The Lowdown
Whether you need a portable power source for a camper or cabin, or your home, the SOLIX F3800 Plus is a fantastic option to keep you powered up during a trip or unexpected power outage.
Overall
Pros
- Enough power to back up your home
- Easy to move with the built-in trolley handle despite being 132.3 pounds
- Plenty of outlets and power options
- Multiple charging options
Cons
Anker is synonymous with charging and battery technology, and its SOLIX line of products has extended these products to larger-form batteries. We have reviewed a handful of SOLIX battery generators, which have been great. They now offer the SOLIX F3800 Plus, which brings portable whole-home backup power to their ever-expanding line of power devices. Let’s take a look!
The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus Portable Power Station is a 6,000W battery with 120V/240V split-phase output. It comes with 3.8 kWh of capacity and can be expanded to 53.8 kWh with up to six expansion batteries and a second unit. Basically, this is a powerful, portable battery system with a ton of output, and that’s packed with features.
The SOLIX F3800 Plus will seem large, even if you are used to battery generators. It measures 27.6″ by 15.3″ by 15.6″, including the wheels, and weighs 132.3 pounds.
It stands tall and occupies some space, but it remains portable and easy to move. Much like you find on luggage, an extension handle is included, making it easy to move. There is even a hidden handle underneath for team lifting, and rubber bump stops, allowing it to be laid on its side.
The handle and wheels are of high quality and are designed to last for many years. I appreciate how Anker has stayed true to their design, which resembles other SOLIX products. This is a minor detail, but I appreciate the attention to detail Anker always accomplishes.
The front of the SOLIX F3800 Plus includes the same color display as all SOLIX products. It is easy to read and displays all the necessary information to manage input and output power, as well as battery life. There is also a 12V car socket, three USB-C ports, and two USB-A ports, and the power button is located here.
The back of the SOLIX F3800 Plus features a home power panel that doubles as the generator cable connector, AC power input, solar connectors, a smart generator port, and a battery expansion port. Think of this as the unit’s charging and large power hub. All charging and battery expansion occur here.
The output side panel includes one 120V, 30A-style plug, even though it only outputs 25A. This makes it compatible with an RV and powers almost all the essentials. There is also a generator socket, which allows the battery to be connected to your home grid and power the entire system.
Think of this as a gas generator, but cleaner, safer, and quieter. Anker offers a home backup kit, which includes a fuse box panel and input plug to maintain power flow from the generator plug. I do not have that product, but there is information on the Anker SOLIX website if you are interested.
Multiple charging options are available, each taking a varying amount of time to recharge fully. Grid power will add 1,800W, solar can take a whopping 3,800W, and a car port will deliver 120W. If you have access to a bank of solar panels, you can quickly keep the F3800 Plus powered up for an extended period. This is a game-changer for off-grid situations or emergencies.
The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus is a plug-and-play power solution for any situation. It’s great for RV use, whole-home backup, use in the backyard, or saving essentials during emergency power outages.
Everything connects via Bluetooth or WiFi to the Anker app, which allows you to monitor all your devices in one place. I have the F3800 Plus, C1000, 767 PowerHouse, and the Powered Cooler all connected to my app.
I connected the SOLIX F3800 Plus to my RV camper and was blown away at how well it performed. After turning on the air conditioner without issue, I pushed the limits a bit further.
With the AC blowing cold, the refrigerator on, the lights on, and the television running, there was never a problem being off the grid. The battery showed to last about two hours with all of this running. Of course, to be off-grid, you will need to manage your usage and have options like solar to maintain a power supply, but the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus can handle a substantial power load.
Whether you need a portable power source for a camper or cabin, or your home, the SOLIX F3800 Plus is a fantastic option to keep you powered up during a trip or unexpected power outage.
The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus retails for $4,799 (it is currently on sale for $3,499); it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.
Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample
What I Like: Enough power to back up your home; Easy to move with the built-in trolley handle despite being 132.3 pounds; Plenty of outlets and power options; Multiple charging options
What Needs Improvement: Nothing so far
We could use this to keep the fridge and freezer going during our next outage!
Yeah, we are coming into summer where, when it’s hot, we get regular power outages at peak times, usually short. Having a backup option like this would really be useful when needed.