🛒 Anker F3800: • Shop Solar: shopsolarkits.com/products/an... • Use Code: THESOLARLAB for $101 Off Your Order Over $2,000 • Anker: shrsl.com/4f6fc 🛒 EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra: • Shop Solar: shopsolarkits.com/collections... • Use Code: THESOLARLAB for $101 Off Your Order Over $2,000 • EcoFlow: shrsl.com/4el4o ☀ Calculate Solar Panel Cost for your House: www.solar-estimate.org/solar-... 🔔 Subscribe to our UA-cam Channel: @TheSolarLab 0:00 - Intro 0:47 - 60 Second Teardown 1:58 - AC Coupling 2:25 - Favourite Features 5:50 - What we Don't Like 7:17 - The Hidden Light 7:40 - Comparisons 10:51 - Should you buy it? The Anker F3800, This is honestly an underdog in the Portable Power world.. After our recent experience with the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra, we didn't expect this unit to be as impressive as it was! It's still relatively new, and I'm sure it will work its way into everyones list of competitors - but with a 50A 240V plug, a 6,000w inverter and a ton of little features that you get when go Anker - we were pleasantly surprised! We maintain an affiliate relationship with some of the products reviewed, which means we get a small percentage of a sale if you click our links, at no cost to our viewers.
Here are a few tests I would like to see: 1. Connect the unit to a refrigrator and freezer and see how it runs for unit till the battery is drained. 2. Connect the unit to high power tools and see it can start them ( saws , pressure washers, shop vacs) 3. Test and show the fastest way to charge the battery ( gas generater, solar ,ac, combined and etc...)
The fastest way is if you can get all 2400w into the solar inputs, the easiest way is to use the AC, the limit there is 1800w. You can not charge AC and solar at the same time, think the solar will take priority (but don't quote me on that).
@@mobileplayers5008 Any of that? This video told you the unit's total capacity and that it's capable of going up to 53kwh. This unit of measurement is not Anker-specific. Do you want to know how long your specific fridge will last? Measure how many kWh your fridge uses in 24 hours, and you will have your answer. Also, 6k watts with 9k surge will easily start saws, pressure washers, and shop vacs. He demonstrated it running 3.2k watts and that already would take care of the all the above items. your typical home AC plug is rated for 1800-3000 watts depending if you have 15 or 20 amp breakers. cheers!
I like how you explain that the fans kick on and kick off, yeah it's called the unit getting warm so it activates the fans. Even EcoFlow units do it even until the smallest loads.
At $4000, this is NOT cheap. However, if you're not familiar with electrical, this is amongst the best units I've seen that allow for both expansion and easy stow-away capability. Me? I'd grab an EG4 6K and a few 48v/100Ah batteries but I'm comfortable wiring electrical. For someone just looking for a skoolie or CYA system, this is a great option.
When compared to costs for a Tesla Power Wall , $4,000 is dirt cheap ! OK , maybe the Anker lacks some razzle-dazzle of the Tesla unit... but for $4K or thereabouts, you don't have to be in the dark when electric grid isn't functioning. 😊😊
I ordered both the f3800 and the additional battery. Hopefully I can figure out how to hook up my existing solar panels to it. I only have six panels with a max output of 280 watts each. I'm not sure about the parallel/series scenario. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again
NAH... the company probably saved $20 in production costs by not caring if the fans might kick on/off and "annoying " some of us. Multiply that $20 savings for the company across 100,000 units they produce, and you got some serious bucks ! What's the incentive for any company to try to plan for and eliminate all the tiny "annoying " things that we consumers might complain about ? If their products actually perform as well as claimed, isn't that really enough to expect ? If fans cycling on/off annoy a product reviewer, is that somewhat petty in the scope of things... I'd say, yes. 😊😊
@@robertsalata7828 as someone who works on the manufacturing side of the industry you are partly spot on. The issue can still be easily corrected via firmware adjustments, even with the bare minimum hardware required for these budget boxes.
I was wondering what you have been doing with youtube now. This is the first time this channel has come up in my feed. Never seen any advertisement from you talking about this channel. Good for you hope this helps you to stay committed
We haven't told anyone yet actually LOL. we have just been quietly building this, but thank you! this is definitely something different, but also exciting and gives me the chance to have a business outside of cars & have them be fun, and for me again!
YES, I own one!! I deal with their Florida Business. They are great guys and go to the enth degree to help their customers. I couldn’t ask for better service. God bless them and their business. 🙏✝️🇺🇸🥰
We are needing emergency generators for western North Carolina for just the basics necessities. What would you recommend keep in mind that gas is scarce and the generators will have to be carried in or air lifted .
The 240v home panel question: Two Delta Pro's connected by the Voltage Hub to 4 prong cable to supply 240v to home breaker panel does NOT draw evenly from both batteries when running whole house panel. Feeding each leg of the breaker panel in accordance with the "imbalance" in your home appliance setup, bla bla. will this setup have any similar imbalance on draw when supplying 240v using the 4-prong cable to power the home breaker panel?
I have always found ANKER to be an honest brand that doesn't lie on their specs. This would run my whole house, just not for very long.. But my house only has one big 240v load, a 3 ton geothermal heat pump and it only requires about 20amps (4800w) to start up and just a few amps to run..
Run industrial level table saws with this puppy, most use 3 phase power but I'm sure you can find some running 240 volts. You don't need the whole thing, just the motor is good.
The biggest disappointment is that while in use, if you are recharging from AC (say with a generator) you are limited to 120v and 1440w. Makes it a no go for recharging through the AC and maintaining whole home backup. So you must use the XT60 solar inputs and the limit is 1200w per port (at 60v or lower). With the AC charging limit, would have been nice for the solar ports to be more capable. With 2 units coupled together (with the yet to be released dual power cable), you can recharge at 4800w total which is at least acceptable. However in my own testing I have been unable to charge both solar ports on one F3800 with one DC device (like the EG4 chargeverter) which is another limitation. I was hoping to use one Chargeverter at 48v100a to charge all 4 solar ports on my two F3800's at the same time.
since you have two f3800's i thought i would ask a question since I can't seem to find the information anywhere I have searched on web, youtube, anker website, etc. I heard there is a cable or hub that is used to connect the two f3800's together. Supposedly this increases the output from 6KW to 12KW. My question is if I wanted to plug an EV charger via NEMA 14-50 into on of the F3800 plugs, does it get the full 12KW or is there some other cable used to combine the two units with a single NEMA 14-50 connector?
