Best Solar Panels Compatible W/ Jackery Explorer Solar Generators

Recharge Your Jackery Explorer Power Station With Solar Panels

Jackery is a very popular power station/solar generator brand that makes and sells portable batteries perfect for outdoors, camping, home emergencies, CPAP users, and wherever you find yourself needing portable power.

There are several popular power stations made by Jackery on the market right now, like the Explorer 160, 240, 300, 500, 1000 and 1500. In the table below, I will compare them and list their inputs and limitations.

You can recharge a Jackery power station in three ways: with the included AC wall charger, in the car with a cigarette lighter port, and with solar panels. Today we’re focusing on how to do it with solar panels.

NOTE if you have an Explorer 1500 or 2000: The latest Explorer 1500 and 2000 use proprietary 8mm connectors. You have to use the parallel 8mm adapter included by Jackery to use the adapter below with third party panels. You can also use a third-party adapter made by Solarenz, click here to view it on Amazon

Related Posts: Goal Zero Yeti 400 Vs Jackery Explorer 500 / Suaoki G500 Vs Jackery Explorer 500

Unfortunately, solar generators usually don’t include solar panels, therefore I am going to help you find the perfect solar panel for you to recharge your Jackery power bank with.

As we’ll see below, Jackery makes its own solar panels that you can use, but there are lots of third-party panels that are compatible as well.

Let’s take a look at my solar panel recommendations first, then I will list each power station and its specifications. Then I will teach you how to connect these panels to your battery, and what you need to think about.

Best Solar Panels Compatible With Jackery Explorer Power Stations

Togo Power 60W Solar Panel for Jackery Explorer 160/240/500/ROCKPALS/Flashfish/Baldr as Portable Solar Generator, Portable Foldable Solar Outputs Battery Charger for Outdoors Camping RV
Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel for Explorer 160/240/500 as Portable Solar Generator, Portable Foldable Solar Charger for Summer Camping Van RV(Can't Charge Explorer 440/ PowerPro) Black
Renogy Solar Panel 100 Watt 12 Volt, High-Efficiency Monocrystalline PV Module Power Charger for RV Marine Rooftop Farm Battery and Other Off-Grid Applications, RNG-100D-SS, Single 100W
Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, 100 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel for Explorer 240/300/500/1000/1500 Power Station, Foldable US Solar Cell Solar Charger with USB Outputs for Phones (Can't Charge Explorer 440/ PowerPro)
ROCKPALS SP003 100W Portable Solar Panel for Solar Generator and USB Devices, Compatible with Jackery/EF/Bluetti/Anker/Goal Zero Power Station, Foldable Solar Panel Charger for Outdoor Camping Travel
Watts
60W
60W
100W
100W
100W
100W
Connectors
DC, USB
USB, MC4 (8mm adapter included)
MC4
8mm
USB, MC4 (includes 8mm adapter)
USB, MC4 (DC adapters included)
Requires Adapter
Foldable
Kickstand
Weight
6.5 lbs
5.39 lbs
16.5 lbs
12.4 lbs
11.65 lbs
10.8 lbs
Size
16.1 x 14.6 x 2 in
17.4 x 12.4 x 2 inches
42.2 x 19.6 x 1.4 inches
21.8 x 26.8 x 1.8 inches
26 x 22.5 x 2.5 inches
64.5 x 20.5 x 1.2 inches
Togo Power 60W Solar Panel for Jackery Explorer 160/240/500/ROCKPALS/Flashfish/Baldr as Portable Solar Generator, Portable Foldable Solar Outputs Battery Charger for Outdoors Camping RV
Watts
60W
Connectors
DC, USB
Requires Adapter
Foldable
Kickstand
Weight
6.5 lbs
Size
16.1 x 14.6 x 2 in
Jackery SolarSaga 60W Solar Panel for Explorer 160/240/500 as Portable Solar Generator, Portable Foldable Solar Charger for Summer Camping Van RV(Can't Charge Explorer 440/ PowerPro) Black
Watts
60W
Connectors
USB, MC4 (8mm adapter included)
Requires Adapter
Foldable
Kickstand
Weight
5.39 lbs
Size
17.4 x 12.4 x 2 inches
Renogy Solar Panel 100 Watt 12 Volt, High-Efficiency Monocrystalline PV Module Power Charger for RV Marine Rooftop Farm Battery and Other Off-Grid Applications, RNG-100D-SS, Single 100W
Watts
100W
Connectors
MC4
Requires Adapter
Foldable
Kickstand
Weight
16.5 lbs
Size
42.2 x 19.6 x 1.4 inches
Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, 100 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Watts
100W
Connectors
8mm
Requires Adapter
Foldable
Kickstand
Weight
12.4 lbs
Size
21.8 x 26.8 x 1.8 inches
Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel for Explorer 240/300/500/1000/1500 Power Station, Foldable US Solar Cell Solar Charger with USB Outputs for Phones (Can't Charge Explorer 440/ PowerPro)
Watts
100W
Connectors
USB, MC4 (includes 8mm adapter)
Requires Adapter
Foldable
Kickstand
Weight
11.65 lbs
Size
26 x 22.5 x 2.5 inches
ROCKPALS SP003 100W Portable Solar Panel for Solar Generator and USB Devices, Compatible with Jackery/EF/Bluetti/Anker/Goal Zero Power Station, Foldable Solar Panel Charger for Outdoor Camping Travel
Watts
100W
Connectors
USB, MC4 (DC adapters included)
Requires Adapter
Foldable
Kickstand
Weight
10.8 lbs
Size
64.5 x 20.5 x 1.2 inches

