At a mere 7.49lb, it is difficult to take the Aeiusny 400W portable solar generator serious – at least for anything beyond simple camping and mere hiking.
Even then, the tendency to underrate it is high, after’ll we live in times where bigger is taunted daily to be better and this unit weighs only a modest seven and half pounds.
For many, this is where the consideration ends; this is where ALL discussions contemplating ownership fizzle into the background and things return to the status quo ante.
Until the price is mentioned and one is well, not all that buoyant.
The reasonable price tag of the unit earns it a second consideration – one that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
Now, the only important question remains: at a fair price point and a weight that makes it look like there’s nothing within, will this unit serve and at least, keep things powered for regular use, during blackouts, emergencies and importantly, out in the great wilderness on trails and in camps?
This is what I’ll be looking at in today’s review of this small, lightweight, portable solar generator.
I’ll also be super thorough and feature the good, bad and ugly – so, brace up for some honest, serious reading!
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First Impression Of The Aeiusny 400W Portable Solar Generator
A very first (casual) look at the Aeiusny 400W portable solar generator presents the impression of something small and ugly. An ugly device with various ports, an LCD and a LED function.
What this small ‘stuff’ is – or why it has defied beauty – is altogether another challenge, a challenge distance help amplify.
For the curious and untrained eye, coming closer means a good look and a better look often means a change of perspective.
Shown to friends and family who were not into the business of portable power stations, the universal conviction was that it was a sort of handy Bluetooth operated radio – those variants that manage to infuse a ton of function in one small bit of space.
Another consensus remained that, whoever designed this unit didn’t bother much about aesthetics or users who may ultimately bother about it.
Talks of its ugliness were mentioned more times that I was comfortable with.
Sad.
However, to the trained eye, the Aeiusny 400W portable solar generator is a small unit that divulges its intended purpose without much ado – all thanks to the LCD, an array of ports and the several prints that indicate power units on the solar generator.
For the trained and experienced mind too, this petite sized solar power station presents an array of very cute ideas, chief amongst them being the possibility of use as an excellent portable solar generator for a CPAP machine and the ease with which the unit will fit on the trails, hikes and camps.
It is also curious to note that my first impression (and that of my friends who are tech inclined) weren’t the obvious fact that unit is dead ugly – we were busy seeing exactly how to put its appreciably small size to good use.
This leads me to believe that aesthetics, especially of solar power stations, bothers amateurs and newbies way more than it bothers professionals and tech inclined people.
Of course, what my tech inclined friends and I were interested in right after taking a first good look at this Aeiusny was the million dollar question: what can this baby do?
I tested – and got the answers. Please, allow me to unravel them to you below.
What Can The Progeny 280 Watts Lithium Portable Solar Generator Power?
Small and capable of only 280 Watts, I did not hope for much – when I was testing this portable solar generator. After’ll, the unit’s battery, like its overall size, is modest.
However, I was reminded of the fact that the internal battery of the unit is a lithium-ion variant and not the traditional, old school lead acid.
The implication of this is that, the small solar generator can easily pack more punch than its size, battery and weight suggest since lithium-ion batteries are generally known to pack serious punches within small spaces.
So, how did the tests go? For how long did the solar generator keep things powered and all juiced up during my tests?
Here:
- A Smartphone for about 27 recharges.
- 12V portable fridge for about 12 hours.
- Digital camera – 35 recharges.
- Tablet: 6 recharges.
- CPAP machine for about 4.5 days.
- Laptop. 5 recharges.
Now, these are the options that I actually got to test with the portable solar generator directly – and these are the results that I got.
This does not, however, in anyway mean that the power of this unit is only good for the above mentioned.
Technically, the Aeiusny 400W portable solar generator can brilliantly power any device, appliance or gadget that is rated 400W or below.
Please, also take special note that these times may differ slightly at your own end as temperature, the gadget’s own inherent power requirement and how long such a device is run on the solar generator all contribute to getting results in the manner they finally appear.
Never forget this.
MORE: Progeny 280W Portable Solar Generator Review
Key Specifications And Features
The strengths or weaknesses of a portable solar power station are made manifest in its specs and features: awesome specs and features indicate a good unit.
Specs and features that are not so great indicate an average unit.
Bad and unimpressive specs and features represent a bad and unimpressive unit – simple, straightforward and right to the point.
The specifications of a solar generator, portable or not, indicate the technical composition of the unit. In lay terms, it is a summary of the what actually constitutes the ‘skeleton’ of the unit.
Features on the other hand are simply the outward manifestation of the thoughtfulness (or not) of the manufacturer of a portable solar generator as indicated by options such a generator possesses.
Usually, features are seriously loved by non-techies while specs are usually what the tech inclined fellow always looks forward to.
The Aeiusny 400W portable solar generator is no exception.
Specifications
- Dimension: 12.3 X 4.88 X 6.48 inches.
- Battery type: Lithium-ion.
