Jackery Explorer and SolarSaga - Current (and past) Deals

Hey guys and gals,

I ran a couple of group buys over on TacomaWorld for Jackery stuff in the past. As a result, I'm on some of their mailing lists. Without making this post too long, I still have a contact over there who will occasionally provide me with a discount code for various products.

www.jackery.com

Basically, if someone shoots me a PM and says "hey, I'm looking to purchase X, do you have a discount code?" I'll reach out to them to see if they can provide one.


There are two things that people don't often think about when making a purchase. Does the company have good customer service and do the stand behind their product. Does the company do anything to provide back to the community.

I get severely annoyed when companies make their political affiliations known or try to influence society with an agenda in some way. Examples include Target with their any sex bathroom policy, Dicks Sporting Goods with their active anti-2A agenda, and Starbucks repeated incidents with law enforcement or concealed carry. I will keep my personal feeling out of those discussions. I think everyone is entitled to their opinion and some of those policies are very well intentioned. However, I do not think that companies should make political stands. My opinion is that the company exists to provide a service. Target sells home goods, Dicks sells sporting goods, and Starbucks sells coffee. Can we please just keep it at home goods, sporting goods, and coffee? Ok, rant over.

Jackery has donated power stations to people impacted by the recent tornadoes throughout the US, including Kentucky. I think it's great when a company gives back to the community. Especially when it isn't their community. California is a long way from Kentucky, but they are doing their part to help those impacted by the recent string of natural disasters. That's something I can support!

Link to article: Jackery is Donating Portable Power Stations, Aiding in Tornado Recovery in the U.S.

I'll update the title of this as appropriate, but I'll let you guys know whenever I get a new discount code.

 

Deal Tracker
Prime Big Deal Days
https://www.jackery.com/pages/prime-big-deal-days
Sept 23 - Oct 7, 2024
Up to 50% off

Home Backup Sale
Aug 15-22, 2024
https://www.jackery.com/pages/reliable-backup-power-during-outages
​

Prime Day

July 15-28, 2024
https://www.jackery.com/pages/prime-day-sale
Up to 50% off. Code "VIP5" for additional 5% off discount.

Memorial Day Sale
May 20-28, 2024
https://www.jackery.com/pages/memorial-day-sale
Up to $2k off

Earth Day
April 17-24, 2024
https://www.jackery.com/pages/earth-day-sale
Up to 42% off

Christmas Sale
December 6 - 20, 2023
https://www.jackery.com/pages/christmas-sale
Percentages not listed, but looks pretty in-line with Black Friday

Black Friday
November 17 - 27, 2023
https://www.jackery.com/pages/black-friday
Up to 50% off

Prime Big Deal Days
(Follows Amazon Prime Days)
Up to 40% off
October 1-11, 2023
https://www.jackery.com/pages/prime-big-deal-days

Autumn Outdoor Sale
September 12-20, 2023
https://www.jackery.com/pages/autumn-outdoor-sale

Plus Series Launch
September 12-14, 2023
https://www.jackery.com/pages/plus-series-launch

Prime Day Sale
(Not sure why it isn't 4th of July sale)
July 3-12, 2023
Some exclusive to July 11-12, 2023
https://www.jackery.com/pages/prime-day

72 Hour Flash Sale
May 24-26, 2023
Up to 32% off
https://www.jackery.com/pages/flash-sales

Earth Day Sale, April 14-22, 2023
https://www.jackery.com/pages/earth-day-sale
IG post said up to 25% off. Too many specific models to list prices.

December 28-29, 2022
28-33% off
Explorer 1000 Code: "FLASH30"
Solar Generator 1000 - Code: "FLASH33"
SolarSage 100W - Code: "FLASH30"
Solar Generator 2000 Pro - Code: "FLASH28"

December 8-18, 2022
Up to 28% off
https://www.jackery.com/pages/christmas-event

Pre-Black Friday
Early registration for up to 90% off coupons.
Black Friday
November 24-28, 2022.
https://www.jackery.com/pages/black-friday#

Plus some contests on Cyber Monday

October 4-10, 2022
https://www.jackery.com/pages/explore-fall

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro - 25% off. Code: Fall25
Jackery Explorer 1000 - 23% off. Code: Fall23
Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro - 10% off. Code: Fall10
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro - 10% off. Code: Fall10
Jackery Solar Generator 1500 - 15% off. Code: Fall15
Jackery Explorer 500 - 15% off. Code: Fall15


It looks like the Explorer 1000 will be 30% off on October 11 & 12, so if that's the one you want, I'd hold out a few more days.


