While we've been hearing a lot lately about battery manufacturers like EcoFlow and Bluetti, it's worth noting that these are relatively new players in the field of portable batteries, also known as PowerStations. Jackery, for its part, is an American manufacturer that has been around for 11 years and has already sold over 3 million products worldwide, making it a leader in the field. Since 2012, the company has been offering a wide range of batteries to meet all needs, as well as numerous charging solutions, including solar panels, of course, but also wind turbine systems, for example. I had the opportunity to test one of the latest versions, the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus, for several weeks. Here's a closer look…Discovering the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus
Don't be surprised: Jackery doesn't do things discreetly, since orange is its signature color :) And the packaging is a real eye-catcher! The packaging is fully recyclable, by the way, because the company is very environmentally conscious!
Inside, everything is perfectly packaged. A nice detail: a small zippered pouch comes with the various cables inside, which is very practical so you don't leave them lying around. Some people should take note :p
Unsurprisingly, the accessories are all orange, and the battery, of course, benefits from a few touches of color. It's reminiscent of construction equipment, and only reinforces the impression of robustness.
This Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus is made entirely of plastic, but it's made of sturdy ABS plastic, resistant to shock, heat, weather, and humidity. This “Explorer” battery is designed for outdoor use and will therefore withstand harsh conditions. Dimensions: 35.6 cm long, 26 cm deep, and 28.3 cm high, for a total weight of 14.5 kg.
To carry it, a handle folds out from the top. This is also very sturdy and features an orange “grip” surface for a secure grip. Despite its 14 kg weight, it's easy to carry.
The front panel houses all the connectors, a control screen, and lighting.
In outdoor mode, the lighting can be very practical. It has a low or high mode, as well as an SOS mode. To activate it, simply press the “Light” button next to it, and cycle through the three modes using the same button.
Under the lamp section are the USB ports: two 18W USB-A ports, as well as two 100W USB-C ports, which can charge a laptop, for example. All of these are fast-charging compatible, of course!
On the side, there are two 230V sockets, protected by a silicone cap:
The sockets are Shuko-style, and can therefore accommodate most electrical devices, especially since they can supply up to 2000W (total).
Then there's a 12V cigarette lighter socket, which is always handy for plugging in various accessories.
On the side, large air vents allow for battery cooling. Orange, of course ;-)
At the back, a hatch hides the charging ports:
We have a very standard 230V port, two DC ports for connecting, for example, a solar panel or the cigarette lighter adapter (included), and finally an expansion port for connecting a second battery and thus extending the capacity of the main battery. It can also accommodate up to three additional expansion batteries, increasing its capacity up to 5 kWh! (The batteries can be chained together).
The bottom has four feet to ensure the battery doesn't rest directly on the ground, ensuring its stability.
We therefore have a relatively compact but complete battery, with no fewer than seven different ports, as well as various charging methods to adapt to all situations.
Regarding the battery's performance, it is, of course, a long-life LiFePO4 battery rated for 4,000 charge cycles, which should last us a few years. It uses a self-developed Battery Management System (BMS) with built-in surge and short-circuit protections, which protect both the battery and the devices connected to it. According to the manufacturer, even after 4,000 charge cycles, the battery level remains at 70%, guaranteeing a 10-year lifespan, even with daily charging. Jackery also offers a 5-year warranty on its battery (3+2 years).
The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus has a battery life of 1264Wh, with an output power of up to 2,000W (while supporting peak consumption of up to 4,000W!). So yes, it will handle a coffee maker and even a raclette grill while camping :D But its pure sine wave inverter will also allow you to plug in even the most delicate devices, such as a computer, tablet, camera, etc. The manufacturer provides some examples of battery life for different devices:
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus: in use
Before use, you must of course charge the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus. This can be done in several ways: via mains power or even a cigarette lighter (cables are provided), or via a solar panel.
On mains power, charging is very fast, going from 0 to 100% in about 100 minutes! This speed is particularly useful when you need to leave unexpectedly, for example, with a full battery.
In this mode, it consumes just over 1000W. This decreases towards the end of charging.
The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus uses the manufacturer's latest ChargeShield fast-charging technology. It uses a staggered variable-speed charging algorithm to improve safety and increase the battery pack's lifespan by 50%. Even at a high temperature of 45°C, the power station can be fully charged in approximately 5.5 hours. However, it will take a little over 14 hours for a full charge via cigarette lighter. This is clearly not the fastest mode, but it will allow you to quickly top up your battery when necessary.