- Battery capacity: 296Wh (25.5Ah at 10.8V).
- AC output: 110V, 400W (800W peak).
- DC output: 9-12.6V, 5A , 120 Watts.
- USB outputs (4): 5V, 2.1A X 2/5V,1A X 2.
- Solar charging: panel size – 2.1X5.5mm; solar panel capacity – (40-100W,13-30V, 5A max).
- Weight: 7.49 lb.
Features
- Super small, super lightweight ergonomic design.
- Pure Sine Wave output.
- LCD display.
- LED powered flashlight – built-in.
- Hybrid charging reality: AC, Solar and DC.
Weight, Noise And Runtime Analysis Of The Aeiusny 400W Portable Solar Power Station
A (relatively) heavy portable solar power station was hitherto adored for one reason and one reason alone: more weight meant more power.
Of course, this was the era of lead acid – and a time when solar generators powered by that battery type held sway.
Unfortunately, times have changed – and lead acid holds nothing for portable solar generators, except as history, of course.
Accordingly thus, the weight that once used to be the biggest advantage when considering these units is now what everyone looking to buy a portable solar generator today is actually running away from!
With this mindset, the Aeiusny 400W portable solar generator‘s 7.49 lb is super reasonable and something worthy of both respect and taking serious.
Practically, I could hold the unit in my non-dominant hand for hours – without feeling sore. This, included climbing flight of stairs, attempting ascending rough terrain and the super weird one I always carry out: running with the unit firmly in hand!
Curiously enough, this little generator passed all. Weight analysis, I thus give it a 10 out of 10.
Noisewise, this unit impressed me: using it both in the dead of the night and in normal, day to day circumstances, I could not hear it working.
A very close friend who used a CPAP machine, on my suggestion, tested the unit with his CPAP. The result was sound, uninterrupted sleep.
Personally, on an early Sunday morning and when I burn the midnight oil, I have found the unit to be impressively quiet.
If you’re looking for any sound that might indicate operation, your best bet would be to actually ‘pin’ your head to the unit at midnight and listen to the extraordinarily low hum of the cooling fan working.
Since that does not qualify as ‘noise’, I rate this portable solar generator high in this regard too.
In respect to runtime, the Aeiusny 400W portable solar generator, sadly did not particularly impress me though even here, it performed respectably.
Powering my laptop with the unit, I drained the battery of the solar generator in about 5 chargers – which though is average, would have made me way happier were I to get something more impressive.
The only device that ran to my satisfaction during the test was the traditional CPAP machine that lasted for close to 5 days on a single charge. This is certainly awesome news for those who need that perfect night’s sleep only a CPAP now ensures 🙂
Runtime wise – no thanks to a relatively small battery and an upwardly mobile engineering – I score the generator an average 6 out of 10. A pass mark.
What You Should Understand Before Considering The Aeiusny 400W Portable Power Station
The traditional portable solar generator is one that power drills, coffee makers, TVs and a wide array of both household and industrial appliances.
This discussion, immediately, brings to mind options such as the Goal Zero Yeti 3000 Lithium – and other heavy duty solar powered generators in that league.
This Aeiusny is completely different however: the generator is not of that monster capacity – neither is it a unit that can power the industrial variants of most devices.
As a matter of fact, if you have anything that is rated 400W or above, forget it with this solar power station: it will simply warn you and go off. If you restart it in a headstrong manner, the whole process will repeat itself again.
Worse still, the bigger the unit plugged in, the quicker the power will deplete!
Accordingly thus, only light electronics are suitable for use with this Aeiusny. Medium – heavy duty power devices and gadgets are best left out.
CPAP users, light, occasional users and those who intend to use the generator in an upwardly mobile fashion are those who will enjoy this unit to the max; it is for them that the device has been carefully thought out, designed and is now on sale.
If you’re considering the unit, it would be smart to factor this.
MORE: Suaoki G500 500Wh Portable Solar Generator Review
Charging Means & Times Of The Aeiusny 400W Lithium Portable Solar Generator
The joy a portable power station brings is largely predicated on a few things: one being its actual capacity and another being the means by which such a unit can be charged.
The preferred means of charging, for sometime now, have been in favor of a hybrid reality – a reality that enables the user to deploy more than one means to keep the generator powered, up and running.
The Aeiusny in question here offers an interesting charging reality. The options available are:
- Solar;
- AC &
- DC.
The solar charging option, by all means, is the most preferred option when getting juice to this unit. Power is transferred from the sun rays unto the internal battery and stored there for onward demand and subsequent conversion to AC by the built in inverter.
This solar panel is not supplied with the unit – and needs to be purchased separately, if you intend to enjoy the benefits of solar power.
With either a generic solar panel that fits the specification of the manufacturer (12-18V/40-100W and compliance with a MC4 cable with 5.5*2.1mm DC Port) or the suggested Aeiusny 60W Solar Panel, the unit can be charged reliably by means of the sun.