It won't accept the common input. The power has to be from separate DC DC power supplies. There have been other reviews which have done this successfully. It's a safety
The fan cutting on and off is an issue of hysteresis (how long the device has to be at a certain temperature before the fans are allowed to come on). Anker should allow us to program the firmware fan curve over USB from PC or over WIFI from a phone or tablet. This way, you can adjust (within reason) at what temperatures the fans cut on or off, how long they must be at that temperature before the fans come on, and how long they stay on once on.
Thanks for the good review. The only problem with this unit and its little brother, the F2000/767 old the difficulty getting a full solar charge into it if you don't want to splurge on Anker"s very expensive solar panels. I haven't found any other way to get 1000 watts off other panels.
When my old ear buds went TU I randomly chose Ankers to replace them. They run almost a full 8hr day and when they die they charge enough in 2 or 3 min to go the rest of the day plus. So when my bt speaker (Bose) crapped out, I figured I'd try theirs. Again for the battery capacity listed I'm impressed. If any of my less technical friends asked I'd recomend this all in one unit. OTOH, It's way overkill in outputs for my needs.
Would like to see how fast it self discharges sitting idle with no load and no charge. If it sucks itself dry in a couple of days - that could be a concern in some applications.
I was excited about the Anker, especially its form factor, but the downer for me is it’s thirsty AC inverter. Not good for something that proposes to be a home backup product with a UPS.
Ok, i don't know much about this devices but if i have it connected to my house power so it can kick in when the power is down won't the battery in it wear out? Or does it have some kind of technology that makes sure the battery isn't constantly getting charged.
Is there a way for you to take the Anker Solix 3800 unit with expansion and test it on off grid living? Maybe go out to a camp and see how long you can run the refrigerator lights, television, fans, even air conditioning? How long does it take to fully charge using the solar panels they give you? I want to see the limits of this unit is a mini-apocalyptic scenario. Say the grid goes down for several days. Will it power what we need it to?
Crazy suggestion on this product: Not whole home backup, whole Apartment backup / peak shaving. The limited solar input would be fine for what you could install off the patio of your apartment, the limited battery size would be great to drive your window AC as well as your fridge. If your apartment has sense they'd install the integration panel so you could just bring your own anker and pop it in place.
Hello question for you I would like to buy the F 3800 and plug it into my 14-50 Nema cord from my RV. I saw another video where the 1450 Nema output was putting out 240 V. My travel trailer even though I have a washer dryer capability, which I am not using. I have 2 😢50 leg circuits, so if I plug my travel trailer into this 3800 with the 1450 port does it automatically switch over to 110 if you’re not using 240 I’m having a hard time getting help from shop solar or anchor you guys are probably more knowledgeable about it than they are.
isn't the AC coupling not really AC coupling? as far as i can tell all they mean is that it can maximize utilization of excess solar, but it won't keep grid-tied solar operating when grid is down even though the smart home panel is a MID... did i miss something?
I almost pulled the trigger and bought this while the kickstarter was going on, but I ran into some big dental expenses and decided to wait. I’m still thinking about getting one, but I already have the Anker 767 Powerhouse (F2000) and need to rethink my needs before buying. I might just get a 2nd F2000 and call it a day, as I’m planning to do a lot of traveling and camping with 1000 watts of solar panels on my truck and trailer.
I am almost in the same situation as you. I already got the F2600. I connected it to a power inlet and it runs my whole house surprisingly perfect without any 240V appliances. I like the F3800 and the 240V but I love the portability of the F2600.
@@Darkk6969 Great unit. Costco Next pulled the deal of the decade on F2600. 3k for F2600 extension battery and the 400w solar. Can’t beat that no matter how much you try.
@@issameQ Yep, that is the exact deal I took when it was available. Great buy at the time! Also, my Citi Costco credit card let me split the payments up for three months without fees or interest which made it an easy purchase for me.
Thanks for the video. I really like Anker. I've been using their stuff for years. I think something this important deserves to not be skimped on. Anker is kind of like the Apple of solar power stations (in a good way).
TO USE A POWER BANK TO WELD, I THINK WHAT WE NEED IN THE FIELD LETS SAY WE HAVE A small 110 arc welder conected to the power supply, but keep the power supply connected to a 110 power plug meanwhile I am welding. that way we are using and replacing the currient, is that posible , any conflict with That! THAT WAY ITS GOING TO BE A NON STOP WELDING is there anyting like this outhere
I think you missed a lot of stuff which I've found in other reviews. 1. the very limited solar input with a max voltage of 60V @ 25amps which means you'll have to parallel a lot of panels and most of them have a max voltage of 40 odd volts. Which means you're limited to about 1200W of solar. 2. If you have solar and mains connected at the same time it turns off the DC input. Which means it can't prioritize solar charging. 3. If you have it plugged into 120V it only supports the three 120V outputs as a UPS. The 240V outputs don't work at all. 4. The maximum throughput it supports on those 120V plugs is 1440W - the reasoning behind this is they want to keep the breaker @80% capacity. But what it demonstrates is they can't add the battery and inverter to the AC input. It's one or the other. It seems like this unit is one or the other - DC via an inverter or AC. I don't understand the logic.
There's a LOT missing from your long winded response. Some half correct, some completely incorrect. For example the 120V derates to 1440 AFTER 3 hours to comply with NEC derate rules. A lot of your points aim towards off grid users. This is a backup system. If I have this plugged into AC then I have grid power and don't need the 240V supply. It WILL charge off solar at full 2400W if both DC inputs are used and keep the 240 on at the same time.
Connect it to a full size refrigerator! There is a hurricane. I'm going to be without power for a week or two. Show me how long that refrigerator is going to run. Show me how many solar panels I need to charge it up in sunny florida.
I need a unit that will work and (even better) charge in sub-zero (F) conditions. Or at least protect the battery from damage when it gets that cold in my garage in the winter. How well does this work in the cold?
Testing: Would like to see it run a refrigerator, freezer and a heater and for how long it would last. Would like to know does it really recharge, and how long it takes, and the free solar panel? Can it recharge while items are using power?
