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9.0
Like
- So many output options
- Huge capacity
- Flexibility in integration
Don't like
- Expensive
- Heavy
My personal favorite portable power station changes a couple of times a year. But right now, it's the Anker Solix F3800, and for good reason.
Anker has been a long-time staple in the game, but to be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of some of their earlier models. Luckily, the newer designs in the last couple of years that also tout the "Solix" branding have been much improved, and this lineup has brought us the F3800.
If you're serious about home backup power and want to have real options to weather whatever storms come your way, you need the Anker Solix F3800.
Anker Solix F3800: The good
Let's talk capacity. Many of the portable power stations on the market talk about "emergency home backup" power. But many of these same units "boast" a capacity of 800 watt-hours. Yes, you can keep your device(s) charged, maybe run a fan and some lights, but that's about as far as you'll get with that capacity. Your options for longterm power are nearly zero in this situation.
The F3800 starts out with 3,840 watt-hours (or 3.84kWh), which is great for those basic needs over an extended period of time, or for increased needs (climate, cooking, temperature) in shorter spans. But, like many other manufacturers these days, Anker uses the Solix F3800 as one of its most versatile modular platforms. You can add up to six additional expansion batteries (Anker Solix BP3800) of the same capacity for a total of 26.88kWh of capacity. That's enough power to run most homes in the same fashion they normally operate for two or three days.
But that's not all: Act now and you can add a second Solix F3800 with six more expansion batteries for a whopping 53.76kWh of capacity. That's all you ever need. And if not, you probably already have your own power plant anyway.
Modular capacity is great, and it's definitely the direction the landscape is trending for many reasons. But that isn't my favorite thing about the Solix F3800. Shall we discuss output options?
My favorite thing about this unit on a day-to-day basis is its ability to output not only normal 120-volt receptacles, but also split-phase 240 volts in the same single unit. Most portable power stations only allow you to use receptacles that output 120 volts. And to be fair, that power is fine for the vast majority of things you'd want to plug in. But what about ovens or clothes dryers that are not gas-powered? Those require 240 volts. You could also choose to use this to charge an EV, or, using another nonstandard output, a 30A "RV" output, so you can also power those off-grid camping trips.
There are other manufacturers that offer 240-volt outputs, but most of them offer this by combining two separate control units to give you 120V+120V = 240V through a combo box or transfer switch of some flavor. The Solix F3800 also offers a variety of combination boxes to purchase separately in the form of transfer switches, but these are used primarily for the people looking to provide backup power to their entire home through the F3800 platform. These options are not needed to get 240 volts -- just plug in directly to the side of the power station.
Anker Solix F3800: The bad
I'll just put it out there -- price. For most people, the Solix F3800 at $4,000 isn't super friendly. And if you're wondering about a ballpark pre-tax cost on that 53.76kWh setup? It rhymes with flirty-gate thousand dollars (if pieces were purchased separately). I'm not saying that these products aren't worth their list prices. But I would highly recommend looking for other deals -- maybe during Black Friday?
If you're truly looking for a portable power station, it probably depends on your portability needs. If you're just needing to move this unit around the same building, on the same level, then you're probably just fine. But if you need to haul this to multiple locations, then grab a friend. While the wheels are somewhat helpful, this thing still weighs over 130 pounds.
The interface and layout of the Solix F3800 is pretty clean. Overall, I like the arrangement and the design choices that were made. However, I can tell you that we've had a lot of hands on this unit, and a few people have found the location of certain buttons or controls less than intuitive. As well, there were times when buttons were pushed and functions did not execute. I did not personally experience this, so I'm not deducting points for it. But it's worth mentioning since I've received that feedback more than once.
Anker Solix F3800: The bottom line
Pricing aside, I think everyone who has an interest in home backup should consider this. The capabilities of the base unit, combined with the future potential expansion options, make this great for any scenario.