Our Unbiased Jackery 880 Review

When it comes to picking a battery pack for camping or emergencies, it can be hard to narrow it down. There are a lot of options out there, and some are better than others, but only if you know what to look for. 

Jackery Explorers are a great option for those that want to be a little more environmentally friendly or want to be able to charge up even on the go. It has plenty of power, is fairly lightweight and compact, and can charge multiple devices at once. 

If you want to learn more about the specs you should look out for when picking out a battery bank, or what to know more about the Jackery Explorer 880 specifically, continue reading below. 

Features of the Jackery Explorer 880

Battery

On top of having a battery that can hold 880watt-hours of battery per charge, it also has a built-in battery management system to help protect and manage circuits, voltage, temperature, and other safety operations. 

The battery itself is a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) battery, which is the same battery that Tesla uses in their Powerwalls. 

Inverter

The purpose of an inverter is to change the power you are getting from the sun into AC power. By using the pure sine wave AC inverter that Jackery used, your AC outlets are about to get 1000 watts of power at a time and can also handle a 2000-watt surge. 

Power

A lot of solar generators that we review will claim to have a certain power, but not be able to handle what they claim. For example, if they claimed to be 880 and have 880 watts, what most of them mean is that they can only handle a surge of 880.

Otherwise, they will shut off after about five minutes of pulling that much. Usually, they can only use half of what they claim continuously without shutting down. That isn’t the case with the Jackery Explorer 880 solar generator.

When it says it is an 880, that means it has an 880 watt-hour battery. It can actually pull 1000 watts continuously and handle 2000w surge peak. Only after it crosses 1000 watts continuously or a surge of more than 2000 watts will the Jackery shut down. 

Charge Controller

The charge controller is an MPPT controller that is made of top-quality material. This charge controller helps to charge your generator faster with solar and provides safety during charging with the right solar panels. It also offers over voltage protection so it doesn’t get damaged when recharging. 

The MPPT technology is built right into the generator, so you don’t have to carry anything else around. By having one built in, the solar charging efficiency can increase the recharging efficiency by 23%. 

Charging

There are 3 ways to charge the Jackery itself. You can charge it with DC power (using a car charging port), AC power (like a standard wall outlet), and solar power. That way, no matter where you are or what resources and power supply you have available to you, you can charge this generator so it is available when you need it. 

Outlets

The Jackery has 8 different ports so that you can charge 8 different devices at once. There are three pure sine wave AC outputs, which are traditional wall outlets you would have in your home. 

There are three USB-C Chargers and also one USB-A and one 3.0 quick charge port. Finally, there is also a 12V DC port. This is similar to a charging port you would have in your car. 

Solar Panel

Solar panels are not included with the Jackery Explorer 880 unless you purchase a bundle. However, you can buy the solar panels on their website as well.

 

Jackery requires solarsaga 100-watt panels. The 880 is designed to handle one or two of these panels at a time. These Jackery solarsaga 100w panels are designed to plug right into the generator, and fold up small when not in use. 

Additional Features

One of the most interesting features that all Jackery Explorers possess is that after not being used for a while, they automatically turn on. They will wait 12 hours, and if they haven’t been used for more than 10 watts of power, they will automatically turn off. 

Size and Weight

The Jackery 880 weighs 21.8 pounds just for the generator. The dimensions for the generator are 13.1 by 9.2 by 11.1 inches. This makes the unit a little on the heavy side but small and compact enough for easy storing. 

About the Jackery Company

Jackery isn’t a new company. They have been around for many years now and have a good reputation among their customers. Their customer support and customer service are good as well and have always been available and kind when we have called or emailed for advice or help.

They do produce their products in China but don’t seem to have sacrificed quality. Since most of the lithium mines are in China, it makes sense for them to be built. 

Jackerys are also easy to find. You can buy them on their online store, or at stores like Home Depot and Lowes. 

Benefits of the Jackery Explorer 880

Portability

Weighing under 22 pounds, this generator is easy to take along with you. Compared to gas generators, it is usually much more compact and easy to take along with you. Even with the solar panels, it doesn’t take up much space in your RV, camper, vehicle, or campground. 

You can also take it with you anywhere around your campsite, so you aren’t stuck near your car or RV while something is charging, and you can instead walk around and use your devices anywhere you want. 

Functional

With a simple display screen and no unnecessary buttons or flaps, it is easy for even someone inexperienced with battery packs to able to use the Jackery 880. This also reduces the chances of breaking something on your generator. 