September 13-25, 2022
National Preparedness Month
12-15% off
Codes: "PREPARED" & "POWERED"
https://www.jackery.com/pages/reliable-backup-power-during-outages


July 12-13, 2022
Prime Day
Up to 30% off
https://www.jackery.com/pages/prime-day

June 10-19, 2022
Father's Day
Discounts range from 5-15%
https://www.jackery.com/pages/fathers-day

March 16-23, 2022
Early Spring Sale - 12% off
Explorer 500
Explorer 1000
Explorer 1500
Solar Generator 1500 (Explorer 1500 + 2 100W Solor panels)
Solarsaga 60W panel
Solarsaga 100W panel
Carrying Case - Upgraded 1000/1500, 1000, 500
Camping Light

Feb 7 - 14 (I think), 2022
code "JACLOVE1"
This code gets 12% off the Explorer 1000. Code also applies to Solar Generator 1000 and Solar Generator 1500 (may apply to others as well).

I believe these are valid until Valentines Day but I don't know that for certain.

January 24 -31, 2022
code "JACFB9"
$160 off the Explorer 1500
https://www.jackery.com/products/explorer-1500-portable-power-station
$100 off the Explorer 1000
https://www.jackery.com/products/explorer-1000-portable-power-station

January 10 - 14, 2022
Winter Preparedness Discounts
$150 off Solar Generator 1000
$250 off Solar Generator 1500
...and, a bit of feel good news: Jackery has donated power stations to people impacted by the recent tornadoes throughout the US, including Kentucky.
Link to article: Jackery is Donating Portable Power Stations, Aiding in Tornado Recovery in the U.S.

December 6 - 10, 2021
15% off - https://www.jackery.com/pages/give-the-gift-of-power
Includes Solar Generator 1500, 1000 and 240, Explorer 240 and SolarSage 60

So....in reviewing the Black Friday webpage, there seem to be some discrepancies between what they have listed and what the email I received said. Mainly, there are more products listed on the website, and some of the dates don't line up. For instance, on the website, it lists the Solar Generator 1000 as running from Friday through Sunday (11/28) and the email I received said that it would run through Monday (11/29).

While that isn't a huge deal, I'd hate for someone to see my post and wait a day and (potentially) miss out on the deal. Rather than link each model, here is the page to the Black Friday deals: https://www.jackery.com/pages/black-friday


Per my email:
Thursday, November 25 through Monday, November 29.
Jackery Explorer 240 - 20% off
Jackery Explorer 1000 - 15% off
Solar Generator 1000 - 15% off
Solar Generator 1500 - 15% off

Monday, November 29 only.
Jackery Explorer 300 - 30% off


Per the website:
Friday, November 26 through Monday, November 28.
Solar Generator 1500 - 15% off
Solar Generator 1000 - 15% off
Solar Generator 500 - ~12.5% off
Solar Generator 240 - 20% off
Explorer 1500 - 15% off
Explorer 1000 - 15% off
Explorer 500 - 15% off
Explorer 240 - 20% off
SolarSaga 60W - 20% off

Cyber Friday (Actual date listed is Monday, November 29)
Solar Generator 300 - no data
Explorer 300 - No data (see info from email)
SolarSaga 100W - No Data


PRE-BLACK FRIDAY - Sunday, November 14 - Thursday, November 18
Jackery Explorer 1000 - $819 ($180 off, Reg. $999)
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 - $1,274 ($225 off, Reg. $1,499)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to be announced on 11/22/2021
Details not yet released, but expect Explorer 240 and 300 deals.

