Jackery Explorer 500 500W Portable Power Station: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

Portable power stations have become an increasingly popular way to bring reliable power on-the-go. These compact battery packs combine a high-capacity lithium-ion battery with standard AC outlets, USB ports, and other DC power options. This allows users to charge and operate everything from smartphones to small kitchen appliances whether camping, in a power outage, or in other locations without access to wall outlets.

Jackery is one of the leading brands in this emerging product category. Founded in 2012 in California, Jackery designs and manufactures a range of solar generators and portable power stations. Their products have received positive reviews for their fast charging speeds, durable construction, and versatile power outputs. The Jackery Explorer 500 is one of their top-selling mid-range models, offering a good balance of capacity, features, and price.

Overview

The Jackery Explorer 500 is a mid-sized portable power station designed for powering devices and appliances in emergency situations or on camping trips. Its key features include:

• 518 watt-hour lithium-ion battery capacity
• 500 watt continuous AC output (700W surge)
• Multiple output ports:
  • 2 AC outlets
  • 2 USB-A ports
  • 1 USB-C port
  • 12V car outlet
• Integrated LCD display showing battery percentage, input/output power, and operating status
• Weighs 13.3 pounds
• Measures 9.84 x 5.98 x 8.46 inches

With 500 watts of continuous power output, the Jackery Explorer 500 can handle most basic appliances and small electronics like mini-fridges, CPAP machines, fans, lights, laptops etc. Its 518Wh battery has enough capacity to charge a smartphone over 35 times or run a 40W appliance for nearly 13 hours. The compact size and weight make it easy to transport in a car or take camping. Overall, the Explorer 500 hits a nice balance of power, capacity and portability.

Power Sources

The Jackery Explorer 500 can charge via multiple power sources, making it highly versatile for a variety of situations.

One option is to charge it directly via a wall AC outlet. Included with the Explorer 500 is a charger that plugs into a standard wall outlet and charges the unit in around 8 hours. This makes it easy to charge at home before taking it on a camping trip or using it for backup power.

You can also charge the Explorer 500 using an optional solar panel (sold separately). Jackery offers solar panels like the SolarSaga 100W which can fully recharge the unit in around 8 hours in ideal sunny conditions. The solar charging port allows the unit to be topped up anywhere the sun is shining.

Finally, the Explorer 500 can charge from a car or RV outlet via the 12V car charger that's included. So you can top up the battery when driving or have the unit charging as you're parked. A full charge from a car takes around 10 hours.

The versatility of charging from AC, solar, and 12V outlets means the Explorer 500 can be charged in many situations - whether you're at home, on the road, or off-grid.

Outputs

The Jackery Explorer 500 features multiple output options to charge and power a variety of devices.

• AC Output: The Explorer 500 has a pure sine wave AC outlet with 500W continuous power (1000W surge). This standard AC outlet allows you to safely power sensitive electronics like laptops, Mini fridges, small appliances, and medical devices.

• USB Outputs: There are 2 USB-A ports and 1 USB-C port, each outputting up to 18W for fast charging of smartphones, tablets, and other USB-powered devices.

• 12V Car Outlet: A 12V/10A cigarette lighter outlet can be used for car appliances and accessories like tire pumps and mini coolers.

• DC Output: For powering devices with specific DC power requirements, the 12V/15A DC output port can be used.

With this range of AC, USB, and DC outputs, the Jackery Explorer 500 provides flexible power delivery for all your portable power needs both on-the-go and for emergency backup at home. The number and variety of outputs make it suitable for group camping, tailgating, RVs, outdoor events, and power outages when you need to charge multiple devices simultaneously.

Display & Controls

The Jackery Explorer 500 features an easy-to-read LCD display that shows the battery percentage, input/output power, and operating status. There are two buttons below the display - the power button to turn it on/off and a function button to switch between display readouts.

The display is very intuitive, showing the battery capacity in a segmented display as well as the percentage. Input power such as solar is shown in watts. For output power, it displays the wattage of devices connected to the various outputs. The LCD backlighting can be turned on or off as needed.

There are no complicated settings or configuration needed on the Jackery Explorer 500. It automatically detects and provides the proper output voltage and power for connected devices. The only setting is to choose whether the LCD backlight stays on or shuts off after a period of inactivity to conserve power. Overall, the display and controls are very user-friendly while providing the key information you need at a glance.

Portability

The Jackery Explorer 500 is designed with portability in mind. It weighs only 13.3 pounds and has a compact size of 9.1 x 8.1 x 11.6 inches. This makes it easy to carry and transport the power station.

The Explorer 500 has an integrated handle which allows you to carry the unit with just one hand. The handle folds down flat when not in use. So you don't have to worry about any protruding parts when packing the power station in your car or bag.

