Anker Solix F3800 Expansion Battery 3840Wh - Black

I have a 13kw generator but with this last hurricane, I could not get outside to set it up for over 4 hours. We had to throw out some food in the refrigerator. I decided to bite the bullet and try a battery backup system. I liked the Anker Solix because it provided a 50amp and a 30amp 240v outlets, where others you had to combine 2 units to get 30amp 240v. I received this two weeks ago but finally got to run a test on this unit today, which is the F3800 plus one battery pack. I have a 30amp receptacle wired into the panel, which is what I used to plug my generator into. Mine is a manual switchover whee I have to turn the main breaker off first, connect the generator and then turn the 30amp breaker on to provide power to the home. Instead of plugging in the ... MoreI have a 13kw generator but with this last hurricane, I could not get outside to set it up for over 4 hours. We had to throw out some food in the refrigerator. I decided to bite the bullet and try a battery backup system. I liked the Anker Solix because it provided a 50amp and a 30amp 240v outlets, where others you had to combine 2 units to get 30amp 240v. I received this two weeks ago but finally got to run a test on this unit today, which is the F3800 plus one battery pack. I have a 30amp receptacle wired into the panel, which is what I used to plug my generator into. Mine is a manual switchover whee I have to turn the main breaker off first, connect the generator and then turn the 30amp breaker on to provide power to the home. Instead of plugging in the generator, I plugged in the Anker F3800 using the 30amp outlet. My home is 1800sf, gas heat and cooktop and a 3 ton A/C unit. It ran all of this fine except for a little light flicker when the A/C kicked on. Will probably order a softstart to reduce the initial amp draw. I am thinking of installing an automatic transfer switch and leaving the Anker F3800 plugged into it so I can have immediate power without having to go through the manual process of switching power.I tested the unit for a little over 3 hours, letting the A/C start and stop multiple times. I started out with a total of about 10 hours of run time with just the lights, TV and refrigerator on, pulling between 650-700 watts of power. When the A/C kicked on, it showed about 2 1/2 hours of run time as it was pulling about 3900w. Once the A/C turned off, it adjusted back to 9 hours. After 3 1/2 hours of testing, it showed I still had 8 hours of run time with just the lights, TV and refrigerator running.I know this will not carry me through a hurricane where we lose power for days or weeks but when the battery power is used up, I can start my generator, run the house and recharge this unit. May look at solar panels in the future. Over all, even though it is expensive, it is doing what I want it to do.For those reviews that said the fans are extremely noisy, I did not experience that so they may have fixed it with a software upgrade.

The Good:I've bought this unit about 2 months ago to provide off-grid power to a 400 square foot shop. I was able to connect several existing solar panels of different sizes into the two solar inputs with great results. I'm able to run lights, a medium size compressor, table saw, and a dust collector with ease. This is probably one of the best value power stations that offer 240V output. DC and 12V ports all work well, and I was able to get 100W output from USB C without issue. I was also able to easily connect some existing Lifepo4 batteries to extend run time (I have both a 12V and 24V battery). The unit is very quiet, the display is easy to read, and the App works fairly well. Its nice being able to see how much power is being consumed for both AC and DC outputs. ... MoreThe Good:I've bought this unit about 2 months ago to provide off-grid power to a 400 square foot shop. I was able to connect several existing solar panels of different sizes into the two solar inputs with great results. I'm able to run lights, a medium size compressor, table saw, and a dust collector with ease. This is probably one of the best value power stations that offer 240V output. DC and 12V ports all work well, and I was able to get 100W output from USB C without issue. I was also able to easily connect some existing Lifepo4 batteries to extend run time (I have both a 12V and 24V battery). The unit is very quiet, the display is easy to read, and the App works fairly well. Its nice being able to see how much power is being consumed for both AC and DC outputs. I sent a few inquiries through support in the app, and got a detailed and timely reply from Anker. I would rate my support experience as very good. I'm happy with my purchase and would recommend this product to others.The Bad:-XT60 connectors are not included. This is a little frustrating, but not a big issue. Make sure you buy 10AWG cables if you want to get max power.-60V max input makes panel selection a little tricky, but its still possible to get over 2000W of solar input.-I've had a couple instances where wifi disconnected and the unit needed to be reset to reconnect. This only took a few minutes, but it would be frustrating if you're not home.-The App does not track power that has been captured. I'd love to be able to see how much power was generated or used.

