Buildings Services Tutor - Logo
Buildings Services Tutor - Logo

Review: Jackery’s Complete Portable Solar Package

by | Last updated: May 13, 2022 | 0 comments

Some of the links on my blog are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and buy the item, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. My opinion remains unaffected.

In this article, I introduce you to Jackery’s complete portable solar package “Jackery Solargenerator 500”, consisting of the Jackery Explorer 500 power generator and the Jackery SolarSaga 100 foldable solar panel. I tested the system over a period of 6 months and exposed it to a wide variety of situations.

Jackery provided me with the Jackery Explorer 500 and the Jackery SolarSaga 100 for the test, and I would like to thank them once again. However, Jackery has no influence on the test result.

The main features

Jackery is a US-based company that describes itself as a pioneer in the portable power industry. It was founded in 2012 by a former Apple battery engineer. In 2015, the first versions of the Jackery Explorer series came onto the market and three years later, the foldable solar panels SolarSaga100 followed in the portfolio.

Jackery products have been specially designed for outdoor activities such as camping, fishing and mobile work where there is no direct power connection. Jackery systems can also be used as a small emergency power supply at home. All you need is the Jackery Explorer 500, a portable power generator, and the matching solar panel Jackery SolarSaga 100 to charge the Explorer. Both components together weigh no more than 11kg and are therefore easy to transport.

Here is a summary of the most important features of the Jackery complete solar package:

  • Complete solar package consisting of power generator with 518Wh and solar panel with 100W.
  • Power generation from the sun and operation via a battery.
  • All necessary components built into a compact system.
  • Can easily power a mobile workstation, TV, lamps, blenders, coolers and mini fridges with 12V or 230V (110 V for US) for several hours.
  • Very powerful, quiet and lightweight
  • Ideal for outdoor activities such as camping, parties or working on the move
  • Easy to use due to plug-and-play

Lieferumfang und Extras

Figure 1: Scope of delivery Jackery complete solar package with Explorer 500 and solar panel SolarSaga100
Figure 1: Scope of delivery Jackery complete solar package with Explorer 500 and solar panel SolarSaga100

In this test, the Jackery Explorer 500 and the Jackery SolarSaga 100 solar panel are put through their paces. The following components are included in the scope of delivery:

  • Jackery Explorer 500
  • Jackery SolarSaga 100 with integrated charging cable
  • Charging cable for 230 V socket
  • Charging cable for car socket (12 V)
  • Bag for charging cable
  • Operating instructions for Explorer and SolarSaga

Before we get to the test, let’s take a closer look at the components:

Jackery Explorer 500

Jackery Explorer 500, 518Wh Tragbare Powerstation Mobiler Stromspeicher mit 230V/500W (Spitze 1000W) Steckdose + USB, Mobile Stromversorgung mit LCD-Anzeige für Party, Camping, Wohnmobil, Heimwerken The Jackery Explorer 500 is a portable power generator and the heart of the complete solar set. It contains all the components that otherwise have to be individually assembled, coordinated and wired in stationary complete solar systems, such as the Offgridtec Autark S-Master 100W Solar – 600W AC (read the review here).

This means you don’t have to worry about assembling the classic individual components such as Battery*, Solar Charge Controller*, Voltage Converter* and Battery Protection*. Anyone who has ever set up a stationary solar complete set with all these components knows that this is not always easy.

Top: You don’t need any previous electrical knowledge for the complete solar set from Jackery, which makes the system interesting for many solar enthusiasts without a technical background.

Even if the comparison with a stationary solar system is lame, I would still like to emphasise the simplicity of complete mobile solar systems, as these make photovoltaics accessible to a large audience and thus facilitate entry into the subject.

The Jackery Explorer 500 contains a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 24 Ah at a voltage of 21.6 V, which corresponds to 518 Wh of electrical energy. The Jackery Explorer has the following connections:

  • 1 x Schuko plug for 230 V with 500 W (up to 1000 W short-term peak power possible)
  • 3 x USB-A connections with 5 V, 2.4 A each
  • 1 x car connection 12 V, 10 A; 2 x 6.5 x 1.4 mm DC output: 12 V, 7 A
  • 1 x solar input with 8 mm DC, 12 V ~ 30 V (max. 100 W)
Figure 2: Jackery Explorer 500 Front
Figure 2: Jackery Explorer 500 Front

On the front of the Jackery Explorer, the solar input for a DC 8 mm connection is located on the left (1). Next to it is a small display that shows the charging power in watts (2), the extraction power in watts (3) and the charging status in percent (4) as well as a charging bar (5). The display is also very easy to read in sunshine.