Overall, the Jackery Explorer 500 strikes a good balance between capacity and portability. At just 13.3 pounds, it is lighter than many competing 500Wh power stations. The compact size coupled with the foldable handle makes this an easily portable backup power source for your home, outdoor adventures or camping trips.

Battery & Runtime

The Jackery Explorer 500 has a 512Wh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery capacity. This allows it to power most items, including phones, laptops, small appliances and more.

According to Jackery, the Explorer 500 can provide the following typical runtimes from a full charge:

• Phone charging up to 112 times
• Laptop charging up to 14 times
• Mini fridge for up to 7 hours
• CPAP machine for up to 14 hours
• Small fan for up to 44 hours

The lithium-ion battery used in the Explorer 500 is designed for over 500 cycles. This means you can potentially get hundreds of full charges before noticing diminished capacity when the battery wears out.

Runtime will vary depending on the items you are powering and their wattage requirements. But with 512 watt hours of capacity, the Explorer 500 can keep small items and appliances powered for many hours of continuous use if needed.

The battery capacity gives the Explorer 500 an advantage over lower capacity power stations if you need to power high draw items for extended periods of time. For short term outages or charging phones/laptops, lower capacities around 200-300Wh may suffice. But the 500Wh capacity of this Jackery model provides more substantial off-grid power.

Safety Features

The Jackery Explorer 500 has several important safety features to protect the device and ensure safe operation.

Overload Protection

The Explorer 500 is designed with overload protection to prevent damage from attempting to draw too much power. If the power draw exceeds 500W, the system will automatically shut off the AC outlet to prevent an overload. This helps safeguard the internal battery and electronics from excessive current.

Short Circuit Protection

In addition to overload protection, the Jackery Explorer 500 also has short circuit protection. If there is a short circuit, such as a faulty device plugged in or damaged wires, the AC outlet will immediately shut off power to prevent damage. This helps improve safety and avoids potential fires or malfunctions.

Overheating Protection

To protect against overheating, the Explorer 500 has a temperature controlled fan system. If the internal temperature rises too high, the built-in fans will automatically turn on to provide cooling airflow. This prevents damage to the battery and internal components while maintaining safe operating temperatures. The device also has over-temperature shut off protection if the internal temperature exceeds safe levels.

Additional Safety Features

Other safety features include voltage surge and fluctuation protection to maintain steady and stable AC power output. The Explorer 500 also meets a range of safety certification standards including FCC, UN38.3, CE, RoHS, MSDS, UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, and more. Together these safety systems protect the device, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide peace of mind during operation.

Pros & Cons

• Pros - Decent capacity and power output for the compact size. The 500 watt-hour battery capacity can charge phones over 20 times or run small appliances like mini-fridges for several hours. - Lightweight and portable at only 13 pounds. Easy to take camping or on road trips. - Can charge from solar panels (sold separately) so you can use renewable solar energy to top it off. - Features 3 USB ports, a car outlet, and AC outlets for powering multiple devices. - LCD display shows remaining battery percentage so you know how much runtime is left. - Automatically shuts down when battery gets too low to prevent damage.

• Cons
  - Only 500 watts is lower capacity than larger units that can power more robust appliances. - No wheeled option so less convenient for moving longer distances. - Solar charging is slow and limited compared to grid power. Panels sold separately. - Short 1 year warranty period. Some competing models offer 2-3 years. - Can't daisy chain multiple units together to combine capacity.

In summary, the Jackery Explorer 500 is a decent portable power station for basic needs but has lower capacity than larger units. Key pros are the compact size, versatile outlets, and solar charging. Drawbacks include 500W limit, no wheeled option, slow solar charging, and short 1 year warranty. It works for powering essentials on-the-go but isn't robust enough for high power appliances.

Verdict

The Jackery Explorer 500 is an excellent portable power station that offers a good balance of power, portability, and features. Its 518Wh lithium battery provides plenty of power for outdoor adventures, RV trips, or emergency preparedness.

With multiple output ports, you can run and charge most small appliances and electronics like mini-fridges, CPAP machines, fans, lights etc. The pure sine wave inverter delivers clean power safe for sensitive devices. Jackery's intuitive LCD display shows you runtime estimates and power usage.

While not incredibly lightweight at 13 pounds, the sturdy handle and compact size make the Explorer 500 easy to move around. The solar-ready design allows you to connect solar panels to recharge the unit through renewable energy. Safety features like overheat and short circuit protection provide peace of mind.

Overall, the Jackery Explorer 500 is a great choice for a mid-sized portable power station. It provides ample power in a portable form factor at a reasonable price point. If you need an easy-to-use and dependable power source for outdoor recreation or emergency backup power, the Explorer 500 gets a strong recommendation.