Patriot Solar Power Generator Reviews 2022: Is It Worth Your Money?

A high-quality generator can be helpful in a variety of ways in these uncertain times.

If you’re shopping for a solar generator for emergency backup power, camping, or to survive a potential grid outage, you’ve probably heard about the Patriot Solar Power Generator.

You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for a portable solar generator with a ton of features that works well in an emergency or even just while camping. Continue reading our comprehensive reviews of Patriot solar power generators.

What Is The Patriot Power Generator?

A common power generator for home power outages is the Patriot Power Generator 1800. Both solar panel charging and AC outlet charging (using the outlets on the main power grid) are available as charging methods.

This item is a follow-up to the Patriot 1500, which was infamously recalled because it kept catching fire.

Although I haven’t heard any reports of the 1800 catching fire, I think it’s important to keep in mind when choosing a retailer.

If you’re anxious, perhaps talk to the customer service staff.

The Patriot 1800 offers a wide variety of outputs. Outputs on this solar generator include:

• 2 X AC Outlet (Regular Power Outlets)
• 1 X DC Output (Like A Car Charger)
• 4 X USB Outputs
• 1 X Anderson Powerpole Outlet (Used For Emergency Equipment)

If you don’t use the 1800W output to its maximum, you could theoretically have enough power to run 8 different appliances simultaneously. I don’t think you would ever need to plug in that many things at once, though.

Despite being referred to as 1800, this generator’s battery capacity is only 768Wh (watt-hours), which is rather underwhelming for such a sizable generator.

The Patriot 1800 is quite substantial when it comes to size.

It’s similar in size to a large desktop computer and weighs a whopping 40 lbs.

It’s nice that you get a lot of free stuff when you purchase the Patriot Power Generator.

Free items included with the Patriot 1800 are:

• Patriot power cell
• Solar panel extension cord
• 72-hour survival food kit
• Kettle with water purification system
• HaloXT flashlight
• Solar air lantern
• Blackout-survival library
• USB battery kit
• Good customer service contacts

The exorbitant price feels a little more tolerable thanks to these complimentary items.

The Patriot is definitely aimed at people looking to make it through a freak lightning storm or other emergency situations, with books like “The Generator Survival Checklist” and “The Blackout Response Guide” all pushing that independence mindset. For those who reside in tiny homes, I’d say it would also be beneficial.

You May Also Like: How To Build A DIY Solar Generator?

Features Of Patriot Solar Power Generator

The Patriot Power Generator is solar-powered, which is a very practical feature because it charges in the sun. You can even use it indoors without fear because it is so safe to use, quiet, and fume-free.

Let’s face it: running a generator constantly can be very expensive in terms of gas if you are experiencing an outage that will keep you without electricity for even a few days. With this generator, you never have to worry about having gas money on hand because one “charge” from the sun can keep it going for a very long time.

It can cost more than $200 in gas alone to run a typical gas-powered generator for even a week. You can save a lot of money just by using Patriot Power generators because they are powered by the sun, which is a free resource.

In addition, the generator offers the following benefits that make it unique when compared to other generators:

• Super lightweight at only 38 pounds
• 100% solar power
• Full one-year money-back guarantee
• Up to 1500 watts of clean, renewable power
• 100-watt folding solar panel with cells made by Bosch, a reputable company
• 25-foot solar panel extension cord

In other words, everything you need to start using the Patriot Power 1500 generator is included when you order it. It even arrives fully charged, so you have no excuse not to use it right away if necessary.

The company also promises to send some extra items that you’ll find useful when you order the generator, such as some “survivalist” items that can help if you ever need to use the generator.

This includes a portable water filter, a multi-tool, and even a deck of cards.

Pros And Cons Of Patriot Power Generator

Pros

• Eco-friendly solar charging
• Up to 12-month shelf life
• 2,500 life cycles
• Quite robust

Cons

• Very heavy at 40 lbs
• Noisy cooling fans
• Very expensive
• Poor battery capacity
• Unrealistic claims from the manufacturer
• Limited AC outlets
• Biased YouTube reviews

Patriot Power Generator Benefits

Eco-friendly Solar Capabilities

As you are aware, the Patriot 1800 includes a solar panel kit, making it simple to produce backup power for your home without depending at all on the main power grid.

After a blackout is over and my home’s electricity is back to normal, I like to set up my solar panels in the backyard and connect them to the Patriot 1800 inside (just in case it rains).

I can produce my backup energy in the most environmentally friendly manner possible in this way. I can wait a few days for it to finish charging through the sun because I’m not usually in a hurry.

It Holds Charge For 6-12 Months

Most solar generators and portable power stations will lose their charge at around the 6-month mark, but the Patriot has a maximum charge retention time of 12 months.