To the right of the display is a button with which the display illumination can be activated (6). In the lower area there are car connections (7) 3 x USB-A connections (8) and a Schuko plug for 230V alternating current (9). On the side of the Jackery Explorer 500 is a fairly bright LED lamp that can be switched on and off using a button.

The Jackery Explorer is available in three sizes, the Explorer 240, Explorer 500 and Explorer 1000. In the following table I have compared the 3 Explorers:

Beginner
Jackery Explorer 240, 3.6V/67200mAh/240Wh Tragbare Powerstation Mobiler Stromspeicher mit Reinen Sinuswellen 230V/200W Steckdose + USB, Mobile Stromversorgung*
Advanced
Jackery Explorer 500, 518Wh Tragbare Powerstation Mobiler Stromspeicher mit 230V/500W (Spitze 1000W) Steckdose + USB, Mobile Stromversorgung mit LCD-Anzeige für Party, Camping, Wohnmobil, Heimwerken*
Professional
Jackery Explorer 1000, 1002Wh Tragbare Powerstation Mobiler Stromspeicher mit 230V/1000W (Spitze 2000 W) Steckdose, USB und QC, Mobile Stromversorgung für Outdoors*
Title
Jackery Explorer 240*
Jackery Explorer 500*
Jackery Explorer 1000*
Capacity
16,8 Ah
24 Ah
46,4 Ah
Voltage
14,4 V
21,6 V
21,6 V
Electrical Energy
240 Wh
518 Wh
1002 Wh
Power Consumption
230 V, 200 W (400 W peak)
230 V, 500 W (1,000 W peak)
230 V, 1000 W (2,000 W peak)
Dimension
23 x 14.2 x 20 cm
30 x 19.3 x 24.2 cm
33.3 x 23.3 x 28.3 cm
Weight
3 kg
6 kg
10 kg
Beginner
Jackery Explorer 240, 3.6V/67200mAh/240Wh Tragbare Powerstation Mobiler Stromspeicher mit Reinen Sinuswellen 230V/200W Steckdose + USB, Mobile Stromversorgung*
Title
Jackery Explorer 240*
Capacity
16,8 Ah
Voltage
14,4 V
Electrical Energy
240 Wh
Power Consumption
230 V, 200 W (400 W peak)
Dimension
23 x 14.2 x 20 cm
Weight
3 kg
View offers
Advanced
Jackery Explorer 500, 518Wh Tragbare Powerstation Mobiler Stromspeicher mit 230V/500W (Spitze 1000W) Steckdose + USB, Mobile Stromversorgung mit LCD-Anzeige für Party, Camping, Wohnmobil, Heimwerken*
Title
Jackery Explorer 500*
Capacity
24 Ah
Voltage
21,6 V
Electrical Energy
518 Wh
Power Consumption
230 V, 500 W (1,000 W peak)
Dimension
30 x 19.3 x 24.2 cm
Weight
6 kg
Price
View offers
Professional
Jackery Explorer 1000, 1002Wh Tragbare Powerstation Mobiler Stromspeicher mit 230V/1000W (Spitze 2000 W) Steckdose, USB und QC, Mobile Stromversorgung für Outdoors*
Title
Jackery Explorer 1000*
Capacity
46,4 Ah
Voltage
21,6 V
Electrical Energy
1002 Wh
Power Consumption
230 V, 1000 W (2,000 W peak)
Dimension
33.3 x 23.3 x 28.3 cm
Weight
10 kg
View offers

* Affiliate Link - Last updated prices on 2025-07-11 / Picture source: Amazon affiliate program

Jackery SolarSaga 100

Jackery Faltbares Solarpanel SolarSaga 100 - Solarmodul für Explorer 500/1000 Pro/1500 Pro - Solarladegerät mit 2 x USB-Anschluss -100W Outdoor Solargenerator für Camping und GartenThe foldable solar panel SolarSaga 100 can be conveniently folded and weighs only 4.68 kg. On the back there is a small pocket containing the charging cable (approx. 3 m long) and a USB charging plug with two USB ports (1x USB-A 5V/2.4A and 1x USB-C 5V/3A). In addition, there are two foldable stands on the back so that no further stands are needed.

Figure 3: Jackery SolarSaga 100 surface made of ETFE
Figure 3: Jackery SolarSaga 100 surface made of ETFE

The surface of the Jackery SolarSaga 100 is made of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE), which is a Teflon derivative. As a result, the solar panel has a low dead weight, is very robust and has a high light and ultraviolet transmission. According to the manufacturer, the conversion efficiency is up to 23 %, which is really remarkable. Nevertheless, this is not a unique selling point, as more and more manufacturers with foldable solar panels (such as the PowerOak 120*) claim a high conversion efficiency in this range.