I like that this is 240 capable right out of the box. I’m thinking of a generator backup for critical loads especially overnight for fans and low power loads. Run things first thing than charge up via generator. Looks like a good alternative to 2 eco flow deltas and the 240 setup.
Which portable power unit would be best to put in your car if you're going on a road trip with an EV just to give you say 15-20 miles of range in case you get to the charger and it's not working
I'd like to see how you connect more than one extra battery. ( Is it like a chain of power?) Also like to see you power multiple appliances and a full size stove. And. Or dryer at 240 What would you have to shut off and how long does it run? ❤❤❤q
yeah these things are cool, especially the Ecoflow Ultra, but in reality you need a gas, diesel, or propane generator for any long term needs...more than a day a two. Get a duel fuel, run it on propane, and you won't have the problem of gas sitting for a long time. Imagine, you buy a predator, Westinghouse, or champion 12500 duel fuel for 1500 max. Done. These power stations are just a shiny object. Good for Van Life, I own two Ecoflows, but they are not serious for home backup.
Get a Honda 3000i generator, plug in a portable blower or small drum fan and set it directly behind the Gen to keep it cool and you can run it for 24 hours on less than 4 gallons. You can keep 2 refrigerators, 2 portable AC units, cable/satellite & Internet, televisions & radios, computers/laptops & smartphones, as well as a well pump running without any problems. Adding the battery banks to the system negates having to run the generator 24/7 I know this because I have done it multiple times after hurricanes hit South Florida and left me without power for weeks.
@@SeanOHanlon yeah but I owned a 3000i, a Eu7500iu, (fuel injected) and I have 2 Honda 2200i with the companion cable. In California, these sit for a couple of months and the gas has ruined the injection system, the filters, or the carb. IF you start them every couple weeks, and run them for 10 minutes, shut off the fuel, MAYBE they work, but still the fuel in the tank goes bad, even with additive. I have done it. I sold the 7500 for 1k, gave away the 3000i, and still have the 2 2200i's, I am going to convert them to propane. I am going to buy and Ultra, and then have the 2200 on propane to feed the Ultra, I don't have time for solar panels. I large propane or diesel generator would be nice, they can sit for a long time
@@gofy8481but see I don't know why you would use propane because you can't carry enough propane around to last you any length of time that you could buy unleaded. And I've already witnessed enough to know that you don't get the same amount of wattage using propane that you do unleaded. That if you have like a 3,000 w unleaded you're only getting about 25 to 2600 if you're using propane. I myself personally would go with a smaller unit because a smaller unit can power up a lot themselves but why if somebody was going to be worrying about a whole house would they even buy 3,000 Watts. 3000 w isn't even enough to power a whole bunch. And a lot of the bigger ones is not clean power. You would have to worry about messing something up if you used a bigger generator. Under 5,000 that are probably clean. But I would go with unleaded and there's always treatment that you could put in with unleaded to make it last longer.
I really want to see a test from a work van perspective. With 200w of solar, and fully charged power tool batteris and the F3800. How long can I power and work with my power tools for. Needles to say, I work in a lot of remote locations and wish to partially replace a generator.
Stupid question, but if I were to get one of these as a backup for my home, do I just plug it in anywhere in the house to an electrical outlet? How does it work exactly?
I have both a f2600 and a f3800. My problem with Anker is you can’t reasonably link the two units for expanded capacity. Also their expansion batteries are model specific. My solution is a lifepo4 48v 100amp server battery that I can hook to either units xt60 dc charging port. Way more capacity and interchangeability at a much lower cost…I’m afraid of the dark.
I'd like to see if you can use it with a welder (something like a Multimatic) or an air compressor. For someone who has it in their garage or small shop already but has a small main panel or detached garage with a small overhead.
I have an idea for a test! Let's say you want to host an outdoor concert event with VERY loud music... let's say for example, two SRX828SP and two SRX835P (JBL). How many extra batteries would I need and how long would they last?
I was considering this for a well pump backup and during extended periods I figured I could charge it with a small inverter generator, but it's my understanding that it can't be charged with the 120volt input while it is providing 240volt power. Can you verify that is the case?
Interesting. I wonder if and/or for how long it can power a Paragon SC-2 Kiln. It might be cost savvy for a private glassblowing studio build because i can just run regular power to the Anker that powers a high voltage kiln instead of getting an electrician to dig high voltage from the main house to the studio. If it can handle 5-8 hours running a kiln , that would be a game changer.
Can you wall charge the power station at the same time as getting 240v output? What happens if you connect two different types of solar panels to each charging port (different voltage arrays)? The owners manual is super basic and doesn't explain these items clearly!
Understand many Anker Professionals are Chinese. English is their 2nd Language. And Difficult at Best. Question I wonder is What About Their Engineering?
You can not use the AC charging and maintain the 240v output. In that use case you need to charge through the solar XT60 inputs. If you charge through AC you are limited to 120v and 1440watts pass through.
You should be able to use different voltage arrays in each port. I was able to simulate this with DC power supplies using different voltage and it charged fine in both (60v20a in one and 48v25a in the other).
What is the most "portable" solar panels you've come across? And whether it's the Anker F3800 or the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra.. until nuclear microreactors (like Radiant) are available, it seems you you still need a gas/propane solution. Any recommendations? Champion 2.5KW Dual Fuel Inverter/Generator? Honda EU2200iTAN ?
Perhaps not as relevant to this specific video (more on the test side of things), but would you be willing to explore the concept of triage as applied to home backup power? So many power tests I see are focused on running high intensity workloads, not "keep the fridge and lights on for 2+ days in an outage" Could possibly throw an inverter window AC in the mix, to simulate the struggle of keeping a single room cool during a power outage in hurricane season (insert your preferred natural disaster here)
This is a great option for home owners but those renting not an obvious one? can always work in the appartment for the frige and freezer if that is the case. on individual use.Still looks like a poweerfull quiet option
Great video. I had not realised that Anker was so competitive vs Ecoflow. Just got myself a Delta Pro + exp battery and I think this would have better suited my needs.
i dont get that u only have 3840wh when its so big. We got eucs thats much smaller with bigger capacitiy. They should make something like this 168v so it could be like 10.000wh at the same size
Serious question: I renovated a 1998 30 amp Class A RV 30 about 7 years ago to be able to work remote anywhere/everywhere. Love it - especially now with Starlink. That said, it has the typical Onan gas generator that at this point in it's life is pretty much useless due to a tech years ago messing it up. A project this summer is to pull that out, ditch it, and retrofit the space as an additional basement storage compartment. I am static right now in a tiny home community until end of the year, but plan to start traveling again after that. Just now starting with solar (two 100w flex mono panels for my Jackery 1000), but plan to add more, as much as possible, to be able to work off-grid. This seems like a good fit for that use case, yes?
