This is a power station that uses a large 16.8 Ah lithium-ion battery, which can also power appliances needing 120 volts. A clean looking station with simplistic features and plenty of powering options. The front panel has a good choice of sockets and an LCD display to see battery status and rate of charge and discharge.
You can use your own car or a solar panel to charge the unit. The package comes with a car charger cable that will plug into the 12-volt outlet of your car and into the input of the station. So, you can keep using your devices without running the battery down.
No messy fuel spills, the 110-volt outlet will power devices up to 400 watts at peak power, 200 watts at standard use. There are two USB sockets to charge small portable devices directly. Jackery has a 12-volt car outlet for running air pumps and for recharging. Like many other power stations like the Goal Zero Yeti 400 it’s suitable for powering a variety of devices and is particularly popular for CPAP machines and other sensitive electrical devices.
Being battery powered, this station is silent, though it would not be able to power a fridge. And weighing in at only 6.6 pounds, the unit is portable and small enough to live in your car.
- Easy to Carry: This entry level portable power station is equipped with an excellent 240Wh lithium-ion battery...
- Versatile Power Source: The Explorer 240 is extremely versatile, featuring 1 pure sine wave AC outlet (110V...
- Green Power Supply: The power station can be recharged by either the Jackery SolarSaga 60 Solar Panel or...
- Two Alternative Recharging Methods: Two further charging methods are also available, with the power station....
- What's Included: 1 * Jackery Explorer 240 Portable Power Station, 1 * AC Adapter, 1 * Car Charger Cable, 1 *...
Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Contents
Why should you buy a Jackery?
The Jackery 240 is the right power option meant for emergency preparedness and camping. Putting your money into this product is staying ahead of any situation that might make you lose your connectivity to the world. The power outlets on this generator are the biggest indicator of how the Jackery is the right battery for your outdoor experience.
The 240 brings to your camping and emergency preparedness a lightweight machine that you can carry anywhere. It blends right into your outdoor lifestyle and modern conveniences by giving you a list of charging options that fit most of the normal items we use. With 2 USB-A outlets, the Jackery makes sure you have your communication lines powered all the time.
If you are looking to stay powered up and remain environmentally conscious, this is the right choice for you. This generator comes with solar charging options that let you take advantage of great outdoor weather. The Jackery brand even has solar panels that are specifically meant to the Jackery line of generators. The best one is the 100W panel that will likely charge your generator faster.
And the best part is, you can charge this unit using other methods too. As long as a solar panel has 12-30V outlet voltage, you can use it to charge your Jackery 240. That sort of device compatibility widens your options and may prove beneficial to your finances as well.
What are Jackery & What’s their reputation?
A regular user of Jackery generators can tell you when you get Jackery you are getting one of the best brands in that outdoor power equipment space. But to understand such a point of view, you need to look at the company.
Jackery was founded in 2012. Like most companies, a former engineer with Apple saw a need in the market. Z. Sun, the engineer, had been designing and developing Lithium-ion batteries for a while. He put that knowledge into the development of something bigger and Jackery was born.
Jackery is a big name in power equipment. They are adept at portable generators and related accessories such as solar panels. Their reputation has seen them working alongside other big names such as Honda in the development of generators and outdoor power solutions.
How does it compare?
Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
✅ What we liked
- No noise or fumes when using it.
- Simple and will supply consistent power to sensitive electronics.
- Portable and small.
- Perfect for electronic devices
- Suitable for CPAP machines
- Fast charging
❌ What could be better
- It does not have enough power to run a fridge or other home appliances.
- When the battery dies, it will take time to recharge, unless you plug it into your car.
Quick Facts:
- Starting 400W – Continuous 200W
- Fuel Type: Lithium-ion Battery
- Capacity: N/A
- Tank Run-Time @ 25% Load: N/A.
- Noise Level @ 25% Load: 0 dB.
- Weight: 6.6 lb.
- Warranty: 2-Year
Last update on 2024-11-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Noise Level
Powerful generators tend to be loud. That is mostly because they are high-output machines and the interior operations can cause a lot of friction. Most of the high-powered generators have padding that absorbs this noise.
The Jackery 240, as compared to another generator in its line of portable generators such as the Jackery 500 is much smaller. The size, in addition to its low output, means you don’t have to deal with noise. You may get a little white noise. Still, it’s not disruptive.
This level of quietness makes the generator a good candidate for both indoor and outdoor use. You can use this generator even in places that require a level of stillness such as a study.
Power Output
This battery packs about 14.4 Volts. It’s a 67000mAh battery on a full charge. The Lithium-ion battery outputs a total of 200 running watts but peaks at about 400 watts. That is from the AC. The total output on direct current is 12 volts or about 120 watts. That is the total you would get if you used the car port outlet.
