Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300 - 110V/300W

After using the Jackery Explorer 300 daily for four days in the forest, I’ve concluded that it is an IMPRESSIVE UPGRADE over my smaller Jackery Explorer 240. UPDATES: 9-17-2020 1). From 99%, it took only 10 to 15 minutes more to get to 100% when plugged into the 12V DC outlet of my vehicle & the Explorer 1000. More efficient charging than through my gas generator’s AC outlet. Pleasant surprise! The GREATS 1). Faster 12V DC Charging Immediately after picking it up from the post office, I took it out of the box & plugged it into my vehicle’s 12V DC outlet & charged it during my 4 to 5 hour trip back up the mountains where I’ve been staying since the pandemic. It was at 37% charge capacity when it started charging. After approximately 3 hours and an input of steady 80 watt, it was at 99% charge already(to my pleasant surprise). This is a huge improvement to the Explorer 240 because it would take about 5 hours to get recharged the same capacity. In addition, this is very important to me since I don’t have my solar panel yet and I do a lot of driving exploring a huge forest. 2). Improved 12V DC Cable This was my initial BIG complaint when I got my first Jackery, the Explorer 1000. I didn’t get one in my box. Even worse, when I borrowed my friend’s 12V DC cable charger (cause it took a while to get one from Jackery), the PLASTIC TIP that inserts into my vehicle’s 12V DC outlet melted (see photo) after charging the Explorer 1000 through the same 4 to 5 hour trip back up the mountains. I did not experience this problem with the Explorer 300. Although the cable seem the same, the plastic tip DID NOT MELT this time. Imagine my relief. 3). 293WH Seemed More Efficient As soon as we got back to our campsite, I immediately unplugged my 70qt car fridge/freezer from the Explorer 1000 & plugged it into the Explorer 300’s 12V DC outlet. I left the Explorer 300 with 99% charge while the fridge was set at 20°F on eco mode (as always). When I checked it in the morning, it was at 50% charge after 9 hours overnight. Usually, the Explorer 240 would be down to 40% or 30% charge and the Explorer 1000 would be down to 60% charge from 100% at the same settings. However, I also have to mention that the first night that I got and used the Explorer 300 was also the first night that the temperature was very cold at 24°F. It most likely helped run the fridge’s compressor less frequent which meant less power demand. I’d know for sure next summer and I’ll give an update here. 4). Recharges My USB Devices Pretty Fast Although I don’t have a definitive and scientific measurement of how long it takes to recharge my devices: cell phone, tablets and Jackery power banks, I know for sure that the recharge time is appreciatively faster than when I’m using the Explorer 240 to do the same task. Ergo more productivity. 5). Consistent Charging With a Gas Operated Generator The input was a steady 77 watt from a 120 volt AC outlet of my generator which I prefer to the fluctuating input of 162w to 167w into the Explorer 1000. It’s really no big deal, but I just like it better steady. 6). Plenty of Safety Features a). Like the other Explorers, the Explorer 300 also shuts down after 12 hours if a plugged device(s) drawing under 10 watts of power. This happened to me when I plugged my 12V electric fan into the 12V DC outlet drawing only 7 watts of energy. According to Jackery, this is to prevent damage to the lithium ion battery used in the unit. In turn, this feature also helps the unit last longer. b). Like the Explorer 240, the Explorer 300 does not power or run my 12v DC tire inflator/compressor at high state of charge. During my test, the Explorer 300 was at 86% charge capacity. Even after three times of attempt to power my tire inflator, I had no luck. However, I was able to run the inflator when the Explorer 300 was down to 45% charge. Again, according to Jackery, this is a safety feature. c). Unlike the Explorer 240 that doesn’t have one, the Explorer 300’s 12v outlet’s rubber cover certainly prevents foreign objects from being inserted. Thus, avoiding electrical accidents or fire. d). The unit’s design is very safe for children & pets. There are no moving parts or handle that folds down to trap any body part. Moreover, there’s really no paint to chip and swallow. The paint seems to be baked in. There’s also no sharp corners! The SHORTS 1). Takes a Long Time to Charge to 100% Although it’s quick to get to 99%, it took almost an hour to get the last 1% of charge via the 120v AC outlet of my gas operated generator because the input goes down (see photos) as the charge goes up. Bummer! 2). Won’t Run My 12V Tire Inflator at High Charge Capacity It just doesn’t make sense to an electrically challenged person like me why I can’t power my inflator while the charge capacity of the Explorer 300 is above 50%. This means that if I had a flat tire or I need to inflate my air mattress & rubber boat (at the lake, away from my vehicle’s 12V DC outlet) I have to deplete the charge capacity to 50% or less first from a full charge or never fully charge it. In the end, the Explorer 300 embodies the same high quality that is a signature of Jackery. Kudos to the Jackery team for producing another top shelf unit that is of great value. I highly recommend this product to everyone. This is especially helpful during this present time of uncertainty. Hope this helps.