Below you will find a summary of all the important technical data on the Jackery SolarSaga 100.

Jackery SolarSaga 100
Jackery Faltbares Solarpanel SolarSaga 100 - Solarmodul für Explorer 500/1000 Pro/1500 Pro - Solarladegerät mit 2 x USB-Anschluss -100W Outdoor Solargenerator für Camping und Garten*
Peak performance
100 W
Mains voltage
18 V
Power
5.55 A
Open-circuit voltage
21.6 V
USB connections
USB-A (5 V / 2.4 A), USB-C (5 V / 3 A)
Charging connection
DC 8 mm
Operating temperature range
-10 °C to 65 °C
Dimension (folded)
61 cm x 53.3 cm x 3.5 cm
Dimension (unfolded)
122 cm x 53.3 cm x 2.0 cm
Weight
4,68 kg
View offers
Jackery SolarSaga 100
Jackery Faltbares Solarpanel SolarSaga 100 - Solarmodul für Explorer 500/1000 Pro/1500 Pro - Solarladegerät mit 2 x USB-Anschluss -100W Outdoor Solargenerator für Camping und Garten*
Peak performance
100 W
Mains voltage
18 V
Power
5.55 A
Open-circuit voltage
21.6 V
USB connections
USB-A (5 V / 2.4 A), USB-C (5 V / 3 A)
Charging connection
DC 8 mm
Operating temperature range
-10 °C to 65 °C
Dimension (folded)
61 cm x 53.3 cm x 3.5 cm
Dimension (unfolded)
122 cm x 53.3 cm x 2.0 cm
Weight
4,68 kg
View offers

* Affiliate Link - Last updated prices on 2025-07-11 / Picture source: Amazon affiliate program

Connection and commissioning complete solar package

As already mentioned, the Jackery complete solar package does not require any previous electrical knowledge for installation and operation. To put the complete package into operation, unfold the solar panel, point it towards the sun and plug the charging cable into the DC input in the Explorer 500. You can then read the charging power on the Explorer display.

If you want to draw power from the Jackery Explorer, the respective areas (car socket, USB, Schuko plug) must be activated by pressing the buttons above the areas. After that, one or more devices can be connected and the commissioning of the solar complete package is finished. Super simple!

Measuring instruments for this test

Five measuring devices were used in this test. For the AC, I used an energy monitor (Energy Monitor SEM 16+) to measure power consumption, voltage and energy consumption, and an oscilloscope multimeter (ET828 Multimeter Digital) to check the sine wave. For the USB ports I used a USB multimeter and a USB charge tester as a resistance module. For measuring the sound pressure level I used the VOLTCRAFT Sound Level Meter SL-10.

Energy-Monitor SEM 16+
Energy-Monitor NZR SEM 16+*
ET828 Multimeter Digital
VISLONE Digitales Oszilloskop Multimeter 2 in 1, Digital Oszilloskop Kit, ET828 Hochauflösendes Spannungsprüfer Intelligentes Grafisches 1 MHz Bandbreite 2,5 Msps Abtastrate (Verbesserte Version)*
USB tester and multimeter
USB-Tester, AMANKA USB Multimeter QC2.0 QC3.0 Tester Strom(A) Spannung(V) Energie(Wh) Widerstand Kapazität(mAh) und Leistung(W) Zeit(Sekunden), Temperatur*
LD35 USB Charge Tester
DollaTek USB-Ladetester Elektronisches Lasttester Widerstandsmodul 35W LD35 USB-Schnittstelle Entladen Einstellbare Temperatur mit Lüfter*
VOLTCRAFT Sound Level Meter
VOLTCRAFT SL-10 Schallpegel-Messgerät I Digitales Messgerät I Messbereich von 30 dB bis 130 dB I Lärm-und Lautstärke Messgerät - ideal für Schallpegel-Analysen*
Power consumption, energy consumption
Voltage AC, sine, frequency
Power consumption, voltage, energy consumption
Resistance module
Sound level
Energy-Monitor SEM 16+
Energy-Monitor NZR SEM 16+*
Power consumption, energy consumption
ET828 Multimeter Digital
VISLONE Digitales Oszilloskop Multimeter 2 in 1, Digital Oszilloskop Kit, ET828 Hochauflösendes Spannungsprüfer Intelligentes Grafisches 1 MHz Bandbreite 2,5 Msps Abtastrate (Verbesserte Version)*
Voltage AC, sine, frequency
USB tester and multimeter
USB-Tester, AMANKA USB Multimeter QC2.0 QC3.0 Tester Strom(A) Spannung(V) Energie(Wh) Widerstand Kapazität(mAh) und Leistung(W) Zeit(Sekunden), Temperatur*
Power consumption, voltage, energy consumption
LD35 USB Charge Tester
DollaTek USB-Ladetester Elektronisches Lasttester Widerstandsmodul 35W LD35 USB-Schnittstelle Entladen Einstellbare Temperatur mit Lüfter*
Resistance module
VOLTCRAFT Sound Level Meter
VOLTCRAFT SL-10 Schallpegel-Messgerät I Digitales Messgerät I Messbereich von 30 dB bis 130 dB I Lärm-und Lautstärke Messgerät - ideal für Schallpegel-Analysen*
Sound level

