Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus questions & answers

[darrell2002]

Just got my 5000+ with the STS. Most important question: can it power my 1980s AC compressor with easy start? Yes it can. I'll have to figure out the peak shaving part once I dig into the app a bot more.

 

[darrell2002]

Not that I would normally do this, but can it charge a 2024 ID4? Whoa, yes it can, at least for a little while. I turned it off after a few minutes not wanting to damage anything at 250W over the rated output. Maybe the 299W of Solar Saga 500x input allowed the higher output.

 

[Nonna23]

I usually find delayed responses from them are the best responses. In other words, when I don't get an answer right away it's usually because they've kicked the question upstairs to the engineers, and when the answer comes back it's usually on point. So good luck, and I'm glad it's working better for you; I'm really surprised they aren't giving you the two-hour wait anymore, that's promising!

I finally got a response from Jackery support and they pushed a firmware upgrade to my STS (1.3). That seems to have fixed the issue with the sporadic switching from batteries to grid and back. However, not sure if self powered mode is still working the same way. We have had a rainy day here in Frorida so my solar input has been limited which is making any testing difficult. I will update more as I know more.

 

[Nonna23]

Not that I would normally do this, but can it charge a 2024 ID4? Whoa, yes it can, at least for a little while. I turned it off after a few minutes not wanting to damage anything at 250W over the rated output. Maybe the 299W of Solar Saga 500x input allowed the higher output.View attachment 301929

I have charged my 2021 ID.4 with my level 1 charger a few times. We also connected our level 2 and lowered the amps and it works with that as well. We have a 3.6K HPV solar grid so we try to keep the charger set below the incoming solar.

 

[Gaijin2]

Update: Added section 16 to the first post, dealing with tandem breakers.

 

[Nonna23]

Great explanation! We are still seeing strange things happen, but we are running self powered mode. I'm assuming you are not using self powered mode at this point? Do you have a discharging schedule set up or is it all just working this way without any settings? This is what we are trying to accomplish but have not strayed from self powered mode at this point. Thanks!

I finally have what I think is a definitive answer on the question "Does the Explorer 5000+ pass through excess solar input, or is solar only used to recharge the battery and once the battery's full is any excess solar wasted? And furthermore, does it "microcycle" the battery when the battery's full?"

The answer to all the above is "yes", but it depends on whether it's connected to the Smart Transfer Switch or not.

For those who don't have the STS: the DC input from the solar array is used to directly recharge the 5000+ battery. And the house load is fed from the battery. If the battery is full, solar input is wasted. As the 5000+ supplies the load and its battery drops down, the solar input will recharge it to 100%. This is what I believe to be happening, as borne out by other users' reports. The net result is that if you have more than enough solar input to meet the house's load during the day, you should end the solar day with a fully charged 5000+ battery.

For those that do have the STS, things are different. The Smart Transfer Switch provides a separate AC Expansion Port connection to the grid and lets things work much more dynamically. The AC Expansion Port connection adds the ability to effectively "pass through" the solar input to the STS. In this case, all solar input is converted to AC by the 5000+'s inverter, and fed out the AC Expansion Port connection to the STS. The STS uses that AC power to power the house load, and if there is excess power available it can use it to recharge the 5000+ and any attached expansion batteries.

In this way, all solar input can be used all the time all day long, assuming the house is drawing enough power to use it, and the battery doesn't get continuously micro-cycled. Of course if your batteries are all charged and you're not drawing much load then there would be wasted solar input under those circumstances; the solution there is probably to add a battery or two to capture all the solar that gets generated.

The Smart Transfer Switch basically takes over all power management decisions from the 5000+. It becomes a central switching point for all power sources: grid power, battery power, and solar power, and flows that power according to your preferences. As for solar power, all solar must be connected to a 5000+ and the STS's AC Expansion Port just sees it as a separate AC power supply, just like the grid or just like the 5000+'s battery. So the STS can use rooftop solar (connected to the 5000+'s HPV and LPV inputs) to directly power the house, or to recharge the 5000+ and any attached expansion batteries. One exception; if you have two 5000+ units connected to an STS, you can't use solar attached to one 5000+ to recharge the other 5000+.

I ran a test today using a discharge schedule instead of self powered mode. My goal was to determine what happens when the batteries hit 100%, will the solar at that point pass through to service the load or will the solar input go to zero until the batteries drop at least 1%. Obviously my hope was that the solar would continue to input and would service the load, keeping the batteries at 100%. Well, that is not what happened. The solar input went to zero and stayed that way until one of the batteries dropped 1% and then the input started again, stopping when 100% was hit again. I've asked Jackery support what set up is needed in order to pass the solar through once the batteries are at 100%. No response yet, but it is the weekend. My gut feeling is that it is not possible, but I'm still hopeful. We'll see.

