12V

12v is via a standard 10A “cigarette lighter” socket so compatible with most 12v camping equipment and also having the ability to add an additional USB adapter should 3 USB A sockets not be enough or if you need a Qualcomm fast charging USB port. The socket is covered by a simple weatherproof/dirtproof cap which also makes it looks much neater. In addition there are two barrel type connectors – these are listed as 6,5x1.4mm but that 1.4mm is the diameter of the internal pin, the connectors themselves are often listed online as 6.5mm*4.4mm. Not the commonest type of barrel connector but you can also get adapters which will convert the connector to a more common 5.5mm 2.1mm socket (for example https://www.poweradaptorsuk.co.uk/21mm-x-55mm-to-65mm-x-44mm-dc-power-plug-adaptor-113-p.asp).

I suspect the main use for the 12v output will be the cigarette lighter socket which would be ideal for driving a 12v coolbox or fridge.

230V Mains

A built-in inverter provides 230v AC mains electricity. This will provide 500W continuous power but will handle short peaks of up to 1kW. I decided to put this to the test, my Vango Sizzle induction hob is actually rated at 800W but I suspected setting it at 3 out of 5 LED power would be a good test. The Jackery display showed a pretty consistent 450W for the 5 mins or so it took for the small pan of water to boil. Impressive! OK so the battery percent level dropped steadily and lost about 9% during the experiment but it proves that the inverter is quite happy to provide mains at close to 500W.

Now, of course, that 230v is intended for lower power items such as laptops or perhaps a small mains fridge but it is reassuring that, at a pinch, it could run a low power induction hob to provide an emergency cuppa.

The inverter also claims to be pure sine-wave, this means it puts out nice clean 230v just like the mains at home. A good test for this was to make a transmission on my amateur radio kit, if the Jackery was not producing a nice clean power supply then my radio transmission would probably sound broken or distorted. So I hooked up it’s power supply and had a quick chat with Steve in Yorkshire (the other end of the country to me) who complimented me on my signal – well done Jackery! Additionally I could hear no extra noise when listening on the radio so that justifies the claim that the inverter is pure sine-wave. Good news, as one use I might have for it is to run a ham radio station whilst sat outside my campervan.

General

All three power sources, USB, 12v, and 230v can be switched on and off individually with little switches directly above the sockets. These switches have small green LEDs to show that that particularly power source is active. Additionally the LCD display shows current battery level (both as a icon and a percentage) and the input and output power . The input display is particularly handy when the device is connected to a solar panel as it monitors the performance of the panel, and the output display is useful to have some idea of just how much you are taking from the unit and give some indication of how long the battery might last given the current usage.

All sources are claimed to have protection against under & over voltage, short-circuit etc. This is important to protect equipment attached to the Jackery and also to protect against fires. I wasn’t brave enough to deliberately short one of the device’s inputs, I’ll believe the manufacturer on that one!

Oh, and I forgot to mention the small LED torch light on the side of the Explorer 500. It is pretty bright and might function as a small light in an awning or something. Obviously the unit itself is a bit bulky to carry around as a torch!