Depends on your power need and budget. If you need 6000 watt then this is the one. But if you only need 3000 watt then get something like the ecoflow pro or anker solix 2500. Now if you are willing to build your own system then i recommond the victron 3000 or eg4 6000. It is cheaper and easiest to add more batteries. I currently have a victron 1200w inverter that i have added 4 batteries to it over 2 years. I'm planing to upgrade to eg4 3000w ($700) and 2xeg4 48v battery ($2400) for 10kw of energy storage.
The lack of higher voltage dc solar charging input and not being able to charge from 120 volt ac while using the 240 volt ac output is a deal killer for me. I want at least 150 volt solar voltage as the upper limit. More would be better. I also want to be able to charge from a 120 volt ac receptacle on a dual fuel generator if the grid is down while I am using the 240 volt ac connection on the solar generator. I am not going to pay that much for a solar power station and it not meet my specs.
If it was me if I did buy something like this I would only worried about solar or generator to charge it. And there's plenty of somewhat small generators that will last about 10 hours and in 10 hours if that thing doesn't charge off of a generator producing almost 2,000 Watts well then it's no good. So I wouldn't even worry about the 240. White people keep on asking about dryers you can buy dryers that are 120. May not be that big old dryer that you normally have but guess what if it works it works there's always ways around things. I would have this solar generator and I would buy a regular gasoline generator and then I'd have everything covered. And it's all about as soon as the sunlight comes up that it's trying to produce power throughout the day to charge the batteries. And you should be able to maintain something.
It would last me a few days where my boiler uses 300W running, 100w circulating in the coldest month of the year, or in February when it was warmer it would last me nearly 10 days. If I knew I was going to be stuck with only that battery for a bit though, I could probably force it to be more efficient by setting a much larger swing (heat to 70, cool to 60, repeat)
Like watching your vids, could you do a test review on the Jackery 5000 plus? Trying to decide between the Anker and the Jackery for home backup. Thanks, Ken
What I want to know is if the unit can run 7 devices like a PS5, 2 topdesk computers, a modem + router, and a TV. Then, how long or how many hours can I run these same 7 devices if I have a blackout which happens very frequently here in Raleigh NC? Thank you for your video.
Thanks man for all your work. I live on a boat in Florida and I'm looking for a solution that can run a 1000 watt portable A/C pretty much 24 hr. a day and stay charged with solar. What is you opinion on a solution? Thanks Again.
Thank you for watching! You'd want a decent battery bank to be able to run your portable AC during days without sun and at night time. If you have a boat that's big enough, the DPU could be a good fit, or this unit with multiple expansion batteries! We also built a quiz (link in the description) that would confirm these recommendations. Feel free to try it out!
Is there a way to plug the giant add-on batteries to their other systems (like the little C1000)? I'm guessing it would have to be via the XT60, but maybe you could use the cable too?
🛒 Anker F3800:
• Shop Solar: shopsolarkits.com/products/an...
• Use Code: THESOLARLAB for $101 Off Your Order Over $2,000
• Anker: shrsl.com/4f6fc
🛒 EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra:
• Shop Solar: shopsolarkits.com/collections...
• Use Code: THESOLARLAB for $101 Off Your Order Over $2,000
• EcoFlow: shrsl.com/4el4o
☀ Calculate Solar Panel Cost for your House: www.solar-estimate.org/solar-...
🔔 Subscribe to our UA-cam Channel: @TheSolarLab
0:00 - Intro
0:47 - 60 Second Teardown
1:58 - AC Coupling
2:25 - Favourite Features
5:50 - What we Don't Like
7:17 - The Hidden Light
7:40 - Comparisons
10:51 - Should you buy it?
The Anker F3800, This is honestly an underdog in the Portable Power world.. After our recent experience with the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra, we didn't expect this unit to be as impressive as it was! It's still relatively new, and I'm sure it will work its way into everyones list of competitors - but with a 50A 240V plug, a 6,000w inverter and a ton of little features that you get when go Anker - we were pleasantly surprised!
We maintain an affiliate relationship with some of the products reviewed, which means we get a small percentage of a sale if you click our links, at no cost to our viewers.
Can you run your home appliances during the day with this unit while connected to the solar panels? Thanks also luv your reviews. 🇦🇺
Here are a few tests I would like to see: 1. Connect the unit to a refrigrator and freezer and see how it runs for unit till the battery is drained. 2. Connect the unit to high power tools and see it can start them ( saws , pressure washers, shop vacs) 3. Test and show the fastest way to charge the battery ( gas generater, solar ,ac, combined and etc...)
.... and desktop computers or laptop.
The fastest way is if you can get all 2400w into the solar inputs, the easiest way is to use the AC, the limit there is 1800w. You can not charge AC and solar at the same time, think the solar will take priority (but don't quote me on that).
Yeah this video don't shown any of that. Pointless to watch.
@@mobileplayers5008 Any of that? This video told you the unit's total capacity and that it's capable of going up to 53kwh. This unit of measurement is not Anker-specific. Do you want to know how long your specific fridge will last? Measure how many kWh your fridge uses in 24 hours, and you will have your answer. Also, 6k watts with 9k surge will easily start saws, pressure washers, and shop vacs. He demonstrated it running 3.2k watts and that already would take care of the all the above items. your typical home AC plug is rated for 1800-3000 watts depending if you have 15 or 20 amp breakers. cheers!
Also try and level-2 charge a car @ 30a or something that you can keep consistent between tests.
Thanks!
I like how you explain that the fans kick on and kick off, yeah it's called the unit getting warm so it activates the fans. Even EcoFlow units do it even until the smallest loads.
Now that sounded like a good, honest review, very good.
At $4000, this is NOT cheap. However, if you're not familiar with electrical, this is amongst the best units I've seen that allow for both expansion and easy stow-away capability.
