Top dog Jackery closes the gaps in the offer. The new Powerbox 1500 Pro is between the 1000 and 2000 series. It is just about handy and yet you can operate almost all 230 volt devices with it.
The run on power boxes is unabated. Some want to use it to charge up with solar power, craftsmen are happy to be rid of the stinking gas generator, others want to use the power storage to prepare for the apocalypse. Or just make sure that the devices in the company or practice are connected to a clean sine curve and continue to work, even if the network has hiccups. Countless brands are fighting for this cake. Jackery is one of the first companies and has a clear target segment in the leisure sector: camping, outdoor or van life. Of course, the boxes can also be used for other purposes.
What does that mean? The devices are (slightly) smaller, lighter and more compact than those of the competition. They are primarily designed for charging from natural sources, i.e. solar, and the boxes are – mostly – very quiet. So it can’t happen that the fan hums annoyingly just because the laptop is plugged in or the refrigerator sucks electricity at night.
The latest baby is the Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro – Pro is the addition to the current new generation. 1500 roughly marks the capacity in watt hours. In addition to the 1500, there is already a 1000 and the 2000, with which the series started. A 3000 should follow. The series thus covers the entire range of boxes that can feed larger 230 volt devices and are still portable.
The 1500 has a nominal capacity of 1.5 kilowatt hours, which, like any box, can be used less because the device itself consumes electricity, especially when it provides 230 volt alternating current. At 17.5 kilograms, the box is not light, but it is still easy to lift, carry and stow away. The large boxes are not suitable for hiking holidays anyway. The two 230-volt sockets provide a permanent 1800 watts. 1800 watts means that almost any device with a plug can be operated. Since hardly anyone will operate an oven from the box, the restriction to 1800 watts only affects a few tools. And you can also fire up the box for a short time with 3600 watts. But then the box quickly reaches its limits. So you can’t twirl your curls with a 3000-watt professional hair dryer, the box switches off after a few minutes. But at least you are prepared for such an eventuality. As a permanent solution, it makes no sense to connect a device that drains the battery in 20 minutes. To be fair, you have to consider that a camper usually buys “suitable” electrical equipment. Our mobile kettle only draws 1200 and not 2500 watts, the espresso machine only works with 500 watts. In terms of connections, the box offers two 230 volt sockets, a 12 volt car plug, two USB type A sockets (18 watts) and two USB type C sockets with at least 100 watts.
This way you are prepared for all eventualities. USB-C in particular is important because the self-consumption of the box is much lower if you connect a laptop via USB-C than if you connect a 230-volt power supply. In our opinion, that’s more than enough. With moderate power consumption (laptop and LED lighting), the box remains almost silent, which is very pleasant if you want to work in peace in the tent. If the current is really drawn, the fan makes itself felt, but in our test runs the consumers then always made more noise than the box.
So power is being tapped, what about the feed-in? Let’s start with the simplest: In the car you can charge the jackety using the car plug. As always, the recording is then limited to 120 watts. What does that look like in practice: If the camper drives five hours a day, you have refueled 600 watt hours gross. So you don’t get the box full if you don’t want to drive 12 hours. The limit arises because the car plugs are always fused with 10 amps. Experienced electrical specialists can also tap more electricity in many vehicles, but there is no off-the-shelf solution for this.
Charging is much faster at the 230-volt socket, officially it takes two hours for the box to be full again. It was a little faster for us. In practice, this can be translated as follows: In the lunch break, the box is 60 percent full again. The most important thing for Jackery is solar charging, which is sustainable and also works autonomously. Panel or solar bags from third-party manufacturers can be connected, or even the products from Jackery. Two DC8020 connections go into the box, and more bags can be connected via adapters. We did it with four. In total, the box can be solar powered with 1400 watts. If you take full advantage of this, the box would be almost full within an hour. Provided there is blazing sunshine and you have such a large solar capacity with you.
The value that can be realistically achieved depends on the individual circumstances. If a hut or an allotment is electrified, there is no problem installing the appropriate panels. Unfortunately, these panels also have to be transported when camping. In a small camper you can hardly accommodate six solar bags. However, it is quite possible to permanently install 400 watts on a camper roof and then increase this value with two solar bags. The bags with a capacity of 200 watts would be the right choice fromjackery. Smaller panels don’t get such a box full. There are also solar bags with a capacity of 400 watts from other manufacturers, but they are very unwieldy and bulky.
The devices of the Pro series are made of robust plastic, which still feels comfortable and easy to grip. The whole is held in the jackety colors orange and anthracite. The predecessors still had a permanently installed handle. It was beautifully curved and was very comfortable in the hand. But he noticeably increased the box. And storage space is scarce, especially in van life, so the 1500 Pro now also has a foldable handle that disappears into the cube. The dimensions are usually decisive for van life: This box measures 38.4 × 26.90 × 30.75 centimeters – without connections. With a permanent pitch, space must be left for the cables.
The integrated LED lamp is typical forjackery. The device also comes with a reassuring five-year warranty. The cells are designed to last a full 1,000 charge cycles before their capacity drops below 80 percent. For someone who uses the box in their free time and not on a daily basis, that’s almost an eternity. Some exits and entrances are protected against moisture with flaps. But these boxes are not really dust and water resistant. The power pack and 230-volt converter generate waste heat during operation, so there are ventilation slots accordingly. Don’t leave the box unprotected in the pouring rain. The power supply is integrated. We see this as an advantage, because you don’t have to take another device with you.
The Jackery boxes are the first choice if you are primarily looking for a power supply for camping and mobile life. There is no app for the 1500 Pro – this is certainly not a disadvantage for customers who only want to switch on a device and use it. You are also spared regular updates and the problems that often follow. Each customer has to decide for themselves what capacity they need. Because of storage limitations and rising costs, the bigger the better, it’s hard to say. The 1500 Pro fires almost all 230 volt devices, which offers a nice level of security. If there is sun and a solar panel, you can use a box like this to provide energy for longer stays “autonomously” because it can be recharged every day. Then you don’t miss the larger memory of the 2000 Pro. With the storage capacity you can operate more than just the small consumers (LED, laptop, mobile phone, refrigerator), you can also turn on a hair dryer or a smaller espresso machine. And of course you can also use the box for almost all craft work when there is no network available.
The official price is 1599 euros, in a bundle with a 200-watt panel “Jackery Solar Saga 200” a set costs 2289 euros. In general, you have to expect that the market price will not significantly undercut the official prices due to the high demand. However, regular special offers are typical of the industry.
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