The Jackery 5000 Plus Solar Generator offers whole-home backup at a reasonable price

If you’re worried about a power outage or planning a camping trip, a solar generator can be a great option for storing and using power when you don’t have access to the grid. Unlike gas generators, solar generators can also be used safely indoors, making them a practical choice for home backup power. This is where the new Jackery 5000 Plus solar generator comes in.

It is a home solar generator capable of producing 7,200 watts of power with a capacity of 5,040 watt-hours and connects to solar panels and the grid to store electricity. This is not a new product category, as Jackery previously launched the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro, which consisted of a Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro portable power plant combined with Jackery Solar Saga 200 panels. Companies such as EcoFlow, Bluetti and Oupes have also got in on the action with the Oupes 600W solar generator kit and EcoFlow Delta Mini.

“Safety, sustainability and convenience are at the forefront of every solar generator we produce, and the 5000 Plus delivers every time,” said Jack Sun, CEO of Jackery. “Whether you need to power your entire home during an outage or emergency, need extra power while embracing the outdoors, or reliable everyday power, the 5000 Plus delivers the performance, safety and convenience people need “.

Charging and accessories Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus

Jackery calls the powerhouse portable, and it technically has a handle and built-in wheels that let you roll. However, at 128 pounds, you’ll probably want to keep it in one spot most of the time. The portable power plant itself is only one component of the system. Jackery offers several modular extensions and add-ons for the Solar Generator 5000 Plus. When you use them all, you can generate 60 kWh of energy, which Jackery claims is enough to sustain the needs of the average American household for several days, assuming an average daily usage of 30 kWh.

You can also connect up to six SolarSaga 200W portable solar panels or two SolarSaga 500W panels. It is also compatible with third-party solar panels that use an MC4 connector, which supports up to 4,000W of charging. Perhaps most uniquely, it supports dual-voltage solar charging, meaning you can connect the system to an existing high-voltage rooftop solar system along with Jackery’s portable solar panels.

There’s also the Jackery Smart Transfer Switch (STS), which can deliver 7,200W of power as a single unit. When you add a second unit, you can get up to 14,4000 W. The system supports 120V loads and 240V appliances, including dryers, water pumps, ovens and power tools. Jackery says it can even recharge RVs and electric vehicles.

In terms of outputs, you get two 18W USB-A ports, two 100W USB-C power supply ports, a 120W car port and four AC outlets.

Features of Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus

Like many new portable power plants on the market, the Solar Generator 5000 Plus can also function as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with instant (0 millisecond) changeover so your devices and appliances never lose power. You can manage the feature with an app, activate UPS mode, schedule charging, monitor your system, and more. According to Jackery, while the 5000 Plus is designed for whole-home backup, it also supports off-grid life and network arbitration, with features like peak shave and boost valley, which can help balance energy consumption and reduce energy bills.

The generator is rated as fireproof, shockproof and IPX4 water resistant. It comes with a seven-year warranty (Jackery calls it “5+2”). The generator has 4,000 life cycles on its lithium iron phosphate battery, so it should last a while.

Price and availability

The Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus will set you back $3,499, making it less than competitors like the Anker Solix F3800 ($3,999) and much more affordable than the Bluetooth EP500 Pro ($4,999) or the Ecoflow Delta Pro Ultra ($6,098). We’re still waiting on availability details, but we’ll let you know when we have them.