10/18/2021 - 10/20/2021 - 15% off site wide
Jackery 9th Anniversary Sale
They are also doing a giveaway for people who already own Jackery products.
https://www.jackery.com/pages/jackery-9th-anniversary

9/6 - 10/17 - 10% off sitewide (excl. accessories) for TacomaWorld. PM for details

July 27-29,2021 - $120 off Explorer 1000 + (2) 100W panels.
https://www.jackery.com/products/jackery-explorer-1000-2-x-solarsaga-100w-solar-generator

Fishing Game: https://www.jackery.com/pages/summer-fishing - Ends July 20,2021


June 21 - 22, 2021 - Prime Day Deals -
Explorer 160 - $96.99
Explorer 240 - $159.99
Explorer 300 - $209.99
Explorer 1000 - $899.99
Explorer 1000 + 2 100W panels - $1,269.97
Explorer 1500 - $1,399.00
Explorer 1500 + 4 100W panels - $2,279.00
SolarSaga 60W panel - $125.99
SolarSaga 100W panel - $209.99

Ends June 22, 2021 - Instagram Giveaway -

As of June 16, 2021 - Explorer 1000 - $100 off (since this is the first entry and no historical data, I'll say that this is one of the better discounts that I've seen)
Explorer 1500 - $100 off
Explorer 1000 + 2 100W panels - $200 off
Explorer 1500 + 4 100W panels - $200 off
Explorer 500 + 100W panel - $50 off
Explorer 500 - $50 off
Explorer 300 - $30 off (TW members have combined with my $20 off code)
Explorer 160 - $15 off (This is the first time I've seen this model marked down)
​

 

Thanks OP for this kind offer.

I have a Jackery 500, had a 1000, and bought my father in law a 240 and a friend a 300. They are really quality SoGens, No issues with the 4 I've come in contact with.

 

Likewise. I have a 300 and 1000 and really enjoy both of them. They each serve a specific purpose and I've been pleased with both for what they do.

The 300 seems to be about the perfect size if you need to run a fridge for a weekend with a few trail runs in between or if you are only camping for 24 hours. The 1000 is better for the weekend camper, RV user, or home emergency type use.

 

Yea the 300 is a perfect size for the weekend, and a 60w or 100w panel is more than enough to keep it happy.

 

I have the 300 too!! Love that thing. Thank you for the link.

 

Here's my 1 year review on the Explorer 1000 and SolarSaga 100W panels (copy/paste from TW):

Alright y'all. I figured it would be good to do a 1 year follow up review on the

Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station, 1002Wh Capacity with 3x1000W AC Outlets, Solar Generator for Home Backup, Emergency, Outdoor Camping (Solar Panel Optional)

Jackery Explorer 1000 and SolarSaga 100W panels. Some good, and some not-so-good that was made right.

In short, I absolutely love the Explorer 1000. I'm on the fence about the solar panels.

TL;DR version: I liked the Explorer 1000 so much that I got some additional models. I'm very happy that I went with Jackery instead of one of the Amazon value brands that I initially considered.

Explorer 1000

I've been using it nearly daily to power my 12v fridge. Since none of us get to camp as often as we like, I figured I'd rather use the fridge than let it just sit in the garage heat all summer. Plus, with COVID STILL going on I'm working from home. The fridge and Jackery are right next to my desk and make sure that I have cold coke during the workday or a cold beer right after the workday. Just a quick tangent on the fridge....the house fridge stays pretty full with food for a family of 5 and I can't justify taking up a shelf with beer. Plus, the ICECO fridge set at 37 has the cans feeling ICE COLD instead of just cold. Beer just tastes better at this temp, so I'd probably keep the beer in there regardless of family fridge status.

If I let it run to 0 percent, I can power the fridge for about 4 days. However, running it to zero is not recommended. I normally will recharge it on the 4th morning when the battery pack is between 20 and 30 percent.

