Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 Review: The Best Outdoors & Camping Power Supply for Campers
"Good capacity and build quality - perfect for charging and powering all light and some high-power appliances"
Ahoy there! It's Jacob, back with another review of useful tech products that make our lives easier - no matter what we're up to, travelling, climbing, swimming or all of the above!
I remember the first iPhone being released - it felt like a technological revolution! From then onwards, I've made sure to test out all up-and-coming pocket-sized tech products in our labs.
Today, I'm here to review the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500. It's a powerhouse of a gadget that fits easily into your pocket - making it perfect for those of us who are on the go or heading out without prior planning as far as electricity is concerned.
It's a lightweight, super-functional power station whose utility when you're camping, hiking - or in my case - climbing and swimming, is unmatched. I'm going to go hands-on with this product and let you know what it really can do for you and in what ways it has simplified my life.
So, join me in this review of the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500. We'll get up to speed with what this product can do for us and how it can come in handy in the outdoors. Let's dive in!
Features
Jackery is a company that specializes in providing green power solutions. In 2016, it even won the Red Dot Award! The Jackery Explorer 500 is a portable power station with 518Wh of power - enough to cover most home appliances. It has PURE SINE WAVE AC outlet, 12V/10A carport, and 3*5V/2.4A USB ports. So you can use it to run appliances in your RV, power up your outdoor grilling and movie night, or even use it as a solar generator! Plus, the safety features include temperature protection, short circuit protection, etc., so you can feel secured. And if you have any issue, our service team is available anytime.
Power Output 500 watts Charging Time 7.5 (AC) 7.5 (Car) 9.5 (solar) hours Weight 5.1 kgs Warranty 24 months Dimensions 30 x 19.2 x 24.2 cm Outputs / Connections AC Output(x1), USB-A Output(x3), Car Port (x1)
Highlights
The Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 is the ideal companion for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore their surroundings and experience nature. With a wide range of features, it ensures your days are hassle-free, safe, and enjoyable.
First, the Explorer 500 (518Wh) provides a PURE SINE WAVE AC outlet (230V 500W, 1000W Peak) which is suitable to cover most home appliances. It has 3*5V/2.4A USB ports, a standard 12V/10A carport, and even a built-in lighting function to provide stable power for camping accessories and small electronic devices powering a vast array of your devices.
This device is also compatible with the versatile green power solutions, like Jackery SolarSaga 100W solar panel. Recharging the device is quick and simple, taking only 9.5 hours (depending on location, temperature, weather). It also has temperature protection, short circuit protection, overcurrent protection, overpower protection and overcharge protection to ensure device safety.
Whether you’re camping, off-grid, fishing, or are simply looking for a way to travel without worry, this device is perfect for you. With so many features and properties, it guarantees that you can stay off the grid while still enjoying the convenience of modern technology.
For campers, adventurers, and outdoor-lovers who want to enjoy the journey, the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 is the perfect companion for powering all your devices. With its reliable and durable design, it is the ideal choice for anyone looking to explore the great outdoors.
Is this the best Outdoors & Camping Power Supply for you?
Check out our full roundup: Best Portable Power Stations for Camping (under £1,000)
Concerns
The Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 promises adventurers dependable back up power for RV camping and outdoor activities. It is lauded for its ability to easily power multiple devices for extended periods of time and for its features such as a PURE SINE WAVE AC outlet, 12V/10A carport, and 3*5V/2.4A USB ports. It is also offered with the option of additional solar panels. Unfortunately, for campers, the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 may not be adequate enough to meet their demands in the great outdoors.
Although the power station holds up well during use and has several useful charging ports, a key focal point for campers is sustainability and self-sufficiency, which cannot be provided by the Jackery. According to user reviews, although the solar panels may provide a slight degree of self-sufficiency, it cannot offer a fully sustainable and self-sufficient power supply. Moreover, even with a solar panel, it has been reported that the 500 watt model may still take several hours to charge to the point of powering multiple devices such as a small refrigerator or electric kettle – appliances necessary to make camping a more enjoyable experience.
