In observance of Labor Day, we are closed on Monday, September 2, 2024.

Patriot Power Generator Review Summary

Meet the Patriot Power Generator 1800, your solution to rural power cuts and sudden blackouts. This solar-charged lifesaver is designed to keep your essentials running when you need them the most. Its impressive charging speed and solar capabilities might just be the deciding factor in your off-grid living.

PROS

Eco-friendly with solar charging capabilities

It can hold charge for up to 12 months

Long lifespan with 2,500 battery life cycles

Robust construction

Provides power for up to eight different appliances at once

CONS

Quite heavy at 40 lbs, making it less portable than other options

Tends to be noisy, especially when its cooling fans are running

High cost

Lower battery capacity of 768Wh

Limited AC outlets, only two available

Biased online reviews

Yes, we really loved the “patriotic” naming of this solar generator. But does it do justice to RVers and off-gridders out there? Let’s hear it from an electrical engineer.

I live in a fairly rural part of the country where power cuts and weather problems are not uncommon. From blackouts to floods, there are a million and one reasons why my home can randomly lose power for a few hours.

It’s super annoying.

While I can survive without my TV for a few hours, I like the option of having a backup power generator in my home so I can power my fridge or freezer and a few other essential appliances until the power comes back on.

Always eco-conscious, I decided to try the Patriot Power Generator 1800 with solar power charging to see if it would work for my needs.

What Is The Patriot Power Generator?

The Patriot Power Generator 1800 is a solar power generator that I've often used for power outages in my home. It comes with 2 charging options — solar panel charging and AC outlet charging (the outlets on the main power grid).

This product is a continuation from the Patriot 1500, which famously was recalled because it kept catching fire. 

Now, I’ve not heard any stories about the 1800 catching fire, but I feel like it’s worth mentioning when considering which company to buy from.

What is the patriot power generator 1800

Maybe speak to the customer service team if you’re nervous.

In terms of outputs, the Patriot 1800 has plenty to choose from. Outputs on this solar generator include:

  • 2 X AC Outlet (Regular Power Outlets)
  • 1 X DC Output (Like A Car Charger)
  • 4 X USB Outputs
  • 1 X Anderson Powerpole Outlet (Used For Emergency Equipment)

Potentially, you could have a power supply for 8 different appliances running at once, assuming you don’t max out the 1800W output. However, I doubt you would ever need to plug that much in at once.

I certainly haven’t.

Despite being called the 1800, the battery capacity on this generator is actually 768Wh (watt hours) which I think is quite small for such a large generator, to be honest.

Speaking of large, the Patriot 1800 is pretty darn big.

It’s similar in size to a large desktop computer and weighs a whopping 40 lbs.

When I bought the Patriot Power Generator, I got a bunch of free stuff included with it, which was nice.

Free items included with the Patriot 1800 are:

  • Patriot power cell
  • Solar panel extension cord
  • 72-hour survival food kit
  • Kettle with water purification system
  • HaloXT flashlight
  • Solar air lantern
  • Blackout-survival library
  • USB battery kit
  • Good customer service contacts
Patriot power generator free items

These free items helped make the steep price tag feel a little more bearable for me.

The Patriot is definitely aimed at people like me who are looking to make it through a freak lightning storm or other emergency situations, with books like “The Generator Survival Checklist” and “The Blackout Response Guide” all pushing that independence mindset. I'd say it would also be good for people who live in tiny houses.

How Fast Can You Charge The Patriot Power Generator?

This solar powered generator has 2 main methods of charging — AC outlet and solar panels.

  • AC outlet charging = 3 hours to a full charge
  • Solar panels charging = 10 hours to a full charge (in good conditions)

I found the AC outlet charging to be much faster, but I almost always charge it using solar panels so I can be kinder to the environment.

Get your hands on bifacials if you can for more efficient charging.

What Is The Patriot Power Generator’s Solar Input Potential?

The Patriot has a solar input potential of 240 watts. 

