Best Solar Generator on the Market? My review of the Kodiak Portable Solar Generator
Having spent countless hours researching solar generators, reading reviews, watching videos and even tossing around the idea of building my own. I finally decided on purchasing the Kodiak portable solar generator by Inergy. Here is my review on why i think this is currently the best solar generator available today.
First off let me say I am no way affiliated with Inergy and this was purchased 100% with my own money.
I did however spend a good bit of time on their website and used the online chat to answer a few questions not found in the documentation. Overall the website was very helpful and the product manual is pretty good.
But your not here to talk about their website. Your probably here because you are looking for an honest review from an actual Kodiak owner. Or you happened to stumble across this article because you need a portable solar generator and have no idea where to begin. Well here we go.
**See our complete list of Top Tools and Products for 2019 here**
Reasons why I decided to buy the Kodiak Portable Solar Generator
• Lightweight portable package (20lbs)
• Pure Sine Wave AC Inverter
• Battery capacity (1,100 Watt Hour Lithium-Ion)
• Battery expansion capability
Lightweight Solar Generator
Weighting in at only 20lbs and featuring a robust carry handle the Kodiak is actually very portable. Now there are are other portable options available but most of them lack the ability to power full size electronics.
What do I mean by this?
Many companies are offering small portable solar generators. But, most of these devices are really only good to charge small devices like cell phones and tablets. Not exactly what I would consider a generator.
With the Kodiak you get a small portable generator that can power full-sized appliances like computers, microwaves, power tools, air-conditioners etc. This makes it a great solar generator for around the house or at camp.
Pure Sine Wave vs Modified Sine Wave Inverters
Another feature that I was looking for was a solar powered generator with a Pure Sine-Wave Inverter. The Kodiak features 1,500 watt continuous pure sine wave power per socket, Max output of 3,000 watts (startup/surge).
What is a Pure Sine-Wave? Do I need a pure sine wave inverter?
Pure Sine-Wave inverters are able to produce a clean/consistent wave of power. Similar to the power we receive when plugged into a typical home AC outlet. Typically More Expensive.
The Good: Clean power for all electronics
The Bad: High Cost
Recommended for: Microwaves, Computers, Air Conditioners, most all electronics
Modified Sine-wave inverters still produce AC power but the wave (when viewed through an oscilloscope) has sharp highs and lows instead of smooth up and down curves. Typically Less Expensive.
The Good: Low Cost
The Bad: Will not power all electronics
Recommended for: Basic Lights, Less sensitive equipment
Battery Capacity (1,100 Watt Hour Lithium Ion)
What really sets the Kodiak apart from the rest of the other portable solar generators on the market is the battery capacity vs weight ratio.
The key here is the type of battery used.
The Kodiak uses a Lithium Ion (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide, NMC) with a storage capacity of 1,100 watt hours. To break this down you can run a 550 watt load for a total of 2 hours, a 275 watt load for 4 hours etc.
What makes a lithium battery different from a typical SLA battery?
Without getting into the technical science behind the two different battery types. The big difference (other than the cost gap) is the amount of storage capacity vs the weight of the battery.
Lets look at this example when comparing a 12VDC 90Ah battery:
• SLA (sealed lead acid), 12VDC 90Ah = 60lbs appox
• Lithium Ion, 12VDC 90Ah = Less than 20lbs
That equates to around a 1/3 of the weight for the same amount of backup storage capacity! When it comes to deciding on the best solar generator, look for Lithium Ion.
Portable Solar Generator Battery Capacity (cont.)
Ok, we talked about the 1,100 watt hour Lithium Battery but what can it power and for how long? Here are a few examples taken from the Inergy website.
• 18cu.ft. Energy Star Refrigerator at 20% duty = 33 hours
• 1,000 Watt Microwave = 1 Hour
• 75 Watt Queen Size Electric Blanket = 14 hours
• 65 Watt 50″ LED LCD TV = 16 Hours
• 40 Watt CRAP Machine = 25 Hours
To properly rate how long your solar generator will power your device I highly suggest picking up a Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor. This is an easy to use meter that will measure how much power the device in question consumes.
Simply plug the appliance into the front of the Kill A Watt and then plug the meter into the wall. Cycle through the meter to display the energy consumption in Watts.
Next, just divide 1,100 by that number to get the estimated run-time in hours. Example, a computer that consumes 200 watts on the Kill A Watt would run for (1,100 / 200) = 5.5 hours
**See our complete list of Top Tools and Products for 2019 here**
Battery Expansion Compatibility
Another awesome feature of the Kodiak is the ability to add additional batteries for extended backup capacity. This makes this one of the best generators for a tiny home, RV’s and large boats because you can wire in low cost 12VDC deep cycle batteries.