The final charging method is solar. Unlike other competitors, there's no MC4 adapter cable here; you'll need to use Jackery's specific connectors. However, the manufacturer provides adapters to work with its various models. The choice may be debatable, but the manufacturer wanted to make solar charging easier, and it can be connected in less than a minute. When you're familiar with MC4 connectors, you know how difficult they can sometimes be to disconnect; this type of connector is clearly not designed to be constantly plugged and unplugged…
The charging speed will, of course, depend on the power of the solar panels. The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus is capable of accepting up to 800W of solar energy, allowing for a charge in just 2 hours! To achieve this result, the manufacturer recommends using four 200W SolarSaga panels.
I only used a 100W SolarSaga version for my tests, which still allowed me to appreciate the product's design. A very high-quality folding panel, equipped with carrying handles, a cable storage pocket, and supports on the back to tilt the panel as needed.
Eyelets at each corner even allow it to be hung if desired. The closure is ensured by a magnetic system in the orange sections, which keeps the panel securely folded during transport.
Simply unfold the panel, adjust its tilt, and connect it to the battery's DC input port. An interesting detail about this solar panel: it has a 5V USB and USB-C output on a small box on the back, allowing you to charge a device directly, without even having to use the battery.
The pouch that encloses this box also allows you to store the connection cable:
Here you can see that the battery charges at 62W. It will take about 14 hours at this rate. This is why it's better to opt for a more powerful panel, or even multiple ones. With four SolarSaga 200W panels, I have no doubt that charging will indeed be very fast, as long as the sun is out :)
Using it to power other devices follows a familiar pattern: you plug in the device in question, and press the button corresponding to the group of outlets to activate them. A small green LED indicates that they are working properly. It's a classic feature, allowing you to activate only the necessary outlets.
The screen also displays the remaining battery life, both as a percentage and as a duration, taking into account the currently charged devices:
This Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus can operate completely autonomously. However, it can also be connected to a mobile app, available on iOS and Android. Simply install it and create an account.
You'll then be prompted to add a new device. The battery is automatically detected via Bluetooth.
You can then configure the Wi-Fi network if needed. Conveniently, if the battery is within Wi-Fi range, it can be controlled even remotely!
The control screen displays the remaining battery life, as well as its various controls.
You can activate the various outputs to power the devices connected to it. You can also turn on the lighting if desired.
The settings section allows you to adjust a few parameters, such as switching from fast charging to silent charging, for example. As the name suggests, charging will be much quieter than in fast mode, which requires some ventilation. In silent mode, you can't hear it, with only 30dB. But the battery also consumes less: instead of drawing a little more than 1000w, it only requires about 400. So I also use this mode to charge the battery on my surplus solar production at home: it's easier to have an overproduction of 400w than 1000w. So in silent mode it allows me to absorb this overproduction, and charge my battery for free. Of course the recharge time is affected, since it goes down to about 4 hours.
Another setting allows you to optimize battery life. You can choose to use it at 100%, meaning drain it to exhaustion, and recharge it to 100%. However, in battery saver mode, it won't drop below 15% and will recharge to 80%.
Note that this battery supports the Pass-Through-Charging function, which allows the battery to be charged while powering the devices connected to it. This is an important detail because this isn't always the case. Similarly, it can be used as an EPS (UPS) backup power supply, with a switching time of less than 20ms. This is useful for avoiding power outages on a device.
Conclusion
Thanks to its power and battery life, this Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus is suitable for a wide range of activities. We're obviously thinking of camping and van lifers, to power various everyday devices, or for medical devices, such as sleep apnea devices, for example.
The sun makes it hot, but it keeps the cooler running for beers :)
But also photographers/cameramen to have a power source during reporting, drone pilots on getaways, or even DIY enthusiasts. This is true on a renovation site, for example, or even in the garden to power various tools without having to run an extension cord across the entire yard. This battery is really practical, and its robustness is reassuring to take it just about anywhere without worrying about damaging it.
Almost 2 hours of battery life for this hedge trimmer, more than I need!
While the orange may seem a bit odd at first, I have to say it's actually very practical when you use it. These orange cables are actually a good idea: since this battery is primarily designed for outdoor use, you don't have to worry about cables trailing in leaves, for example. You can find them at a glance :)
In short, this Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus is a reliable, robust, and powerful Power Station of choice. It retails for €1,299 on its own, a price that's average for this type of battery and this battery life. But even though the number of manufacturers of such solutions has increased in recent months, sometimes offering less expensive products, it's still strongly recommended to stick with a safe bet if you want a product with a long lifespan. And in this area, Jackery has long proven its effectiveness.
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