* Affiliate Link - Last updated prices on 2025-07-11 / Picture source: Amazon affiliate program

Operability and control behaviour

I thought about the situations in which I could use the Jackery Explorer 500 with the SolarSaga 100 solar panel. Two scenarios came to mind: a mobile workplace and an outdoor party. I was able to use the Jackery devices in both scenarios and want to show you the results here.

Jackery in test: Power supply for mobile workplace

Many people dream of being able to work on the road. To travel somewhere by car or by homebuilt van in order to do one’s work in peace and quiet in the nature. Even though I tend to be one of those people who prefer to work from home or the office, I have tried to simulate a mobile workplace that makes it possible to operate a mobile workplace with the Jackery system. The mobile workplace consists of:

  • 1x laptop (13″)
  • 1x additional monitor (21.5″)
  • 1x desk lamp
Figure 4: Jackery Explorer 500 supplies mobile workstation
Figure 4: Jackery Explorer 500 supplies mobile workstation

I have had the workstation in operation for one hour and the results are really amazing. The average power consumption of the mobile workstation was 53 W, so the battery power dropped by 10% from 97% to 87% in one hour. The mobile workstation can therefore be operated for 7 – 8 hours on a full charge without any problems.

Update 27.10.2021: I initially thought that Jackery was measuring its own consumption and that the energy meter was only recording the power consumption of the appliances.

During operation, the Jackery Explorer has a self-consumption of approx. 10 Wh via the 230 V AC connection. This energy is needed for the voltage converter and the ventilation of the unit. I have compared the measured values in Figure 5.

Important: There is a measurement deviation of 1 – 13 W in the measured power consumption via the energy meter (energy monitor SEM 16+) and via the Jackery display. The reversal point is at approx. 170 W. Below approx. 170 W the measurement deviation is positive and above approx. 170 W it is negative. Since I have been working with the Energiemonitor SEM 16+* for many years, I trust the information of the energy meter somewhat more than the Jackery measurement. More about this in the section Measuring deviation of power consumption.

Figure 5: Power consumption measurement Jackery Explorer 500 and energy meter
Figure 5: Power consumption measurement Jackery Explorer 500 and energy meter

The voltage converter itself has hardly any noise emission. However, if the power consumption in AC mode exceeds approx. 50 W, the fan activates. Since the average power consumption in this test was approx. 53 W, the fan was permanently active. A good way to measure the sound emission of the Jackery Explorer 500.

Update 16.11.2021: I did another more accurate sound pressure level measurement with the Voltcraft Sound Level Meter SL-10*, as I found the app’s specifications for sound level measurement too low. I came to the following results:

Since I don’t have an accurate measuring device at hand, I determined the sound pressure level with the help of my smartphone and a sound measuring app. When I measured the sound pressure level, I came up with the following values:

Sound pressure level – Directly on the unit – Fan side66,1 dBA
Sound pressure level – 1 metre from the unit – fan side44,9 dBA
Sound pressure level – Directly on the unit – Front side56,1 dBA
Sound pressure level – 1 metre from the unit – front side41,8 dBA

To get a feel for these values, the following values are given in the Sengpielaudio sound level table:

  • 30 dB: “Quiet bedroom at night”.
  • 40 dB: “Quiet library, general”.
  • 50 dB: “Normal flat, quiet corner”.
  • 60 dB: “Normal speech at 1 m distance”.

