Jackery solar generator 1500 Pro in the test

After Benjamin had already looked at the Jackery solar generator 1000 Pro in autumn, new “intermediate sizes” were presented at the CES. The solar generator 1500 Pro with 1.5 kWh and the solar generator 3000 Pro with 3 kWh. As you can see, the models are named after their capacity, otherwise the differences (ports, etc.) within the Pro series are minor. This is also the case with the solar generator 1500 Pro, which I looked at. The weather is currently not very suitable for teasing out the maximum charging capacity and so the big use will only take place during the camping holiday in summer. Nevertheless, I would like to leave my first impressions of the 1500 Pro solar generator here.

In the blog we have already taken a close look at some of the so-called power stations, including solutions from the Jackery portfolio as well as those from Bluetti, Ecoflow and Anker. The devices are also made for outdoor use. Some models can also be converted into a UPS at home, which is practical, but not the case with the 1500 Pro solar generator. This also comes without app bells and whistles.

The 1500 Pro solar generator not only comes with more capacity (1,512 Wh): the 17-kilo battery pack also delivers a higher output power of 1,800 watts or (on paper) 3,600 watts at peak. Here, however, only for a short time, since the device then switches to a protection mode. For comparison: The solar generator 1000 Pro has an output power of 1,000 watts, with a peak of 2,000 watts, which is significantly lower.

Purely from the technical specifications, one can complain that Jackery relies on Li-Ion NMC batteries and not on polymer-based ones. The manufacturer only guarantees 1,000 charging cycles with at least 80 percent of the maximum battery performance. Jackery gives a 3-year guarantee from the date of purchase or an additional two years upon registration. With the competition, the promised cycles are higher due to other battery technologies.

While the 1000 Pro solar generator weighed almost 11.5 kilograms, the additional 500 Wh capacity weighed a total of 17 kilograms. For comparison: the solar generator 2000 Pro weighs 19.5 kilograms. However, unlike the 30 kg solar generator 3000 Pro, these two models are also equipped with fold-out carrying handles.

Even 17 kg hit it: You don’t want to transport the solar generator 1500 Pro over several hundred meters with the handle. Alternative transport options would have suited the 1500 model well with such a weight.

As with the other Pro models, various consumers and outputs can be switched manually. I mentioned it at the beginning: an app is missing. In connection with a balcony power plant – i.e. separate PV modules – the use of a smart socket in connection with a smart inverter is recommended for use at home in order to fill the power station. Because: In addition to the DC inputs for the solar panels, there is a 230 volt AC input for topping up at the socket. Due to the lack of an app, no charging limits can be set.

The display provides information about the current input. This is useful because you can also see how quickly the station is fully charged with the same input power. The same applies to the output. So you know for how long the power station can still supply connected devices with juice or how quickly it is fully charged. The display can be switched on and off with a button. It also turns off automatically after a few seconds after making any changes. When it comes to the variety of connections, everything is the same as the smallest Pro model. All inputs and outputs are protected as usual by rubber protective caps.

So off to the practical test and load the power station into the car. In the outdoor area, the station immediately attracted curious looks and questions from passers-by.

I clamped two of the 200-watt panels to the station to supply them with green electricity. The station has two entrances. In purely mathematical terms, it takes almost 4 hours (400 watt input power) to fully charge the battery. The manufacturer offers corresponding Y adapters to use additional panels. More than two panels on the way are probably not very handy. In my case, I was able to demand around 100 watts from the evening sun, even with a single panel. That’s quite neat, because in this case I didn’t align the panels properly either, but was happy to catch some rays of sunshine on a late afternoon. For the given sun conditions I was extremely satisfied with my “crop”.

In addition to longer runtimes, the higher battery capacity also means longer charging times. But even with 1,512 Wh, there are limits to the runtime for power-hungry consumers or when tapping several devices at the same time. With devices such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops and drone batteries, however, you have something of the capacity for a longer period of time. With 100 watt power delivery, you have a good basis for charging most mobile devices with their maximum power directly and without a power adapter.

Practical: The 100 watts are shared not to two connections and so it was possible to operate two MacBooks with about 100 watts + 50 watts without any problems. I couldn’t increase the charging capacity of the second MacBook any further, so the M1 Pro proved to be quite efficient. However, each port should deliver its own 100 watts.

After the sun, there were now some endurance tests among consumers. While the solar generator 1000 Pro had an output power of 1,000 watts, a hairdryer could be operated with 1,700 watts for a longer period of time. The technical data sheet said 1,800 watts, the consumption display showed just over 1,700 watts, so it definitely works. I then wanted to take it to the extreme, after all, the manufacturer specifies 3,600 watts at the top.

So I hooked up an Airfryer. That delivered a constant consumption of around 1,400 watts. Accordingly, I successively switched on the hair dryer, which could be dosed with cold air. But: Already at just over 2,000 watts it was over within seconds. The highest load that I could elicit from the display was around 2,900 watts – the safety mechanism also takes effect here within fractions of a second. I would have imagined something else under 3,600 watts peak load. With the small 1000 Pro model, it was possible to work up to half a minute above the specified power.

I was able to refill the power station at the normal household socket within the specified charging time of just under two hours. Clearly audible, before that too, but drowned out by the sound of the hair dryer, the fan noise of the solar generator. But if you just power your smartphone, tablet or laptop overnight, the solar generator will remain silent.

Conclusion: If you not only need more capacity, but also more output power, you have to use a large power station. Not only the capacity and performance are larger, but also the dimensions and weight. At just under 17 kilograms, the 1500 Pro solar generator is not a device that you tow around over long distances.

In addition, I could not reach the peak loads mentioned in this form. Means: If you don’t need the maximum output power or the battery capacity, you can confidently cut back. In addition to the transport weight then also in the price.

Without a smart connection, the power station I have is also only used for camping and co. A pity: Furthermore, Jackery uses Li-Ion-NMC batteries instead of polymer-based batteries. Accordingly, less longevity is guaranteed. To aid in longevity, features would also be handy, like a charge limit. There isn’t either. So the solar generator is “just” a “large and heavy power bank” with a lot of capacity and more variety of connections.

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