Canadians love camping & hiking. We live in a beautiful part of the world, so it makes sense that we venture into the great outdoors. However, one problem exists—how do we power electronic devices when we don’t have access to power? The answer is portable power stations & solar generators. Imagine camping off the grid and still being able to blow dry your hair. Or making smoothies outside with a blender. If the power runs out, no problem. Simply hook it to a solar power and charge it back up for free. What a time to be alive.
I’m reviewing the Anker SOLIX C1000X portable power station and the Anker 531 foldable solar panel. Together, they provide endless power by harnessing the energy from the sun. It’s perfect for camping, RVs, or using power tools off the grid. When not in use, it can act as backup power for your home devices during power outages. I first saw the Anker SOLIX power station at CES 2024. It won a lot of innovation awards. Does that mean it’s an investment worth getting for your home? Let’s find out.
Design of the SOLIX C1000X portable power station
The SOLIX C1000X packs a lot of power and charging options inside a compact, impact-resistant design. It measures approximately 8”x11”x15” (WHD). It’s heavy, weighing 28.4lbs. Thus, it’s designed for two-handed carrying, with handles on both sides. On the front you’ll find a large LCD display that clearly indicates the battery power along with other information. There are a total of 11 ports. On the bottom is a row of six AC ports. You can plug in high-wattage appliances like blenders, hair dryers, and power tools without issue. Above that are two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a car socket.
The SOLIX C1000X has 1056Wh capacity and 1800W output. It also has a SurgePad feature that provides protection up to 2400W. It also features HyperFlash technology for fast charging. The C1000X can be recharged to 100% in 58 minutes via a wall outlet with a 1300W input. This is 27.5% faster than power stations with the same capacity. It has a 3,000 charge lifecycle.
Design of the Anker 531 foldable solar panel
The Anker 531 foldable solar panel is rated for 200W of power. It’s the perfect solution for people who spend a lot of time off the grid. Folded, it measures approximately 22”x”24”x2” (HWD). Unfolded, it measures approximately 24”x84”x1” and weighs 20.34lb. These solar panels have an IP67 certification. That means it’s waterproof and can be used in rainy and wet weather.
The 531 solar panel features 3-mode angle adjustments. The output power of the solar charger is not only related to the weather, but the area of direct sunlight, so you can toggle between 60-degrees, 50-degrees, and 40-degrees to get maximum sunlight and larger output power.
Setting up the SOLIX C1000X portable power with the Anker 531 foldable solar panel
The Anker 531 solar panel was designed to work with the SOLIX C1000X. Together, someone could be off the grid and still harness enough power for mini fridges, portable heaters, and even a toaster oven. Setting these two together is simple. First, find the XT-60 port behind the solar panel. Using the provided solar charging cable, connect what solar panel to the solar car input on the C1000. From there, angle the solar panels to face the sun. Now you have an endless supply of solar energy to keep your C1000X powered and ready to go.
Using the SOLIX C1000X
In a perfect world, I would go on a camping trip to properly test this out. However, it’s currently the middle of winter so I’m reviewing this in my backyard. I also haven’t seen the sun in weeks so this review is happening on a cloudy, wet day. With 11 ports, I had to connect multiple devices at the same time. I connected a vintage blender, hair dryer, and electric grill to the C1000X. With the USB ports, I connected a smartphone, tablet, fitness tracker, Bluetooth speaker, and earbuds.
As expected, the blender, electric grill, and hair dryer all worked independently. With 1800W output, you may be able to connect two devices at the same time, like the electric grill and the blender. The blow dryer should be used on it’s own because it uses a lot of power on the high setting.
The SOLIX C1000X connects to the SOLIX app. Here I viewed a real-time status of the charging input and output, along with the battery power remaining indicator. The app also lets you set power scheduling and the AC recharging speed. The Anker 531 solar panel was connected to the C1000X. The app showed a DC input from the solar panel at 0W input. Again, it was a cloudy day so I wasn’t expecting much, but I thought it would be at least 1W. While the SOLIX solar panels work on cloudy days, don’t expect much power without sunlight. There was no sun in the forecast, so I couldn’t get that data. I really wanted to see if it can produce 200W of power in direct sunlight. Hopefully I can review this again in the summer.
Who is the SOLIX C1000X for?
If you spend a lot of time outdoors and away from traditional power sources, consider the SOLIX C1000X. It provides a lot of power in a compact portable power station. If you need something smaller, check out my review of the SOLIX 522. If I had the C1000X, I would use it at home as a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). I’d connect it to my modem, router, TV, computer, and lights. If the power goes out, I can still access the Internet and watch Netflix on my TV. When I go camping, I’d take it with me and connect it to the Anker 531 solar panel. Now I can cook with my electric grill, kettle, blender, and coffee maker. Whenever my portable electronic devices need power, I can charge those back up too. During the day, the SOLIX C1000X will charge back up via the 531 foldable solar panel. It’s not glamping people, this is what I call “smart camping”.
Portable power stations are a great investment
Nobody who has a portable power station ever regrets getting it. That’s because at some point in time, you’re going to use it. This could be a power outage, or hosting friends in the backyard. If an AC outlet is not nearby, no problem. You got the power. Better yet, when you’re off the grid, recharge it with the Anker 531 solar panel. In short, you’ll never be without power. For anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors, invest in the Anker SOLIX C1000X portable power station and the Anker 531 foldable solar panel.