Me? I'd grab an EG4 6K and a few 48v/100Ah batteries but I'm comfortable wiring electrical. For someone just looking for a skoolie or CYA system, this is a great option.
When compared to costs for a Tesla Power Wall , $4,000 is dirt cheap ! OK , maybe the Anker lacks some razzle-dazzle of the Tesla unit... but for $4K or thereabouts, you don't have to be in the dark when electric grid isn't functioning. 😊😊
@@robertsalata7828 Maybe not that one, but have you seen the Anker X1?
@@adamheyman6125 NO, I've never heard of that model. What might make it superior to the Anker F3800 ?? Your reply is appreciated.
Put it in the electrical bay of a mid size 50amp class A motorhome to see it power the rv for a few days of boon docking
Looking forward to your video featuring the Smart Home Power Kit. I want to see how it compares to the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2.
I'm in the market and have been watching dozens of videos. This is the BEST video so far.
I ordered both the f3800 and the additional battery. Hopefully I can figure out how to hook up my existing solar panels to it. I only have six panels with a max output of 280 watts each. I'm not sure about the parallel/series scenario. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again
The fan kicking on/off is because some nimrod on the firmware dev side forgot to set a minimum runtime and adjust the temp parameters.
NAH... the company probably saved $20 in production costs by not caring if the fans might kick on/off and "annoying " some of us. Multiply that $20 savings for the company across 100,000 units they produce, and you got some serious bucks !
What's the incentive for any company to try to plan for and eliminate all the tiny "annoying " things that we consumers might complain about ? If their products actually perform as well as claimed, isn't that really enough to expect ? If fans cycling on/off annoy a product reviewer, is that somewhat petty in the scope of things... I'd say, yes. 😊😊
@@robertsalata7828 as someone who works on the manufacturing side of the industry you are partly spot on.
The issue can still be easily corrected via firmware adjustments, even with the bare minimum hardware required for these budget boxes.
I was wondering what you have been doing with youtube now. This is the first time this channel has come up in my feed. Never seen any advertisement from you talking about this channel. Good for you hope this helps you to stay committed
We haven't told anyone yet actually LOL. we have just been quietly building this, but thank you! this is definitely something different, but also exciting and gives me the chance to have a business outside of cars & have them be fun, and for me again!
there is an amazing one for 295dollar s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DF2oCUp
Thanks!
I was able to get mine to 6000 watts output at 240volts backing up my house. No issues! Amazing.
hey. sorry I don't understand you can run 6000w at one time? and how long can it run 6000w for?
@@Chris-zu4es If drawing the full 6000w, it will only last around 30-minutes.
@@joesimonetti Unless - you use an expansion battery.... double that with each...
By the time you added more expansion batteries you'll end up with a backup power generator 😅
@@tdf123emcee2well that's what it's truly for is back up.
Good review. Yours is the only one that mentioned the handle on the bottom. I'm thinking no one else was strong enough to look under the unit.
I like the style of the delivery in this video. Perfect. To me that is. Cool.
YES, I own one!! I deal with their Florida Business. They are great guys and go to the enth degree to help their customers. I couldn’t ask for better service. God bless them and their business. 🙏✝️🇺🇸🥰
I could listen to this guy all day
We are needing emergency generators for western North Carolina for just the basics necessities. What would you recommend keep in mind that gas is scarce and the generators will have to be carried in or air lifted .
The 240v home panel question: Two Delta Pro's connected by the Voltage Hub to 4 prong cable to supply 240v to home breaker panel does NOT draw evenly from both batteries when running whole house panel. Feeding each leg of the breaker panel in accordance with the "imbalance" in your home appliance setup, bla bla. will this setup have any similar imbalance on draw when supplying 240v using the 4-prong cable to power the home breaker panel?
Well the easy 'cure' for imbalance is to balance the loads on the busbars.
I have always found ANKER to be an honest brand that doesn't lie on their specs. This would run my whole house, just not for very long.. But my house only has one big 240v load, a 3 ton geothermal heat pump and it only requires about 20amps (4800w) to start up and just a few amps to run..
they don't lie. they're just very expensive
2400 watts should be enough to keep the unit and an add-on battery or two charged. That probably covers the vast majority of users.
Run industrial level table saws with this puppy, most use 3 phase power but I'm sure you can find some running 240 volts.
You don't need the whole thing, just the motor is good.
Can it do pass through charging with a small generator like the Eco Flow ?
Any of these things worth their salt can as its a standard now. You would just need to make sure that it supports slow charging via AC.
The biggest disappointment is that while in use, if you are recharging from AC (say with a generator) you are limited to 120v and 1440w. Makes it a no go for recharging through the AC and maintaining whole home backup. So you must use the XT60 solar inputs and the limit is 1200w per port (at 60v or lower). With the AC charging limit, would have been nice for the solar ports to be more capable. With 2 units coupled together (with the yet to be released dual power cable), you can recharge at 4800w total which is at least acceptable. However in my own testing I have been unable to charge both solar ports on one F3800 with one DC device (like the EG4 chargeverter) which is another limitation. I was hoping to use one Chargeverter at 48v100a to charge all 4 solar ports on my two F3800's at the same time.
since you have two f3800's i thought i would ask a question since I can't seem to find the information anywhere I have searched on web, youtube, anker website, etc. I heard there is a cable or hub that is used to connect the two f3800's together. Supposedly this increases the output from 6KW to 12KW. My question is if I wanted to plug an EV charger via NEMA 14-50 into on of the F3800 plugs, does it get the full 12KW or is there some other cable used to combine the two units with a single NEMA 14-50 connector?
It won't accept the common input. The power has to be from separate DC DC power supplies. There have been other reviews which have done this successfully. It's a safety
The fan cutting on and off is an issue of hysteresis (how long the device has to be at a certain temperature before the fans are allowed to come on). Anker should allow us to program the firmware fan curve over USB from PC or over WIFI from a phone or tablet. This way, you can adjust (within reason) at what temperatures the fans cut on or off, how long they must be at that temperature before the fans come on, and how long they stay on once on.
Thanks for the good review. The only problem with this unit and its little brother, the F2000/767 old the difficulty getting a full solar charge into it if you don't want to splurge on Anker"s very expensive solar panels. I haven't found any other way to get 1000 watts off other panels.
