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Jackery Explorer 500

By Jackery · Portable Power Stations · Audio & Electronics · More from Jackery

  • 518Wh capacity
  • 500W output (1000W surge)
  • 1 AC outlet, 2 DC ports, 1 car port, 3 USB-A ports
  • 6.04 kg (13.3 lbs)
  • 500 cycles to 80% capacity

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Summary

A 518.4 Wh NCM lithium-ion portable power station with 500 W continuous output and a 1000 W surge, in a chassis about 6.4 kg. Check the 500-cycle battery life and the charging-failure reports before you buy it over the newer Explorer 500 v2.

Strengths

  • The 518.4 Wh capacity covers small electronics and appliances, and one owner’s full-discharge test measured just over 540 Wh.
  • A pure sine wave inverter and a 1000 W surge cover most laptops, lights and small tools.
  • It is light for the class at about 6.04 kg, with a foldable handle and an LCD readout.
  • Charging from a 100 W SolarSaga panel takes about 3.5 hours.
  • Jackery backs it with a 2-year warranty, extendable to 2+1 years in the UK.

Weaknesses

  • The NCM battery is rated 500 cycles to 80%, well short of the 6000-cycle LiFePO4 cells in the newer Explorer 500 v2.
  • The 500 W continuous limit rules out anything needing sustained power above that.
  • Owners report units that stopped charging after months of non-use, despite resets.
  • There is no pass-through charging, no UPS mode, no app control and no expandable capacity.
  • Standby draw is 10 W, so the unit slowly drains when left idle.
  • Solar input is capped at 100 W and uses a DC 8 mm connector, so only one panel and not MC4 or XT60.

Verified specifications

Battery518.4 Wh NCM lithium-ion, rated 500 cycles to 80% capacity.
Output500 W continuous, 1000 W surge, pure sine wave inverter.
Ports1 AC outlet, 2 DC ports, 1 car port (12 V / 10 A), 3 USB-A ports (5 V / 2.4 A).
ChargingAC wall ~7 h, car ~7.5 h, SolarSaga 100 W ~3.5 h, SolarSaga 80 W ~5 h.
Max solar input100 W via DC 8 mm (DC7909); one panel only.
Weight6.04 kg (13.3 lb) per AllGoodBatteries, 6.4 kg per Jackery.
Dimensions30.08 × 19.29 × 24.20 cm (11.8 × 7.6 × 9.5 in).
Noise≤55 dB; standby draw 10 W.
Pass-throughnot supported; max output during simultaneous charge and discharge is 200 W.
Connectivitynone — no app, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Warranty2 years (AllGoodBatteries), 2+1 years (Jackery UK).
Full research notes and sources

Battery life and chemistry

The original Explorer 500 uses an NCM lithium-ion battery, not LiFePO4. Jackery’s Help Center rates it at 500 cycles to 80% capacity; some older marketing pages said 800 cycles, but the current figure is 500. That is the number to compare against the newer Explorer 500 v2, which uses LiFePO4 cells rated at 6000 cycles.

One owner ran a full-discharge test on a 2021 unit and measured just over 540 Wh, above the rated 518.4 Wh. That is a single data point, not a lab result, and no credible instrumented test of this exact model was found from RTINGS, Wirecutter, Tom’s Guide, CNET or PCMag.

Charging and solar

Charging takes about 7 hours from a wall outlet, about 7.5 hours from a car, about 3.5 hours with a 100 W SolarSaga panel and about 5 hours with an 80 W panel. Solar input is capped at 100 W through a DC 8 mm (DC7909) connector, only one panel can be connected, and the connector is not the MC4 or XT60 type common on aftermarket panels. That owner test also saw about 80–82 W from a 100 W panel.

Pass-through charging is not supported, and the maximum output while charging and discharging at the same time is 200 W. The unit is not designed for UPS use.

Storage and reliability

The biggest caution from owners is charging failure after storage. Reddit threads describe a unit bought about four years ago that would not charge after a few months of non-use despite recommended resets, another Explorer 500 “behaving badly” after minimal use, and a third not charging after storage. These are individual reports, not a failure rate.

An owner who has run the unit for years adds three practical points: deep discharging and storing at zero accelerates degradation, the display turning on does not confirm charging has started, and the inverter shuts down if overloaded. The maintenance advice that follows from that is to recharge to at least 80% before storage, top off every 2–3 months while stored, avoid hot storage and avoid deep discharging. Standby draw of 10 W means the unit slowly drains when left idle.

Is it worth it?

No current US pricing was found for the original Explorer 500 from third-party sources. One third-party retailer lists it at $499, but that may be outdated. AllGoodBatteries lists it at $299, or $0.58 per Wh. Jackery sells the newer Explorer 500 v2 direct at $449. A DIY Solar Forum owner paid $419 on sale in March 2021.

At any price above $200–250, the original is hard to recommend over the v2’s $399–449 range, which adds LiFePO4 chemistry, 6000 cycles, faster charging and a 5-year warranty. The original only makes sense at a significant discount, under $200, or if you specifically need the older form factor and find it used or open-box in good condition. AllGoodBatteries gives it a 40.4/100 composite score, ranking it #183 of 194 tracked power stations, citing the low battery lifespan and the missing modern features.

Which model this is

This page covers the original Jackery Explorer 500, the 2019–2020 NCM model, not the Explorer 500 v2 released in 2025 with a LiFePO4 battery and 512 Wh capacity.

The Amazon listing for the original model is ASIN B0FCY5R4HR.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Buying guides for this category

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