I did notice that the runtime on the Jackery decreased during the heat of summer despite being in a climate controlled environment. I expected no change since we have central HVAC. I credit this to the fact that the fridge compressor seemed to run with an increased frequency. Not a fault of the Jackery at all if you're pulling more power from it! The runtime has returned to what I thought was normal now that the ambient temps outside have dropped. So with that, I don't feel like I've noticed any reduction in capacity over the course of the year with multiple charge/discharge cycles.

I also occasionally charge my phone from the Jackery. It's right next to me and why not use power from the sun to charge it up? Even if ever-so-slightly it helps to offset the cost of the unit, why not?

Ok, so what don't I like about the Explorer 1000?

Well, for starters, the size. I've mentioned before that it doesn't fit inside the Tacoma very well. To use it while driving on a trip inside the vehicle, you have to orient it such that you cannot see the display or anything plugged in. If you're using the plug that came with the ICECO fridge, this means that you might not be powering your fridge (hint: get the ARB plug) and wouldn't know it. This makes it more difficult to see the remaining amount of charge. Not a deal breaker and an acceptable trade off for the additional storage capacity.

I still have yet to use the flashlight as a flashlight. When I'm camping, I'd prefer to have a more portable/compact flashlight. So this feature is nice to have there, but not super practical.

SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel

These are one of the more efficient solar panels on the portable market. At least they were when I initially did the research and I haven't seen anyone claim to have a higher efficiency. It's possible that they have been surpassed....I'm just not sure. I didn't care to look it up right now because that isn't really important. What is important is that these are highly efficient solar panels.

I really like the magnetic closure when it works. The solid "click" that you hear when the plastic around the magnets locks together is a good sound.

My original solar panels (2) died within a year (almost to the day) and a couple of weeks between each other. Jackery made this right by sending me replacements and a return label for the defective panels. The exchange process was very easy for me. So while I'm disappointed that they went out, the company stood behind their product and sent me new panels.

I have asked if there is something that I did to cause them to fail, and at this time have not heard back.

Here's everything bad I can say about the panels. If you've made it this far in the review, please continue to the end and don't just stop at the bad. I suspect that I have reasons for the bad.

The back of the panels is a thick cloth material. In my case, the cloth seemed to shrink over time which pulled the sides of the panel away from the actual panel. I don't know if this caused a performance issue, but the efficiency decreased over time. This is normal with solar panels, I just wasn't expecting it to be so dramatic of a drop. I think I was pulling around 85-90W per panel initially and it was down to about 65W before they died. That seems pretty substantial to me over 12 months.

The magnets stopped clicking together. I know magnets can be demagnetized. I don't know what I did to cause them to stop working together, but the magnets were ineffective after several months. When not in use, I have them folded up and leaning against each other. They still stay closed, so I'm not sure what benefit the magnets really had. However, I do like that feeling and sound they make when they click closed.

I live in Georgia (the state, not the country) and it is hot and humid here. My panels get used 2-3 times per week. I do not leave them outside overnight. I suspect that the humidity and heat caused the fabric to shrink and in turn cause the other issues. Regardless, Jackery promptly replaced my panels. I think that speaks volumes when a company stands behind their products.

For my non-traveling use, I really should pick up a panel that is designed to be outside all the time.

I liked my Jackery Explorer 1000 so much that I picked up a 300 which fits in the truck much better and is better suited for weekend trips. I also use the 300 to power my fridge while the 1000 is charging. I haven't had to use the Explorer 1000 to power the house fridge yet, but getting 3-4 days on the 12v fridge, I suspect it would last somewhere around 24-48 hours powering the house fridge. I wanted something that I could power the larger fridge for longer in the event of a natural disaster as my immediate family live in hurricane alley (Gulf Coast Florida) and the power goes out somewhat annually. So I'll be doing a review on the Explorer 1500 here soon too.


Oh, and I also created a "Jackery Deal Tracker" thread here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...now-code-or-15-later-anniversary-sale.725373/

Hopefully that link doesn't break if I update the title when the current deal expires.