It is therefore advisable to place the Jackery Explorer a little further away from the workplace so as not to be excessively disturbed by the fan. You can use a suitable extension cord for this purpose. I have listed all the measured values of the test below:

Energy consumption after one hour0,053 kWh
Measured voltage (5 checks), each time230 V
Highest measured output62,2 W
Lowest measured output41,0 W
Deviation from Jackery measurement (measurement error Jackery Explorer 500)ca. +10 W
Messergebnisse Energiemessung mobiler Arbeitsplatz am Jackery Explorer 500

Jackery in test: Power supply at an outdoor party

Small outdoor parties without large equipment have also become a welcome change from house parties due to the corona pandemic. Especially when it comes to lighting or charging mobile sound boxes and smartphones, the question often arises as to how the power supply can be ensured throughout the night. Here I have had the Jackery Explorer 500 in use.

Figure 6: Jackery at an outdoor party for power supply
Figure 6: Jackery at an outdoor party for power supply

Since the batteries of the sound boxes (Behringer MPA40BT - 40 W*) were optimally charged, Jackery was mainly responsible for lighting and charging smartphones and powerbanks at this outdoor party. In maximum operation, the following devices were connected to the Jackery Explorer 500:

On the Jackery Explorer, a maximum power consumption of 29 W was recorded with all the listed components in operation. Since not all devices except the lighting were permanently connected, the average power consumption throughout the night was approx. 22 W. The party lighting can therefore be operated for about 22 hours without any problems when fully charged. That was also the first conclusion after the party. The charge bar lost about 25 percentage points after 6 hours of partying. A super result.

Note for outdoor parties: Take a tarp for the Jackery Explorer 500 and protect it sufficiently from water and deactivate it if it rains. The Jackery Explorer 500 is not waterproof!

Energy measurement Jackery Explorer 500 – Discharge

Jackery has successfully mastered the first tests under real conditions and the values are quite impressive on paper. However, I wanted to take a closer look at whether a maximum power consumption of 500 W (with short-term peaks of up to 1,000 W) and an electrical energy of 518 Wh are possible. To do this, I first checked what electrical energy can be delivered by the Explorer 500.

Using my power meter and a few devices, I tried to connect an approximate load of 500 W to the Jackery Explorer. The following devices delivered a power of just under 500 W:

After all the devices were connected, I switched on the alternating current (AC) at the Explorer 500 and started measuring the electrical energy with the aim of discharging the battery as much as possible. A closer look here reveals the measurement deviation from the energy monitor to the Jackery measurement. I will discuss this in the following section.

First of all, I can report that the Jackery Explorer has run the whole time without any problems and has delivered an electrical energy of 507 Wh. This is an excellent result. However, since it is unhealthy for a lithium-ion battery to be completely discharged, I assume that Jackery has deep discharge protection with its integrated battery management and approx. 10 – 20 % of the battery charge is not fallen short of in order to protect the battery. The temperature at the fan rose to 33.5 °C.

The Explorer 500 manual states that short-term load peaks of up to 1000 W can be absorbed. I briefly set the hairdryer to a higher level in the load test, so that the energy meter recorded just under 850 W power consumption. After about 3 seconds, the Explorer switched off. The short-term load peaks are therefore really only intended for very short load peaks.

Energy measurement Jackery Explorer 500 – Charging

Since it was difficult for me to determine the energy measurement for the charging process via the solar panel, I charged the Explorer via a socket and connected the energy meter in between. The complete charging process via a socket (230 V) took 7 hours, 28 minutes and required 668 Wh.

The charging process takes place via the power supply unit with a power input of approx. 85 W. As soon as the charging bar shows 99 percent, the charging power slowly decreases. Therefore, charging the last percentage point takes more than 30 minutes. I think that this is due to the battery management of the Explorer in order not to overcharge the battery.

Measurement deviation of the power consumption!

Important: There is a measurement deviation of 1 to 13 W in the measured power consumption via the energy meter (energy monitor SEM 16+) and via the Jackery Explorer 500 display. The reversal point is at approx. 170 W. Below approx. 170 W the measurement deviation is positive and above approx. 170 W it is negative. Since I have been working with the Energiemonitor SEM 16+* for many years, I trust the information of the energy meter more than the Jackery measurement.

I noticed the measurement discrepancy between the power consumption of my energy meter and the measured power on the Explorer display right at the beginning. If you activate the AC power via the AC button, the Jackery Explorer immediately displays a power consumption of 7 W without any devices connected. At first I thought that Jackery was measuring its own consumption for ventilation and inverter and that the energy meter was only measuring the power consumption of the connected devices.