 

[Gaijin2]

I would expect that to happen on a 5000+ standalone, but that's not supposed to happen when you integrate the STS. Here is what I was told:

• The E5000+ by itself does not directly pass solar input (DC) to the house load (which is AC). The solar energy must first be stored in the battery (converted from DC to AC via the inverter), and then that AC output can be used for the house.
• However, when the STS (Smart Transfer Switch) is added to the system, it creates a more dynamic relationship. In this configuration, the E5000+ can act as a bridge, allowing energy drawn from the solar input (after it is inverted to AC) to simultaneously serve the house load while also charging the battery if capacity is available. In that sense, you could interpret this as a form of "pass-through," though technically the energy still routes through the E5000+'s inverter before powering the house.

I'll try to plug in a panel and see if my system works the same; that way I can follow up with my tech from a first-hand perspective. Can't do it today, we've got a thunderstorm/tornado warning, but when the skies are clear I'll try to do it.

 

[Nonna23]

I would expect that to happen on a 5000+ standalone, but that's not supposed to happen when you integrate the STS. Here is what I was told:


I'll try to plug in a panel and see if my system works the same; that way I can follow up with my tech from a first-hand perspective. Can't do it today, we've got a thunderstorm/tornado warning, but when the skies are clear I'll try to do it.

What they have said it technically correct. It does charge the battery and power the load at the same time. However, when the battery is completely charged the solar input goes to zero instead of continuing to power the load.

 

[Gaijin2]

Okay, I have been able to duplicate your results. I don't have a solar array available so I found that my old laptop power supply puts out 20V/135W DC through a DC7909 connector, so I verified the polarity, adapted it to DC8020 and plugged it in and it works. The 5000+ reports 157 watts of input through its Low PV input.

I charged the 5000+ to 100% through the grid/STS, and the DC LPV solar input now shows zero.

The house load is pulling >500 watts, so I waited a bit until the battery dropped to 99%. When it did, the DC input watts now shows 157 and the charging circle is spinning. I have no doubt that when it recharges that missing 1%, the input watts will show zero again.

I'll ask the technician who gave the above report about it and see what response I get.

 

[Nonna23]

Okay, I have been able to duplicate your results. I don't have a solar array available so I found that my old laptop power supply puts out 20V/135W DC through a DC7909 connector, so I verified the polarity, adapted it to DC8020 and plugged it in and it works. The 5000+ reports 157 watts of input through its Low PV input.

I charged the 5000+ to 100% through the grid/STS, and the DC LPV solar input now shows zero.

The house load is pulling >500 watts, so I waited a bit until the battery dropped to 99%. When it did, the DC input watts now shows 157 and the charging circle is spinning. I have no doubt that when it recharges that missing 1%, the input watts will show zero again.

I'll ask the technician who gave the above report about it and see what response I get.

I got this response from Alberto at Jackery support:

"If you want to use solar power 24/7, you can use charging and discharging plans. When using that working mode, solar input will provide power to the E5000 PLUS as long as the unit is not at 100%. Also, there's no delay time for the AC to take action. Meaning: You don't have to wait for the unit to be full to use it. Or, if full and you set a discharging plan, it will start discharging at the scheduled time.

If solar power is available, it will charge the unit. So, as long as the SoC is 99% or less, solar power will take action. Solar won't go through when batteries are 100% because Solar power is DC power, and if you're using the AC outlets, it will need to convert from DC to AC. When doing that, the unit will take power from the batteries."

So according to Alberto, there is no way to use solar while the batteries are at 100%. I was really hoping there was a setting somewhere to make that happen.

 

[Gaijin2]

That is what I was originally told months ago. But my most recent interchange with them went up the chain to the engineers and came back with the answers I previously posted. So my observations align with yours, but I have sent my observations to them to hopefully go to the source and get definitive instructions.

In the meantime, it looks like there's at least one way to use 100% of the solar you generate; if you have enough batteries so they never get 100% full during the solar day. Sounds flippant I know, but at least it should work and it's within our control (if we can afford all those batteries).

I would vastly prefer that solar pass through when the batteries are full, like my tech said they would. I'll let you know what the response is, but I don't really expect one right away, I'm sure this has to run up the chain to the programmers & engineers before we can get the final answer.

 

[Nonna23]

That is what I was originally told months ago. But my most recent interchange with them went up the chain to the engineers and came back with the answers I previously posted. So my observations align with yours, but I have sent my observations to them to hopefully go to the source and get definitive instructions.

In the meantime, it looks like there's at least one way to use 100% of the solar you generate; if you have enough batteries so they never get 100% full during the solar day. Sounds flippant I know, but at least it should work and it's within our control (if we can afford all those batteries).

I would vastly prefer that solar pass through when the batteries are full, like my tech said they would. I'll let you know what the response is, but I don't really expect one right away, I'm sure this has to run up the chain to the programmers & engineers before we can get the final answer.

