The Explorer 2000 Plus is a portable power station and solar generator designed and manufactured by Jackery. Jackery provided this unit for review to assess and demonstrate its capabilities and performance in real world applications. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Explorer 2000 Plus based on extensive hands-on testing and evaluation. While Jackery provided the product, the review represents an independent, unbiased perspective focused on key details potential buyers would want to know.
What is a Solar Generator?
A solar generator is an off-grid power solution that combines batteries and inverters to provide AC and DC electricity. It gets its name from the ability to charge the internal batteries using solar power, providing renewable energy without relying on the electrical grid.
Solar generators work by storing energy from solar panels or other sources into large battery banks. The stored energy can then be converted via an inverter into standard 120V AC electricity that powers appliances, tools, and devices just like grid power. Many solar generators also have USB ports and 12V DC outlets for directly powering smaller electronics.
The main advantages of solar generators are their portability and independence from the grid. You can take them camping or to work sites without electrical hookups and still have power thanks to the charge stored. Solar panels provide renewable charging to avoid running out of juice. Having backup power during outages is another major benefit.
The downsides are higher upfront costs than gas generators and limitations on run time based on battery capacity. While solar recharges for free, it can take significant time to fully recharge from empty. Faster wall charging requires hooking up to the grid you were trying to avoid. But for many users, the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to solar generators.
Explorer 2000 Plus Specs
The Explorer 2000 Plus solar generator has several key specifications that make it a versatile power solution:
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Output: It provides pure sine wave power at 120V AC with a maximum output of 3000W. This AC power is similar to what you get from a wall outlet.
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Capacity: The built-in lithium-ion battery pack has a capacity of 2048Wh. This is the amount of energy that can be stored.
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Expandability: You can connect additional Explorer battery packs to expand the capacity up to 12288Wh. Two units can also be daisy chained together for a total capacity of 24576Wh, providing tons of off-grid power.
The pure sine wave AC paired with the high capacity battery pack allows the Explorer 2000 Plus to power most appliances, tools and electronics. The ability to easily expand the capacity as needed makes this a flexible solar generator that can meet a wide range of power needs.
Design & Portability
The Explorer 2000 Plus features a durable yet compact design making it easy to transport and position. One aspect that makes it so portable is the built-in extendable handle and two sturdy wheels.
You simply pull up the handle and tilt the unit onto the wheels to smoothly roll it wherever needed, whether around your garage, job site, or campground. Weighing in at around 60 lbs, the handle and wheel design eliminates the strain of lifting and carrying.
Despite its powerful capabilities, the Explorer 2000 Plus maintains a reasonable size at 13.1 x 9.2 x 11.1 inches. This compact rectangle shape allows it to fit well in trucks, RVs, boats, and other storage areas when not in use.
The outer casing is made of durable plastic but doesn’t feel flimsy or cheap. Overall, the thoughtful design, including the integrated handle and wheels, make the Explorer 2000 Plus easy to travel with and position in any location.
Charging Options
The Explorer 2000 Plus offers several convenient charging options:
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AC wall outlet – The included charging cable can plug into any standard wall outlet to charge the unit. From empty, it takes around 2.8 hours to fully charge the Explorer 2000 Plus this way. During testing, the charge rate increased after about 60% capacity to speed up the process – it went from 700W to 1200W input.
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Solar panels – For clean solar charging, the unit is compatible with Jackery’s SolarSaga 200W solar panels. A single panel takes around 10 hours for a full charge, but up to 6 panels can be connected to utilize the full 1200W solar input capability and reduce charge time to around 2 hours.
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Car outlet – The included 12V car cigarette lighter adapter can also charge the Explorer 2000 Plus, albeit slowly. From a 96% charge, it took 4 hours to reach 100% capacity. This method is better for occasional topping off.
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Grid and solar simultaneously – A great advantage of the Explorer 2000 Plus is that you can charge from the wall outlet and connected solar panels at the same time. It will prioritize the solar input and use grid power to charge as quickly as possible.
Using in the Shop
One great benefit of the Explorer 2000 Plus is that it can power a variety of power tools and equipment in a workshop or job site setting. I tested the Explorer 2000 Plus with several common tools to see how it performed.
First I tried a DeWalt circular saw. I was able to make multiple cuts through a 2×4 piece of lumber with no issues at all. The circular saw peaked at around 1700 watts of power draw, which is well under the 3000 watt max output of the Explorer 2000 Plus.
Next up was an Evolution 14″ metal cutting miter saw. The miter saw was able to make clean cuts through 1.5″ steel square tubing. According to the display on the Explorer 2000 Plus, the miter saw peaked at 2856 watts on the final cut. Again, no problem for the Explorer 2000 Plus.
