Anker Solix has become a leader in portable power stations and home battery systems over the last few years. Their products aim to provide reliable and innovative lithium iron phosphate battery solutions for energy storage and off-grid power. With a focus on quality and versatility, Anker Solix continues to release new models like the Anker solix f3800 with features that power households during outages, let you bring power anywhere, and integrate with solar.
New Anker Solix F3800
The Anker Solix F3800 is an exciting new whole house battery from Anker Solix. This portable power station packs a punch with 5,500 watts of power output.
Some key features and specs of the F3800 include:
- 5,500 watt power output
- 3,800 watt hour capacity
- Lithium iron phosphate battery
- Rated for 3,000 cycles or 10 years
- 240V 25A outlet for EV charging
- 6 AC outlets
- 2 solar inputs up to 2,400W total
- 1,800W AC input for fast charging
- WiFi connectivity and app control
- 135 lbs weight with handle and wheels for portability
The high power output combined with generous battery capacity makes the F3800 ideal for home backup power, off-grid use, and even charging an electric vehicle in a pinch. The lithium iron phosphate battery offers long cycle life and safety. Overall, the F3800 packs robust power and capacity into a portable package.
Expansion Battery – Adds Extra Capacity
The F3800 comes with a built-in capacity of 3,800 watt hours. But you can significantly expand that by adding up to 6 external expansion batteries.
Each expansion battery attaches securely to the F3800 and provides an additional 3,800 watt hours of capacity. So adding just one expansion battery doubles the overall capacity to 7,600 watt hours.
If you max it out with 6 total expansion batteries, you can achieve a massive system capacity of 23,800 watt hours! That’s enough to power an entire home for days or weeks, depending on your typical usage.
The expansion batteries use the same long-lasting lithium iron phosphate battery cells as the F3800 itself. So you’ll get that same 3,000+ cycle life and 10+ year lifespan.
The modular and expandable capacity is one of the most powerful features of the Anker Solix ecosystem. You can start small if needed, then continue adding batteries over time as your needs grow.
400W Portable Solar Panel
Anker is releasing a new 400W portable solar panel along with the F3800. This panel makes some nice upgrades compared to their previous 200W model.
The 400W solar panel now includes MC4 connectors rather than just an XT60 connector. Over time, panels with XT60 connectors can get loose, so the MC4 connectors are more durable and reliable.
This panel also has its own handle for easy portability. One person could easily carry two of these 400W panels.
Finally, the 400W panel has built-in kickstands. This allows you to set up the panel at an optimum angle to maximize solar input. The F3800 can accept up to 2,400 watts of solar input, so with ideal conditions, you could use six of these 400W panels to maximize solar charging speed.
The upgrades to the 400W solar panel make it a nice compliment to the high capacity F3800 power station. The improved design should provide more reliable charging while being easy to transport and set up.
Installing the Transfer Switch
Unlike many other portable power stations, the Anker Solix F3800 requires a transfer switch to connect it to your home’s electrical system. A transfer switch allows you to safely switch between using grid power and the F3800 as your power source.
While the F3800 itself seems straightforward to operate, installing a transfer switch that connects to your home’s electrical panel should only be done by a qualified, licensed electrician. Improper wiring by an amateur could lead to electrocution or fires. The high capacity of the F3800 means it’s delivering a lot of power, so safety is critical.
I called a local electrician to come install the transfer switch provided with the F3800 review unit. He will connect it to my electrical panel and run the necessary wiring. This will allow me to power selected circuits in my home from the F3800 when needed.
The transfer switch has multiple circuits that can be individually switched between grid and battery power as needed. This makes it easy to designate only critical loads to the battery during an outage. For whole home backup power, Anker’s Home Power Panel integrates even more seamlessly but was unavailable for this review.
While waiting for the electrician, let’s take a closer look at what this capable battery can do. But when it comes time to install your transfer switch, be sure to call a professional. DIY is not advisable given the high voltages and amperages involved.
Ports and Buttons
The Anker Solix F3800 has a well-designed interface with various ports and buttons. On the side of the unit are:
- Expansion battery port – Connects to additional expansion batteries to increase capacity
- 2 solar inputs – 60V, 25A each to connect solar panels
- AC input – Up to 1,800W to charge from the grid
- Home power panel port – Connects to home power panel for seamless integration
The front of the unit has:
- Color display – Shows battery percentage, power usage, and settings
- Car socket button – Turns on 12V car socket
- 3 USB-C ports – For charging devices
- 2 USB-A ports
- Bluetooth button – Pairs phone to app
- Display button – Cycles display information
The top has:
- Power button – Press and hold to turn on/off
- 240V 25A EV port – Can charge EVs directly
- 6 AC outlets – Standard 3 prong outlets
- Overload protection – Circuit protection for safety
The interface allows easy connection to solar, grid, and devices while monitoring power usage and controlling the unit.
