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An ESS News reviewer tested a pre-release Anker Solix S5000, a wheeled power station with 5,024 Wh of LFP storage and a 4,500 W inverter, including during a three-day outage in Northern California. The review measured AC charging and solar output, but did not test 240 V charging, the Smart Generator or several other rated capabilities.
ESS News published a hands-on review of Anker’s Solix S5000 on October 25, detailing tests of the 5,024 Wh power station during AC charging, solar input and a three-day outage in Northern California. The report offers measured results for a pre-release unit, while leaving several advertised functions—including 240 V charging and generator charging—untested.
The S5000 is a wheeled unit weighing 44 kg (97 lb), with LFP battery cells and a rated 4,500 W continuous AC output across 120 V and 240 V. Anker lists a peak output of 8,000 W, storage expansion up to 30 kWh, a five-year warranty and a cycle-life rating of 6,000 cycles to 80% capacity. Those cycle-life and output figures are manufacturer specifications, not findings established by this review.
For two full charges from a standard 120 V outlet, the reviewer measured 6.24 kWh from the wall over 3 hours 40 minutes at the app’s 1,800 W setting. At 1,000 W, a full charge took 6 hours 3 minutes and used 6.13 kWh. The higher setting drew about 1.79 kW for almost three hours before reducing to roughly 1.43 kW for the remaining 50 minutes; at the lower setting, draw stayed close to 1 kW.
For solar testing, two Anker Solix PS400 panels connected in series produced a measured peak of 680 W on a sunny October day. The reviewer said the panels’ output, rather than the S5000’s input limit, constrained the result. The report also describes the unit being used through a real three-day outage, but the supplied account does not provide detailed load, runtime or remaining-charge measurements for that backup test.
What the Charging Tests Show
The review gives prospective buyers figures from wall-meter measurements rather than relying only on the product’s advertised charging rate. In the 1,800 W test, the S5000 drew about 1.7 kW on average across the full charge, because it reduced input near the end. The 1,000 W setting took 65% longer and used 1.7% less energy from the wall, according to the reviewer. That trade-off may matter when charging from a shared household circuit or a smaller generator.
The outage use also puts the large battery into a practical home-backup setting. But the published measurements summarized here do not establish how long the S5000 can power particular appliances, or how much energy remained after specific loads. Buyers should distinguish the reported experience from a measured whole-home runtime claim.
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From Announcement to Field Test
Anker announced the Solix S5000 on October 9. The October 25 ESS News report describes testing of a pre-release unit at a home in Northern California. The reviewer focused on charging, usable capacity, idle consumption, portability and outage backup, and said the unit was used during a three-day power interruption.
The listed ports include four NEMA 5-20R outlets, a TT-30R outlet and an L14-30R 240 V outlet, plus USB connections. Anker rates AC charging at up to 1,800 W from 120 V or 4,500 W from 240 V; its specification says a 240 V charge can take 99 minutes from empty to full. The reviewer tested only 120 V AC charging. The unit also has two solar inputs, rated for a combined 3,000 W, and a DC input for Anker’s Smart Generator or expansion batteries.
“I tested a pre-release unit in Northern California, focusing on charging, usable capacity, idle consumption, portability, and backup during a multi-day power outage.”
— ESS News reviewer
Capabilities Still Untested
The review did not test 240 V AC charging, despite Anker’s stated 4,500 W charging rate, or charging from the Smart Generator and a vehicle alternator. It also did not verify the claim that the 240 V outlet can keep supplying power while the unit charges from a 120 V source. Those points remain manufacturer specifications or claims, not independently demonstrated results in this test.
The reported account does not give a complete set of measurements for the outage: appliance loads, energy consumed, runtime by device and final battery level are not specified. It also does not provide the full test results for idle consumption, usable capacity or portability. The reviewer said the app and display reported less charging energy than the wall meter, but did not know where in the power path the difference arose. Noise was described as low, but was not measured.
What Buyers Should Check
The review supplies a limited set of real-world results; additional testing would be needed to verify performance across the S5000’s other charging methods and output configurations. Buyers considering the unit for backup should compare their expected appliance loads with its rated output and seek measured runtime information for those loads, rather than treating the three-day outage description as a universal runtime estimate.
Anker’s stated 240 V charging rate, generator compatibility, expansion capacity and simultaneous charging-and-output behavior remain points to verify against product documentation or independent tests. The published review does not say whether further testing is planned or whether the tested pre-release unit differs from retail models.
Key Questions
What is the Anker Solix S5000?
It is a wheeled power station with 5,024 Wh of LFP storage and a manufacturer-rated 4,500 W continuous AC output, including 120 V and 240 V connections.
How long did a 120 V charge take in the review?
From empty to full, the reviewer measured 3 hours 40 minutes at the 1,800 W setting and 6 hours 3 minutes at 1,000 W. The higher setting reduced its draw near the end of the charge.
How much solar power did the test produce?
Two 400 W Anker Solix PS400 panels reached a measured peak of 680 W on a sunny October day. The reviewer attributed the limit to panel output in those conditions.
Did the review verify the S5000’s 240 V charging rate?
No. Anker lists charging at up to 4,500 W from 240 V, but the reviewer tested charging only from a standard 120 V outlet.
Does the review establish how long it can power a home?
No. It reports use during a three-day outage, but the supplied test details do not specify appliance loads, energy use or remaining battery charge. Runtime will depend on the connected equipment and how it is used.
Source: rss