Finally, I connected my YESWELDER MIG welder to join two pieces of steel back together. The YESWELDER drew a lot of power, but the Explorer 2000 Plus handled it without any dropouts or other issues. I was able to complete a high quality weld on thick steel with this setup.
The Explorer 2000 Plus passed all my workshop tool tests with flying colors. It provided stable, clean power even for high draw tools like the miter saw and MIG welder. This kind of performance makes it an excellent portable power solution for worksites and workshops when grid power is not available.
Powering a Camper
I wanted to see how the Explorer 2000 Plus would handle powering a camper, so I plugged it into my trailer using the 30 amp outlet on the Jackery.
Once connected, I went inside the camper and turned on some lights, the TV, and a few other appliances to get a baseline power draw. At that point, it was pulling about 43 watts with 99% battery capacity remaining according to the app.
Next, I went through and turned on everything in the camper – all the lights, TV, radio, etc. With everything on except the refrigerator, it was pulling 137 watts and estimated 10.8 hours of runtime left.
Of course, I had to test the refrigerator too. With that turned on, the draw jumped up to 474 watts and the estimated runtime dropped to 3.6 hours. It’s much more efficient to run the fridge on propane while powered by the Jackery.
One big power draw in a camper is the microwave. I fired it up and it pulled about 1,600 watts while running, but the Explorer 2000 Plus handled it with no issues.
Finally, I tried the ultimate test – the air conditioner. Even though it was December, I was able to get the 12,500 BTU A/C to turn on and blow cold air when powered by the Jackery. It pulled around 1,300 watts with an estimated runtime of 1.2 hours.
So while the Jackery was able to run everything, a couple external battery packs would be needed to run high-draw appliances like the A/C for extended periods of time while off-grid camping. But overall, it passed the camper power test with flying colors.
Solar Charging
The Explorer 2000 Plus can also be charged using solar panels, which allows you to take advantage of renewable solar energy. Jackery sent me the Solar Saga 200 solar panel to test out along with the power station.
The Solar Saga 200 is a 200W solar panel that folds up neatly for easy storage and transportation. It has a durable design with an IP68 waterproof rating. The panel comes with built-in kickstands to keep it propped up and aimed at the sun. A charging cable is included for connecting directly to the Explorer 2000 Plus.
Setting up the solar panel is quick and simple:
- Take the panel out of the carrying case and lay it flat on the ground
- Flip out the built-in kickstands on the back to prop it up
- Point the panel directly at the sun
- Plug the cable from the panel into the input port on the Explorer 2000 Plus
With 200W of solar power, the panel was able to charge the Explorer from 92% to 100% in around an hour. This demonstrates the value of using solar, but keep in mind it only had to charge a small amount from 92% to full. Charging from 0-100% would take considerably longer with a single panel.
The Explorer 2000 Plus can accept up to 1200W of solar input. So by connecting six 200W Solar Saga panels, you could charge the unit from empty to full in approximately 2 hours. Having more panels allows faster solar charging, but of course this adds to the cost. Overall, the ability to charge for free from the sun’s energy is a great feature for sustainable off-grid power.
Car Charging
The Explorer 2000 Plus comes with a 12V cigarette lighter adapter that allows you to charge the unit from your vehicle. This can be a convenient way to top off the Explorer 2000 Plus while driving.
I tested charging from a 12V outlet in my truck. With the engine off, it charged at around 60 watts, taking an estimated 4 hours to go from 96% to 100%. When I started the truck, it jumped up to around 90 watts. So at that rate, it’s about 1% per hour.
The 12V charging option is better suited for keeping the Explorer 2000 Plus topped off, rather than fully recharging from 0-100%. While convenient for topping off, to fully recharge you’ll want to use AC power, solar panels, or both.
Simultaneous Charging
One of the benefits of the Explorer 2000 Plus is that it can charge from multiple sources simultaneously. This allows you to combine different charging methods to optimize charging speed.
For example, you could connect the solar panels to charge the Explorer 2000 Plus while also plugging it into AC grid power. The unit will prioritize the solar energy and then utilize grid power to charge at the maximum rate possible.
By charging from both solar and AC at the same time, you can significantly decrease charge times. Instead of taking nearly 10 hours to fully recharge from solar alone, combining a 200W solar panel with AC charging could fully recharge the Explorer 2000 Plus in around 2 hours.
The ability to leverage both solar and AC grid power simultaneously enables the Explorer 2000 Plus to charge rapidly when you need it. You get the free solar energy along with the speed of AC charging working together.