Note: Scroll left/right on small screens to see the whole table.

Jackery Power Stations Compared – Specifications And Limits

Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 160, 167Wh Lithium Battery Solar Generator (Solar Panel Optional) Backup Power Supply with 110V/100W(Peak 150W) AC Outlet for Outdoors Camping Fishing Emergency
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240, 240Wh Backup Lithium Battery, 110V/200W Pure Sine Wave AC Outlet, Solar Generator for Outdoors Camping Travel Hunting Emergency (Solar Panel Optional)
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300, 293Wh Backup Lithium Battery, 110V/300W Pure Sine Wave AC Outlet, Solar Generator for Outdoors Camping Travel Hunting Blackout (Solar Panel Optional)
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500, 518Wh Outdoor Solar Generator Mobile Lithium Battery Pack with 110V/500W AC Outlet for Home Use, Emergency Backup,Road Trip Camping (Solar Panel Optional)
Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station, 1002Wh Capacity with 3x1000W AC Outlets, Solar Generator for Home Backup, Emergency, Outdoor Camping (Solar Panel Optional)
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1500, 1534Wh Portable Generator with 3x110V/1800W AC Outlets, Solar Mobile Lithium Battery Pack for Outdoor RV/Van Camping, Overlanding
Watt-hours
167Wh
240Wh
293Wh
518Wh
1002Wh
1488Wh
Inverter Rating
100W/150W peak
200W/400W peak
300W/500W peak
500W/1000W peak
1000W/2000W peak
1800W/3600W peak
Max Input Rating
12V~30V
12V~30V
12V~30V
12V~30V
12V~30V
12-30V (Mixed info on this)
Max Solar Watts Input
42W
42W
62W
100W
126W
600W
8mm Input
Weight
3.84 lbs
6.61 lbs
7.1 lbs
13.32 lbs
22 lbs
33.1 lbs
Size
7.4 x 4.6 x 6.7 inches
5.2 x 9.1 x 7.7 inches
9.1 x 5.2 x 7.8 in
11.8 x 7.6 x 9.2 inches
13.1 x 9.2 x 11.1 in
14 x 10.4 x 12.7 in
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 160, 167Wh Lithium Battery Solar Generator (Solar Panel Optional) Backup Power Supply with 110V/100W(Peak 150W) AC Outlet for Outdoors Camping Fishing Emergency
Watt-hours
167Wh
Inverter Rating
100W/150W peak
Max Input Rating
12V~30V
Max Solar Watts Input
42W
8mm Input
Weight
3.84 lbs
Size
7.4 x 4.6 x 6.7 inches
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240, 240Wh Backup Lithium Battery, 110V/200W Pure Sine Wave AC Outlet, Solar Generator for Outdoors Camping Travel Hunting Emergency (Solar Panel Optional)
Watt-hours
240Wh
Inverter Rating
200W/400W peak
Max Input Rating
12V~30V
Max Solar Watts Input
42W
8mm Input
Weight
6.61 lbs
Size
5.2 x 9.1 x 7.7 inches
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300, 293Wh Backup Lithium Battery, 110V/300W Pure Sine Wave AC Outlet, Solar Generator for Outdoors Camping Travel Hunting Blackout (Solar Panel Optional)
Watt-hours
293Wh
Inverter Rating
300W/500W peak
Max Input Rating
12V~30V
Max Solar Watts Input
62W
8mm Input
Weight
7.1 lbs
Size
9.1 x 5.2 x 7.8 in
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500, 518Wh Outdoor Solar Generator Mobile Lithium Battery Pack with 110V/500W AC Outlet for Home Use, Emergency Backup,Road Trip Camping (Solar Panel Optional)
Watt-hours
518Wh
Inverter Rating
500W/1000W peak
Max Input Rating
12V~30V
Max Solar Watts Input
100W
8mm Input
Weight
13.32 lbs
Size
11.8 x 7.6 x 9.2 inches
Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station, 1002Wh Capacity with 3x1000W AC Outlets, Solar Generator for Home Backup, Emergency, Outdoor Camping (Solar Panel Optional)
Watt-hours
1002Wh
Inverter Rating
1000W/2000W peak
Max Input Rating
12V~30V
Max Solar Watts Input
126W
8mm Input
Weight
22 lbs
Size
13.1 x 9.2 x 11.1 in
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1500, 1534Wh Portable Generator with 3x110V/1800W AC Outlets, Solar Mobile Lithium Battery Pack for Outdoor RV/Van Camping, Overlanding
Watt-hours
1488Wh
Inverter Rating
1800W/3600W peak
Max Input Rating
12-30V (Mixed info on this)
Max Solar Watts Input
600W
8mm Input
Weight
33.1 lbs
Size
14 x 10.4 x 12.7 in