Background:I purchased the F3300 to provide backup for power outages and to reduce my electricity usage from the grid. I charge it exclusively with a 2,400kW solar array. I am a renter so cannot install a Smart Home Panel.Pros:- Love the FLEXIBILITY and SCALABILITY of the system. I can add to the system overtime to increase power output (by adding a second unit) or storage capacity (up to 12 batteries for up to 54kWh).- It is POWERFUL (6000w output / 9,000w surge) and has simultaneous 120v and 240v output. It can run every appliance in my house including my electric dryer.- It is RELIABLE and backed by a reputable company. I have been using it 24/7 for over 6 months and it has not missed a beat. It is also backed by a Company that has been in business for over a ... MoreBackground:I purchased the F3300 to provide backup for power outages and to reduce my electricity usage from the grid. I charge it exclusively with a 2,400kW solar array. I am a renter so cannot install a Smart Home Panel.Pros:- Love the FLEXIBILITY and SCALABILITY of the system. I can add to the system overtime to increase power output (by adding a second unit) or storage capacity (up to 12 batteries for up to 54kWh).- It is POWERFUL (6000w output / 9,000w surge) and has simultaneous 120v and 240v output. It can run every appliance in my house including my electric dryer.- It is RELIABLE and backed by a reputable company. I have been using it 24/7 for over 6 months and it has not missed a beat. It is also backed by a Company that has been in business for over a decade with a reputation for high quality products.Cons:- Solar charging specifications are restrictive. You must use solar panels with a voltage range of 11V - 60V and maximum amps of 25A. There are not many solar panels on the market that meet these specifications to maximize solar input.- The mobile app provides basic information and control of the unit without the Smart Home Panel. The app does not show see historical power production or consumption. It does not show money saved from using solar. You cannot schedule or turn on/off AC charging.Overall:This is an impressive and exciting product (especially since it’s Anker’s first whole home solution). It delivers everything that was promised and provides piece of mind, protection, and comfort anytime you lose power.

PART 2After being sent a unit that wouldn't charge (see part 1 below), Anker help desk with a 2 business day reply time suggested I "try a different outlet". I'd done that and more (multiple outlets, resetting breakers, resetting system, updating firmware, trying 2 other power cables including an Anchor one).They agreed to send me a new unit. That arrived in 4-5 days, and I didn't waste time making sure it would work.It began charging immediately, so I am updating this review. It is going to need to impress me to get that 5th star though. Other unit is dead weight now so Anker has provided a return shipping label, this is appreciated.PART 1"Won't charge, waiting for company response, do not buy"It arrived late (had an open ticket with them since it required ... MorePART 2After being sent a unit that wouldn't charge (see part 1 below), Anker help desk with a 2 business day reply time suggested I "try a different outlet". I'd done that and more (multiple outlets, resetting breakers, resetting system, updating firmware, trying 2 other power cables including an Anchor one).They agreed to send me a new unit. That arrived in 4-5 days, and I didn't waste time making sure it would work.It began charging immediately, so I am updating this review. It is going to need to impress me to get that 5th star though. Other unit is dead weight now so Anker has provided a return shipping label, this is appreciated.PART 1"Won't charge, waiting for company response, do not buy"It arrived late (had an open ticket with them since it required signature at delivery). This was only an inconvenience.But after powering it on, and checking basic functionality I realized that it won't charge. I tried multiple charge cables, including another from a neighbor who has a working unit. I did firmware updates, resets, different outlets, downloaded the instruction manual, searched online for similar issues....And had to open a ticket and wait for that while we went through a power outage.I've seen 1 star reviews get the merchant's attention, so I'm leaving this here in the hopes that they can quickly resolve this. I will fairly update this review. Amazon says this item can't be returned.

