Best solar generator: choosing panels and recharge for outages
Prioritize solar input of 400 W or more, enough panel wattage to refill the battery in one day of sun, and LiFePO4 cells. We don't test kits; this guide explains how to match panels to a battery.
What to compare for solar recharge
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| Spec | Why it matters off-grid |
|---|---|
| Max solar input (W) | Caps how fast panels can recharge, however many you add. |
| Input voltage range (V) | Decides how many panels you can wire in series. |
| Panel wattage in kit | Real output is often well below the rating in clouds or low sun. |
| Peak sun hours | Your location's usable sun per day sets daily recharge. |
| Panel type | Portable folding panels vs rigid; folding panels pack away after storms. |
Recharge time per day
Daily recharge ≈ panel watts × peak sun hours × about 0.75 for real-world losses. Example: 400 W of panels × 4 sun hours × 0.75 ≈ 1,200 Wh a day, enough to refill a 1,200 Wh battery. Long outages need daily recharge that covers daily use.
When solar beats fuel
- Multi-day outages when fuel is hard to get
- Indoor use, where fuel generators must never run
- Quiet use with no fuel storage
Choosing the battery itself? See how to size a power station by watt-hours.