Power banks are originally ultra-portable, pocket-friendly emergency power backup systems. They typically sport USB and DC ports to power up your handsets and other gadgets and can be charged with PV panels. But if you are looking at buying a solar power bank with an AC inverter and one or two AC sockets, they are a bit larger than the regular power banks.
If you are in search of the best solar power banks with AC sockets, here is our list. As you see, the market is currently rich with a wide range of compact, mid-range, and heavy-duty solar power stations. But in our list here, we have some coolest ultra-portable solar power banks with AC sockets for hiking and camping.
A solar power bank with AC outlets can run one or two of your appliances in an emergency such as CPAPs, laptops, small TVs, mini-fridges, and other lite appliances typically under 200 watts. Along with AC sockets, these little power backup systems also sport other charging options like USB ports and DC sockets.
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Best Solar AC Power Bank for Hiking and Camping
There are a lot of brands that offer cool solar power banks on the market today. We have both established and small-time vendors with impressive models. So it is a tough job for a beginner to find a perfect model. Our list will give you an insight into the best solar power banks.
These devices actually become solar power banks only when you attach them with suitable solar chargers. So, we would also like to recommend to you the best solar charger for each model, which will surely make your shopping quicker and easier and let you find the best solution for your next adventure.
1. Powkey 200W Portable Power Bank
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We would like to start with Powkey’s much-touted 200-watt solar power bank. Packing a 42000mAh lithium polymer battery, it features two 120V full-size AC sockets. It has got a handy design and light profile with a weight of 4.2 lbs and a size of 7.87 x 1.81 x 5.71in.
The Powkey device sports a 200W pure sine wave inverter to deliver a safe and stable flow of current to your appliances. Apart from the dual AC sockets, it sports four 2.0 5V/3A USB ports and a 12V DC port of 10A Max. For recharging, you have it equipped with a 15V/2A DC input socket.
With a reliable solar charger, it will take only around seven hours for a full recharge. You can monitor the charging status via the built-in four LED indicators. The power station is made of quality plastic and so you can confidently use it in various outdoor and off-grid situations.
COMPATIBLE SOLAR CHARGER
You can charge the Powkey power station with any solar charger under 100 watts (15~20V) capacity. The brand itself offers a 60W folding solar charger that is suitable for this and popular power stations from other brands like Jackery, Rockplas, and more.
The four-fold solar charger sports an 18V socket and it comes with a connector of 11 pins to support various power stations. Besides the DC socket, it features three USB outlets; they are one USB-C and two USB 3.0 Quick Charge ports with the TIR-C smart chips to ensure a stable flow of power to your gadgets.
That said, you can use the solar charger to juice up your USB-based gadgets and handsets directly under the sun. At the same time, it works as a solar charger for your power station. Overall, you get a highly efficient mono solar charger in a much more portable and lightweight profile from Poweky.
2. Maxoak AC20 120W Solar Power Bank
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As you see, AC20 is one of the lite solar power stations from the famous brand Bluetti. It is a 120W device with a single AC socket. The battery inside is a 200Wh (3.7V 62400mAh) lithium unit. Along with the 110V AC socket, it features other small charging options.
AC20 is indeed a very handy solar power bank. The 7.6lbs device with a size of 7.95 x 2.64 x 8.15 inches, is a perfect companion for campers and hikers to power their life outdoors. One can easily carry it on its strong and handy carrying handle.
The charging options built-in are one 12V/10A carport, one 18W USB 3.0 Quick Charge socket, one USB 2.0 Power Delivery port, and one 2.4A USB outlet. Simply, it has almost all charging outlets to cover your basic handsets and devices off-the-grid.
For durability and heat dissipation, you get the power bank made with quality aluminum shells. It further highlights excellent safety measures, starting with its secure, safe, and high-quality automotive battery that can offer 1000 charging cycles.
COMPATIBLE SOLAR CHARGER
The Maxoak power bank has a solar input voltage of 14V～40V and you can connect any solar panel with MC4 connectors to recharge it from the sun. The brand doesn’t recommend a solar charger, but Dokio’s 80W two-fold solar charger will be a fine choice among many other options.
It is an ultra-thin and lightweight solar charger with a weight of just 4 lbs. The suitcase-like foldable product features highly efficient mono solar cells so that you can take it anywhere hassle-free with the device.
The Dokio solar charger has dual USB sockets apart from an 18V DC outlet. So, it can directly charge your handsets and other USB devices right under the sun. The adapter kit included helps you connect it to any power stations for live charging on the go.