Many thanks for ALL THAT INFORMATION 👍👍
When my old ear buds went TU I randomly chose Ankers to replace them. They run almost a full 8hr day and when they die they charge enough in 2 or 3 min to go the rest of the day plus. So when my bt speaker (Bose) crapped out, I figured I'd try theirs. Again for the battery capacity listed I'm impressed. If any of my less technical friends asked I'd recomend this all in one unit.
OTOH, It's way overkill in outputs for my needs.
Would like to see how fast it self discharges sitting idle with no load and no charge.
If it sucks itself dry in a couple of days - that could be a concern in some applications.
I was excited about the Anker, especially its form factor, but the downer for me is it’s thirsty AC inverter. Not good for something that proposes to be a home backup product with a UPS.
Ok, i don't know much about this devices but if i have it connected to my house power so it can kick in when the power is down won't the battery in it wear out? Or does it have some kind of technology that makes sure the battery isn't constantly getting charged.
This will be fantastic to wear as a back pack for longer VR play sessions.
This a joke right 💀
@@cooldudecrashlion Yes, very much so 🙂 I estimate it could run a Quest 3 for nearly 20 days straight. 24hrs a day.
Is there a way for you to take the Anker Solix 3800 unit with expansion and test it on off grid living? Maybe go out to a camp and see how long you can run the refrigerator lights, television, fans, even air conditioning? How long does it take to fully charge using the solar panels they give you? I want to see the limits of this unit is a mini-apocalyptic scenario. Say the grid goes down for several days. Will it power what we need it to?
Crazy suggestion on this product: Not whole home backup, whole Apartment backup / peak shaving. The limited solar input would be fine for what you could install off the patio of your apartment, the limited battery size would be great to drive your window AC as well as your fridge. If your apartment has sense they'd install the integration panel so you could just bring your own anker and pop it in place.
Hello question for you I would like to buy the F 3800 and plug it into my 14-50 Nema cord from my RV. I saw another video where the 1450 Nema output was putting out 240 V. My travel trailer even though I have a washer dryer capability, which I am not using. I have 2 😢50 leg circuits, so if I plug my travel trailer into this 3800 with the 1450 port does it automatically switch over to 110 if you’re not using 240 I’m having a hard time getting help from shop solar or anchor you guys are probably more knowledgeable about it than they are.
Great job on explaining to details and thank you sharing!
isn't the AC coupling not really AC coupling? as far as i can tell all they mean is that it can maximize utilization of excess solar, but it won't keep grid-tied solar operating when grid is down even though the smart home panel is a MID... did i miss something?
I almost pulled the trigger and bought this while the kickstarter was going on, but I ran into some big dental expenses and decided to wait. I’m still thinking about getting one, but I already have the Anker 767 Powerhouse (F2000) and need to rethink my needs before buying. I might just get a 2nd F2000 and call it a day, as I’m planning to do a lot of traveling and camping with 1000 watts of solar panels on my truck and trailer.
I am almost in the same situation as you. I already got the F2600. I connected it to a power inlet and it runs my whole house surprisingly perfect without any 240V appliances. I like the F3800 and the 240V but I love the portability of the F2600.
@@issameQ We have the F2600 as well via special Costco deal.
@@Darkk6969 Great unit. Costco Next pulled the deal of the decade on F2600. 3k for F2600 extension battery and the 400w solar. Can’t beat that no matter how much you try.
@@issameQ Yep, that is the exact deal I took when it was available. Great buy at the time! Also, my Citi Costco credit card let me split the payments up for three months without fees or interest which made it an easy purchase for me.
@@Darkk6969 don’t forget the 2% back from Costco as well as the 2% from Citi. That’s an easy $200. Congrats. Enjoy your purchase man.
My question is , could I use this as my plug in for the motorhome where there are no plug ins ?
Thanks for the video. I really like Anker. I've been using their stuff for years. I think something this important deserves to not be skimped on. Anker is kind of like the Apple of solar power stations (in a good way).
TO USE A POWER BANK TO WELD, I THINK WHAT WE NEED IN THE FIELD LETS SAY WE HAVE A small 110 arc welder conected to the power supply, but keep the power supply connected to a 110 power plug meanwhile I am welding. that way we are using and replacing the currient, is that posible , any conflict with That! THAT WAY ITS GOING TO BE A NON STOP WELDING is there anyting like this outhere
I think you missed a lot of stuff which I've found in other reviews. 1. the very limited solar input with a max voltage of 60V @ 25amps which means you'll have to parallel a lot of panels and most of them have a max voltage of 40 odd volts. Which means you're limited to about 1200W of solar. 2. If you have solar and mains connected at the same time it turns off the DC input. Which means it can't prioritize solar charging. 3. If you have it plugged into 120V it only supports the three 120V outputs as a UPS. The 240V outputs don't work at all. 4. The maximum throughput it supports on those 120V plugs is 1440W - the reasoning behind this is they want to keep the breaker @80% capacity. But what it demonstrates is they can't add the battery and inverter to the AC input. It's one or the other. It seems like this unit is one or the other - DC via an inverter or AC. I don't understand the logic.
1200 watts on each XT60 connector equals 2400
There's a LOT missing from your long winded response. Some half correct, some completely incorrect. For example the 120V derates to 1440 AFTER 3 hours to comply with NEC derate rules. A lot of your points aim towards off grid users. This is a backup system. If I have this plugged into AC then I have grid power and don't need the 240V supply. It WILL charge off solar at full 2400W if both DC inputs are used and keep the 240 on at the same time.
Connect it to a full size refrigerator! There is a hurricane. I'm going to be without power for a week or two. Show me how long that refrigerator is going to run. Show me how many solar panels I need to charge it up in sunny florida.
I need a unit that will work and (even better) charge in sub-zero (F) conditions. Or at least protect the battery from damage when it gets that cold in my garage in the winter. How well does this work in the cold?
@thesolarlab Why does it say 25amp Max for the outlets that include a 50amp outlet?
Testing: Would like to see it run a refrigerator, freezer and a heater and for how long it would last.
Would like to know does it really recharge, and how long it takes, and the free solar panel? Can it recharge while items are using power?
Great video man ! Love content like this ! Would love to see some more anker / Ecoflow product reviews
could you plug a Tesla into the 240 plug and get a charge?