This makes it perfect if you only occasionally experience power outages; all that is required is an annual recharge to ensure that the product is still holding a charge.

It Has 2,500 Battery Life Cycles

The Patriot 1800 supposedly has 2,500 life cycles according to the manufacturer, though that’s obviously quite hard to test out anytime soon.

Theoretically, this implies that you could use the item continuously for close to seven years before needing to replace it.

Patriot Power Generator Shortfalls

I’m not going to sugarcoat it; there are a lot of aspects of this product that I dislike.

First of all, the 4Patriots YouTube channel hosts the majority of the Patriot 1800 reviews you’ll find online. That’s never a good sign.

There are a few downsides to this product, here are some to consider:

It’s Very Heavy

Amusingly, the manufacturer describes this product as “lightweight” despite the 1800 weighing a whopping 40 lbs!

The weight won’t be a big deal to you if you’re only using this as backup power or off-grid power, though. However, if you plan to take this camping, you’ll undoubtedly find it difficult to transport.

It Can Be Noisy

The world’s loudest cooling fans will come after you if you reside in a warmer region of the country.

Okay, a little exaggeration there, but this power generator can get hot, and when it does, the cooling fans like to let you know they’re working by being loud.

It’s Expensive For What It Is

This product clocks in at around $2,500, which is pretty expensive despite all the free items you get with it.

Now, I understand that most large power generators are expensive, but this thing only has a 768Wh (watt-hours) battery capacity.

That doesn’t impress me much, to quote Shania Twain!

You can purchase other power generators for the same price that have much larger battery capacities, or you can simply construct your own DIY solar generator.

The problem is that for the price, this simply isn’t good enough.

There Aren’t That Many AC Outlets

There aren’t many power outlets for a generator this size.

This is the kind of power generator you would want to use in an emergency situation, yet there are only 2 AC outlets that seem to be very low.

Yes, you could plug in your refrigerator and perhaps a TV or something else, but that’s it.

Not really the best option if your electricity is out for a long time.

At this price point, there are better options with more AC outlets.

It Doesn’t Power Your Fridge For That Long

This power station’s ability to power your fridge or freezer in the event that the electricity in your home goes out is one of its main selling points. They keep talking about it nonstop. Patriot employees take great pride in powering refrigerators to the absolute max.

Although they advertise that this generator can run your fridge for 16.3 hours, in reality, it lasts much, much shorter.

You’d be lucky to get 6–10 hours at most for the average US fridge or freezer’s size!

That will fall even further if you also power other things and appliances.

How Fast Can The Patriot Power Generator Be Charged?

AC outlet and solar panels are the two main ways that this solar-powered generator is charged.

AC outlet charging = 3 hours to a full charge

Solar panels charging = 10 hours to a full charge (in good conditions)

Obviously, charging from an AC outlet is faster, but if you have the time to spare, I suggest using solar panels to be more environmentally friendly.

If you can, get your hands on bifacials for more effective charging.

Factors To Consider Before Buying A Portable Solar Generator

While I primarily purchased the Patriot Power Generator 1800 for use during blackouts, you could also take one camping or use it for off-the-grid living.

Whatever you’re using it for, here are some things to consider before buying any of the solar-powered generators on the market:

Battery Capacity

One of the first things you should consider is the battery’s capacity. You don’t need a solar generator with a large capacity if you’re only using it to run your phone and tablet for a few days while camping.

However, you need something with enough power to run large appliances like a fridge or a freezer if you live off the grid or are trying to get a reliable solar generator in case of a power outage.

Solar Charging Speed

If you want to be more environmentally friendly when it comes to your power generator, solar charging is a fantastic choice.

You must first determine how quickly your generator can recharge.

For instance, most places in the US only get ideal solar panel sunlight for around 5-6 hours per day, and that’s assuming it’s not a cloudy day.

For solar power generators that take 12 hours to charge via solar panel, you’ll be lucky to charge them fully over 2 days.

Portability

While a lot of solar generators describe themselves as “portable,” a lot of them really aren’t.

Although 40-pound solar generators are technically portable because they don’t need to be connected to anything, they are very heavy and challenging to transport.

For larger solar generators, you can probably drive them to a campsite and carry them a short distance to your tent, but that’s about it.

Just let’s say that carrying the heavier one won’t be a good idea if you’re trying to climb mountains or flee a natural disaster.

Is Patriot Solar Power Generator Worth Buying?

All of this means that, like any other product, the Patriot Power 1500 generator has both advantages and disadvantages.

Choose which features are most important to you before making any other decisions.

While some people think $2000 is a bit much to pay for a solar-powered generator, this doesn’t negate the fact that this generator offers a lot of benefits and has more than a few very satisfied customers.

When a solar-powered generator is what you want, there is even a new and improved model called 1800 that offers roughly 50% more power and close to 30% more storage than 1500.

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