So wie es aussieht, handelt es sich hierbei jedoch um einen Messfehler vom Jackery Explorer 500. Anhand der nachfolgenden Tabelle ist die Messabweichung deutlich zu erkennen. Im Volllasttest bei 495 W lag diese bei – 13 W und bei einer geringen Last von 52,1 W bei + 8,9 W. Die Messung des Jackery Explorer 500 muss bei ca. 170 W Leistungsaufnahme am genauesten sein, da es bei einer Leistungsaufnahme von 166 W eine Abweichung von nur + 1,0 W gibt. Den genauen Umkehrpunkt habe ich nicht ermittelt. Nachfolgend findet ihr die Tabelle mit den gemessenen Abweichungen sowie die Bilder der Messung:

However, it looks like this is a measurement error from the Jackery Explorer 500. The following table clearly shows the measurement deviation. In the full load test at 495 W, it was – 13 W and at a low load of 52.1 W it was + 8.9 W. The measurement of the Jackery Explorer 500 must be most accurate at approx. 170 W power consumption, as there is a deviation of only + 1.0 W at 166 W power consumption. I did not determine the exact reversal point. Below you will find the table with the measured deviations and the pictures of the measurement:

Status Explorer 500Energy meterDeviation
AC Active, no loadOutput: 7 W0,0 W+ 7,0 W
AC Active, Load: Home OfficeOutput: 61 W52,1 W+ 8,9 W
AC Active: Red light lampOutput: 107 W99,6 W+ 7,4 W
AC Active: 2 lampsOutput: 147 W144,3 W+ 2,7 W
AC Active: 3 lampsOutput: 166 W165,0 W+1,0 W
AC Active, Load: HairdryerOutput: 340 W350,3– 10,3 W
AC Active, full load testOutput: 482 W495,0 W– 13,0 W
AC Deactive: ChargingInput: 86 W90,5 W– 4,5 W

Note: Since I have been working with the Energy Monitor SEM 16+* for many years, I trust the information of the energy meter here a little more than the Jackery Explorer 500 measurement.

Pure sine wave with the Jackery Explorer 500

The question of whether inverters have a pure or a modified sine wave comes up again and again. In the German power grid, the AC voltage has a pure sine wave at 230 V / 50 Hz. Many electrical devices such as coffee pad machines, shavers or electric toothbrushes need a pure sine wave to function. Other devices such as game consoles, mobile phone chargers or computers, on the other hand, get by with a modified sine wave without any problems. The Hoelzle company has compiled a nice overview of pure and modified sine waves and listed the recommended sine wave voltage of various devices.

My measurement with the ET828 Multimeter* shows a pure sine wave at ≈ 228 V / ≈ 50 Hz on the Jackery Explorer 500:

USB outputs on the Jackery Explorer 500

The three USB-A ports are considered a shortcoming in many reviews, as there is no USB-C interface or Qualcomm Quick Charge port. The manufacturer’s specifications for the USB-A ports are 5V with 2.4 A each. Using my USB Multimeter*, I performed a full smartphone charge with a Samsung Galaxy S7* and came to the following results. According to this, a Galaxy S7 can be charged about 37 times with the Jackery Explorer 500.

Voltage:≈ 5,09 V
Current:max. 1,56 A
Capacity:2590 mAh
Energy:13.085 Wh
Loading time:2 h 29 min

Afterwards, I checked with a load tester whether the specified values for the USB ports fit. The results show that the Explorer 500 meets and even exceeds these values without any problems. Up to 2.77 amps, the voltage is kept above 5 volts. From 2.78 amps, the voltage collapses and drops below 5 volts.

Powering other devices with the Jackery Explorer 500

There are many applications for the Jackery Explorer 500. Since I have not tested them all, I would like to show a few specifications from the manufacturer Jackery. In this context, however, I must confess that I could not always understand how Jackery arrived at the values and with which power specifications, currents or voltages they calculated.

I have tried to recalculate the values with different devices and have often come up with different results purely in terms of calculations. Therefore, I would like to point out once again: The values listed here by Jackery serve as guidelines.

Chargeability / OperationExplorer 240Explorer 500Explorer 1.000
Smartphone24 times 53 times 100 times
Drone4 times 9 times 17 times
Laptop2 times4,5 times 8 times
Lamp18 h38 h76 h
Mini fridge4 h9 h17 h
Television3,5 h7,5 h13 h
Beamer2 h4,5 h7,6 h
Mixer3 h7 h13 h

Jackery SolarSaga 100 in the test

The summer of 2021 was a bit rainy and many would have liked more sun. Nevertheless, I used the SolarSaga 100 several times and can only report positive things. The solar panel sent up to 14 W of input power to the Explorer even on cloudy days. That’s not exactly amazing, but I find it surprisingly good.