Charging times vary and are largely determined by the intensity of the sun and the capacity of the solar panel in question.
Charging with a traditional 60W solar panel saw the unit being powered from a flat state to a completely full charge in about 11 hours – with an appreciable amount of sun.
This solar charging time, isn’t very good and isn’t bad either – it’s average and around the same offer competing models offers.
Going the AC route is where things begin to get impressive: the total time it takes to charge the unit, plugged into a traditional wall socket that relies on the grid is about half the time it takes the unit to recharge with solar energy!
This is around a healthy and impressive 6 hours!
Besides this speed of charging, there is the obvious benefit of convenience and a certain degree of certainty of getting a nice, good charge (for instance, when the sun fails).
It is also worthy of mention that the AC charge can be carried out without the help of the grid and with only a gasoline or diesel powered generator (regulated to 110V), wherever the need for quick preparatory use (eg CPAP uses) presents itself and the unit is down.
The AC charging cord comes standard and together with the DC and solar charging cords, are included with the generator.
As for DC, anyone who is a fervent reader of this site knows what I hate that charging option with every ounce of energy in my system.
The reason isn’t far-fetched: it charges super slowly and is often a great inconvenience to users, one that negates the very essence and spirit of portable power stations!
I thus did not bother with seeing how long it will take for a full charge in that regard.
However, it is instructive to note that the manufacturer quotes 10 to 15 hours for a full charge – assuming the battery is flat and needs a boost to make it to a full 100%.
Compatible Solar Panel For The Aeiusny 400W Portable Solar Generator
The Aeiusny 400W portable solar power station comes standard with cables for a compatible solar panel but the package does not include a solar panel – portable or otherwise.
The implication of this is as the company recommends: you’ll need to get a compatible solar panel, either from the company directly or from any other company – provided you operate within the specifications that are clearly given.
The easiest thing to do, of course, is to simply buy the recommended the Aeiusny Solar Panel Foldable 60W Portable Solar Charger directly and save yourself from any further heart or head ache.
However, if you’ll rather not bother with the highly recommended option directly from the house of Aeiusny and would prefer something either generic or from another manufacturer, the specs are simple and to the point: 12-18V/40-100W and compliance with a MC4 cable with a 5.5*2.1mm DC Port.
If you choose something larger than the recommended 60W (say, 100W for instance), you will certainly shorten the time it takes the unit to charge under the sun.
From over 10 hours, you should be looking at about 7 or so hours for a full charge, assuming the battery is flat – completely.
This is not at all a bad charge duration for such a unit.
Special Feature(s) Worthy Of Note
The Aeiusny 400W Portable Solar Generator is a unit that has been designed with much forethought and common sense.
From its size, form, right up to function, it performs at least average – for its intended purpose.
This is particularly impressive, especially when it is understood that many competing units in the same category with the generator fail miserably in more fronts than one.
In furtherance to the thoughtful design and meticulous engineering that went into the unit, there are some special features that are worthy of special note.
Two (2) as a matter of fact:
First, the unit comes powered with 3 AC ports and 4 solid USB ports – rated at different Amperage.
The exciting implication of this is that, while you can power 3 different USB enabled devices simultaneously, you can also plug them according to their power requirement – ensuring quicker and more efficient use of power in the process.
This is something rare in portable power stations at this size and price point.
Second and finally, the generator comes with a LED lightening function as an add-on that comes handy when on the move, camping or generally, during power outages.
For many users, this feature – together with the super portable reality of the unit – remain the biggest reason why they have fallen (and stayed) in love with the Aeiusny 400W portable solar generator.
Pros And Cons
There is nothing that is perfect. As a matter of fact, they very things you consider awesome may be the things another would write off, without a moment’s thought!
Portable solar generators in general and the Aeiusny under review here in particular is no exception: here are the biggest pros and cons of the solar generator.
Pros
- Super light weight – the unit weighs an impressive 7.49lb.
- The generator is priced reasonably and is not one to burn a hole in either the wallet or purse.
- Impressive number of output ports for its size and price point: 3 AC ports and 4 USB ports.
- LED light for use during emergencies and when on the move.
- Pure Sine Wave inverter output.
- Lithium-ion battery technology that affords a more weight to power ratio and interestingly, a longer shelve life.
Cons
- The solar panel for the generator needs to be bought seperately.
- The LCD could be brighter than normal, especially at night (when the display faces you).
Final Verdict
And here you have it, the most thorough review online of the Aeiusny 400W portable solar generator. Importantly, I’ve detailed the good, bad and even the ugly of this portable solar power station.
If you’re looking for casual, occasional power to keep your things charged up, run a CPAP or other occasional light use, no other solar generator beats the Aeiusny 400W Portable Solar Generator.
However, if you’re looking for a bit more power, versatility or cannot cope with the obvious shortcomings of the unit, I’ll recommend that you take a look at my list of the best portable solar generators today – an aggregate article where I’ve reviewed the best solar power stations technology affords us at this point in time.