It also comes with a large handle that is large and sturdily built right into the case. You don’t have to struggle with lifting a heavy and awkward generator when you can just grab it with one hand and go. 

The display screen makes it easy to not only see how much of the battery is left, but where the charge is going, and what your input and output are looking like. If you’ve ever used a gas generator, you may be aware of how loud they are.

That isn’t the case with the Explorer 880. It runs almost completely silent, with an occasional fan coming on if needed for air circulation. It can also handle cold and hot weather pretty easily without sacrificing quality or performance, so you can go on adventures anywhere without disturbing your neighbors.

Can Charge Multiple Things at Once

With 8 ports, you can charge up to 8 things at one time, as long as it doesn’t use more than 1000 watts of power combined. As long as you have a variety of car chargers, UBS cords, and regular wall plug-ins, you can realistically use all of them at once. 

It is worth noting that the more you have plugged in, the slower charging for each device will become as the battery pack has to break up the power and divide it between each device. 

Solar Charging

Unlike gas generators, you don’t have to keep a canister of fresh gas nearby at all times. The Jackery 880 can run completely on solar power, provided you bought the solarsaga 100w solar panels to use with it. 

While it does charge fairly slowly, it is nice in case you need some emergency power or want a generator just in case. It can also supplement your power usage if your usual power source just doesn’t have enough juice to support what you need. 

Cons of the Jackery Explorer 880

Fairly Easy to Break

If you are clumsy and tend to drop things you are carrying, you might need to be extra careful. A lot of the outer parts of the Jackery are made from plastic. While they are pretty durable and can handle falls without much problem, too many can cause the plastic to snap if you aren’t careful. 

Need Specific Solar Panels

Unfortunately, you can’t just go and buy bigger solar panels to charge the Jackery Explorer 880. They require specific solar panels to use with their battery bank. This means that you have to deal with the lower wattage solar panels.

Also, their solar panels aren’t waterproof and tend to get overheated fairly easily. This isn’t ideal, and there are definitely better solar panels out there, but you, unfortunately, can’t use them. 

Low Wattage

While Jackery does have many different wattage options available, for the price the Jacery 880 might not be worth it for someone who can buy a stronger gas generator for a lot cheaper. 

For solar chargers, it is actually a pretty cheap option, but the high price with the low wattage may not be ideal or practical for some. 

Comparison with Other Brands

Generator	Peak Watts	Charging Time	Total Number of Cycles	Cost per Cycle	Dimension	Weight
Jackery Explorer 880	8000W	6.5 hrs.	500	$1.8	15.4 x 14.8 x 11.6 in	21.8lbs.
Bluetti EB70S	800W	3-4 hrs.	2,500+	$0.2	12.6 x 8.5 x 8.7 in	21.4lbs.
Vigorous VXL1000	900W	6 hrs.	2000	–	16.3 x 10.2 x 6.1 in	16.5lbs.

What Can the Jackery 880 Power Station Power?

Since it only has 1000 watts of continuous power, the Jackery 880 isn’t designed to work for bigger items.

A kettle, AC, and some coffee makers are likely out of the question, as they can hit power of up to 1500 watts while running. While the website says it can run a microwave, you will want to make sure that it isn’t a microwave that runs on more than 1000 watts, or your generator won’t be able to run it. 

However, if you just have a few small things to run or charge, that is a lot more ideal. Things like blenders, low-wattage coffee makers, and pressure cookers can all be used with your Jackery. So can mini-fridges and CPAP machines. 

How Do You Charge a Jackery Portable Charger?

There are three ways to charge a Jackery Portable Charger. You can either charge it with a car outlet, an AC outlet, or solar panels. The cords for charging via car and AC outlets come with the battery bank, but the solar panels have to be purchased separately. 

How Long Does It Take To Charge a Jackery 880?

Depending on what you use to charge a Jackery 880, how long it takes to charge differs. For example, with one solar panel at 100 watts, it can take up to 10 hours. For two solar panels, that number drops to 6.5 hours. 

AC charging also takes 6.5 hours, and using a car outlet takes 12.5 hours.

How Long Can a Jackery Charge My Devices?

Again that depends on the device and the wattage required. Here are some common devices people use the Jackery to charge and how long the battery will last. 

• Blender: 2.3 hours
• Drill: 2.3 hours
• Microwaves: 42 minutes
• Electric grill: 46 minutes
• Coffee maker: 1.28 hours
• Pressure cooker: 46 minutes
• Mini fridge: 60 hours
• TV: 10 hours
• CPAP: between 15.5 to 70 hours depending on usage. 