Anker Support Saved The Day

After extensive consideration I ordered the Anker Solix F3800 and excitedly watched the progress of the package. Unfortunately FedEx first lost (the massive, 140lbs, box), then found it several days later and resumed its trek to me. When it arrived the box was a bit rough, and the driver (signature required) just interested in getting it off his truck smirking when I mentioned it looked like it'd been dropped. I hoped for the best, but the F3800 was damaged with pieces of the plastic frame loose, the bezel around the display no longer flush with the display, and the USB ports resulting non-functional. Note: the packaging is substantial, to be damaged as the unit was it took a pretty good hit, I think this is unusual.I contacted Anker support who acknowledged the ... MoreAfter extensive consideration I ordered the Anker Solix F3800 and excitedly watched the progress of the package. Unfortunately FedEx first lost (the massive, 140lbs, box), then found it several days later and resumed its trek to me. When it arrived the box was a bit rough, and the driver (signature required) just interested in getting it off his truck smirking when I mentioned it looked like it'd been dropped. I hoped for the best, but the F3800 was damaged with pieces of the plastic frame loose, the bezel around the display no longer flush with the display, and the USB ports resulting non-functional. Note: the packaging is substantial, to be damaged as the unit was it took a pretty good hit, I think this is unusual.I contacted Anker support who acknowledged the issue and instructed me to drop it off at FedEx and a replacement would be sent. After visiting multiple FedEx depots, calling FedEx, and discussing with Anker we realized FedEx will absolutely refuse to accept your dropping a lithium battery of this capacity at any location (HAZMAT or not). So Anker Support arranged to have FedEx pick it up the next day which went without issue, and a few days later the new one arrived. This time no shenanigans with the shipment, box fine, and the unit is in perfect shape. It's now a day-to-day backup for office equipment while on standby to pickup duties for fridges / freezers when called on.Count on Anker support, pray to interact with FedEx as little as possible, and you'll be happy!

Great alternate to a gas generator but understand what you are buying

The Anker F3800 is well thought out and provides great backup power when needed. A single unit can handle up to 240v and 6000 watts. However the base unit is 3880kw of battery storage. Know what you are trying to run and if you don't plan on adding expansion batteries (or a second unit) then you may be disappointed in the run time during an extended outage. I have 2 units and 4 expansion batteries but that can get costly so understand what your use case is. You should also figure out if you need a plan if your outage goes on for days, how you are going to charge the F3800. You can use solar but for many that may not be an option. My choice is to use a EG4 chargeverter hooked up to my gas generator to recharge if I need to. If you at all interested in this product ... MoreThe Anker F3800 is well thought out and provides great backup power when needed. A single unit can handle up to 240v and 6000 watts. However the base unit is 3880kw of battery storage. Know what you are trying to run and if you don't plan on adding expansion batteries (or a second unit) then you may be disappointed in the run time during an extended outage. I have 2 units and 4 expansion batteries but that can get costly so understand what your use case is. You should also figure out if you need a plan if your outage goes on for days, how you are going to charge the F3800. You can use solar but for many that may not be an option. My choice is to use a EG4 chargeverter hooked up to my gas generator to recharge if I need to. If you at all interested in this product join the official Facebook Anker Solix F3800 group. There are literally thousand of posts describing solutions on how best to use your F3800 as a primary source of power for a home or RV or as backup power utilizing a standalone unit, one hooked up to the Anker Home Power Panel or using the dual power hub. And if you have a problem the group is there to help.