Output and Capacity
The F3800 itself provides 6,000 watts of power output, which is enough to run most home appliances and electronics. However, by pairing two F3800 units together, you can achieve a total power output of 12,000 watts. This gives you ample power to run high-draw devices like electric vehicle chargers, air conditioning units, and more.
In terms of battery capacity, a single F3800 contains 3,800 watt-hours of energy storage. By adding additional expansion batteries, which each add 3,800 watt-hours, you can significantly increase the overall capacity. With one expansion battery you would have 7,600 watt-hours, and the system supports up to six expansion batteries.
That means the maximum capacity with a dual F3800 setup and six expansion batteries is 53,800 watt-hours or 53.8 kilowatt-hours. This huge capacity enables the system to power a home for days or weeks, depending on your typical energy usage. It provides substantial backup power potential.
So in summary, the high power output lets you run large appliances with ease, while the expandable battery capacity ensures you have ample stored energy for outages and emergencies. This combination makes the Anker Solix F3800 system very compelling for whole home backup.
Charging an EV With the F3800
The Anker Solix F3800 is the first true all-in-one power station that can directly charge an electric vehicle (EV) without any additional accessories or attachments. This is thanks to the included 240V outlet on the F3800 base unit. While the F3800 will likely only provide an extra 10-30 miles of charge for most EVs, depending on the size of the battery, it’s still better than nothing when you’re in need of some extra charge.
More importantly, the F3800 provides a way to convert solar power into EV charging with no other accessories needed. You can simply connect solar panels to the F3800, plug it into your EV, and start charging directly from the sun. This makes the F3800 an incredibly versatile unit that you can take with you in your EV for off-grid charging in an emergency.
To illustrate, let’s look at charging a 2019 Chevy Volt which has an 18.4 kWh battery pack. With ideal solar conditions, you could charge a Volt from 0% to 100% in about 7.6 hours using the F3800 and solar panels, since the unit can take in 2,400W per hour. For EVs with much larger battery capacities, you can figure out charge times by taking the full battery capacity and dividing it by the F3800’s max 2,400W solar input. So a 100 kWh EV battery would take around 41 hours to fully charge from the sun using the Anker Solix F3800.
While not the most practical daily charging solution, the F3800 provides flexible emergency charging capabilities and is the first integrated power station you can use to convert solar into EV charging power. No extra components required.
Home Backup Use
The Anker Solix F3800 is an ideal power station for home backup power needs. With its high capacity of 3,800 watt hours in the base model, it can keep essential appliances and devices running for an extended time during a grid outage. Add up to 6 expansion batteries, and you can reach an enormous total capacity of over 50,000 watt hours.
In backup mode with the Home Power Panel accessory, the system will automatically switch over to power up to 12 circuits in your home the moment the grid goes down. It seamlessly keeps the lights on and your refrigerator cold without any interruption. You don’t have to worry about flipping manual transfer switches or unplugging devices.
The F3800 delivers a strong power output, easily meeting the demands of most home appliances. Air conditioners, electric ranges, and other high-draw devices can be supported during an outage. With two units combined, you get a massive 12,000 watts of power output to run everything you need.
Backup power gives you peace of mind that you’ll stay comfortable and connected even during prolonged outages from storms and emergencies. The Anker Solix ecosystem provides advanced smart home integration and software for effortless management. Monitor your power usage remotely and receive notifications if the battery gets low.
With its ample capacity, high power output, smart features, and modular scalability, the F3800 offers reliable home backup power to handle anything. Keep your essentials running for days or weeks off-grid.
Battery Details
The f3800 and expansion batteries use lithium iron phosphate batteries. This battery chemistry is known for safety, longevity, and stable energy output.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries have a long lifespan. Anker claims these batteries are rated for 3,000 cycles before degrading to 80% of original capacity. For most homeowners, this translates to around 10 years of usable life. The batteries won’t stop working after 10 years, just hold less charge. For example, the 3,840 watt-hour capacity would decrease to about 3,000 watt-hours after a decade of use. But the f3800 should continue functioning normally, just with reduced storage capacity.
The lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry provides stable energy output and doesn’t degrade rapidly like some cheaper battery types. This results in reliable off-grid power for your home during outages for many years to come.