A phone/iPhone and laptop/Macbook can be charged several times over. Usually, a phone can be charged fully about 80 times, while laptops can be charged 4 or 5 times over.

A tablet or iPad can generally be charged somewhere between these two. Even a camera can be charged around 40 times. Exact numbers can’t be given as there is a lot of variety, such as pro, xs, max, and plus versions. 

There are a variety of other electronics, accessories, and appliances you can charge with these, and in our experience, they all charge fast. We have a lot of crazy gadgets when we go camping, like speakers, tablets, a flashlight, games, refrigerators, tools, kitchen appliances, devices for heat, a portable light, fans, and phones with basically no battery life (old models), and we were able to charge up everything we needed with this 880wh. I don’t think we will be going off-grid anytime soon, but this device still lets us go and explore the great outdoors anyway. 

All we did was let it charge outdoors in the sunlight for a few hours, and we were good all night. If we needed a bit more power on cloudy days, we plugged it into the car output. 

What Is the Difference Between the Jackery 880 and 1000?

The main difference between the Jackery 880 and 1000 is the amount of battery bank you have. While it still runs at 1000 watts of continuous power and has a surge capability of 2000 watts, the Jackery 1000 has a battery that can hold 1002 watt-hours, instead of 880. 

They both have the same number and kinds of outlets and run on the same solar panels. Because of the larger battery, the Jackery 1000 is also a little larger and heavier. The Jackery 1000 also takes 7 hours to charge via AC power, 14 via car power, and 8 via solar panels. 

So really, when choosing between them, it comes down only to your price tag and how much battery you’d like to have in one charge. 

Are Jackery Power Stations Worth It?

It is really up to the individual whether a Jackery power station works for them. If you need a lot of power or don’t get a lot of sun in your area, it may not be. 

However, people that look at solar generators tend to find Jackery to be well worth it. The prices aren’t bad. Even though solar generators generally cost more than gas ones, it is a one-time purchase. You don’t have to constantly go and get more gas to fuel your machine. 

It is also better for the environment and quieter. 

Is There Anything Better Than a Jackery?

Many find Jackery products to be the best. However, there are alternatives if their designs don’t work well for you. Bluetti, Ecoflow, Goal Zero Yeti, Lion Energy, and Anker are all comparable brands that might have designs that suit your needs better. 

How Long Do Jackery Power Stations Last?

Due to the way lithium batteries work, they usually have an average of 2 to 3-year lifespans. This is because lithium batteries can handle about 500 full cycles. A cycle is when the battery goes from fully charged to fully drained. 

Most people can hit 500 full cycles in a couple of years. However, that doesn’t mean that in 2 years, your battery will just die. Instead, after 500 years, the batteries usually drop down to 80% efficiency. 

This is disappointing, but heavily based on the way lithium batteries work, and not Jackery. Currently, lithium batteries are the best options we have, but there are still some drawbacks. 

What Is the Best Jackery To Buy?

We found that the Jackery 1500 suited our needs best. It had enough power and was a good price. However, if you only need a little power, it may be too much for you. 

When determining the Jackery that works best for you, look at the battery capacity, the amount of wattage it can handle at once, and the types and amount of outlets they have. These are the main factors that will help you determine which one works best for your needs. 

Related Article:

Power Up Your Adventures: How to Choose the Perfect Jackery for Your Needs

Jackery 880 Specifications

Capacity	880Wh (21.6V, 40.8Ah)
Power Outputs	110VAC, 60Hz, 1000W (2000W Surge Peak)
DC Charging Input	12V-30V (163W Max)
Auto Shutoff	No
Size	33.3 x 23.3 x 28.3 cm
Weight	21.8 lbs (9.9 kg)
Included	Car Charging Cable,AC & AC Cable (2 Parts),User Manual
Warranty	2-Years Warranty
Optional Accessories	Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel
Measurements	13.1 x 9.2 x 11.1 inches
Maximum Output Power	2000W Surge Peak
AC Output Voltages	110VAC
AC Overloads	Yes
AC Output Frequency	60Hz
AC Cooling Fan	Yes
Charging Rates	2000W
Charge Times	6.5 Hours
Flashlight	Yes
12V DC Output Voltage	12V, 10A
LCD Meters	Yes
Self Discharge	No

Not the Right Jackery? Check out our other reviews:

Jackery 2000 Pro

Jackery 1500

Jackery 1000

Jackery 1000 Pro

Jackery 500

Jackery 550

Jackery 300

Jackery 290

Jackery 240

Jackery 160

What Can It Power?

---