 

Jackery 9th Anniversary Sale 10/18/2021 - 10/20/2021 - 15% off site wide
They are also doing a giveaway for people who already own Jackery products.
https://www.jackery.com/pages/jackery-9th-anniversary

 

What type of battery cells are in these? I’ve considered buying one but I’ve heard the cycle life is really low and can’t be fully discharged like say a battle born

 

I believe the batteries are Lithium Ion. I think it is recommended to recharge once they get below 30%, but I've run mine down to 0 on more than one occasion and it does not seem to have shortened the runtime for my 12v fridge.

Here are the specs on the Explorer 1000 directly from their website:

 

That’s what I was looking for thank you. I would like to find one with a dead dead battery and use it for parts

 

LOL. Good luck with that.

 

The batteries in all Jackery devices are NMC - Lithium-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt-Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2), abbreviated as NMC.

The batteries in a BattleBorn are LiFePo4 - Lithium Iron Phosphate.

They are different chemistries and for different purposes.

The Jackery is rated 500 cycles to 80% capacity, meaning after approx 500 cycles it will only maintain 80% of it's original capacity. However, they are much lighter cells and can easily fit in non-uniform spaces.
The BattleBorn is rated 2000 - 5000 cycles to 80% capacity. However, much heavier and larger.

Different uses, one is meant for heavy use and long life. One is meant for portability and weekend duty.

Consider a Jackery has DC chargers, AC inverters, solar MPPT chargers, AC chargers, USB inputs and outputs, a light (LOL), a handle, and weighs less than the same size of 100AH Battleborn.

If you want an all in one, Jackery. If you want to build a setup yourself, LiFePo4.

-- REGARDING DISCHARGE --

Both chemistries are fine to discharge, but ideally neither really appreciate a full deep discharge (below 10%). The BMS (Battery Management System) will disable a discharge if it detects a low voltage state that would damage a unit. It will also stop charging if it's too cold outside, or discharging if the unit gets too hot. A good one will, at least...and Jackery uses quality parts.

 

I just bought a Jackery 1000 with the 2x 100w solar panels. I like that the 1x 200w solar panels are waterproof and honestly it would have been nice if that was what came with the kit. However, I like that if I only need a 100w solar panel I can carry less as well. I mated that up with a ICECO 20L fridge as most of the stuff I do is weekend and not extended. Plus with having a family of 6 there is not much room in the 4runner to begin with so the smaller the better. Looking forward to getting it and you all taught me some stuff already so thank you.

 

Good choice. I can confidently say that I think you'll be happy with that setup. You also aren't likely to charge it in the rain, but it would be nice to have that feature if you were to forget about it outside. However, that's an unlikely scenario. The 100W panels are something like IP55 rated, so they can handle a little moisture.

 

JACKERY​

PRE-BLACK FRIDAY - Sunday, November 14 - Thursday, November 18​

​

Jackery Explorer 1000 - $819 ($180 off, Reg. $999)
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 - $1,274 ($225 off, Reg. $1,499)
​

Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to be announced on 11/22/2021
Details not yet released, but expect Explorer 240 and 300 deals.​

I also track the Jackery deals here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/jackery-deal-tracker.725373/

 

Jackery Black Friday deals announced.

https://www.jackery.com/pages/black-friday



So....in reviewing the Black Friday webpage, there seem to be some discrepancies between what they have listed and what the email I received said. Mainly, there are more products listed on the website, and some of the dates don't line up. For instance, on the website, it lists the Solar Generator 1000 as running from Friday through Sunday (11/28) and the email I received said that it would run through Monday (11/29).

While that isn't a huge deal, I'd hate for someone to see my post and wait a day and (potentially) miss out on the deal.


Per my email:
Thursday, November 25 through Monday, November 29.
Jackery Explorer 240 - 20% off
Jackery Explorer 1000 - 15% off
Solar Generator 1000 - 15% off
Solar Generator 1500 - 15% off

Monday, November 29 only.
Jackery Explorer 300 - 30% off


Per the website:
Friday, November 26 through Monday, November 28.
Solar Generator 1500 - 15% off
Solar Generator 1000 - 15% off
Solar Generator 500 - ~12.5% off
Solar Generator 240 - 20% off
Explorer 1500 - 15% off
Explorer 1000 - 15% off
Explorer 500 - 15% off
Explorer 240 - 20% off
SolarSaga 60W - 20% off

Cyber Friday (Actual date listed is Monday, November 29)
Solar Generator 300 - no data
Explorer 300 - No data (see info from email)
SolarSaga 100W - No Data
Most of those deals are good from what we've seen from them in the past. The 1000 and up models are at or near the best pricing that I've seen from Jackery. The Explorer 300 is the best pricing that I've seen direct from Jackery, but it will only be available for one day. As for the other items listed with a question mark, I was not given information about those.