3. Anker Powerhouse 200 Solar Power Bank
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Powerhouse 200 is the entry-level variant of Anker’s solar power stations. It is actually a 100W lightweight, compact solar power bank with a 200Wh @ 57600mAh lithium battery pack. A single 110V AC outlet is there to run your appliances in an emergency.
If you are looking at buying a compact power bank, it is indeed a perfect pick for a variety of applications like adventures, emergencies, survival situations, blackouts, and more. It can comfortably power up essential medical equipment and other small AC appliances.
Apart from the AC outlet, it carries a single USB Type C Power Delivery port, two USB-A sockets, and a 12V carport. These options let you use the device to power up a variety of your gadgets like phones, tablets, and car-powered devices.
Anker Powerhouse 200 is indeed a very lightweight and handy device. It has a weight of 6 lbs and a size of 7.48 x 5.47 x 4.69 inches. The strap-like carrying handle is a strong and durable one to make you carry it anywhere quite comfortably.
COMPATIBLE SOLAR CHARGER
Anker offers only low-power solar chargers. Hence, we would like to suggest you a 60-watt foldable solar charger from AllPowers. It is a highly efficient mono solar charger with an 18V DC outlet, making it suitable for all the leading solar power stations on the market.
Made with highly efficient SunPower solar cells, it can provide you with a conversion rate of up to 23.5%. It is so slim and lightweight that you can fold it down into a small, handy unit for easy moving. You get a strap for carrying it comfortably.
Once unfolded, you can simply attach it to your backpack or tent, thanks to the eyeholes on all corners. The waterproof and durable solar charger is indeed an amazing solution for all your off-grid power needs.
4. Rockplas 200W Solar Power Bank
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Here is the entry-level variant of Rockpals’ solar power stations. With its small and handy size, we would like to include it on our list of the best solar power banks. It has a single 110V AC socket that can output 200W pure sine wave output @ 300 peak power.
The battery inside is a 224Wh/62400mAh lithium-ion pack. That is enough to meet many of your off-grid and emergency power needs. You can carry the little and handy power station easily on the go and get access to unlimited power with a solar charger.
Along with its AC socket, it highlights a range of other charging options.
They are a USB-C Power Delivery port, one 12V/10A carport @ 120W, two 12V/5A DC sockets, two USB 3.1A/5V ports, and finally, one USB 3.0 Quick Charge port. So, it can cover all your handsets and gadgets.
The Rockpals power bank has a very cute and compact design. With a weight of 6.3 lbs, it features a highly durable and built-in carry handle. You can easily put it in your backpack or car trunk and take it anywhere you need portable power.
COMPATIBLE SOLAR CHARGER
Any solar charger works with the Rockpals. The brand itself has a series of compatible solar chargers for its power stations. Here, we have the 60W three-fold solar charger for the little Rockpals solar power bank.
It is a highly efficient mono folding solar charger with an ultra-slim and lightweight profile. It features built-in kickstands so that you can place it anywhere comfortably.
The output sockets include one Quick Charge 3.0 USB port and one USB-C regular port apart from its DC socket. Coming up with a set of DC adapter connectors, you can use the solar charger to charge any power station.
5. FlashFish 300W Portable Power Station
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We have another best solar AC power bank from a brand called FlashFish. With a 300W inverter, it is a more powerful device that also highlights dual AC sockets. The battery inside is a lithium 222Wh/60000mAh unit, which can store quite enough power to back up your emergency devices off the grid.
As you see, it is a very compact and light power station. It weighs just 5.6 lbs and it has a size of 9.76 x 3.38 x 5.94 in. A strong and easy carrying handle is an attraction and a quality carrying pouch accompanies the product as a bonus. So, it is a perfect solution for camping and other outdoor needs.
Along with the dual 110V AC sockets and a mighty 60W Power Delivery input and output socket, it features a range of charging options.
They include one 12V/10A carport at 120W max and three USB sockets, including two USB 3.0 Quick Charge ports and one standard 2.4A USB port. All the USB ports feature smart chips to safeguard the connected devices from damage due to voltage variation and current stability issues.
Like all similar products, you have multiple ways to recharge the power bank. They are a wall outlet, a 12V/24V carport, and solar input.
COMPATIBLE SOLAR CHARGER
The brand offers exclusive solar panels for the power station. Here, we have the brand’s 100-watt folding solar charger to recharge it in a few hours under a bright sun. It is a two-fold mono solar charger with higher efficiency of 21-22.5%.
