A fuelless generator stores power and runs any device that requires electricity. Traditional generators require gasoline to function.
Meanwhile, the fuelless generators, of course, don't need any fuel at all. This type of generator is less messy, and there's no unpleasant exhaust. It can be recharged by connecting them to solar panels. You can also plug it into an outlet directly. It can power itself and supply power in return.
A fuelless generator is a renewable energy system that can be operated for hours without fuel. It produces no noise and requires little maintenance.
Nowadays, fuelless generators are becoming popular. This is because families can use it, especially during power outages caused by natural calamities. Each year, we experience disasters such as hurricanes, storms, floods, earthquakes, and others.
Let's face it: We can't live a day without electricity. Thus, this fuelless generator can help us survive a temporary power outage in our area. It can also be used when traveling in the wild.
Sometimes, we need to unite with nature. However, we still need electricity to cook our food and drink clean water.
In this article, we will compare and contrast the four popular fuelless generators today.
These are the Humless Portable Solar-Ready Generator, Energy Solar Kodiak 1100 Watt Solar Generator, Lion Energy Ascent Fuelless Generator, and SolarPod Pro 1000 Solar Generator.
Before starting our product review, let us discuss its features and specifications. Let us check out one by one below:
Humless Portable Solar-Ready Generator
The Humless Company
The Humless company, founded in 2008 in Utah, has been creating innovative solar energy products for years.
Since then, Humless has received good feedback from its customers. Indeed, it provides reliable power systems to its patrons.
The Humless Home Power Series features the Go Series, Emergency Battery Systems, and Home Battery Systems.
- The Go Series- The company's Go Series is built to provide customers with a portable and quiet power option. These systems are essential in replacing gas generators. These range from small to large, and you don't have to carry more with what you need.
- Emergency Battery Systems—With Emergency Battery Systems, life continues even if the power is out. They can power the home and support any appliances you have, especially during emergencies.
Home Battery Systems—Humless' home battery systems use lithium batteries, which allows them to store more energy for a longer period.
Humless Home Portable Solar-Ready Generator
The Humless Home portable solar-ready generator has a capacity of 0.64kWh and a strap attached to its metal shell for easy transportation.
Indeed, the generator is designed for Light to medium energy uses. The input is 120V AC, and charging is 12 V to 50 V DC. Meanwhile, the output is 1.5 kW to 120 VAC and 12V DC with 4 USB outlets.
The product can be charged by solar power for around 6 hours, can charge laptops for around 8 hours, and can even run the fridge for around 12 hours. This solar generator produces electricity without emissions or loud noises. It uses advanced lithium technology that our society has used since the 1970s.
Lithium is used for portable home battery systems and automobiles. You can charge it by plugging it into an outlet or using solar panels. The product dimension is 14" x 10" x 12".
It weighs about 38 pounds and can last many years. Furthermore, the company offers a one-year warranty on its product.
Inergy Solar Kodiak 1100 Watt Solar Generator
The Inergy Company
The Inergy Company started as a start-up project and has become a leading brand in producing portable solar panels and generators. Its three solar generator lines include the Raptor, Raptor Pro, and Kodiak.
They launched the Kodiak Solar Generator in 2015. The company did this through the Indiegogo campaign, the most expandable and lightweight generator.
Meanwhile, the Raptor Pro is a solar-powered quick charger from Inergy. It can charge gadgets anywhere. During its Indiegogo campaign, Inergy donated one unit to charity for every ten units sold.
Kodiak Portable Solar Generator
The Kodiak is their powerful solar generator. It can power smartphones, tablets, laptops, a mini-refrigerator, and other gadgets. Its internal battery capacity is 1,100 Watts (90 Amps at 12.6 Volts). The AC inverter is 1,500 Watts with a Pure Sine Wave Input of 11 to 30 VDC. The charging port is up to 600 Watts maximum.
Meanwhile, the AC output is six 110V AC plugs and 1 30 Amp RV plug, 1100 W (10 Amps) maximum continuous output per AC outlet. It also has a 3,000 W starting surge maximum. The total limit for combined AC output is 1,500W. On the other hand, the DC output is two 12V DC Universal car sockets, 180 watts (15 Amps) maximum output per socket, 8 USB outlets, 5 V DC, and basecamp LED light ports with a maximum of 10 LEDs per port.