Sturdy, Robust Construction
The Anker Solix F3800 power station features a rugged and durable construction designed to withstand regular use and travel. Despite weighing about 135 lbs, the unit incorporates a sturdy steel frame coated in thick plastic housing. But you shouldn’t be concerned about needing to lift or carry it often, thanks to the large wheels and extendable tow handle which makes moving the F3800 power station convenient.
Several design elements contribute to its resilience and reinforce its premium build quality. The plastic outer shell feels thick and solid when grasped. Rubber bumpers line the bottom and edges, protecting the exterior from scratches and drops. The AC outlets exhibit a snug fit when plugging in devices. All the ports use protective covers to avoid dust and moisture getting inside. Every connection point and cable integrates properly without any looseness or wiggle.
Overall, Anker put care into ensuring a robust product capable of holding up through years of use. The F3800 achieves an IP65 rating for resisting dust and rain. While you should keep it stored indoors, it could even operate outdoors during emergencies thanks to this weatherproofing. Just don’t throw it around outside. But the rugged build means you don’t need to baby this machine either. Between the tough outer shell and stable internal components, it achieves the high level of durability expected for a premium emergency power station.
Noise Level
The F3800 isn’t whisper quiet like the Anker Solix F2000 power station. It also has a 240 volt outlet and is a much larger unit. However, it’s still significantly quieter than a gas generator. You can comfortably run the F3800 indoors without irritating noise. The fan noise produced is comparable to a large fan or air purifier. For most homes, the ideal location would be the garage or utility room where the transfer switch is installed. This allows you to avoid any fan noise issues if used as a home backup power supply. The F3800 produces under 50 decibels of sound at typical operation levels. This makes it quiet enough to have a conversation near the unit without raising your voice. While not silent, it’s a major improvement over the loud roar of most gas generators.
Discount and Pricing
The Anker Solix F3800 is not a cheap piece of equipment – it is an investment in reliable home power. However, there is currently a promotional 35% discount until November 19th. If you’re reading this within the first 10 days of publishing, you can get the F3800 for just $2,600 with this limited time discount.
This is an incredible value considering the F3800’s capabilities:
- 6,000 watts of power output (12,000W when combining two units)
- 3,800 watt hour capacity (expandable to over 50kWh)
- The first portable power station with a functioning 240V outlet
- Advanced home integration with the Home Power Panel (sold separately)
With various combo packages available, don’t miss out on this opportunity to obtain the F3800 at a significant discount compared to its regular retail pricing. There are additional savings when bundling multiple batteries and accessories.
Act quick to take advantage of the special Kickstarter promotional offer before it ends on November 19th!
Rate of Improvement
I am thoroughly impressed with the rate at which this technology is improving. It was just over a year ago that I purchased my first power station. It was an EcoFlow Delta Pro, which was refurbished and more expensive than the discounted price of the new Anker Solix F3800 available now.
In the span of a year, the capacity, output, and features have dramatically increased while the prices have decreased. The F3800 boasts a huge capacity of 3,840 watt hours expandable up to over 50kWh, a powerful output of 6,000 watts expandable to 12,000W, and useful features like a 240V outlet for EV charging. All at a very competitive price point considering the specs.
The rapid advancement is exciting and bodes well for the future of this technology. In another year or two, capabilities will likely grow further while prices become even more affordable. I’m eager to see what innovations companies like Anker Solix come up with next. For now, the F3800 provides an exceptional value and capabilities far beyond what I could get just a short time ago. It’s a testament to the brisk pace of progress in this market.
Conclusion
The Anker Solix F3800 is an exciting advancement in home battery technology, offering robust capacity, fast charging capabilities, and key features that set it apart from previous models. With its large 3,800Wh capacity, fast recharging speeds, 240V EV outlet, and 6000W power output, the F3800 provides compelling utility whether used for backup power, off-grid living, or charging an electric vehicle.
While not cheap, the F3800 gives you premium performance and future-proof capacity to run your essentials for potentially days during an outage. Paired with solar panels, you get sustainable energy resilience and independence. With solar prices dropping and blackouts becoming more common, now is an opportune time to invest in reliable backup power.
For most homeowners needing basic emergency power, a smaller gas generator or entry-level power station should suffice. However, for increased capacity, integration with solar and EVs, and sustained off-grid use, the Anker Solix F3800 is one of the best turnkey options available today. Its robust 6000W output can readily power larger loads, while the modular expansion batteries let you scale up capacity over time.
With thoughtful design touches like its rugged yet maneuverable form factor, intuitive controls, and quiet operation, the F3800 delivers an exceptional overall experience. For those able to make the investment, it provides peace of mind and liberating energy autonomy. As reliance on the grid becomes less certain, quality battery storage is here to stay.