Figure 7: Jackery SolarSaga 100: Charging power with shading up to 14 W
Figure 7: Jackery SolarSaga 100: Charging power with shading up to 14 W

When the sun was shining, the SolarSaga 100 did an excellent job and reliably charged the Explorer again and again. The highest recorded input power was 83 W. That is really good from my point of view. In an Amazon review*, I even saw that an incredible 100 W charging power was achieved. Why incredible? Well, even if the solar panel can theoretically achieve 100 W charging power under laboratory conditions, this is difficult to achieve under real conditions. With such a value, all parameters have to be right.

I would like to list a few parameters and influences that affect the input power:

  • Intensity of the sunlight
  • Angle of the earth to the sun
  • Angle of the solar panel to the sun
  • occasional shading by clouds.

I had an average of 72 – 76 W charging power in good weather and full sunlight, which was sufficient for charging the Jackery Explorer 500 throughout the day. Since I live in an attic flat, I simply hung the solar panel out of the window in sunny weather and was thus able to charge the Explorer. Those who live in rented accommodation, have a balcony and would like to experience photovoltaics can therefore also take a look at the Jackery system as a balcony solar system.

Figure 8: Jackery solar generator charging from the roof
Figure 8: Jackery solar generator charging from the roof

To give you an idea of how long the complete charging process takes with the SolarSaga 100 and the other two charging cables, I refer to the values given by Jackery. The information on the charging time via the mains plug is quite accurate, as I needed exactly 7 hours 28 minutes for a complete charge of the Explorer 500, as described in the section “Energy measurement – charging”.

 Explorer 240Explorer 500Explorer 1000
Charging time SolarSaga 100approx. 5,5 happrox. 9,5 happrox. 8 h
(with 2 solar modules)
Charging time mains plugapprox. 5,5 happrox. 7,5 happrox. 7,5 h
Car charging timeapprox. 6,5 happrox. 7,5 happrox. 14 h

LED lamp on the Jackery Explorer 500

I would like to say a few words about the built-in LED lamp in the Jackery Explorer 500. When I saw the lamp on the Explorer for the first time, I just thought: “What do you need it for? Absolutely useless.” During outdoor parties I was proven wrong and changed my mind about it. The LED lamp definitely has its right to exist, is a useful addition and is also pretty damn bright. I have photographed the light cone of the lamp in the following picture (right), as I found it quite impressive.

Figure 9: Jackery Explorer 500 LED lamp with light cone
Figure 9: Jackery Explorer 500 LED lamp with light cone

Conclusion

Positive characteristics

The portable solar complete package from Jackery, consisting of Explorer 500 and SolarSaga 100, is a really successful photovoltaic set. The Jackery Explorer 500 brings a pure sine wave in AC mode, is powerful, well matched and impressively mastered all tasks in my tests. The SolarSaga 100 solar module is also the perfect complement for charging the Explorer with energy from sunlight. Due to its simplicity in construction and operation, Jackery thus enables many people to get started with solar technology.

No previous electrical knowledge is required for the complete solar set from Jackery, which makes the system interesting for many solar enthusiasts without a technical background.

For me, it was surprising that the Explorer 500 supplied the entire party lighting with “green” power at several outdoor parties and is now almost indispensable. Even for a mobile workplace with an additional monitor, the battery is easily enough for a day’s work. Moreover, in good weather, the Explorer can be charged with the SolarSaga 100 and discharged with consumers at the same time. A first step towards electricity self-sufficiency.

I also like the small details that have been taken care of. These include the LED lamp and the excellent readable display. In addition, only the most important information such as power input, power output and a charging bar with remaining percentages are shown on the display. The compactness and light weight of the two components are also really positive.

Negative characteristics

I see the price of the Jackery system as the biggest negative point. At just under €900, the complete package, consisting of Explorer 500 and SolarSaga 100, is a real investment and significantly more expensive than stationary solar systems with individual components. A complete stationary solar package from Offgridtec (see test report), for example, is already available for less than 600 €. However, prior knowledge of electrical engineering and a certain amount of research and familiarisation with the subject are prerequisites here. These are all unnecessary with the Jackery system.

Another negative thing I noticed was the measurement deviation of the power consumption of the alternating current on the Jackery Explorer 500. This amounts to up to +/- 13 W. The measured power consumption on the Jackery Explorer 500 is most accurate at approx. 170 W.

Another negative point is the lack of a USB-C interface. However, I did not notice this in a negative way. In addition, the Jackery Explorer 500 and the SolarSaga 100 are not waterproof and cannot be protected or deactivated in the rain.