The reliable 100W solar charger comes with different charging options, other than its 18W DC port to connect it to the compact solar power bank.
They are one USB 3.0 Quick Charge port and one USB Type-C 45W Power Delivery port. These two ports will make you connect it directly to the compatible handsets and gizmos.
In the meantime, with a DC adapter kit of ten pieces, you can use it to juice up any power bank out there. The battery cable, by the way, lets you charge 12V battery packs. It has a weight of just below 4.6 lbs, and it has a folded size of 20.07 x 20.47 in.
6. Goal Zero Sherpa 100 AC Portable Power Bank
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Shrepa 100 is an incredible solar power bank from the famous vendor, Goal Zero. This is a 100W (max) power bank with a 110V AC socket. The inverter inside is a modified sine wave unit that can neatly power up one of your small AC appliances in an emergency.
The lightweight and compact solar power bank is actually an airline-approved and travel-friendly solution. It has got a Li-ion battery of 94.72Wh (14.8V, 6400mAh), which can ensure you a shelf life of up to 6 months.
Apart from the AC socket, it features two 60W USB-C Power Delivery ports, as many as 2.4A USB outlets, and a 5W Qi wireless charger. Overall, you get this handy, compact, and ultra-lightweight power bank with all the basic powering options.
The Sherpa power bank features an interactive OLED display. That will obviously let you track complete system information like charging status, battery capacity, and more. You can use the brand’s famous Nomad solar chargers to recharge it quickly and efficiently.
Goal Zero Sherpa has a size of 7.5 x 1.0 x 5.68 inches and it weighs 2.0 lbs. The quality aluminum build and the handy design certainly make it one of the coolest solar power banks on the market today.
COMPATIBLE SOLAR CHARGER
When it comes to solar chargers, you can use any of the brand’s Nomad, Boulder, or third-party solar chargers. Nomad is Goal Zero’s line of foldable solar chargers and is available in a range of power options.
For Sherap 100, we would like to recommend the line-up’s Nomad 50 solar charger.
It is a highly efficient 50W solar charger with four layers. Once folded, it has a size of 17 x 11.25 x 2.5 in, and it spreads up to just 17 x 53 x 1.5 inches when opened, and it weighs 6.85 lbs only. The charger integrates a USB port and features an 8mm charging cable.
The latest variants of Nomad are available in various power options, starting with a basic 20W one to a heavy-duty 200W one. All are indeed available in ultra-thin folding designs with higher conversion efficiency for the fast charging of your devices and power stations.
7. AllPowers 200W 154Wh Portable Power Bank
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The AllPowers features a 100W inverter with dual full-size AC sockets. With a weight of 1.32kg and a size of 20 x 17 x 4.8cm, it is indeed one of the lightweight and compact solar power banks on the market today. You can easily carry it anywhere on your trips and enjoy access to unlimited off-grid power when coupled with a solar charger.
Besides the dual 110V AC sockets, it incorporates a pair of USB 5V/3A outlets, a USB Type C port, and a USB 9V-12V/15V outlet. Plus, it carries a Qi wireless charger to help juice up your compatible handsets in an easy way.
Other than the solar option, you can also recharge it from a wall socket or carport like all similar solar power banks. The system, in the meantime, integrates an advanced Battery Management System (BMS) to ensure your gadgets get a stable flow of the current.
COMPATIBLE SOLAR CHARGER
For the solar panel, the brand itself offers a variety of options with its 60W folding solar charger as the finest choice for the power bank. It is a nine-layered highly efficient SunPower solar charger, which also comes up in 80W and 100W variants.
It has got three charging options; one 18V DC socket for your battery packs and power stations and a pair of USB outlets for your handsets. The USBs are both 5V/2.4A units, which also feature the brand’s iSolar smart chips for safe charging.
The solar panel is made of highly efficient US-made SunPower mono solar cells. Hence, it is capable of ensuring a conversion efficiency of up to 23.5% efficiency, which is quite enough to juice up your power stations, phones, and other gadgets under the sun.
8. Paxcess 300W Portable Power Station
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The Paxcess power bank has got a 300W pure sine wave inverter and the AC socket is a 110V unit. It can neatly power up one of your small AC appliances in an emergency. The included inverter is, of course, a pure sine wave unit that can deliver a stable flow of current.
Besides the AC socket, it highlights multiple USB ports, including an 18W Type-C Power Delivery port, and DC sockets.
