Solar Powered Outdoor Speakers: Can Solar Generator Power Outdoor Speakers

A peaceful outdoor setting with music is a perfect recipe for unwinding and releasing daily routine stress. A good solar-powered outdoor speaker can enhance your experience multifold while you still have the satisfaction of using environmentally friendly equipment. When you are shopping for your outdoor solar-powered speakers, there are some factors that you must consider, including the size, battery life, charging options, Bluetooth connectivity, etc. Let's move on and see what a solar-powered outdoor speaker is; there are better alternatives like the Jackery solar generators and how it works.

What Is A Solar Powered Outdoor Speaker

This is obvious by the name that they are outdoor speakers, and they run using solar power. Other details are that they mostly use Bluetooth functionality, while others offer wi-fi connection, memory card slots, USB ports, and FM radio options. These outdoor speakers have batteries that you charge using solar panels, while some can also charge using AC outlets.

Solar-powered outdoor speakers have solar panel cells on the surface, which receive sunlight and convert solar energy into electricity. They store this electricity in the batteries and use it.

A good solar-powered outdoor speaker should also have an option of AC outlet charging along with solar charging so that you can still use it when the sun is not bright enough and also on cloudy and rainy days. It is also a point to note that if you are camping or enjoying a picnic on the beach, AC-powered charging is not a feasible option.

Since we are talking about outdoor solar-powered speakers, the durability and sturdy build of the casing are also important. Fragile and water-sensitive equipment is not a good choice outdoors.

Solar Powered Outdoor Speaker VS. Solar Generator for Outdoor Speaker

Solar-Powered Outdoor Speaker

Solar-powered outdoor speakers are a piece of great equipment for anyone who is a nature lover and needs music to survive. Outdoor speaker quality can be tricky because there are no walls or filters, so you have no control over the surrounding noise. There is wind, birds chirping, dogs barking, and leaves rustling. Solar-powered outdoor speakers must offer high-quality performance with high power handling and low-frequency response for excellent bass.

Another important factor is the sturdiness of the equipment to sustain tough weather conditions like exposure to sunlight, rain, and dust.

Solar Generator for Outdoor Speaker

Solar generators for outdoor speakers have a wider scope than solar-powered outdoor speakers. This equipment has bigger batteries that can power almost all your outdoor devices. If you have a large solar generator, you can run your refrigerator, TV, laptop, etc. It is important to note that solar generators have zero fuel cost because you are not using any gas resource or gasoline. They charge using solar panels and then work through batteries.

How Many Watts Does An Outdoor Speaker Use

The important point about solar-powered outdoor speakers is that the more power and volume you want, the more wattage you need. Since outdoors have their own set of noises, you would need the louder output to cancel them out, hence a little higher wattage than conventional speakers. So, generally, you need at least 10 watts per channel or 20 watts of total power. Then for better sound quality outdoors covering a large area, you need 50 watts per channel or 100 watts total.

The Difference between Wattage and Power Output

Power output is the total amount of power your solar-powered outdoor speaker or any speaker produces. On the other hand, wattage is the amount of total energy consumed by the speaker.

How To Calculate Watts Required By An Outdoor Solar-Powered Speaker

How many watts an outdoor solar-powered speaker requires depends on the total square foot area you want to cover. When you multiply the area by 20 watts, the answer is the total watts requirement. However, you should consider that this gives you an estimate only. The sound quality outdoors might also be affected by weather conditions and the signal-producing devices in the area, like cell phones or routers.

The volume is a personal choice, and the wattage requirement changes accordingly. However, generally, 50 to 100 watts is a good number for the watts requirement of a solar-powered outdoor speaker system.

How Loud Is An Outdoor Speaker

As we already discussed, the required wattage for a solar-powered outdoor speaker depends on the area coverage you need. The other factors that influence volume are the speaker cone's size, the magnet driver's power, and the distance.  

Decibels and watts are common units you need to know while describing your speaker requirements. In the simplest terms, decibels measure loudness, while watts measure amplifier power.

Mathematically, we can express the relationship as;

One watt=90 dB.

100 watts, or 100X more power=110 dB.

Suppose you want to cover an area of around 5,000 square feet, then a rough estimate of your wattage requirements is as follows.

How Much Solar Power Does An Outdoor Speaker Need

The solar power requirement of an outdoor speaker depends on several factors, including the coverage area, the watts requirements, the duration of working, etc.

