll need to factor in your energy requirements and desired performance from the panels, as well as the size and construction details of your off-grid home.
Typically, the larger the panel, the better/faster the performance. So, if you work remotely from your off-grid location, and require a fast internet speed and enough juice to keep your laptop running throughout the duration of your workday, you will want to take these into consideration when choosing your solar panels.
#4. How many solar batteries do I need to live off-grid?
You will need to calculate this based on your own unique off-grid living circumstances. A good way to discern this is to bear in mind that most solar batteries are around 10 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in size.
#5. What is the best solar generator for off-grid living?
Our BLUETTI AC200P was recently voted as the number one most powerful off-grid solar generator, owing to its quick-charging time, multiple power outlets, and an extended warranty.