Note: Scroll left/right on small screens to see the whole table.

Which Solar Panel Is The Best?

It depends on which Jackery power station you have and whether portability or charging speed is more important to you.

A 100W panel doesn’t generate exactly 100W, but more like 60-80W (or less when the sun is weak), so to make sure you max out the input rating, you might need more than one panel depending on which power station you have.

If portability is the most important factor for you, the TogoPower 60W Solar Panel, Jackery SolarSaga 60W, and the Rockpals 100W are the great options.

Related Post: Goal Zero Yeti 200X Vs Jackery Explorer 240

For RVers, vandwellers, or car travelers that are looking to mount a solar panel on the roof for a more permanent installation, the Renogy 100 Watt is great. If you want to set it up when you get to your campsite and leave it out day and night, the Renogy 100W briefcase is a rigid heavy-duty choice.

Note that the Renogy panels use MC4 connectors, you would need the MC4 To 8mm Adapter to connect it to the Explorer.

The Jackery panels are great as well since they’re a mix of portable and efficient. I like that they have a built-in kickstand that makes it easy to angle the panel. The stand is not as robust as the Goal Zero or Renogy, but it will still be very helpful as long as it’s not windy.

I think it’s great that Jackery has put USB C and USB A ports on their panels in addition to the 8mm output. This lets you charge several devices all at once.

The Rockpals 100W panel is popular due to its versatility, portability, and efficiency. It’s a little bit too large to hang on a backpack while hiking, but you can hang it on a vehicle, in a tree, or put it on a table. This one does not require any extra adapters and is ready to connect to every Explorer model.

Even though I didn’t list it in the table, you should also know that the Explorers are compatible with a solar panel like the No products found.. This is a panel that is easier to mount on top of a vehicle like an RV, van or car.

You can connect it to the Jackery with the SolarEnz MC4 To 8mm Adapter.

What Adapter Do You Need For Solar Panels With MC4 Connectors?

Since the Jackery power stations have an 8mm DC input, we need to use an adapter with panels that only have MC4 connectors.

One compatible adapter that does this with the panels I listed above is the SolarEnz MC4 To 8mm Adapter.

NOTE if you have an Explorer 1500 or 2000: The latest Explorer 1500 and 2000 use proprietary 8mm connectors. You have to use the parallel 8mm adapter included by Jackery to use the adapter below with third party panels. You can also use a third-party adapter made by Solarenz, click here to view it on Amazon

SolarEnz MC4 To 8mm Adapter

SolarEnz Solar Connector to DC8mm Adapter Cable Perfectly Solar Connector Solar Generator Portable Power Station and Solar Panel 12AWG+14AWG Heavy Duty Wire

Check Price at Amazon

This adapter will take a solar panel with a positive male MC4 connector and a negative female MC4 connector and turn it into an 8mm connection, which is what the Jackery Explorers use.

While the Explorer 1000 have both an 8mm and an Anderson input, only one can be used at once. The newer 1500 and 2000 have two 8mm, and both can be used at the same time.

What To Think About When Choosing A Solar Panel

The main thing you must know is that the Jackery Explorer power stations have solar charge controllers built-in, so you shouldn’t buy a solar panel that has a charge controller. If your panel already has one, you need to find a way to bypass it.

Another thing to know is the 12V~30V input rating, this is talking about the VOC rating of a solar panel which usually can be found in the specifications of a panel. This is more important to know about than the max watt input.

Every Explorer have a 30V input max.