Jackery Solar Generator for Outdoor Speaker

We recommend using Jackery solar generators for outdoor speakers because of their sturdiness, smooth functionality, and high capacity. They charge fast, have a display to show charging and output, and also safeguard devices from voltage fluctuations. They work even on rainy days and at night, and you can also use them for indoor backup in emergencies and power outages. So, it is an asset that will be useful in many situations.

Jackery offers a large range of solar generators covering various capacities. You can choose small setups like 500 Wh or use high capacity options offering 3000 Wh, 2000Wh, etc.

1. Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro

The Jackery Explorer 1000 PRO is a portable solar power station offering you a voltage of 120V and an output wattage of 1000W. It can be charged using solar panels or an AC input within 1.8 hours. It is a lightweight and portable system with a foldable handle for easy carrying. The smart screen on this generator makes its use very easy and safe, as you can see the charging, the output values, and other data.

The Jackery Explorer 1000 PRO is also a safe generator because its pure sine wave inverter delivers stable power with little noise. Thus, it saves your connected equipment from fluctuations. The Explorer 1000 PRO has two 100W fast charging ports and various output ports, including three 1000W AC ports, one USB-A port, and a DC car port.

2. Jackery Explorer 500

The Jackery Explorer 500 is a solar generator with a 518Wh portable lithium power station. It has one AC output port, three USB-A ports, and two USB ports. It can power many devices, including mini-refrigerators, camping lights, outdoor solar-powered speakers, etc.

Since it is an easy-to-carry, lightweight, and portable station that you can easily take outdoors.  

Solar-Powered Outdoor Speakers FAQs

1. What size of solar generator do I need to power an outdoor speaker?

As we discussed, the general requirement for outdoor speakers is 60 to 300 watts. So, small Jackery solar generators offering a capacity of Jackery Solar Generator 500, 300,and 240 watts are a good choice. However, suppose you want to run other equipment with your solar-powered outdoor speakers or run them longer. In that case, you should go for bigger generators like Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro, Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro, and Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro.

So, how long can a generator run your solar-powered outdoor speakers? Here is the simple method to calculate the size of a solar generator for your requirement.

Let us take the example of Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro, which has a capacity of 1002Wh.

Working time = 1002Wh * 0.85 / operating wattage of your device.

Suppose your speakers consume 100 watts of power. Then you can calculate the working time by substituting the value in the formula.

Working time = 1002Wh * 0.85 / 100W = 8.5 hours.

2. How to choose the best solar outdoor speakers?

1. A solar-powered outdoor speaker needs to be portable and thus lightweight and sleek.
2. The higher the speaker's wattage, the louder and better quality sound, but larger wattage can make the system heavier. So, you need to trade-off between these two factors.
3. A pair of 60-watt speakers installed under 20 feet apart gives good coverage for 300 square feet. 80 to 100-watt speakers are a good choice for 300 to 500 square feet. Additionally, 150- to 175-watt speakers can cover 600 to 800 square feet.
4. Most solar-powered outdoor speakers give you a battery life of six hours, but it can vary. Another thing to consider is how long it will take to charge solar power speakers.
5. The IP (Ingress Protection) rating is a standard the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) created. It measures the water resistance level of your solar-powered outdoor speaker

The first number in an IP code shows protection against solid objects, while the second number shows the level of solar speaker protection against liquids.

3. Do solar-powered outdoor speakers work on cloudy days, in winter, or without the sun?

Solar-powered outdoor speakers work on cloudy and cold days though they work better on sunny days. Another factor to consider is that outdoor speakers must be weather resistant to sustain harsh weather, rain, and dust. Solar generators like Jackery are a better solution in such circumstances because they are built to work outdoors, are sturdy, and are very weather resistant. Also, one solar generator can power all your electronic equipment in camps, vans, and picnics.

Final Thoughts

Solar-powered outdoor speakers are useful for nature adventures, van life, camping, and picnics. However, buying the perfect outdoor speaker is a challenging task because there are many factors you need to consider, including watts, power output, weather resistance, battery power, etc. Solar-powered outdoor speakers have some downsides, as they might not be as productive on cloudy days, may not be sturdy enough, and need frequent charging. On the other hand, if you choose a solar generator like Jackery, you have a wide-scale power solution at your disposal that can power up most or all of your required equipment outdoors. Also, you can use it in emergencies in your home or during power outages, and you can also use it to minimize your power usage cost.