Jackery’s Explorer 240 keeps your electronics powered whether overlanding, on a vehicle based adventure, or even at home
It’s amazing the number of devices we carry with us these days that are powered by rechargeable batteries. In addition to smartphones, tablets, and laptops, it is not unusual for us to bring cameras, drones, Bluetooth speakers, GPS trackers, and other gadgets with us on our travels. Heck, even our headlamps, earbuds, and watches require regular recharges making a good portable power source a must-have when venturing far from home. Thankfully, a company called Jackery makes some of the best charging solutions on the market, including durable, powerful, and lightweight power stations that can keep all your electronics powered when you’re out in the field.
The Jackery Explorer 240 is an excellent option for overlanders, adventure travelers, and car campers who need a steady supply of power at their campsite. The compact device comes with a built-in handle that makes it easy to carry around and offers 240 watt-hours of juice for recharging just about anything you plug into it. If you don’t mind a bit of extra weight, the 6.6 lb. power station is light enough to take with you on a backpacking trip if you’re looking for some extra luxuries in the backcountry.
Equipped with two fast-charging USB-A ports, a 12-volt DC port, and a standard AC outlet, but sadly no USB-C ports. The existing charging ports do give the Explorer 240 the ability to power everything from smartphones and tablets to drones and CPAP machines however, making it a versatile travel companion. All of the onboard ports can be in use at the same time as well, allowing as many as four devices to be recharged at once.
A built-in LCD screen allows users to monitor the battery status at all times, while keeping tabs of both power in and out. This comes in handy when you want to see how much juice is being used by a particular gadgets, particularly when rationing the Explorer 240’s battery life may be in order.
Recharging the portable power station itself is surprisingly quick and efficient. The Explorer 240 ships with both an AC and DC adapter for plugging into a wall outlet or a 12-volt car port (aka cigarette lighter) respectively. The onboard lithium-ion battery takes about 8 hours to fully charge using either of these options. Jackery also offers the ability to recharge using a solar panel as well, which can take an additional 2-4 hours depending on access to direct sunlight.
Unlike a lot of the other portable power stations on the market the Explorer 240 also happens to be fairly easy on the wallet. Priced at $250, it provides quite a bit of functionality and convenience in a compact, easy to use package. That’s exactly what you want from a portable charging solution and this one more than delivers.
Pros:
- 240 watts provides plenty of power for most items while at basecamp
- Two USB-A ports, 12V DC port, and 120W AC outlet provides versatility for charging various items
- LCD screen is easy to read and gives you all the info needed on charge status
- Solar-panel compatible
Cons:
- Doesn’t integrate USB-C ports
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