(Last Updated On: December 6, 2018)

Portable generators are devices that are basically similar to power banks and the reason for the that is because they have power capacities and they also have many charging output ports.

That said, there are also quite a lot of differences when it comes to power banks and portable generators and that would be the usage of AC Outlets, DC ports and generators usually have more than one way to recharge and one of the most common recharging methods is Solar recharging.

There are not too many power banks out on the market that match the capabilities of a portable generator and ultimately if you’re going to purchase a generator you’re going to need it more for than just charging your smartphone.

That is why there are portable generators like this LB1 PB160 Solar Generator that has quite a few useful powering and charging abilities that are able to charge/power devices that you have wherever you are.

Power

Power Capacity:

The power capacity of this PB160 Generator is nothing amazing and that’s because it has an initial power capacity of 15,600mAh.

Always remember, a power capacity goes through a conversion whenever you’re powering or charging a device and as a result, power is lost while that is happening.

In this case, since there are ways that you can power appliances using the AC Outlet and you’re able to charge devices using the USB and DC Port, it’s going to depend on how you’re using the portable generator that will determine the Output power capacity.

We’re going to calculate the average output power capacity that you’re most likely going to get most of the time.

3.7 x 15,600 = 57,720 / 5 = 11,544

	LB1 High-Performance PB160 Solar Generator Portable Power Pack (Output Power Capacity = 11,544mAh)	Phone Capacity	LB1 High-Performance PB160 Solar Generator Portable Power Pack Left Over Capacity after One Charge Number of Full Charges for the Device
iPhone SE	11,544mAh	1,624mAh	9,920mAh Left Over 7.1 Full Charges
iPhone 6	11,544mAh	1,810mAh	9,734mAh Left Over 6.3 Full Charges
iPhone 6 Plus	11,544mAh	2,915mAh	8,629mAh Left Over 3.9 Full Charges
iPhone 6s	11,544mAh	1,715mAh	9,829mAh Left Over 6.7 Full Charges
iPhone 6s Plus	11,544mAh	2,750mAh	8,794mAh Left Over 4.1 Full Charges
Samsung Galaxy S6	11,544mAh	2,550mAh	8,994mAh Left Over 4.5 Full Charges
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge	11,544mAh	2,600mAh	8,944mAh Left Over 4.4 Full Charges
Samsung Galaxy S7	11,544mAh	3,000mAh	8,544mAh Left Over 3.8 Full Charges
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	11,544mAh	3,600mAh	7,944mAh Left Over 3.2 Full Charges
Apple iPad Mini 2	11,544mAh	6,470mAh	5,074mAh Left Over 1.7 Full Charges
Apple iPad Mini 4	11,544mAh	5,124mAh	6,420mAh Left Over 2.2 Full Charges

An Output power capacity of 11,544mAh is quite good but what’s really unusual about the power capacity of this portable generator is just how low it is.

Most of the time, portable generators usually have capacities that are within the 100,000mAh range and that means they’re able to charge smartphones a ton of times and one of the major reasons that portable generators have very high power capacities is to power appliances for long durations.

Power Capacity for Smartphones

A power capacity of 11,544mAh is going to be very useful for when you’re charging smartphones and that’s because smartphones have low capacities with their batteries that are able to charge to their full power multiple times over. An iPhone 7 with its 1,960mAh capacity can charge to its full power about 6 times.

However, if you’re charging very high capacity smartphones like a Galaxy S8 or a Google Pixel XL then that is going to only result in an about 4 full charges.

Power Capacity for Tablets

Charging tablets with the PB160 Solar generator is also possible, but you should know that it’s going to take a good chunk out of the power capacity if you do charge a tablet.

As mini tablets such as the iPad Mini 2 or the iPad Mini 4 are able to charge to their full power about 2 times only and a full-sized tablet such as an iPad Air 2 can charge to its full power only 1.5 times.

Then if we’re talking about powering when it comes the power capacity’s longevity, then it can power most small appliances for about 1-3 hours depending on how much power you’re using. Speaking of power, let’s a take a look at what the powering and charging options have to offer.

Output Charging:

It uses a single USB port and it has a charging speed of 5V/2.1A. 2.1 Amp charging speed is quite good and it’s able to charge lots of smartphones at their max charging speed.

Although, it will not charge Quick Charge compatible smartphones at their max charging speeds because the USB port does not feature Quick Charge. Tablets such as iPads are able to charge close to their max charging speeds with this USB port because iPads have a max charging speed of 2.4 Amps.

