The world is filled with technological advances, some of which are far more useful than others. One of the most useful discoveries is clean energy resources. This includes utilizing wind, water, and solar. Each of these are a part of the natural world and can be used to produce electricity for homes and businesses. Within each of these, there has to be a way to gather and harness the energy provided. Each of these methods have their owns ways to be harvested. This includes wind turbines and water wheels which are both effective, but not always as practice as solar options. With solar power, there are both large scale and small scale options to fit almost any need. When many people think about solar power, they only think of solar panels that are bigger than an average person. While this is one option and is what is utilized on a large scale, it is by far not the only option. One of the leading ways to utilize solar power on a smaller, more personal scale is with a portable solar generator. There are many options currently on the market which makes it quite difficult to choose which one best suits your individual needs. What you will find here is a list of pros and cons regarding two of the most prominent options currently on the market, the Kodiak and the Patriot Power. Essentially, we will be asking one simple question; is the Patriot Power or Kodiak the best?
First, consider some of the most common ways to use a solar generator. Each specific use will require different specifications. One of the most common uses for a solar generator is emergency power outages. This means that the generator is hooked up only in the event of a failure in the everyday power source. Generally speaking, this source is the local power company. Many things can cause a power outage; storms, a fire, a car wreck, an animal, and a system failure are only a handful of the possibilities. Regardless of how it happens, a power outage can cause a myriad of problems. One of the most critical situations is in regards to an individual that requires a medical device that must be plugged in. The most common medical device of this nature to have in the home is an oxygen machine. These machines produce a constant flow of oxygen when turned on, but to continue functioning, it must have a constant power supply. People who must have oxygen 24/7 generally have tanks of oxygen that they use when travelling that can also be used in the event of a power outage, but there are several problems associated with their use for this purpose. First, there is the possibility that the tanks have been used and have not been refilled or replaced yet. There is also the fact that any given individual is only given a few tanks. Even if all tanks are full and ready to be used, they can only last so long until they run out. Not to mention the possibility of a malfunction that would prevent a given tank from being useable. Regardless, a prolonged power outage can be catastrophic under certain circumstances. This is where having a solar generator could save lives. Other popular uses include RV camping, off grid living, supplemental power source, and green living.
The first generator to consider if the Kodiak. Keep in mind that “Kodiak” is the brand name which means that there are several different varieties. Each variety will have its own specifications and details even though many aspects will remain the same. The goal here is to pit the brands against each other which does not necessarily compare each variety to the equivalent in the opposing brand. This is meant to be an overall brand comparison. All Kodiak generators function with a lithium battery. Within the world of lithium batteries, there are several different varieties. Many Kodiak generators use a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide battery bank. The size will vary by model, but generally expect a 12.6 volt that operates on 90 amps per hour. The expected lifespan for a Kodiak generator is quite long for this type of device. Generally, you can expect to get 10 years of excellent service from your solar generator and you can expect to recharge it around 2000 times during those 10 years. There are more output ports on many Kodiak models than you will find on almost any other portable solar generator. Some models have upto six ports. It even has a special port just for plugging in an RV which is a common use for a solar generator. The best thing about this is that you can use the generator for the RV, using the special port and then use it for other purposes later using the other five ports. This makes this Kodiak model incredibly versatile.
Next, consider the Patriot Power brand of portable solar generators. Patriot Power generators also work off of a lithium battery. When you purchase from Patriot Power, you not only recive your solar generator, you also recive other survival tools such as a multi tool and a personal water filter. This in and of itself sets Patriot Power apart form the vast majority of compitition. Much like the Kodiak, you can expect to be able to charge your generator around 2000 times during its lifespan. It takes approximately three and a half hours to fully charge the generator in full sun. Once it has a full charge, that charge can hold for up to a year. This is not taking into account usage. It will not loose its change if you go a long period of time (up to a year) without using it. Many models come with eight outlets. Four of which are USB ports, two are ACM outlets, one is a DC outlet, and the last one is an Anderson Power Pole outlet which is used for emergency and CBS radios. This means that Patriot Power comes in with two more outlets than the Kodiak.