 

I 10000% would not buy there panels. Total rip off. A panel is about a dollar a watt. Not the crazy amount they charge

 

I apologize for being a bit late to the party on this one.

January 10 - 14, 2022
Winter Preparedness Discounts
$150 off Solar Generator 1000
$250 off Solar Generator 1500

There are two things that people don't often think about when making a purchase. Does the company have good customer service and do the stand behind their product. Does the company do anything to provide back to the community.

I get severely annoyed when companies make their political affiliations known or try to influence society with an agenda in some way. Examples include Target with their any sex bathroom policy, Dicks Sporting Goods with their active anti-2A agenda, and Starbucks repeated incidents with law enforcement or concealed carry. I will keep my personal feeling out of those discussions. I think everyone is entitled to their opinion and some of those policies are very well intentioned. However, I do not think that companies should make political stands. My opinion is that the company exists to provide a service. Target sells home goods, Dicks sells sporting goods, and Starbucks sells coffee. Can we please just keep it at home goods, sporting goods, and coffee? Ok, rant over.

Jackery has donated power stations to people impacted by the recent tornadoes throughout the US, including Kentucky. I think it's great when a company gives back to the community. Especially when it isn't their community. California is a long way from Kentucky, but they are doing their part to help those impacted by the recent string of natural disasters. That's something I can support!

Link to article: Jackery is Donating Portable Power Stations, Aiding in Tornado Recovery in the U.S.

 

I saw on Instagram that code "JACFB9" is good for $160 off the Explorer 1500. Valid 1/24-1/31, 2022. However, I didn't get an email and I don't see any mention of it on their website, but I did confirm that the code works.

https://www.jackery.com/products/explorer-1500-portable-power-station

 

I've seen a handful of discount codes pop up on IG lately. The same code seems to apply to multiple products. If I know them all, I'll post them all. If I don't know them all, I'll simply post the discount code and you can see if it applies to any models that you are currently interested in.

Current codes:

"JACLOVE1" - This code gets 12% off the Explorer 1000. Code also applies to Solar Generator 1000 and Solar Generator 1500 (may apply to others as well).

I believe these are valid until Valentines Day but I don't know that for certain.

 

Jackery is doing a spring sale March 16-23, 2022 where several items will be 12% off. Those items include:

Explorer 500
Explorer 1000
Explorer 1500

Solar Generator 1500 (Explorer 1500 + 2 100W Solor panels)

Solarsaga 60W panel
Solarsaga 100W panel

Carrying Case - Upgraded 1000/1500, 1000, 500
Camping Light

 

June 10-19, 2022
Father's Day
Discounts range from 5-15%
https://www.jackery.com/pages/fathers-day

 

So....I did a thing.

I got a Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro!

https://youtu.be/TUhO4gkGP9o

I'll start by saying that I was beyond impressed with the Explorer 1000. I looked at quite a bit of information before determining that Jackery was the brand of battery pack that I wanted to purchase. My original, and still my main purpose, is to power a 12v fridge while away from the house. The Explorer 2000 is overkill for that purpose.

If you live somewhere that regularly experiences power outages, or need to power your devices for extended periods of time, then you need a larger portable power station. Sure, you can get a traditional generator that will provide power in the event of a power outage or camping excursion. There are 2 drawbacks to consider. First is the noise. I've never seen (or heard) a quiet generator. They have gotten better over the years, but they all still produce some noise from the engine running. I absolutely HATE camping and hearing someone else's generator. The second major drawback is fuel, and that is sort of a cumulative drawback....it has to be available, it has to be affordable, it goes bad over time, and it releases toxic gases after combustion. Not to mention other mechanical issues. A combustion engine should really run periodically to stay lubricated and stay in working order. Gas reached over $4.50 per gallon last week where I live, and I've seen prices posted online closer to $10 in places like California.