Summary conclusion

Rating: Jackery Solargenerator 500

Martin Schlobach

In summary, I am completely thrilled with the Jackery Solargenerator 500 system. Simple plug-and-play, no experimenting, the battery in the Explorer 500 seems to last forever and can be recharged quickly and CO2 neutrally with the SolarSaga 100 solar panel. Only the price and a few small things like older USB interfaces, a measurement error in the power consumption in AC mode and the lack of water resistance have a negative impact.

Anyone who has the necessary small change and wants an easy introduction to solar technology should take a closer look at the Jackery system. There is nothing simpler. Those who want to get more intensively involved with photovoltaics, do some tinkering and save money can take a closer look at the stationary complete systems from Offgridtec. The Jackery components Explorer 500 and SolarSaga 100 therefore receive a clear recommendation from me.
Technology / Design
Scope of delivery
Installation / Programming
Operability / Control behaviour
Price

Summary

ADVANTAGES: Easy to install and operate, no technical background necessary, complete system perfectly harmonised, suitable for many applications, battery lasts a very long time depending on the use, charging time via solar panel very good, CO2-neutral power production

DISADVANTAGES: High price, measurement deviation in power consumption via AC, not waterproof, outdated USB interfaces

Go to shop*

4.3
Explorer 500
Jackery Explorer 500, 518Wh Tragbare Powerstation Mobiler Stromspeicher mit 230V/500W (Spitze 1000W) Steckdose + USB, Mobile Stromversorgung mit LCD-Anzeige für Party, Camping, Wohnmobil, Heimwerken*
Explorer 1000
Jackery Explorer 1000, 1002Wh Tragbare Powerstation Mobiler Stromspeicher mit 230V/1000W (Spitze 2000 W) Steckdose, USB und QC, Mobile Stromversorgung für Outdoors*
Solarsaga 100
Jackery Faltbares Solarpanel SolarSaga 100 - Solarmodul für Explorer 500/1000 Pro/1500 Pro - Solarladegerät mit 2 x USB-Anschluss -100W Outdoor Solargenerator für Camping und Garten*
Solargenerator 500
Jackery E500 Tragbare Powerstation, 518Wh Solargenerator mit SolarSaga 100W Solarpanel, 230V/500W mobile Stromversorgung mit LCD Anzeige für Urlaub auf dem Campingplatz, Outdoor Abenteuer & Notfälle*
Explorer 500
Jackery Explorer 500, 518Wh Tragbare Powerstation Mobiler Stromspeicher mit 230V/500W (Spitze 1000W) Steckdose + USB, Mobile Stromversorgung mit LCD-Anzeige für Party, Camping, Wohnmobil, Heimwerken*
Solargenerator 500
Jackery E500 Tragbare Powerstation, 518Wh Solargenerator mit SolarSaga 100W Solarpanel, 230V/500W mobile Stromversorgung mit LCD Anzeige für Urlaub auf dem Campingplatz, Outdoor Abenteuer & Notfälle*

* Affiliate Link - Last updated prices on 2025-07-11 / Picture source: Amazon affiliate program

I hope that this test report has provided you with some information about the Jackery system and helped you with your purchase decision. If you have any questions, suggestions or criticism, please use the comment function.

Greetings! Martin

Further links and sources:
Jackery Website (GER)
Jackery Website (US)
Jackery Explorer Instructions (Eng)

About Me

Martin-SchlobachHi, my name is Martin and Iโ€™m a passionate engineer in the field of buildings technology. Here you can read who I am and why I write this blog.

Posts you might also like

Review: Smart Heating with Honeywell Evohome

Review: Smart Heating with Honeywell Evohome

In this article, I will introduce you to the smart heating control system "Evohome" from Honeywell. I tested Evohome over a longer period of time in 2016 and observed how the system has developed up to the present day. Evohome can do many things that others cannot....

Portable Air Conditioner – All you need to know

Portable Air Conditioner – All you need to know

[latexpage]Portable air conditioners gain importance as summers get hotter. In this article you will find everything you need to know about portable air conditioners. You will find, for example: How does a portable air conditioner work? Modification of portable air...

Review: Radiator Thermostat Honeywell HR25 Energy

Review: Radiator Thermostat Honeywell HR25 Energy

In this article I present the Honeywell HR25 Energy electronic radiator thermostat. The article is part of the series "Electronic radiator thermostats in test", in which I review and evaluate programmable radiator thermostats from various manufacturers. [the_ad...

Leave a Comment:

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x