Great product overall but software could be improved

Overall this is a great power station. I refused to buy one until I could get 240v in a single unit so here I am as a proud new owner. It will truly deliver 6000w and provides a high quality sine wave. The fans are quiet and the casters make it easy to move around despite the weight. I gave it a four star rating mainly because of some essential missing features, some of which can be fixed with software.1) The app provides no setting to take advantage of Time of Use electricity rates. This is so common across the globe that it's hard to believe Anker didn't consider this. I have to currently use a smartplug on a schedule to charge my F3800. This could be easily fixed with a software update and seems like a real missed opportunity.2) 240v output stops working ... MoreOverall this is a great power station. I refused to buy one until I could get 240v in a single unit so here I am as a proud new owner. It will truly deliver 6000w and provides a high quality sine wave. The fans are quiet and the casters make it easy to move around despite the weight. I gave it a four star rating mainly because of some essential missing features, some of which can be fixed with software.1) The app provides no setting to take advantage of Time of Use electricity rates. This is so common across the globe that it's hard to believe Anker didn't consider this. I have to currently use a smartplug on a schedule to charge my F3800. This could be easily fixed with a software update and seems like a real missed opportunity.2) 240v output stops working while A/C 120v charging is connected. At this size and weight, I assumed there was an autotransformer included so that a 120v input could produce a 240v "split-phase" output, but this is not so. And only one bank of 120v outlets are wired as UPS and provide passthrough power while charging from AC. This isn't a huge deal but kind of disappointing.3) I wish there was a nerd mode in the app to see output voltage and current in addition to power. I'd also like to see energy tracking over time. I bet there is a lot of data under the hood that would be great to provide in an "expert" mode.

It's been a reliable source of power for my needs

Here’s the Anker SOLIX F3800 skiing! I tested the EV charging capabilities with my Ford Lightning: You can take EVs up mountains knowing you have some backup charge insurance just in case! Many mountains have limited chargers that are always taken up, this is a game changer.Pro Tip: Use a motorcycle jack to lift it into your truck or RV!The results with the Solix and 1 expansion battery: I delivered 5.7kw of power to the battery in an hour, adding 12 miles of range in my 100kw Ford Lightning.My full review is here!https://youtu.be/aQp14pPu8X8?si=4aIXLGR-tun-IGMLThe build quality is way better than any DIY solution, for safety the BMS has correctly tripped when I used a 40 amp charger (please set to 25 amp 240V charging folks!) and the battery goes up to 127 ... MoreHere’s the Anker SOLIX F3800 skiing! I tested the EV charging capabilities with my Ford Lightning: You can take EVs up mountains knowing you have some backup charge insurance just in case! Many mountains have limited chargers that are always taken up, this is a game changer.Pro Tip: Use a motorcycle jack to lift it into your truck or RV!The results with the Solix and 1 expansion battery: I delivered 5.7kw of power to the battery in an hour, adding 12 miles of range in my 100kw Ford Lightning.My full review is here!https://youtu.be/aQp14pPu8X8?si=4aIXLGR-tun-IGMLThe build quality is way better than any DIY solution, for safety the BMS has correctly tripped when I used a 40 amp charger (please set to 25 amp 240V charging folks!) and the battery goes up to 127 degrees when delivering 5.7kW of power.Check out the screen caps of the Anker, EV Charger and Lightning to see the results.Thank you team Anker for successfully delivering on the Kickstarter project and can’t wait to test the home power panel.If anyone wants to see how I set it all up in detail please see my full review here:https://youtu.be/aQp14pPu8X8?si=4aIXLGR-tun-IGML

