Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus: this electric charging station can power your home or office for two weeks

Central Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

If the sun is shining steadily above your head, then solar generators are the solution, right? They allow you to capture and store free energy, convert it into electricity and store it in batteries.

Jackery is proposing a new power plant called the Explorer 2000 Plus, which is a complete game changer. You can upgrade it from a simple unit that is suitable for a day or two, to a set of batteries and solar panels that can power your home for two weeks. You read correctly : two weeks!

Here I will focus on the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus alone, and I will cover the rest in the future (when the sun decides to reappear in the sky here in the UK).

Technical characteristics of the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus

Capacity : 2042.8 Wh

AC Output : 3 AC outputs, 230V, 50 Hz, 20A Max

Total AC output : 3000W Max, 6000W surge peak

USB-A Output : 2 sockets, Quick Charge 3.0, 18W Max

USB-C Output : 2 sockets, 100W Max, (5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 20V up to 5A)

Car exit : 12V⎓10A

AC Input : 230V, 50Hz, max. 10A

DC Input : 11V-17.5V, 8A Max 17.5V-60V, 12A Max

Battery : LFP (LiFePO4 battery)

Rated load cycles : 4000 cycles at more than 70% capacity

Weight : 27.9 kg

Dimensions : 47.3cm x 37.36cm x 35.94cm

Operating temperature : 0 to 45 °C

Its dimensions are imposing. But you may notice that there is something on the top of my Explorer 2000 Plus. This is a PackPlus E2000 Plus battery pack that adds 2042.8Wh of electrical storage capacity to the system. And it’s even bigger!

Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus with a PackPlus E2000 Plus battery in addition. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

4000 Wh is not enough for you?

4000 Wh is not enough for you? You can connect up to five PackPlus E2000 Plus battery packs to a single Explorer 2000 Plus to get 12,000 Wh of storage.

A single PackPlus E2000 Plus weighs 19 kg, which makes the two units combined weigh more than 46.9 kg. Still don’t have enough? No worries!

You can assemble two Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus units, each connected to five PackPlus E2000 Plus battery packs, to get an impressive energy storage capacity of 24,000 Wh. That’s enough, according to Jackery, to power an average household for two weeks… This installation will cost you 21,800 euros, but can we find something comparable to both this power and this flexibility at the same price?

Okay, back to the Explorer 2000 Plus.

Compared to many power plants, this is a device with a rather streamlined design. On the front side there is a compact display, a few buttons and several electrical outlets.

The front of the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus is very neat and uncluttered: a few buttons, a minimalist screen and sockets. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

To facilitate the movement of the control unit, it is equipped with comfortable side handles, a retractable suitcase-type handle and castors. Yes, wheels. The retractable handle and the wheels make it easier to move the control unit, especially if you use additional batteries.

The wheels make it easier to move the Explorer 2000 Plus. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

If you have an additional battery, a cable is used to connect the two units.

A cable is used to connect an Explorer 2000 Plus to the PackPlus E2000 Plus battery. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The Explorer 2000 Plus passed all my tests with flying colors

There are a number of criteria that I check when I test a power plant of this type. First of all, the inputs, outputs and nominal capacity must correspond to the published specifications (see the list of specifications above).

The Explorer 2000 Plus passed all my tests with flying colors.

The power outlets had no problem with withstanding a continuous load of 3,000 W and even overvoltages of 6,000 W. If you manage to push the power station beyond this threshold, the Explorer 2000 Plus will automatically turn off and wait for you to reduce the load.

In case of heavy load, fans start up to cool the whole. They also light up when charging the unit. And they are silent: only 30 dB, which is the sound level of a library.

The 2,000 Wh capacity is huge

It is also a very well designed device. The USB and 12V outputs are also up to the specifications. The 100 W USB-C ports are particularly useful for those of us who will want to charge our laptops with this power station.

The 2,000 Wh capacity is huge. It can charge your iPhone more than 80 times or run a mini-refrigerator for more than 12 hours. It can also power a portable air conditioner for a few hours, or a powerful welder for 40 minutes.That’s a lot of energy!

And it’s only about the Explorer 2000 Plus. Knowing that a single PackPlus E2000 Plus battery pack can double this power.

Charging ports of the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The device charges in two hours

As for recharging, the device charges in two hours when connected to the mains or to six 200 W SolarSaga solar panels (of the same type as that supplied in kit with the central unit), in seven hours with two 200 W SolarSaga solar panels or in 25 hours with a 12 V car adapter.

As for the robustness, so far the unit has been thrown into the back of a truck, dragged in different places, and has fallen a little abruptly more than once without any damage. This is a really solid product.

After taking it out into the wild and using it for several weeks, I also have an idea about how it will work over time. I have used the Explorer 2000 Plus as much as possible, and I have done a dozen charging cycles, and so far it is holding up well and I have not had any problems.

The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus is a solid and expandable portable power station. If you are looking for a power plant, whether for home use or for your outdoor adventures, this is an excellent choice that should ensure many years of use. And in case of any problems, you can count on Jackery’s excellent guarantee. However, be aware that its price is not given, since the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus costs € 2,900.

Source: “ZDNet.com “