I like that this is 240 capable right out of the box. I’m thinking of a generator backup for critical loads especially overnight for fans and low power loads. Run things first thing than charge up via generator. Looks like a good alternative to 2 eco flow deltas and the 240 setup.
Sure does!
Yes bro same here wth the 521 powerstation fan it picky too even when there Nothing plug-in
Can you run a Welding Machine off of this? Specifically the Lincoln MP210
Which portable power unit would be best to put in your car if you're going on a road trip with an EV just to give you say 15-20 miles of range in case you get to the charger and it's not working
I'd like to see how you connect more than one extra battery. ( Is it like a chain of power?)
Also like to see you power multiple appliances and a full size stove. And. Or dryer at 240 What would you have to shut off and how long does it run? ❤❤❤q
yeah these things are cool, especially the Ecoflow Ultra, but in reality you need a gas, diesel, or propane generator for any long term needs...more than a day a two. Get a duel fuel, run it on propane, and you won't have the problem of gas sitting for a long time. Imagine, you buy a predator, Westinghouse, or champion 12500 duel fuel for 1500 max. Done. These power stations are just a shiny object. Good for Van Life, I own two Ecoflows, but they are not serious for home backup.
Get a Honda 3000i generator, plug in a portable blower or small drum fan and set it directly behind the Gen to keep it cool and you can run it for 24 hours on less than 4 gallons. You can keep 2 refrigerators, 2 portable AC units, cable/satellite & Internet, televisions & radios, computers/laptops & smartphones, as well as a well pump running without any problems. Adding the battery banks to the system negates having to run the generator 24/7
I know this because I have done it multiple times after hurricanes hit South Florida and left me without power for weeks.
@@SeanOHanlon yeah but I owned a 3000i, a Eu7500iu, (fuel injected) and I have 2 Honda 2200i with the companion cable. In California, these sit for a couple of months and the gas has ruined the injection system, the filters, or the carb. IF you start them every couple weeks, and run them for 10 minutes, shut off the fuel, MAYBE they work, but still the fuel in the tank goes bad, even with additive. I have done it. I sold the 7500 for 1k, gave away the 3000i, and still have the 2 2200i's, I am going to convert them to propane. I am going to buy and Ultra, and then have the 2200 on propane to feed the Ultra, I don't have time for solar panels. I large propane or diesel generator would be nice, they can sit for a long time
@@gofy8481but see I don't know why you would use propane because you can't carry enough propane around to last you any length of time that you could buy unleaded. And I've already witnessed enough to know that you don't get the same amount of wattage using propane that you do unleaded. That if you have like a 3,000 w unleaded you're only getting about 25 to 2600 if you're using propane. I myself personally would go with a smaller unit because a smaller unit can power up a lot themselves but why if somebody was going to be worrying about a whole house would they even buy 3,000 Watts. 3000 w isn't even enough to power a whole bunch. And a lot of the bigger ones is not clean power. You would have to worry about messing something up if you used a bigger generator. Under 5,000 that are probably clean. But I would go with unleaded and there's always treatment that you could put in with unleaded to make it last longer.
Can you charge discharge the anker add on battery seperate from the main battery, or does the add solely work when connected to the main battery only?
there is an amazing one for 295dollar s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DF2oCUp
I really want to see a test from a work van perspective. With 200w of solar, and fully charged power tool batteris and the F3800. How long can I power and work with my power tools for. Needles to say, I work in a lot of remote locations and wish to partially replace a generator.
Stupid question, but if I were to get one of these as a backup for my home, do I just plug it in anywhere in the house to an electrical outlet? How does it work exactly?
I have both a f2600 and a f3800. My problem with Anker is you can’t reasonably link the two units for expanded capacity. Also their expansion batteries are model specific. My solution is a lifepo4 48v 100amp server battery that I can hook to either units xt60 dc charging port. Way more capacity and interchangeability at a much lower cost…I’m afraid of the dark.
I'd like to see if you can use it with a welder (something like a Multimatic) or an air compressor. For someone who has it in their garage or small shop already but has a small main panel or detached garage with a small overhead.
well then, we have a video incoming for you! Make sure your subscribed so you dont miss it, should be out in the next few weeks!
It uses a thermostat to run the fan. That’s why it kicks on and off
I have an idea for a test! Let's say you want to host an outdoor concert event with VERY loud music... let's say for example, two SRX828SP and two SRX835P (JBL).
How many extra batteries would I need and how long would they last?
I was considering this for a well pump backup and during extended periods I figured I could charge it with a small inverter generator, but it's my understanding that it can't be charged with the 120volt input while it is providing 240volt power. Can you verify that is the case?
Interesting. I wonder if and/or for how long it can power a Paragon SC-2 Kiln. It might be cost savvy for a private glassblowing studio build because i can just run regular power to the Anker that powers a high voltage kiln instead of getting an electrician to dig high voltage from the main house to the studio. If it can handle 5-8 hours running a kiln , that would be a game changer.
Which do you suggest for a food truck? It’s an interesting test, but I need to be able to pull -3000 watts for ~7 hours.
Does the Anker F3800 have a UPS mode and can it assist if the input power is less than the load requires (likes a Victron Multi Plus2)?
I can't help but wonder if Anker's products overheat and smoke like ecoflow's? Also, is Anker's customer support? Ecoflow's is dismal at best.
If you have no that main charging type in the house how it will be recharged non wifi
“Doinker” is my new favorite technical terminology. 😂 (replacing “dongle” for all the things)
Can you wall charge the power station at the same time as getting 240v output?
What happens if you connect two different types of solar panels to each charging port (different voltage arrays)?
The owners manual is super basic and doesn't explain these items clearly!
Understand many Anker Professionals are Chinese. English is their 2nd Language. And Difficult at Best. Question I wonder is What About Their Engineering?
Both are great tests to run! Thank you🤘🏼
@@TheSolarLab Test also accepted input Charging Wattage throttles down to 700w when batteries below 59 degrees F. AC vs Solar DC.
You can not use the AC charging and maintain the 240v output. In that use case you need to charge through the solar XT60 inputs. If you charge through AC you are limited to 120v and 1440watts pass through.