The product appears to be of high quality

Wanted to share what I have done so far in terms of setup and testing. I posted some of this separately but combining together with more info. I am certainly no expert but have read a lot and watched YouTube videos to learn a few things. My use case is for home backup using a manual transfer switch. Why? I have a gas generator and this summer we lost power when I was traveling for work. My wife did not know how to use the generator. When I got home, I started up the generator and ran some extensions to our fridge, a freezer, a fan and some lights (Didn't have the manual switch installed). So I started looking at "solar" generators, something that would be easier for the Mrs. I gravitated to Anker really because of their reputation for excellent customer service. ... MoreWanted to share what I have done so far in terms of setup and testing. I posted some of this separately but combining together with more info. I am certainly no expert but have read a lot and watched YouTube videos to learn a few things. My use case is for home backup using a manual transfer switch. Why? I have a gas generator and this summer we lost power when I was traveling for work. My wife did not know how to use the generator. When I got home, I started up the generator and ran some extensions to our fridge, a freezer, a fan and some lights (Didn't have the manual switch installed). So I started looking at "solar" generators, something that would be easier for the Mrs. I gravitated to Anker really because of their reputation for excellent customer service. Decided on the F3800's because my quick and dirty watt calculations said I needed something substantial if I wanted more than a few hours of backup power. The first picture is my setup. Each item in the setup is labelled. I did not label my two Anker Solix F3800's or the two Anker Expansion Batteries. If you can't recognize those then skip this post. My electrical panel is labeled number 1, a whole house surge protector is labeled 2. This is what existed before my Anker journey. A Reliance Transfer Switch (Model A510A or A510C depending whether you want the built in inlet). This is a 50 amp manual transfer switch which is the same model shipped with the bundle. It is connected to my main panel I had 10 breakers to pick from (less if using 240v circuits). Worked with the electrician installing the unit to identify the circuits I wanted as backup. Now just because you choose 10, you probably are not going to want them all engaged at the same time in a power out situation. Depending on wattage that could eat battery power fast. But you could switch then around during a blackout if you want to move from one room to another. Now here is the tricky bit, attached to the transfer switch is another switch. It is labelled 4 and is a Reliance TCA0606D Panel/Link Transfer Panel It is used to choose the input for the manual transfer switch. One input is labeled 6. It is the input for the F3800's (eventually connected through the dual power hub cable). Not shown is the same input on the outside of the house to be used with the gas generator for an extended blackout. So you just use the switch labelled 4 to switch between the two inputs. Finally item 5 is the 50 amp cable from the Anker to the indoor 50 amp input. So after I bought all this, I started investigating how I could continue using the F3800's during an extended blackout without having solar panels. I live in a very tree dense neighborhood in the Northeast so sun is not abundant here. So to use the F3800's attached to my transfer switch you can charge using the AC plug in a generator but the pass through watts are very limited. So that meant you need to use the solar xt60 inputs to charge the F3800's while they are in use at full power. But you do not have to use solar. The trick is it has to meet the voltage and amp requirements of the solar xt60 inputs. As a trial I attached a cheap power supply in one xt60 input at 1200 watts and in the pic you can see while using the F3800 the unit was recharging at 1150 watts. The power supply got very hot so not a long term solution. So I am looking at the EG4 chargeverter which would connect to the 240 volt output on my generator and then connected to the F3800 solar inputs. They seem to be on backorder. The chargeverter is capable of 48v at 100 amps or 4800 watts so Next I need to understand if I could have 1200 watts into my four solar inputs (so 1200x4=4800 and use all of the chargeverter power at once). Any input from those more knowledgeable than me would be appreciated. Think it would need to be fused for safety purposes. Anyway, I'll keep testing and sharing what I learn.

The product was delivered as scheduled.