The Inergy Kodiak package includes a Kodiak solar generator, AC charger, manual, and a shoulder-carrying strap for easy product transportation. It has an LCD screen that indicates the battery's remaining charge time, which is a good feature for a fuelless generator.
Here are the guidelines for what type of appliances can the Kodiak Solar Generator support:
- Chest freezer: 50 hours
- Laptops of 50 watts: 20+ hours
- LED Light of 6 watts: 183 hours
- The microwave of 1,000 watts: 1 hour
- Mobile phones of 5 to 7 watts: 100+ hours
- Refrigerator: 33 hours
- Tablets of 25-20 watts: 40+ hours
Lion Energy Ascent Fuelless Generator
The Lion Company
Lion Energy began its company in 2001. It was started due to the founder's desire to aid people in preparing during emergencies.
They initially introduced healthy food products on the market. Then, they realized they could also help in other areas of emergency preparation, so they introduced portable power products.
In 2012, they started selling power generators. In 2014, Lion Energy was created. The company was built on unwavering reliability, unmatched safety, and continual advancements in renewability.
The Lion Energy Company manufactures emergency power sources such as solar generators, kits, and bags. One of their bestsellers is the Ascent fuelless generator.
Lion Energy Ascent Fuelless Generator
This Ascent generator is a dependable energy source, especially when you need it the most. It includes an LCD screen to indicate the remaining charge of the product. It also features a fast charging capability.
The battery of the Ascent generator is lithium-iron phosphate with 2,000-plus life cycles. It can charge the generator in only 2.5 hours. The product can last up to 8 years even if used and changed daily.
In addition, it increases stored power capacity from 50 amp hours and 600 watts to 150 amp hours and 1,800 watts. It has 4 USB outputs, each capable of 3A at 5 V DC, with a shared total current limit of 12A or 60 Watts maximum output. It has 2 AC with 110 to 220 V or 50 to 60 Hz. The two outlets share a combined total current limit of 1,500 Watts with around 2,000 W peak.
Furthermore, the Ascent generator has one 12 V cigarette light plug output with 10A at 12V max output, one 12V Anderson power pole output with 20A at 12V max output, and one 120V AC output with 300W max continuous output. On the other hand, the inputs are one Anderson power pole with one port with a 15A limit using 12V DC input.
Lastly, the input is one AC of 10V to 120 V with 50-60 Hz. The product dimensions are 13.375" x 9.375" x 15.875" and weighs only 45.8 pounds.
SolarPod Pro 1000 Solar Generator
The SolarPod Company
Sunbird Solar Limited, based in the United Kingdom, created the SolarPod. The company has been on the market for 16 years and produces solar panels, power banks, power stations, and other accessories. Its power stations offer two types of products: the SolarPod 240 and SolarPod Pro 1000.
SolarPod Pro
The SolarPod Pro 1000 is a portable solar generator that can power most electric tools inside homes, especially during emergencies. It has a 960Wh battery capacity and a 1000 W Pure Sine Wave inverter. On one full charge, it can power a mini-refrigerator, laptop, smartphone, or television.
The battery on this product is LifePO4, and it has a 2000-plus cycle lifespan. It takes 4 1/2 hours to charge the AC/ DC adapter battery, 10 hours to charge the 120 W solar panel, and 2 1/2 hours to charge four 120 W solar panels. Its power capacity is 24V 40Ah with 960 Wh.
Meanwhile, the rated input is DC 29V/ 10A (20A maximum), and the rated output is 1000W pure sine wave with 230V electrical outlets (one 12 V 15A car adaptor and four 5V 2A USB ports).
The package includes one user manual, AC/ DC charger/ replacement fuses, and a solar charger controller. The product dimensions are 400 mm x 262 mm x 257 mm, weighing about 15.9 kg. Finally, the company offers a 2-year warranty on this fuelless generator.
Review of the products
The four abovementioned products are some of the best fuelless generators available today. However, to help you choose a suitable one, here are some parameters to compare.
