The Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station: Dead Car Batteries & Laptops
I bought a Jackery 500 Powerstation around 2 years ago for using in our motorhome to charge the laptop, camera, ipad, mobiles and more when we are wild camping. It is also used in out older T5 for all of the mentioned. It is a godsend for these smaller taks, and this week it has extended its duties to help resolve the issue with not one but TWO flat batteries on our cars.
I live in a flat and have no way of extending a lead to both of my vehicles which are on a road outside. Sadly having been away for a few weeks I came back to discover both had really flat batteries. Lesson learned here that the small flashing light needs to be eliminated when away for over 3 weeks.
So, after purchasing an AA Battery Charger & Maintainer I went to work trying to sort out the dead car batteries.
First Impressions & Failures
Now the start did not go down too well. I connected the AA charger to see if I could get life from the batteries and was disappointed to see that this little gem was saying that BOTH batteries were now faulty. (2nd small image bottom left) Shows a fault when you test the batteries.
I did a bit of reading on Amazon reviews and found the top critical review and read through that. Because of this I deceded to nip down to my local garage and borrow their charger to see if it would start a completely dead battery.
To my surprise and good news. This actually started both of my car batteries. I left them both running for about 20 minutes and then took the battery charger back. I then connected the AA charger up to my T5 and left it connected via the Jackery 500 Power Station in the back of the car overnight. This is like having a mains connected as this small charger only does a trickle charge to the battery. Sadly the following morning the car would still not start so I purchased a Ctek MXS 5 Battery Charger.
The Ctek MXS 5
This charger not only charges the battery it also does the following.
- Tried and tested, cutting edge technology used by over 40 of the world’s most prestigious vehicle manufacturers.
- Patented Desulphation Function and Reconditioning Mode
- Built-In Temperature Compensation
- Connect and Forget it
Obviously point No4 “c“onnect and forget “does not quite work with my issue as I have a limit on the battery in my Jackery 500 before I have to disconnect and recharge it.
Go Off-Grid with the Powerful Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station
The Jackery Explorer 500 is a 518Wh lithium-ion portable power station that provides reliable electricity on-the-go for outdoor adventures, RV camping, emergency preparedness, and more. With a 500 watt pure sine wave AC outlet, USB ports, and more, it can power and recharge a wide variety of devices and small appliances.
Main Features
- 518 watt-hour (Wh) battery capacity
- 500 watt (W) continuous AC outlet
- Rechargeable via solar panel (sold separately) or wall outlet
- 3 x USB ports, car charger, AC outlet
- 13.1 x 9.2 x 11.1 inch size, 13.32 pound weight
This versatile portable power station packs tremendous off-grid power into a compact package. Keep reading to learn all about the Jackery Explorer 500 and see if it’s the right portable power solution for you.
Power Specs and Capabilities
The Explorer 500’s 518 Wh lithium-ion battery pack gives it excellent capacity for a mid-sized portable power station. Here are some examples of what you can power and how long the charge lasts:
- Smartphones: Can charge a smartphone over 45 times from 0% to 100%
- Laptops: Can fully charge a 60Wh laptop over 4 times
- Mini fridge: Can run a 45W mini fridge for over 8 hours
- CPAP machine: Can power a 30W CPAP machine for over 12 hours
- TV: Can power a 55″ LED TV for over 5 hours
- Small appliances: Can run a 300W blender or mini electric grill over 10 times
With 500 watts of continuous power from the AC outlet, you have plenty of power for drones, cameras, small kitchen appliances, power tools, medical devices, and more.
The Explorer 500 doesn’t have as high of capacity as larger power stations, but provides ample off-grid power for shorter trips. It strikes a nice balance of capacity versus portability.
Recharging Options
You can replenish the Jackery Explorer 500’s battery a few different ways:
- Solar panel: Connect Jackery’s SolarSaga 100W solar panel (sold separately) to recharge the battery via sunlight. Fully recharges in about 8 hours.
- Wall outlet: Plug into a wall outlet with the included 24V/2A charger. Takes around 7.5 hours for a full recharge.
- Car outlet: Use the 12V car charger to recharge from your vehicle’s 12V outlet while driving.
Solar recharging helps keep you powered off-grid using the sun’s free energy. The fast wall outlet charging rapidly tops up the battery when you have access to home electricity.