The USB outlets give an output of 5V each. That is enough to charge your smartphones and most USB-charging devices. These power outputs are what you would expect from such a unit. If you are outdoors, you need to check that the appliances you choose to plug to this machine don’t exceed the output levels of the outlet or the generator. As a guide, here are some of the items you can charge.
| Device | Wattage | Runtime |
| Laptop | 4 charges | |
| Smartphone | 24 charges | |
| LED light | 5 Watts | 6-21 hours |
| Mini cooler | 60 watts | 18 hours |
| TV | 60 watts | 3 hours |
We checked how it performed with a ResMed Airsense 10 CPAP machine. It has a 53-watt capacity and it speaks out at 104 watts. It clocked 4.5 hours. It would be more if the humidifier was off.
Wattage examples & Run Times
| Appliances | Running Watts | Start Up Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Clock Radio | 3 W | 5 W |
| Phone Charger | 3 W | 5 W |
| Google Nest | 5 W | 5 W |
| Tablet Computer | 10 W | 15 W |
| 32 In LED TV | 20 W | 60 W |
| Air Purifier | 25 W | 30 W |
| Humidifier | 35 W | 40 W |
| Cooling Fan | 40 W | 60 W |
| Freezer | 40 W | 60 W |
| PS4 or Xbox | 50 W | 120 W |
| Lightbulb 60 W | 60 W | 60 W |
| Water Dispenser | 100 W | 100 W |
| Refrigerator | 150 W | 300 W |
| American Style Refrigerator | 200 W | 500 W |
| Garden Strimmer | 300 W | 500 W |
| Submersible Water Pump | 350 W | 500 W |
| Music Stereo | 400 W | 400 W |
| Vacuum Cleaner | 400 W | 1000 W |
| Toaster | 700 W | 1900 W |
| Electric Drill | 800 W | 1100 W |
| Coffee Maker | 800 W | 1000 W |
| Washing Machine | 800 W | 800 W |
| Lawn Mower | 1000 W | 1500 W |
| Air Fryer | 1400 W | 1400 W |
| Air Compressor | 1500 W | 4800 W |
| Oven | 2000 W | 2000 W |
| Home Air Conditioner | 1200 W | 4000 W |
| RV Air Conditioner | 1300 W | 4500 W |
| Belt Sander | 1400 W | 2400 W |
| Hairdryer | 1400 W | 1400 W |
| Hammer Drill | 1700 W | 1600 W |
| Air Compressor – 1 HP | 1600 W | 4800 W |
| Welding Rig | 2500 W | 3000 W |
Sockets and Features
The Jackery 240 generator is a grab-and-go generator. As such, it has a convenient socket that makes it easy to charge with a wall socket. This is under the assumption that you will want to charge it from locations with different house sockets from time to time.
The car socket is also a great alternative. It’s the same socket as the car lighter. It is designed to fit most cars. This means it comes RV-ready as well.
Apart from the solid construction and the noiseless function, this generator packs in some great features. One of the most notable features is the small LED screen on the front interface. Despite its size, it displays all the vital information that you will need to know about the health of your generator. It shows you charge levels and output levels so you know which of your appliances or devices is drawing out more power.
There are some rubber patches at the bottom of the generator. These patches provide great traction especially when you drive. The power station doesn’t move much. There is less probability of accidental knocks. The final feature is the large handle. It is comfortable on the hand and it has extra ridges on the inner part to improve your grip as you carry.
Run time and charging
You can charge this generator in one of 3 ways. You can either charge it from a house socket using the AC outlet. You can charge it to full capacity at night or before you set out anywhere. AC charging might take up to 8 hours or as little as 6.
You can also use the car port outlet and that could also take you 8 hours. However, if you set the generator somewhere in direct sunlight where the sun hits the panels just right, you can solar charge it to full capacity for 8 hours.
Since it’s a pure sine wave inverter, it is more efficient in power management. It is retentive and might stay charged for longer without any use. Run time is determined by what you will have hooked up to it. It might give you up to 12 hours or as much as 14 hours if its only small appliances drawing power from it.
Solar Panels
Solar panels are a vital part of this unit. You have to get the solar panels separately. If brand trust is a key concern for you, the Jackery line of solar panels should make a good fit for your charging needs. The best Jackery solar panel to use is the 100W solar panel. The Jackery SolarSaga panels can charge the generator in about 8 to 10 hours.
Editors final thoughts
The Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240 is the generator you carry when you are heading for a weekend out in the open. It is lightweight with a compact frame and a nice handle that’s gentle on the hand. Its gas-free, noiseless operation makes it perfect for a relaxed time even at night when silence means the most to you.
You have a great range of charging options. You can add a solar panel from Jackery to improve your charging times. The 2 USB outlets let you charge your phone and tablet.
The pure sine inverter comes in handy to protect your devices from overload. It also means the generator gives off clean power. We would definitely recommend this generator as a portable option for short-time personal use.