You should be able to use different voltage arrays in each port. I was able to simulate this with DC power supplies using different voltage and it charged fine in both (60v20a in one and 48v25a in the other).
what's the difference between warranty and customer support though between Anker and Ecoflow?
this would be a great video actually
I've been seeing this battery evo walrus solar generator everywhere and only the company has review videos 😕. Would love to see it here on a review ☺️
Theres the new Yoshino solid state ones that just came out which I'd argue offer a better glimpse into the future
What is the most "portable" solar panels you've come across?
And whether it's the Anker F3800 or the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra.. until nuclear microreactors (like Radiant) are available, it seems you you still need a gas/propane solution. Any recommendations? Champion 2.5KW Dual Fuel Inverter/Generator? Honda EU2200iTAN ?
How does the Anker F3800 compare to the Yoshino B4000?
how many watts can you output at one time?
and how long can it output let's say 1000w before the battery runs out?
Can you charge the unit at an EV charger?
Perhaps not as relevant to this specific video (more on the test side of things), but would you be willing to explore the concept of triage as applied to home backup power?
So many power tests I see are focused on running high intensity workloads, not "keep the fridge and lights on for 2+ days in an outage"
Could possibly throw an inverter window AC in the mix, to simulate the struggle of keeping a single room cool during a power outage in hurricane season (insert your preferred natural disaster here)
Can power a AC all day ? Is it enough to be completly off grid for small hone ?
This is a great option for home owners but those renting not an obvious one? can always work in the appartment for the frige and freezer if that is the case. on individual use.Still looks like a poweerfull quiet option
Great video review.
You had me at “flaccid doinker”😅
Great video. I had not realised that Anker was so competitive vs Ecoflow. Just got myself a Delta Pro + exp battery and I think this would have better suited my needs.
Over panel it’s solar input. If it tolerates it, that could be useful for areas with lots of clouds.
i dont get that u only have 3840wh when its so big. We got eucs thats much smaller with bigger capacitiy. They should make something like this 168v so it could be like 10.000wh at the same size
Which of these portable battery inverters has the most solar input?
Serious question: I renovated a 1998 30 amp Class A RV 30 about 7 years ago to be able to work remote anywhere/everywhere. Love it - especially now with Starlink. That said, it has the typical Onan gas generator that at this point in it's life is pretty much useless due to a tech years ago messing it up. A project this summer is to pull that out, ditch it, and retrofit the space as an additional basement storage compartment. I am static right now in a tiny home community until end of the year, but plan to start traveling again after that. Just now starting with solar (two 100w flex mono panels for my Jackery 1000), but plan to add more, as much as possible, to be able to work off-grid. This seems like a good fit for that use case, yes?
Depends on your power need and budget. If you need 6000 watt then this is the one. But if you only need 3000 watt then get something like the ecoflow pro or anker solix 2500. Now if you are willing to build your own system then i recommond the victron 3000 or eg4 6000. It is cheaper and easiest to add more batteries.
I currently have a victron 1200w inverter that i have added 4 batteries to it over 2 years. I'm planing to upgrade to eg4 3000w ($700) and 2xeg4 48v battery ($2400) for 10kw of energy storage.
The lack of higher voltage dc solar charging input and not being able to charge from 120 volt ac while using the 240 volt ac output is a deal killer for me. I want at least 150 volt solar voltage as the upper limit. More would be better. I also want to be able to charge from a 120 volt ac receptacle on a dual fuel generator if the grid is down while I am using the 240 volt ac connection on the solar generator. I am not going to pay that much for a solar power station and it not meet my specs.
If it was me if I did buy something like this I would only worried about solar or generator to charge it. And there's plenty of somewhat small generators that will last about 10 hours and in 10 hours if that thing doesn't charge off of a generator producing almost 2,000 Watts well then it's no good. So I wouldn't even worry about the 240. White people keep on asking about dryers you can buy dryers that are 120. May not be that big old dryer that you normally have but guess what if it works it works there's always ways around things. I would have this solar generator and I would buy a regular gasoline generator and then I'd have everything covered. And it's all about as soon as the sunlight comes up that it's trying to produce power throughout the day to charge the batteries. And you should be able to maintain something.
I live in the Northeast and our house uses a trio oil boiler using 500 watts per hour intermittently. Will this run that? For how long?
Nobody will be able to answer your question without you first knowing how many watts your system draws.
It would last me a few days where my boiler uses 300W running, 100w circulating in the coldest month of the year, or in February when it was warmer it would last me nearly 10 days.
If I knew I was going to be stuck with only that battery for a bit though, I could probably force it to be more efficient by setting a much larger swing (heat to 70, cool to 60, repeat)
@@Superlegitusername thank you. I’m trying to decide between the Anker F3800 or the Ecoflow Delta Pro
How long will it run electric heaters?????
Like watching your vids, could you do a test review on the Jackery 5000 plus? Trying to decide between the Anker and the Jackery for home backup. Thanks, Ken
Test some heavy construction tools table saw chop saw jack hammers mixing drills curious how this would be in a job trailer or work van
Hey y’all seem like good people, thanks for your thoughts
f3800 went down, around 4700 ish, try it again same thing, so much for a 6,000 W generator. why?
What I want to know is if the unit can run 7 devices like a PS5, 2 topdesk computers, a modem + router, and a TV. Then, how long or how many hours can I run these same 7 devices if I have a blackout which happens very frequently here in Raleigh NC? Thank you for your video.
Add up all the watts listed on your devices, and divide the capacity by that
Thanks for Sharing, Very informative
Thanks man for all your work. I live on a boat in Florida and I'm looking for a solution that can run a 1000 watt portable A/C pretty much 24 hr. a day and stay charged with solar. What is you opinion on a solution? Thanks Again.
Thank you for watching! You'd want a decent battery bank to be able to run your portable AC during days without sun and at night time. If you have a boat that's big enough, the DPU could be a good fit, or this unit with multiple expansion batteries!
We also built a quiz (link in the description) that would confirm these recommendations. Feel free to try it out!
Pls do a video on the Anker Solix x1! Really enjoy your videos! hopefully you can make a vid on the Anker Solix x1
Hi,Anker f3800 what power is inverter when without additional battery?It is definitely not 6000w isn't it?
Is there a way to plug the giant add-on batteries to their other systems (like the little C1000)? I'm guessing it would have to be via the XT60, but maybe you could use the cable too?
Great and informative … THANK YOU!!