Furthermore, the 500 watt model, despite its bulky size, only has a 250V pure sine wave outlet, thus the RV camper would be able to only hook up and use smaller appliance such as a phone or a laptop. Additionally, with such a costly product and its limited capabilities, one may be better off just investing in a larger and more sustainable energy source such as a leisure battery backup.
All in all, for campers whose main requirements are a reliable and sustainable power source for their outdoor excursions, the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 may not be an ideal fit.
Should You Buy?
In conclusion, the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 is a powerful and versatile companion for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a reliable power source while exploring nature. Its wide range of features, including the PURE SINE WAVE AC outlet, USB ports, and carport, ensures that you can easily charge and power your devices, making your outdoor days hassle-free and enjoyable.
The device's compatibility with green power solutions like the Jackery SolarSaga 100W solar panel offers an additional level of convenience and sustainability. While it may not provide a fully sustainable and self-sufficient power supply, it certainly offers a degree of independence from traditional power sources.
However, it's important to note that for campers requiring a fully sustainable and self-sufficient power source, the Explorer 500 may not meet their demands. The charging time, even with a solar panel, may not be sufficient to power larger appliances needed for a comfortable camping experience. Additionally, the limited wattage and voltage output may restrict the use of larger RV appliances.
Overall, the Explorer 500's capacity and build quality make it perfect for charging and powering a wide range of light and some high-power appliances. It is a reliable and durable device that delivers on its promises. However, individuals seeking complete self-sufficiency and sustainability may want to consider alternative options such as larger and more sustainable energy sources.
(Price When Reviewed: £556.99)
Rating
Jacob Rose
4k FollowersTraveller, writer and travel-writer. Often accused of insufficient planning and poor impulse control, but happier for it!
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The Jackery Explorer 500: A Must Buy
My fiance and I decided to turn a van into a campervan. We don't have an electrical system, so we got a Jackery E500 to charge our phones, watches, laptops, tablets, etc.. It's been allowing us to charge our devices without needing to worry about specific dongles or cubes, since there are a few different ports built in. The battery lasts for ages, and it's been on the road - getting bumped around - and it's still going strong. It's conveniently compact, too, and it stores away easily. We're really happy with it - it's been doing a great job. If you need to charge lots of devices for a long time, I'd recommend this one. We didn't consider the solar panels at first, but now we're travelling, we think it'd be perfect for camping. So if you're heading outdoors, adding the solar panels could be a good move.
Good Item.
This is an awesome station! Lasts much longer then advertised. I was running an Outsunny 50l fridge, Sonos Move and a lot of iPads and i-phones and it lasted us 48 hrs during our camping trip last weekend. It was totally off the grid and now Im gonna get the solar panels so I can make it last even longer. Def recommend!
Good Power Station - Does What It Says
This Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 is a great product. It can power multiple devices, and you can recharge a 16 MacBook Pro several times on a single charge. The fan is pretty quiet when in use, and it's lightweight for the things it can do. A few reviews have pointed out the AC socket orientation, and yeah it'd be better if it was facing a different way so cables coming out the bottom wouldn't be bent as much, but this doesn't really effect how it works, so it's not worth taking away a star on the review. Plus, the customer support team in the UK is really helpful. I posted one review on another company as I didn't get what I ordered, but Jackery was really worried that I had a bad experience and got in touch to make sure I was okay. Top notch customer service, highly recommend them!
Great in an Emergency - Jackery PwrStn Explorer 500
The moment it was delivered to my residence on Wednesday, I was eager to take it out of the box and charge it. Little did I know that it would prove to be an invaluable purchase two days later, when an unexpected power outage left me in the dark for up to six hours. However, with the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 to my rescue, I was able to power my light and phone, and left me with enough battery charge to last before electricity was finally restored in the middle of the night. Never has a purchase been so straightforward to use from the very outset.
Exploring Power With Jackery's Explorer 500.