IntroductionIn our tree-lined suburbs, we have occasional power outages due to mature branches taking down overhead power lines, though they usually last no more than a few hours. At least that was the case until last spring, when a strong windstorm took down entire 100+ year old oaks, fences, and power lines all across town.This post documents my journey to continuous, quiet backup power for even long multi-day power outages. Sorry for the long post, so I’ll give the TL;DR up front.TL;DR: Using the Solix F3800 during not just shorter outages, but also for multi-day whole-house backup in a hybrid approach with a traditional gas/propane generator, allows us to stretch our fuel supply up to 7X as long compared to running the generator alone:EV mode: Solix F3800 ... MoreIntroductionIn our tree-lined suburbs, we have occasional power outages due to mature branches taking down overhead power lines, though they usually last no more than a few hours. At least that was the case until last spring, when a strong windstorm took down entire 100+ year old oaks, fences, and power lines all across town.This post documents my journey to continuous, quiet backup power for even long multi-day power outages. Sorry for the long post, so I’ll give the TL;DR up front.TL;DR: Using the Solix F3800 during not just shorter outages, but also for multi-day whole-house backup in a hybrid approach with a traditional gas/propane generator, allows us to stretch our fuel supply up to 7X as long compared to running the generator alone:EV mode: Solix F3800 only - up to 6-8 hrs, longer with supplemental 2x200W solarGas mode: Traditional gas/propane generator only, 24 hours (then need to get more fuel)PHEV mode: Parallel hybrid with Solix and generator, 1.5-2 days, longer with solarEREV mode: Series hybrid with Solix and generator + Chargeverter, 4-5 days, longer with solarEREV mode (w/ another 400W solar): up to 7 days, if sunny (800W solar total).The magic is that running a gas/propane generator for shorter periods by combining with a battery, runs more efficiently at higher load, dramatically increasing fuel efficiency and extending the fuel supply.The Journey to ResiliencyDuring the big windstorm, we were fortunate to be without power for only two days, but some neighbors took up to 5-7 days to restore power. I had a small generator to power phones, laptops, and lights, but it was frustrating that despite our furnace and tankless water heater using natural gas, we had no heat or hot water the entire time. The reason is the appliances still need electricity for fan blowers and electronic ignition, and despite their modest power draw had to be hardwired to our main panel per building code. The house even got cold enough that dark mildew spots started growing inside on our window sills from excess condensation!Lessons learned, I found our utility was offering in our area a home backup device akin to a “Generlink” - so I had them install their Backup Power Transfer Meter (BPTM) in the socket behind the power meter. When the grid is down, the BPTM allows a 240V generator to plug in, like a manual transfer switch, but to the ENTIRE whole-house main panel. So I purchased a dual-fuel inverter generator that can provide 240V for the BPTM, outputting up to 6400W on standard propane tanks for my grill. I’m choosing to use strictly propane, rather than gasoline, as it alleviates the maintenance concerns and better ensures the generator will reliably start up after sitting for 6-9 months at a time. Each 20-lb tank can last 11-12 hrs under light load, so my two tanks could last about 24 hrs, so I would have to go out to refill the tanks once each day during longer outages.Now when I learned about the Anker Solix F3800, I was intrigued as it was one of the first with 240V split-phase in a single unit from a reputable brand, and even has an L14-30 socket fitting the cable supplied with the BPTM - so I jumped quickly onto the Kickstarter project. But why not just use the propane generator to power the house 24x7 (I’ll call this gas mode)?EV ModeWell first, for shorter outages, it would be nice to run on clean, quiet power rather than firing up the generator - my home’s base loads are only about 400W when not using any major appliances, so the 3.8kwh capacity of the Solix F3800 could last 6-8 hrs with some judicious use (i.e. no baking cookies or charging the car), which would get us through most typical outages, longer if the 2x 200W Anker 531 panels (also from the Kickstarter) can provide some additional power (In electric-vehicle analogies, this is like pure EV mode).PHEV ModeFor longer multi-day outages, we can use the propane generator to run part of the day and also recharge the F3800. Now inverter generators are fairly efficient down to 25% load (=1600W for mine), below that it consumes propane at the same rate whether supplying 1600W or my 400W base loads. By running the generator only 16 hrs a day, plus using it to top off the Solix during that time, it uses fuel more efficiently at higher load, so basically a parallel plug-in hybrid (PHEV mode). While also supplementing this with solar, this could stretch my propane tanks to 1.5-2 days, 50-100% longer).PHEV Mode (Night): For 8 hours starting around bedtime, connect the Solix F3800 240V L14-30 240V output into the BPTM. No generator noise to keep us or the neighbors awake.PHEV Mode (Day): For up to 16 hours starting in the morning, run the whole house off the 240V propane generator plugged into the BPTM. Charge up the Solix with 2 X 200W solar panels while the sun is out. Top it off to 100% in the evening from the generator, then switch back to the Solix and repeat the cycle.(If I switched the BPTM to the Solix again mid-day, I might str...