You can connect a 100W solar panel to a Jackery Explorer with a 42W max solar input, but you shouldn’t connect a 40V panel to a power station with a 30V maximum input voltage. The panels I recommend above are all within safe voltages, and won’t hurt the charge controller in the Explorers.

Can I Combine Several Panels?

Sure, if you want to combine two panels I recommend using the same kind of panel.

If you buy the Explorer 1000 or larger, Jackery includes an 8mm parallel connector that is supposed to be used with its SolarSaga 100W panels.

If the panel has MC4 connectors, you can combine two panels with a BougeRV MC4 Y Branch.

There are larger MC4 Y branches in case you want to connect three or four panels as well.

Connecting panels together with an MC4 Y branch creates a parallel connection, which means that the voltage stays the same but the amperages are combined. This is the only way you can combine panels for the Explorer power stations.

For the new Explorer 1500 and 2000, I recommend two 12V 100W panels wired in parallel with the MC4 Y branch linked to above.

If you have four panels, you can do two pairs and use both 8mm inputs. Then you would also need two MC4 to 8mm adapters (click to view on Amazon).

You can find the VOC rating of a panel on the panel itself, in the specifications online, or in the manual.

Can I Take My Jackery Explorer On An Airplane?

I have written a post about this subject, click here to read it.

How Can I Improve The Charging Efficiency When Charging My Jackery With Solar Panels?

The easiest thing you can do is to angle the solar panel towards the sun. A panel laying flat on the ground when the sun is just coming up in the morning, or going down in the evening, won’t generate very much if anything at all.

Related Post: Jackery HLS 290 Vs Rockpals 300

For the best efficiency, you’ll have to adjust the panel throughout the day to face the sun.

Another thing is to make sure there is no shade on the panel, not even a little bit. With some panels, a shadow that covers 10% of the panel can decrease the power output by 50% (not scientific numbers, but to give you an idea).

Are There Extension Cables?

You can use either MC4 or 8mm extension cables. I recommend MC4 since they’re available with a lower gauge, meaning a thicker wire, which equal  less voltage loss. I use and recommend the Windynation extension cables.

iGreely makes 8mm extension cables that are 10ft/3m long. Note that there will be a power loss with longer cables.

You need to make sure that the wire gauge can handle the amperage of your panel(s), no matter if you get MC4 or 8mm extension cables.

What About Jackery Power Banks?

You can recharge the Jackery Power Banks with the solar panels above that have USB ports.

Please leave a comment down below if you have any questions.

16 thoughts on “Best Solar Panels Compatible W/ Jackery Explorer Solar Generators”

  1. Hi,
    First Thank you for taking your time in reading this email, hope for myself I can get some clarification. I have the Jackery 500W. I’m wondering what 100Watt solar panel is safe to charge the power station with besides the Jackery Panel? A solar panel that is a good rating panel and also that has kickstands on it?

    Reply
  2. I am looking to Jackery Explorer 160 Power Station. Will this Renogy 50 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel (Compact Design) work with it ?
    When I search Renogy, I saw different Solar Panels with different price points (Some more expensive than Jackery Explorer 160 Power) so I am confused.

    Reply
    • They have the same input limits as the other models, 12-30V (65W max input). I recommend getting a 100W panel to max out the 65W input limit.

      Reply
  3. I have a Jackery 2000. I have two renogy 100w 12v solar panels and two 100w 18v solarsaga panels from Jackery. Can I connect all four panels in parallel and then use one input? I don’t believe I can use two inputs if I have two different types of solar panels.

    Reply
    • Hi,
      Is it the latest Explorer 2000 Pro (2160Wh) or the older Explorer 2000 (2060Wh) released last year? I’m asking because they’re a bit different when it comes to charging with solar panels.

      Reply
  4. Hi I have a Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus and would like to mount a fixed solar panel onto the roof of my Van .What suitable panels are available and what do i require to plug directly into my Jackery ?
    thanks

    Reply
  5. Hello.

    Just bought the Jackery 3000 Pro. What 3rd party ‘portable’ panels would you recommend ? Saw the Mobisolar 100w at a good price but are they fully compatible ? I dont want to spend a fortune on panels and usage is for backup at home. What about connectors ?
    Thanks !

    Reply
    • Hi,
      The Mobisolar 100W should work as long as you connect it to the Explorer with the DC7909 to DC8020 adapter included with the Jackery. I think it includes two of the, so you could get two of those panels.

      If you want more solar power I would need some more details, like how much you’re looking to spend and how fast you want it to be able to recharge with solar. With two 100W panels it would probably take a full 24 hours of sunshine.

      Reply

Leave a Comment