This is quite a lot less than other rival solar generators that may have input potential of up to 500 or 1,000 watts for solar panels.

What Is The Patriot Power Generator’s Output Capability?

The Patriot 1800 has an output capability of 1800W, as the name suggests. This means that ideally, you can plug in multiple appliances as long as their draw doesn't exceed 1800W in total.

How Much Does The Patriot Power Generator Cost?

When sold through the official website, the Patriot Power Generator currently costs $2,497.00.

Patriot Power Generator Benefits

Eco-Friendly Solar Capabilities

Solar panel with a patriot power generator

As you’re aware, the Patriot 1800 comes with a solar panel kit included, so it’s easy to generate your home’s backup power without having to rely on the main power grid at all.

After a blackout is over and the electricity situation is back to normal in my home, I like to put my solar panels up in the garden and connect them to the Patriot 1800 inside the house (just in case of rain).

This way, I was able to generate my backup power in the most eco-friendly way possible. I’m not usually in a rush, so I wait a couple days for it to fully charge via the sun.

It Holds Charge For 6-12 Months

Most solar generators and portable power stations will lose their charge at around the 6 month mark, but I found that the Patriot can hold its charge for anywhere up to 12 months.

This made it ideal for me who get power outages every so often — I only needed to recharge the product on an annual basis to make sure that it’s still holding charge.

It Has 2,500 Battery Life Cycles

The Patriot 1800 supposedly has 2,500 life cycles according to the manufacturer, though that’s obviously quite hard to test out anytime soon.

In theory, this means that you could use this product every single day for almost 7 years before you would need a replacement.

It’s a nice feature, but I highly doubt anyone would ever use a generator that often unless they live totally off-the-grid.

Patriot Power Generator Shortfalls

I’m not going to lie — there are a lot of things that I don’t like about this product.

First of all, if you look up YouTube reviews for the Patriot 1800, you’ll find that basically all of them are on the 4Patriots YouTube channel. That’s never a good sign.

There are a few downsides to this product, here are some to consider:

It’s Very, Very Heavy

Amusingly, the manufacturer describes this product as “lightweight” despite the 1800 weighing a whopping 40 lbs!

Now if you’re just using this for backup power or off-the-grid power, the weight won’t matter much to you. However, I took it camping once, and I struggled to lug it around.

It Can Be Noisy

If you live in a warmer part of the country, prepare for the wrath of the world’s loudest cooling fans.

Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration, but this power generator can get hot, and when it does, the cooling fans like to let me know they’re working by being annoyingly loud.

It’s Expensive For What It Is

This product clocks in at around $2,500, which is pretty expensive despite all the free items you get with it.

Now, I understand that most large power generators are expensive, but this thing only has a 768Wh (watt hours) battery capacity.

In the words of Shania Twain — that don’t impress me much!

For the same price, I can get other power generators with much bigger battery capacities, or I can just build my own DIY solar generator.

The thing is, for its price, this just doesn’t cut the mustard.

There Aren’t That Many AC Outlets

For a power generator of this size, there aren’t that many power outlets.

This is the kind of power generator you would want to use in an emergency situation, yet there are only 2 AC outlets, which seems very low.

Because of this, I was only able to plug in my fridge and sometimes my TV, but that was it.

Not really ideal for me whenever my electricity is out for extended periods of time. 

Simply put, there are better options with more AC outlets at this price range. 

Patriot power generator 1800 USB outputs

It Doesn’t Power Your Fridge For That Long

A fridge beside a patriot power generator 1800

One of the main selling points of this power station is that it will power your fridge or freezer if the power goes out in your home. They go on and on and on about it. The people at Patriot are really into powering the hell outta fridges.

They claim that this generator can power your fridge for 16.3 hours, but in my experience it’s much less than that.

For the size of my average US fridge, I was lucky to get 6-10 hours at best!

When I power other items and appliances at the same time, that number dropped even lower.

