Anker SOLIX F3800 for home backup
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Quick answer
The Anker SOLIX F3800 is a large, wheeled power station built for home backup. Anker lists 3,840 Wh of LFP battery, 6,000 W continuous at 120 V and 240 V, and 9,000 W surge. It has a 14-50 and an L14-30 outlet for 240 V loads. Capacity expands to 53.8 kWh with extra batteries and a second unit. It recharges at up to 2,400 W from solar or 1,800 W from the wall. It weighs 132.3 pounds. Feeding your home's circuits needs a transfer switch, which Anker sells as a kit. Have an electrician install it.
Key specs
| Spec | Anker's listing |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,840 Wh, LFP cells rated 3,000+ cycles |
| Continuous AC output | 6,000 W, 120 V and 240 V |
| Surge | 9,000 W |
| 120 V outlets | Six NEMA 5-20 (20 A) |
| 240 V outlets | One NEMA 14-50 and one NEMA L14-30, 6,000 W max |
| Solar input | Up to 2,400 W (2 x 1,200 W), 25 A each |
| AC input | Up to 1,800 W |
| UPS switch time | Under 20 ms |
| Size and weight | 27.6 x 15.3 x 15.6 in with wheels, 132.3 lb |
| Warranty | 5 years |
What it can run, and for how long
With 6,000 W of output and a 240 V outlet, the F3800 can start loads a 1 kWh station cannot. Champion's wattage chart puts a 2 ton central air conditioner at 2,000 to 2,500 running watts and 3,500 to 4,500 starting watts, inside the F3800's 6,000 W and 9,000 W surge ratings. Capacity is the limit. Dividing 3,840 Wh by those loads gives rough ceilings:
| Load (Champion chart) | Running watts | Ceiling on 3,840 Wh |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 150 to 400 W | About 10 to 26 hours of compressor run |
| Central AC, 2 ton | 2,000 to 2,500 W | About 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Well pump, 1/2 HP | 750 to 1,000 W | About 4 to 5 hours of pump run |
So it is excellent for a fridge, freezer, lights, internet and short AC sessions. For days of central air, you need expansion batteries, solar, or a generator to recharge it.
Expanding capacity
Anker lists support for up to six expansion batteries of 3.84 kWh each per unit, and up to two F3800 units joined with its Double Power Hub. It gives the maximum system as 12 kW and 53.8 kWh. One unit with six batteries is 3.84 times 7, or about 26.9 kWh. Two such stacks reach the 53.8 kWh figure. That is the scale where multi-day whole-home backup becomes realistic.
Recharging in a long outage
- Solar: up to 2,400 W through two inputs. Anker says it can fully recharge in under 2 hours in optimal sunlight. Real sun is rarely optimal.
- Wall: up to 1,800 W, so top it up before a storm arrives.
- Generator: run a generator outdoors to charge it. Anker's comparison shows generator bypass on the F3800 Plus, not the standard F3800, so check which model you buy if you want to pass generator power straight through.
One limit to note: Anker says the 240 V output cannot be used while the unit is charging from 120 V AC.
Connecting to the house
Anker markets the F3800 as plug-and-play for the devices you plug into it. To power hard-wired circuits like a furnace or well pump, Anker offers a bundle with a 10-circuit manual transfer switch. Connecting anything to your home's electrical panel is code work. Have a licensed electrician install the switch and inlet so the unit can never backfeed the utility line. Anker also lists direct EV and RV charging through its TT-30 and L14-30 ports.
What to look for when you buy
Anker SOLIX F3800 power station
Best for: Home backup of a fridge, freezer, lights, internet and short AC sessions, with 240 V outlets
Anker lists 3,840 Wh LFP, 6,000 W continuous at 120/240 V, 9,000 W surge, 2,400 W solar input, sub-20 ms UPS switching and a 5 year warranty.
Watch out: It weighs 132.3 pounds, and 240 V output is not available while charging from 120 V AC.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Anker SOLIX F3800 expansion battery
Best for: Stretching run time toward multi-day backup
Anker lists up to six 3.84 kWh expansion batteries per F3800.
Watch out: Each battery adds weight and floor space near the unit.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Manual transfer switch kit for the F3800
Best for: Powering hard-wired circuits like a furnace or well pump
Anker sells the F3800 with a 10-circuit manual transfer switch for feeding chosen home circuits.
Watch out: Have a licensed electrician install it to code.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Questions people ask
- Can the Anker SOLIX F3800 run central air?
- Its 6,000 W and 9,000 W surge cover a 2 ton unit's draw on Champion's chart, but 3,840 Wh runs a 2,000 to 2,500 W AC for only about 1.5 to 2 hours.
- How long does the F3800 take to charge?
- Anker lists up to 1,800 W from the wall and up to 2,400 W from solar, and says solar can fully recharge it in under 2 hours in optimal sun.
- Does the Anker F3800 need an electrician?
- Not for plugging devices into it. To power home circuits, a transfer switch is needed, and that installation should be done by a licensed electrician.
- How much can the F3800 expand?
- Anker lists up to six 3.84 kWh expansion batteries per unit and up to two units, for a maximum of 12 kW and 53.8 kWh.
Sources
- Anker SOLIX F3800 Portable Power Station (specs), Anker SOLIX
- Generator Wattage Chart, Champion Power Equipment