Ports and Outlets
The intuitive control panel on the front of the Explorer 500 provides access to the following outputs:
| Output | Specs |
|---|---|
| AC outlet | 500W continuous power |
| USB-A | 5V/2.4A max, 3 ports |
| USB-C | 5V/3A max |
| DC car port | 12V/10A |
This versatile selection lets you directly power most devices. Having 3 USB ports allows simultaneous charging of multiple phones, tablets, etc.
Additional Features
- LCD display: Shows battery percentage, input/output status, and error alerts
- LED flashlight: Built-in flashlight provides illumination in case of no power
- Pure sine wave AC outlet: Provides clean power just like a wall outlet
- Quiet operation: Fan only comes on when needed for quiet operation
- Safety features: Protections for over-heating, over-charging, short circuit, etc.
- Rugged plastic casing resists impacts, drops, and the elements
Ideal Uses for the Jackery Explorer 500
With 500 watts of power capacity, the Jackery Explorer 500 portable power station is well-suited for a wide variety of applications including:
Camping and RVing
The Explorer 500 is a popular choice for RV owners, overland travelers, and campers who need an efficient way to power devices and appliances off-grid. Run mini fridges, fans, phones, laptops, lights, and more. Recharge via solar while enjoying the outdoors.
Emergency Preparedness
During power outages from storms and grid failures, the Explorer 500 can provide critical electricity for lights, medical devices, and communication. Keep your essentials powered up at home or on-the-go.
Outdoor Recreation
For hunting, fishing, kayaking, or hiking trips, the Explorer 500 can recharge cameras, phones, GPS devices, electric coolers, and provide power at base camp. Keep all your gadgets juiced up in the backcountry.
Off-Grid Cabins and Tiny Homes
Those living a more self-sufficient lifestyle can utilize the Jackery Explorer 500 for renewable solar power in their off-grid homes to run small appliances and lighting.
Events and Parties
DJs, food trucks, and vendors at events, concerts, and parties can benefit from portable on-demand power. Run food service equipment, sound gear, lights, POS systems and more.
Wherever you need independent portable power, the Jackery Explorer 500 is up to the task. Its versatile connectivity and outputs allow you to directly run or recharge just about any device or appliance.
Jackery Explorer 500 vs Other Sizes
Jackery offers portable power stations in a range of battery capacities to meet different power needs. Here’s how the Explorer 500 compares:
- Jackery Explorer 240: Smaller 240Wh capacity, great for basic charging and running small devices. More portable.
- Jackery Explorer 500: Mid-range 518Wh capacity. A nice balance of power and portability.
- Jackery Explorer 1000: Large 1002Wh capacity but bigger/heavier. Best for running high-draw appliances.
The Explorer 500 hits the sweet spot in the middle with ample power for short trips without the bulk and weight of the Explorer 1000. Think about your typical power usage to choose the right model.
What Reviewers are Saying
With over 4.8 out of 5 stars across over 8,000 Amazon reviews, the Jackery Explorer 500 is highly regarded for its convenient portable power capabilities. Here are some examples of what reviewers like about it:
- “This thing is perfect for my RV. Powers my CPAP machine, fan, lights, and still has juice in the morning.”
- “Used it for a 5-day camping trip to charge phones/speakers/lanterns. Worked flawlessly.”
- “It powered my refrigerator and most of the electronics during a 2-day power outage.”
- “Lightweight and solid power. Recharges quickly with solar.”
- “Couldn’t be happier with this purchase for emergencies and outdoor adventures.”
People consistently praise the Explorer 500 for its versatility, convenient design, and reliability. It provides peace of mind for many different off-grid power needs.
Q&A About the Jackery Explorer 500
Still have questions about whether the Jackery Explorer 500 is the right portable power station for your needs? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions:
Q: How loud is the Explorer 500?
A. It operates very quietly. The internal fan only turns on when needed during high-draw use. Most of the time fan remains off for silent operation.
Q: Can it be recharged while simultaneously powering devices?
A. Yes, you can recharge the Explorer 500 and use the outlets/ports at the same time. This “pass-through charging” allows you to power devices from the battery while replenishing from an outlet or solar panel.
Q: What size/type of solar panel works best?
A. Jackery’s SolarSaga 100W solar panel is purpose-built to work seamlessly with the Explorer 500. But any 100W solar panel with Anderson Powerpole connectors will work.
Q: What devices can’t be powered by the Explorer 500?
A. High-draw devices over 500W (like full-size refrigerators) exceed the capacity of the 500 watt AC outlet. The Explorer 1000 may be a better option for those.
Hopefully this overview helps you determine if the Jackery Explorer 500 is the right backup power solution for your off-grid electricity needs! Let me know if you have any other questions.