Check it out here:
Charging time
The Lion Energy Ascent and Humless Portable Solar-Ready generators will take 2.5 hours to charge completely.
Meanwhile, the Inergy product takes about 2 hours to charge fully.
On the other hand, SolarPod will take 4 1/2 hours to charge by AC/DC adapter, 10 hours with one 120W solar panel, and 2 1/2 hours with four 120W solar panels. The Inergy product is the fastest charging generator of the four products.
Input
The Humless product has an input of 120V AC Charging and 12V to 50V DC Charging.
Meanwhile, Inergy Kodiak input is 11 to 30VDC, and its charging port is up to 600W maximum.
Lion Energy's input, using 12V DC, is limited to 15A. The SolarPod Pro's input is DC 29V / 10A (20A Max).
Internal Battery and Its Capacity
Inergy's internal battery is Lithium-Ion, with a capacity of 1,100 Watts or 90 Amps at 12.6 Volts. Lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density and require low maintenance.
In addition, lithium-ion batteries have a lower self-discharge rate than other battery types and don't require priming.
Meanwhile, SolarPod Pro's battery is LifePO4 or Lithium Iron Phosphate. It has a 960-watt-hour battery capacity and a 1000W Pure Sine Wave inverter.
The LifePO4 batteries have a lifespan ten times longer than lead-acid batteries. They are also lightweight and can operate with much lower resistance.
Lion Energy's battery is lithium-iron-phosphate, too, just like the SolarPod Pro, with a capacity of 20 amp-hours. At the same time, the Humless has a battery made of Advanced Lithium Technology and has a capacity of 0.64 kWh.
Outlets
The SolarPod Pro has two 230V/ 100 Watt outlets. It supports one 12V 15A car adaptor and four 5V 2A USB connectors. The Lion Energy can also support four USB connectors with 5V and 3A each and two AC outlets with 110-220V 50 to 60Hz, with a combined output of 1,500 Watts.
On the other hand, the Inergy Kodiak can support 4 USB and six 110VAC plugs, while the Humless can only support 4 USB and four 110VAC plugs.
Price
The four products have almost the same price. However, the Humless Solar Generator is much cheaper than the three.
Meanwhile, the SolarPod Pro is more expensive than this article's three products. You can buy the products directly on their official website or at various online stores. They also ship their products within the United States, and you must coordinate with their customer service representatives.
Size and Portability
The Humless measures 14" x 10" x 12" and weighs about 38 pounds. Meanwhile, the Lion Energy measures 13.375" x 9.375" x 15.875" and weighs about 45.8 pounds.
The SolarPod Pro measures 400 mm x 262 mm x 257 mm (15" x 10.3" x 10.11") and weighs about 15.9 kg, while the Inergy measures 14" x 7" x 8" and weighs only about 20 pounds.
The Inergy Solar Kodiak is the lightest and smallest solar generator among the four products, while the SolarPod Pro is the smallest in dimension.
The Verdict: Best Fuelless Generator
The Inergy Solar Kodiak 1100 Watt Solar Generator outshines the three fuelless generators. It has a 1,100-watt power bank, six outlets, and a carrying strap for easy transportation. Plus, it is lightweight.
Finally, it features a lithium-ion battery with high energy density and low maintenance. With the Inergy Solar Kodiak 1,100-watt solar generator, you get the best quality for your money.
However, we are not saying that the three other products are bad. We have chosen the Inergy for this article only because of the abovementioned parameters.
The three fuelless generators, SolarPod Pro, Humless, and Lion Energy, work wonderfully, and you can use them anytime for your home and outdoor adventures, too.
Conclusion
In an emergency, a fuelless generator is essential. It will help you keep the lights on, charge your gadgets, and cook your food. The above products can do all that using clean and renewable solar panels.
A portable fuelless generator can be stored in your garage and used during emergencies. It promotes clean energy; thus, many families nowadays invest in fuelless home generators. It requires low maintenance, and it can last for many years.
Always check the specifications of the product you buy to save money and effort. Determine your usual home power usage, and if you do not use much energy, you can buy one of the four fuelless generators listed above.