Pros and Cons Summary of the Patriot Power Generator

Pros

  • Eco-friendly solar charging
  • Up to 12 months shelf life
  • 2,500 life cycles
  • Quite robust

Cons

  • Very heavy at 40 lbs
  • Noisy cooling fans
  • Very expensive
  • Poor battery capacity
  • Unrealistic claims from manufacturer
  • Limited AC outlets
  • Biased YouTube reviews

Things To Consider Before Buying A Portable Solar Generator

While I bought the Patriot Power Generator 1800 primarily for blackouts, you might also use one for camping trips and off-the-grid living.

Whatever you’re using it for, here are some things to consider before buying any of the solar powered generators on the market:

Battery Capacity

The capacity of the battery is one of the main things you should look at before anything else. If you’re taking solar generators out to just power your phone and tablet for a couple days on a camping trip, then you don’t need a huge capacity.

However, if you live off the power grid or you’re trying to get a solid solar generator in case of a power outage like me, then you need something with enough juice to run large appliances like a fridge or a freezer.

Solar Charging Speed

When it comes to your power generator, solar charging is a great option if you want to be kinder to the environment. 

However, you need to check how quickly your generator can charge.

For instance, most places in the US only get ideal solar panel sunlight for around 5-6 hours per day, and that’s assuming it’s not a cloudy day.

For solar power generators that take 12 hours to charge via solar panel, you’ll be lucky to charge them fully over 2 days.

Portability

While a lot of solar generators describe themselves as “portable,” a lot of them really aren’t.

Yes, technically 40-pound solar generators are portable because they don’t need to be attached to anything, but they’re incredibly heavy and difficult to lug around.

For heavier solar generators, you can probably take them to a campsite in your car and move them a short distance to your tent, but that’s about it.

Let’s just say you ain’t gonna be hiking up mountains or running away from a natural disaster with the heavier generators.

FAQ

Does the Patriot power generator come with a car charger?

No, the Patriot power generator does not come with a car charger input, though it does have a DC car charger-style output. It cannot be charged by a car, but it can power devices that you use with a car charger.

Can a solar generator power a house?

No, a solar generator cannot power an entire house, but a big enough one can power essentials like your fridge or freezer to stop your food from spoiling during a power cut.

How long do generator batteries last?

Most generator batteries last for around 3 years if you take care of them properly. However, the lifespan of a power generator depends on the company that made it, the capacity, the type of battery, and numerous other factors.

Can you jump start a generator battery?

Yes, it is possible to jump start a generator battery using the same jumper cables you would use to jump start a car battery. However, it may depend on the type or brand of the power generator.

The Patriot Power Generator: Should You Buy It?

The Patriot Power Generator 1800 might have its place in some households, but not mine.

For me, I prefer the Jackery Explorer 500 for both camping trips and backup household power.

If you need more power, there is also the Jackery Explorer 1000.

One of the reasons why I prefer the Jackery 500 is because it weighs just 13 lbs — 3 times less than the Patriot.

Granted, it doesn’t have as much battery capacity, but if you just need backup power for a few basic devices, it’s more than big enough and doesn’t weigh a ton.

I Recommend

THE JACKERY EXPLORER 500

Jackery explorer 500 portable solar generator right side

I’m always clumsily stumbling around with generators during a blackout, but the Jackery 500 comes with features that make it very convenient during a power outage, in emergency situations, or while out camping, such as a built-in carry handle, backlit display screen, and a built-in low-power LED flashlight that’s perfect if the lights go out.

In the same scenario, the Patriot weighs a ton, is hard to move around, and has no built-in flashlight feature. Boo.

If you’re looking for a lightweight solar generator with a ton of features that are great in an emergency, or even just during camping trips, go for the Jackery Explorer 500.

Nikola, an electrical engineer, simplifies intricate sustainability subjects for his audience. A staunch environmental conservationist, he embodies his beliefs daily through recycling and cultivating his own food.

Subscribe to
our newsletter