*note, per the manual “DO NOT connect external Lithium batteries not supplied by Inery. Irreparable damage or fire could result.”
By wiring in the deep cycle batteries you can now extend the run times of your electronics. All powered through the built in Pure Sine wave inverter on the Kodiak.
These extra batteries are wired in parallel (positive to positive, negative to negative) and then connected to the expansion posts on the side of the generator.
Best Solar Generator, Charging the Kodiak
There are actually a few different methods to charge this generator. Obviously since this is technically a solar powered generator the main idea was to hook it up to a few solar panels. But, that is just one of the many options.
Charging with solar panels:
On the side of the generator is the High Current Charging Port. Designed for AC/Solar/Wind/Car Charging 12-32 VDC, up to 30 Amps (600 Watt Max). Yes, 600 watts! That would be (6) 100 watt solar panels, assuming each running at 100% efficiency.
Charging with the 12V car charger:
As an optional accessory you can pickup a car charger to charge the Kodiak from your car or truck. Using the vehicles 12VDC socket the battery will charge at (240 watts), taking roughly 5 hours for a full charge.
Charging with the AC Wall charger (standard):
To keep the battery topped off you can also just plug it into the wall to essentially store power for a later use. The Kodiak comes with the standard wall charger but an upgraded “Quick Wall Charger” is available.
The standard wall charger charges at 100 Watts which would take roughly 11 hours for a full charge.
Charging with the AC Quick Wall Charger:
I will admit using the standard wall charger takes quit a bit of time to top off the battery. As an optional accessory Inergy offers a Quick Wall Charger that would cut this time in half.
The Quick Wall Charger charges at 190 watts for an estimate charge time of 5.8 hours.
Product Video by Inergy:
Solar Powered vs Gas Powered generators
The greatest advantages of a solar powered generator vs a gas powered generator is what the solar powered generator DOESN’T do.
No fumes, Minimal noise
Solar generators don’t produce toxic fumes while in use which means you can safely run them indoors. They are also noiseless (ok, except for the fans) which again is great for indoor use and for camping.
Maintenance
Gas generators require maintenance to keep them running without trouble. A supply of fresh gas, a clean carburetor, clean air filter and a good spark plug to be exact.
If you have an old gas generator that has been giving you trouble check out our article “Troubleshooting an Old Honda Generator” for tips to get it running like new.
What are the best uses for a portable solar generator?
• Home Appliance Backup
• Camping
• Disaster relief
• CPAP backup (40 watt machine, 25 hours)
• Tiny Home, RV, Boat use
If emergency preparedness is what you are going for this would defiantly be in my Top 3 must-have items. This can be paired with an electric single burner stove top or consider a wood burning Rocket Stove like the Versa by EcoZoom. My Review of the EcoZoom Rocket Stove here
Inergy Kodiak, Best Solar Generator (final thoughts)
Overall I am very impressed with the Kodiak and feel it is currently one of the best portable solar generators on the market. While the design is relatively…simple, it has everything you need in a small lightweight package. No fancy settings or options, just a down to business power station.
Now, none of this would be possible with the Lithium Ion battery. At around 20lbs you have a respectable 1,100 watt hours of backup power for lights, microwaves, air conditioners, computers and power tools. Enough to power critical electronics to get through most storms and power outages. If not, simply connect the solar panels and recharge for tomorrow.
Anyone that has experience with portable gas powered generators knows the struggle to dig it out, move it outside, run the long extension cords and then pray to the heavens that it will start. With the Kodiak all you do is take it out of storage, walk over to the device that needs power and plug it in. No noise, no pull to start, no going outside…just immediate power without leaving the house.
What about building a DIY solar generator?
While the thought of a DIY home made solar generator sounded like a good idea. I quickly realized that many of the designs were not really that portable or the battery was severely lacking capacity for any real backup.
The majority of current solar generator plans use a plastic tool cart, charge controller, inverter, 12vdc sealed lead acid battery and then a bunch of small components for the inputs & outputs.
**See our complete list of Top Tools and Products for 2019 here**
Must-See Articles:
• Best Impact Sockets for the Money
• Protect pressure treated wood with Ready Seal Stain
• Comfortable Tool Belts for Carpenters and Framers
• Restoring an Old Honda Gas Generator
How much?
Ingery has actually released a new model to replace the Kodiak, named APEX. The upgraded unit features USB-C charge ports, an EC8 Input Plug and MPPT Charge controller for more efficient charging. Current pricing on the APEX as of July 2019 is $1,812.99 and can ordered direct through Inergy Solar
For a less expensive alternative, I would recommend checking out the Yeti line of Battery Powered Generators by Goal Zero. These can be found on Amazon using the link here: Goal Zero Portable Power Stations