DC Output:

The DC Output port has a charging speed of 12V/5A and so it’s able to charge most laptops on the market at their max charging speeds.

AC Outlet:

There’s single AC Outlet on this LB1 High-Performance solar generator and it’s capable of an Output power of 160Watts and that means you’re able to power appliances that use that much power. So you can very well power appliances that are in the mini category such as MiniFridges, lamps, or radios can be powered through the AC Outlet on this portable generator.

Overall, it does have lots of power to provide, it’s just important to remember that you should know what you want to power with this PB160 Solar generator so that it fits within the 160Watt range of power.

Another thing that you should know is that using the AC Outlet is going to burn through the power capacity faster than the USB port will because more power is being used.

Input Charging:

There are 3 main ways that you can recharge this portable generator and that would be by using an AC Adapter, a DC Cigarette charger adapter or a Solar Charger.

All these methods of recharging the generator are used with the same Input that has a recharging speed of 15V/3.0A. For the fastest recharging time, you should the AC or DC Adapters because that will result in a full recharge time of 6-7 hours.

Then if you’re using the Solar charger, a full recharge time will result in 12 hours.

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Design

Size and Weight:

Since this is a generator it’s going to be quite a lot larger and heavier than just your normal power bank.

However, it’s important to know that it’s also on the small side when we’re talking about generators in general and that is why you’re going to have a pretty good time being able to be portable with this generator.

It has a length of the 6 inches, the width of 8.5 inches and a thickness of 2 inches. The weight of the generator is 3.5 pounds. Sure it’s quite large and heavy, but you’re still going to be able to take it places more easily than a generator that has a much higher capacity.

Functional Components:

Almost all of the functional parts of this PB160 generator are on the same side, which is at the front and that’s where you’re going to find:

• Flashlight ON/OFF Switch

• DC Input Port

• Master ON/OFF Switch

• LCD Power Capacity Display

• USB Output Port

• USB/DC Output Port ON/OFF Switch

• DC Output Port

• AC Output ON/OFF Switch

• AC Outlet

Then to the left is where there’s the flashlight. Overall, it’s very easy to use a generator that has all of its parts labeled and there are buttons for all the functional parts that you press to activate them. The LCD power capacity display tells you how much power capacity is left in increments of 20%.

Build

Structure and Material:

It’s a well-structured generator that is made of plastic and the plastic is placed very well. It has a structure that is able to withstand constant use.

Tech:

The tech side of the Solar generator is also really good and that’s because it has 2 Cooling fans that are built-into the generator. It also has a replaceable fuse compartment that is easy to replace once the need arises. Also, the generator will automatically turn off once it goes over its powering capabilities, in order to make sure that you and your devices are safe.

Reliability

We think this PB160 Solar Generator is very reliable with what it offers and that’s because it has charging capabilities and powering abilities with its AC Outlet that can power appliances that are within its 160Watt range.

The tech that is used is also really good because it uses tech that is able to be reliable and safe for those times when you’re going all out with it.

The main unreliable portion of the generator is its power capacity because it’s a lot lower than most portable generators on the market.

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Summary:

Power:

The power capacity that it has is “okay” just don’t expect to charge smartphones to their max power 30 times or tablets 20 times. The capacity should be higher. On the bright side, the charging speeds of the USB port and the DC port are really good. The AC Outlet has enough power to power appliances that are on the mini side.

Design:

In comparison to other portable generators on the market, this one is actually quite small and lightweight and that means you won’t have any trouble taking it anywhere.

Build:

On the build side of things, the generator is really good even with its plastic body and it automatically shuts off when you go beyond its output capabilities.

Reliability:

We think it’s a highly reliable generator, except for its power capacity that could be higher to add more longevity to the powering and charging.

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Specs of the LB1 High-Performance PB160 Solar Generator Portable Power Pack:

• Capacity:            Advertised: 15,600mAh           Output Capacity: 11,544mAh
• Output:

USB Ports:    USB Port 1: 5V/2.1A

AC Outlets: 160Watts

DC Output Port: 12V/5.0A

• Input:

AC Input: 15V/3.0A

DC Cigarette Charger: 15V/3.0A

Solar Input: 15V/3.0A

• LED Power Indicators: 5 Dotted Indicators
• Size: 6 x 8.5 x 2 inches
• Weight: 3.5 Pounds

Conclusion:

This LB1 High-Performance PB160 Solar generator has all the necessary parts to keep you charged and powered while you’re out and about.