App Connectivity
The Explorer 2000 Plus has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to control and monitor the unit remotely via the Jackery app on your smartphone. This gives you the ability to turn on/off the AC and DC outputs directly from your phone, which is very handy if the Explorer is located outside while you are inside your camper or RV.
You can also monitor the remaining battery capacity and view real-time power draw. The app enables you to set the charge controller mode or enable battery-saving options without having to manually adjust settings on the Explorer itself.
Overall, the app integration makes using and managing the Explorer 2000 Plus very straightforward. Rather than needing to walk outside and check displays on the unit, you can access all key information and make adjustments instantly from your mobile device. This allows you to conserve power usage and ensure the Explorer is charging optimally at all times.
Battery Care
One important feature of the Explorer 2000 Plus is the ability to enable a battery saving mode. This mode limits the charge to 85% and only discharges down to 15%. By avoiding fully charging or fully discharging the lithium-ion batteries, it helps extend their lifespan.
The battery saving mode is ideal if you plan to store the Explorer 2000 Plus for long periods without use. It’s also useful if you only need to tap into the power supply occasionally. However, if you need full capacity for extended camping or worksite use, it’s better to disable the battery saving mode and charge to 100% as needed.
The battery saving mode provides a nice balance between protecting battery life and having power available when you need it. For most users, enabling this feature is recommended to optimize battery performance over the lifetime of the Explorer 2000 Plus.
Warranty
The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus comes with an impressive warranty that really shows the company’s confidence in their product. Out of the box, the Explorer 2000 Plus has a 3-year warranty. But if you purchase directly from the official Jackery website, they will automatically add on an additional 2-year extended warranty at no extra cost. This brings the total warranty period to 5 years, which is exceptional for a portable power station in this price range.
Most competitors only offer 1-2 years of warranty coverage, so having 5 years of protection provides great peace of mind. It means that any defects in materials or workmanship will be covered for a half decade. If anything goes wrong with your Explorer 2000 Plus due to a manufacturing issue, Jackery will repair or replace it free of charge. They stand firmly behind the quality and reliability of their product.
With expensive lithium batteries, longer warranty terms give more security in case you experience premature battery degradation or failure. Having coverage for 5 years from the date of purchase lets you use your Explorer 2000 Plus worry-free knowing that any battery defects will be fully addressed. This gives you the confidence to rely on the Explorer 2000 Plus for off-grid power during your adventures without risk of expensive repair costs down the road.
Overall, the exceptional 5-year warranty provides fantastic protection and value. It’s yet another reason why the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus is a top choice for a portable power station.
Pricing
The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus is currently priced at $1,899 on the Jackery website. This may seem expensive at first glance, but it’s important to consider the value you get for the price.
With a 2,000Wh capacity and 2,000W power output, the Explorer 2000 Plus packs a lot of power into a portable and compact unit. For comparison, most standard home generators in the 2,000W range cost $800-$1,500 without the portability, solar connectivity and advanced features of the Explorer 2000 Plus.
When you factor in the cost of additional batteries ($499 each) and solar panels ($299 each), the total price goes up. But even a full 2,000W solar generator system from Jackery costs under $5,000. Considering you’re getting a clean, quiet and renewable power station that can run high-draw appliances, that’s very reasonable compared to the $5,000-$15,000 price range of equivalent whole-home solar and battery systems.
For off-grid power, outdoor adventures or emergency preparedness, the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus provides great value at its price point. The 5-year warranty also boosts the value proposition. Overall, while not cheap, the Explorer 2000 Plus delivers performance, reliability and versatility that make it well worth the investment for the target customer.
Summary
Overall Assessment
After testing the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus in a variety of real-world scenarios, I’m thoroughly impressed with its performance and versatility as a portable power station. From powering tools and appliances around the house and workshop to running the electricals in an RV, it had no trouble handling everything I threw at it.
The 2000 watt-hour capacity provides ample backup power for short outages or off-grid use. The pure sine wave inverter delivers clean power suitable for sensitive electronics. Multiple charging options including solar, AC, and 12V car outlet offer flexibility.
Design-wise, the Explorer 2000 Plus strikes a good balance between power output and portability thanks to the tough but compact shell and integrated wheels and handle. Intuitive controls and app connectivity make operation straightforward.
Recommendation
For anyone seeking a high-capacity lithium solar generator that can serve as an emergency backup, power source for outdoor adventures, or complete off-grid power system, the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus gets my recommendation. It’s a versatile portable power station equipped to handle a wide range of applications.
While it’s on the pricier side, the quality and performance reflect the higher cost. Given the utility it provides, I think it’s worthwhile for the target customer. Overall an excellent solar generator that’s likely to satisfy most users.