All of those make for a fairly compelling argument for a "solar generator" (a.k.a. portable power station and solar panels). The Explorer 1000 is awesome. I don't have a single complaint with it, but I questioned how long it would last in a true emergency situation. As long as the sun is shining, the cost of gas is irrelevant.

When the power goes out, my main concern becomes keeping my cold food storage...well, cold. A household refrigerator can use a decent amount of power. Especially if it is opened and closed often, which you would try to minimize (obviously). A quick google search shows that the typical home fridge ranges from 300-800Watts when running. My side-by-side fridge looks to be on the higher end of that range, and I understand that could surge to double when the compressor kicks on. The Explorer 1000 can handle approx. 2000W surge, so starting a home fridge is no problem for it. However, 300-800W is going to run it down fairly quickly. What about charging it back up? It can take a full day to charge in less than ideal conditions (i.e. a cloudy day).

The initial charge on my Explorer 2000 was 22%. It took approximately 2 hours to charge to 97% with 6 200W panels. 2 of my panels were damaged in shipping, and I'm not sure they were doing me much good even though I had them hooked up. The readout on the display indicated that I was pulling in about 800W consistently. I think I saw it get up to 881W at one point, but I wasn't watching it consistently. This was on a day where there were virtually no clouds in the sky. I'm absolutely blown away at how quickly this thing charged!



An input wattage reading is pretty standard on other Explorer models. The 2000 pro has an estimated time to charge indicator right below the input. That's a cool little feature and I found it to be pretty accurate.

Another major difference between the Explorer 1000 (and smaller units) and the 2000 Pro is where the charging ports are located. The 2000 charges from the rear, whereas the input on the 1500 and lower models is on the front. I also found that there is no longer an external charger "brick." The new unit takes a standard computer or monitor cable that plugs directly into it. Those are commonly available if you ever lose the charging cable.




My next concern in an emergency situation is the temperature of the living space. You're typical emergency situation seems to happen when the weather is extreme. In my experience, either really hot or really cold. Heating and cooling living space can have a pretty high energy demand. According to a quick google search, a "portable" (i.e. window unit or stand-alone) AC can consume between 500W (small) and 1500W (large) with an average medium sized unit using around 900W. A small space heater fan typically consumes about 1500W. No worries there either.

So let's take the natural disaster situation out of the equation. I suspect people with campers who are off grid for a while are the more likely purchasers of an Explorer 2000 Pro. While it is the first Jackery that I've seen with a folding handle, it certainly isn't light. It's not going to easily fit on the floorboards of a Tacoma, but it could do nicely in a (covered) bed. So while it is techincally "portable", I don't want to lug it around very often. I certainly don't see my grandma, or even mom, picking this thing up. My grandpa probably would, but I don't really see him wanting to either.

Let's talk about output for a moment.

There are 2 USB-A connectors that can put out 18W each, and 2 USB-C connectors that can put out 100W each.



There are 3 AC outlets rated at 120V and 2200W. Also, worthy of note is that it appears that the ground plug is actually a ground plug. On smaller units, like the Explorer 300, the ground plug from your power cable would fit into an empty cavity on the Explorer and essentially be unused.



The DC 12V port is similar to previous models and is covered by a rubber protector on the right.



If you are out in the wild and need the flashlight, this one is considerably brighter than the one on the 1000. However, due to the weight, I wouldn't really carry this around for the purpose of having a light. Instead of a clear lense, it has an obscured covering to better scatter the light. I'm not sure the proper term, but it produces a smoother light (if that makes sense). There are multiple brightness settings and even an SOS feature....again, nice to have in an emergency.