The Paxcess model is one of the best solar AC power banks on the market with a lot of takers. It has a very handy profile for users to carry it comfortably anywhere. With a size of 10.6 x 7.1 x 6.5 in and a size of 7.3 lbs, you can easily manage it in the wild or in an off-grid situation.
COMPATIBLE SOLAR CHARGER
Like all similar power banks, you can use any of the Paxcess or other solar chargers to juice it up from the sunlight. However, Paxcess’s 60W folding solar charger seems to be a fine choice. It is an ultra-portable solar charger that you can fold into a briefcase form after use.
Equipped with multiple USB ports and a DC socket, you can certainly use it to charge your handsets and batteries directly under the sun. Specifically, apart from the DC socket, it features an 18W USB 3.0 Quick Charge port and a 45W Type-C Power Delivery port, which is remarkable to see with this type of folding solar charger.
The solar charger features a TPE carrying handle and strong kickstands. So you can hold it neatly and place it anywhere at an angle of 45° to attract as much sunlight as possible. The built-in TIR-C chips and MPPT controller make it a much more reliable and safe charger, which is durable and waterproof in its physical form.
9. Enginstar Portable Power Station
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With a weight of 3.2 lbs and a size of 8.3x 3.1 x 6.5 in, it is a perfect camper and outdoor solution. But different from the above Enginstarpower bank, it doesn’t equip a carry handle.
Meanwhile, alongside the AC socket, the Enginstar power bank integrates the basic USB and DC outlets. Clearly, it has got two DC sockets and single units of a 5V/3.5A USB port and a Type-C Quick Charge 3.0 port.
By the way, it highlights all the important safety measures to safeguard your gadgets from voltage variations and it touts a built-in Battery Management System, as well.
COMPATIBLE SOLAR CHARGER
It works with any solar charger like other solar power banks. For this model, we would like to recommend you the 40W folding solar charger from Enginstar. As it comes with an adapter kit, the solar charger is obviously fine for all solar-based power banks and power stations.
Made of highly efficient mono solar cells, the Enginstar solar charger can certainly recharge the little power bank in a few hours under optimal sunlight.
It is a four-fold solar charger that features a TPE carrying handle and strong kickstands.
You can take the briefcase-style solar charger anywhere and place it on its kickstands at a perfect angle to grab the maximum sunlight. The result is that you get a highly efficient, ultra-portable solar charger for the handy Enginstar power bank.
FAQs
1. What is an AC Solar Power Bank?
An AC solar power bank is any solar-based backup system with an AC socket. A solar power bank becomes a worthy choice for campers and outdoor enthusiasts only when it comes up with at least one AC socket to run your AC appliances on the go or during a blackout.
2. How to Charge a Solar Power Bank?
As its name suggests, you can charge a solar power bank with a solar panel.
A host of solar chargers are available on the market to charge your power banks under the sun. However, besides the solar charger, you can also charge most power banks from either a wall socket or a carport. Some models also feature a USB-C bidirectional port for charging.
3. Are Solar Power Banks Useful?
The question of the usefulness of a solar power bank largely depends on your lifestyle.
If you are a regular trekker, camper, or hiker, a solar power bank is the only way you can ensure off-grid power out in the wild. Coupled with a reliable solar charger, a solar power bank becomes a perfect companion for your adventures and explorations.
4. What Are the Best Solar Power Banks?
Nearly all leading brands in the portable solar power market offer solar power banks or small solar power stations. Hence, it is not easy to list the best brands in the solar power banks. Some of the brands include Bluetti, Goal Zero, Anker, Rockpals, Enginstar, and more.
We have listed the best solar power banks with AC sockets above. The listicle will be much helpful for you to get through the best of the best models to meet your power needs off the grid.
Final Thoughts
That has been our list of the best solar power banks with AC inverters and sockets. These little devices are actually the smallest variants of portable solar generators with one or two AC sockets and other charging options like USB and DC sockets. You can use these tiny power backup systems to run your emergency AC devices in situations where you can’t carry the bigger and heavy power stations.
Vahid Vee is a full-time blogger who is highly passionate about off-grid and sustainable power systems and is an expert at researching and exploring new topics, checking facts, and presenting things in simple language. As an avid observer of the global off-grid power and battery market, he is really excited to share with you the latest trends, fresh products, and other developments in the markets. #Contact Email @ veevahid@gmail.com – LinkedIn – Full blog profile.
Do you have a portable solar charger ?
230vac-200>500w
AC output should be on automatically when the sun is up