I've been wanting a Jackery for a while, especially after seeing it on US YouTube VanLife vids, so I ordered it as soon as it was available in the UK. It's been great, no problems at all. I tested it out on a bunch of USB devices. Then I plugged a 500W fan heater into it and checked to see if there were any issues with the solar charge. I watched carefully as the screen showed I was pulling just over 500W. After about an hour it died, so it works as promised. Later I placed the SolarSaga panel out in the sun and it got a 90W charge really quickly. Finally I plugged my eMTB charger into the Explorer 500's 240v outlet, and was very happy I could charge my bike with the sun. Overall it's robust enough for all the bumps in my van, and the SolarSaga fits perfectly on my T5.1 Vdub's dashboard. Very happy.
Exploring Portable Power: Jackery Explorer 500
I invested in the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 for a measure of security against power outages this winter. As I reside in an all-electric home, a dependable back-up such as this was essential. Its reasonable size, solid construction, and a variety of outputs, including a 250V pure sine wave outlet, 12V 10A outlet, and three USB charger sockets, makes for a very practical source of electricity supply. I was even able to fire up a 12V electric kettle, run a router, laptop, and TV - I can also confirm that a Camping Gaz single burner stove works with it, enabling the preparation of hot food. Charging it is simply a case of plugging in the supplied mains adapter; while the manufacturer's recommend the unit is used periodically and recharged every three months if not in consistent use, it should retain its charge for a number of months. Seeing as Amazon had reduced the 500 watt model by £80, I wisely opted for this, rather than the 200 watt version. There appears to be one downside; the 250V outlet is situated rather close to the base of the panel, making access awkward. Nonetheless, with a few props, this should not present too much of a challenge.
Awesome for Camping Tripps.
I've owned a Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 and a Jackery 100W solar panel for six weeks now. I've already used it on four camping/fishing trips that have lasted two to three days and I never had to charge it or any of my devices from the mains. I charge it from the solar panel on my patio, and then when I'm out camping I charge it as and when I need it. Using it, I can keep two phones fully charged, as well as my camera battery (2000mAh) and my fishing bait-boat batteries (5200mAh). I also use my laptop for around an hour every day and the lowest charge I've seen is around 86%. The weather's been nice so I've managed to keep the solar panel hooked up for around 12 hours each day, adjusting it to follow the sun every couple of hours. When the sun is out strong I get around 85W charging, but if there's just cloud cover I still get good charging of between 10-15W. My only complaint is that the 3-pin UK plug socket is not in the best location, so when you plug a device into it you need to place the power unit on a table or something so it can be lifted off the ground, otherwise the wire from the plug gets kinked. It would be much better if either the socket was turned sideways or upside down.
Camping-Ready Power: The Jackery Explorer 500
I recently got this portable power station, plus a folding solar panel charger for a camping trip I went to at the Royal International Air Tattoo. It worked great and was able to keep my phone charged up, inflate my air bed, and power a laptop and a 40 watt cooler box when it was connected to the solar charger. It didn't last as long when I tried to run the cooler box without the charger, but the input charge with the solar panel was 55 watts and the battery stayed at 70% or higher. I plugged it into the solar panel while I was out and when I came back a few hours later, the Jackery was recharged. It's pretty big so it's probably not great for camping, but I think it'll work fine around the house if I don't want to use a bunch of cords. You gotta make sure you keep it charged or it won't last as long. It cost close to 500 bucks which is a lot, but it's light compared to a conventional leisure battery and a lot more powerful than those cheap portable power packs with a jump starter and mains and USB sockets. Overall, it's worth it.
Powerful Potency: Jackery Explorer 500
Good Product - Wish I Got the 1000W.
I did my research before I bought the Jackery 500W and decided it was the most reliable and easiest to use for non-tech people. It arrived mostly charged and I was suprised at how quickly it charged my devices and how little the pack stored. You can pretty much run anything that doesn't draw more than 500W from it but bigger appliances like kettles and heaters you'd need a bigger energy pack. It has 3 USB A sockets, 12v plug and a regular UK three pin. It doesn't come with a USB C but I bought an adapter. It's nice being able to charge with the sun to, specially right now with the COP summit on. I'm sure this model will become outdated soon so I'll probaly buy a larger one soon.