The Explorer 2000 Pro will accept the 100W SolarSaga solar panels. Something to look out for: if you have an older 100W panel, it may not have the adapter on the end to connect it to the newer 8mm connector. I had a 100W panel replaced under warranty. The original one just had the standard 8mm connector on the end, but the replacement had an adapter with a sticker that stated it was for the Explorer 1500 and 2000. I'm sure it would be easy to get the adapter, but just something I noticed. Obviously, it will take longer to charge with a 100W panel, but you can hook up to 6 panels total with the included adapters that come with the 2000.



Another thing I noticed while charging is that an internal fan kicked on almost immediately. I'm not sure if that is standard due to the higher wattage of input, or if it is because it was a particularly hot day. I always try to put my Explorer models in the shade while charging. Even hiding them behind the panel will help keep it cool. Otherwise, they will get EXTREMELY hot when exposed to direct sunlight.

All those marketing campaigns and people on facebook/instagram/whatever other social media app that show pictures of them out in the open.....those are just for the pictures. I don't recommend doing it that way AT ALL. You'll kill your expensive purchase real fast. That's not to say that it can't handle it for a little while, but certainly not good practice.

Other differences that I noticed are in the panels. The 100W panels have a cloth backing and the charging cable is permanently attached. Not so with the new 200W panels. The edge of the panel is hard plastic and the charging cable plugs into a port on the side of the panel. I actually think both of these design changes are important and a step in the right direction. Remember when I said that I had a panel replaced under warranty? The cloth backing got stretched so tight that it was pulling away from the panel. I'm not sure if that was due to humidity or what, but it was certainly not due to misuse....at least, I don't think it was. Since there is no fabric on the new panels, they are less likely to constrict. Also, if the cable gets damaged, it can easily be switched for another.

Another difference between the 100W and 200W panels is the storage. The 100W has a magnetic closure and a zipper pouch physically attached. This is where the charging cable resides. The 200W still has magnetic closure, but comes in a zippered case that has an pouch to hold the removable cable. Given the design changes, the 200W is remarkably similar in size to the 100W panel when fully collapsed. It's when you unfold them that you can see the larger size of the 200W panel. The 200W panel is also significantly heavier than the 100W panel.

Here's a 100W in front of a 200W panel.


and a side-by-side showing the difference in how they fold up:


I hope this is useful for anyone who may be considering their options when looking at portable power stations. Any questions, please ask!

 

Something to note, the newer 200W panels do not have the USB output to charge a cell phone directly like the 100W panels. That said, you could obviously just plug the phone into the Jackery Explorer that you are charging.

July 12-13, 2022
Prime Day - Up to 30% off
https://www.jackery.com/pages/prime-day

 

Something to note, the newer 200W panels do not have the USB output to charge a cell phone directly like the 100W panels. That said, you could obviously just plug the phone into the Jackery Explorer that you are charging.

July 12-13, 2022
Prime Day - Up to 30% off
https://www.jackery.com/pages/prime-day

 

September 13-25, 2022
National Preparedness Month
12-15% off
Codes: "PREPARED" & "POWERED"
https://www.jackery.com/pages/reliable-backup-power-during-outages



Products included:
Explorer 1000 ($149 off)
Solar Generator 1000 ($179 off)
Explorer 1500 ($203 off)
Solar Generator ($323 off)
Explorer 2000 Pro ($251 off)
Solar Generator 2000 Pro ($494 off)

 

$6200??? Goodness I know I don’t like generators when camping but for that price I could put a generator on my house in an emergency that supports up to 200 amps.

 

To a degree, that's the whole point of this thread. Don't buy anything Jackery at full price. They run sales often enough that, unless you are in a rush, there is no need to pay full retail.

In general, I look at sales and thing "is this a good sale, or will there be a better one in a month/on black Friday/on Labor Day/ etc.?" By capturing data on current and past sales, you can get an idea of the sale trends and whether the percentage off is better than average.

 

Yeah don’t get me wrong. I really like my Jackery 1000 and you got to wait for those sale times. I think on sale I could get it down to $5k but that is still a bit much for me. Obviously it depends on your use. If you overland all the time and it powers your life… totally makes sense.

I think the 1000 I got is the perfect size for me.
In any regard thank you for writing the post. I find the details interesting and good.