Great, thanks. Hopefully you hear something different and how we can accomplish this.

 

[darrell2002]

So is each breaker in tbe STS still limited to 30A when there are two 5000+ units hooked up? Would it be possible to power a larger than 30A load with two sets of breakers wired in parallel? I ask because my EVs tend to draw just over 30A at the highest settings. Lower settings reduce charging to a crawl.

 

[Gaijin2]

So is each breaker in tbe STS still limited to 30A when there are two 5000+ units hooked up?

The STS says the largest breaker allowed is 30A. Adding a second 5000+ doesn't change that.

Would it be possible to power a larger than 30A load with two sets of breakers wired in parallel?

The National Electrical Code specifically prohibits parallel breakers, for many good reasons.

There is, however one possible exception: if you can find a factory-made and listed parallel breaker. You can't just wire two breakers together, but if someone makes one that suits your needs, handles current balancing and protects the neutral, is all in one unit, and is listed by an NRTL for the specific use of combining amperage, the NEC would allow that. That may exist, but I haven't seen one.

 

[JM No Sparks]

I’ve come to realize that it’s practically impossible to determine how or when the Jackery 5000+ decides to begin supplying power whether using the Charge/Discharge Plan under Working Modes or in Self-Powered Mode. What I can confirm is that nothing happens unless the battery hits 100% first. Then, even after a full charge, you’re stuck waiting around 24 hours post-reboot before anything kicks in.

There doesn’t seem to be a way to simply let it run continuously charging the battery and powering STS loads until the backup reserve threshold is reached.

Logically, I expected Self-Powered Mode to work like this: the battery discharges to the reserve limit, switches back to grid, recharges (ideally from solar), then flips back to battery power once it hits the charge threshold again. But that’s not what’s happening.

Instead, the 5000+ seems to be operating on some unknown internal timer or logic. If it’s even making real-time decisions, they’re not obvious. Based on trial and error, it looks like it starts supplying power about 2 hours after reaching a full charge but there’s no app log or status history to verify this. It’s all guesswork.

Why is there’s a delay in self powered mode?

 

[Nonna23]

I’ve come to realize that it’s practically impossible to determine how or when the Jackery 5000+ decides to begin supplying power whether using the Charge/Discharge Plan under Working Modes or in Self-Powered Mode. What I can confirm is that nothing happens unless the battery hits 100% first. Then, even after a full charge, you’re stuck waiting around 24 hours post-reboot before anything kicks in.

There doesn’t seem to be a way to simply let it run continuously charging the battery and powering STS loads until the backup reserve threshold is reached.

Logically, I expected Self-Powered Mode to work like this: the battery discharges to the reserve limit, switches back to grid, recharges (ideally from solar), then flips back to battery power once it hits the charge threshold again. But that’s not what’s happening.

Instead, the 5000+ seems to be operating on some unknown internal timer or logic. If it’s even making real-time decisions, they’re not obvious. Based on trial and error, it looks like it starts supplying power about 2 hours after reaching a full charge but there’s no app log or status history to verify this. It’s all guesswork.

Why is there’s a delay in self powered mode?

You are correct, self powered mode prioritizes charging the batteries (via solar) until it hits 100%, then waits 2 hours and finally will start feeding the load. There will be no solar input at that point until the batteries drop below 100% at which time solar will input until 100% again and then cut off again. At least at that point it doesn't wait 2 hours again.

I am currently using solar to charge the batteries and have a discharge schedule defined for 9 am to 9 pm every day. It works beautifully. At 9 am, the batteries start feeding the load regardless of the state of charge (unless the batteries are below the backup reserve level) and regardless of whether there is solar input or not. Solar comes in and feeds the load and charges the batteries during the day. There is no delay, no 2 hour wait. The only time solar input stops is if the batteries reach 100% and it will pick back up once the level drops. I played around with self powered mode for quite some time and found that a discharge schedule works much better and is very reliable. A charging schedule is not needed because solar automatically takes care of that when it's available.

 

[JM No Sparks]

A charging schedule is not needed because solar automatically takes care of that when it's available.

Thanks for explaining your result. I am going to experiment with no charge schedule again. My first attempts at this did nothing. Does the battery take over as soon as it hits the threshold for "Power for charging-discharging plan" or does it have to get all the way up to 100%?

I'm noticing that if I power cycle the STS with the button on the front after I make a change in the schedule It works at the next time period. For anyone still trying to figure out the charge discharge plan look at this pic and if you don't have this extra box appearing during a scheduled cycle, power cycle the STS:

 

[JM No Sparks]

Another scenario I'm working through is if i have the AC tuned off at the front panel or via the app, will the STS re-enable it when the charging-dischaging plan kicks in, does it actually shut the inverter down? Im hoping yes, but cant immeditly verify how this works. I hope to preserve those 90 idle standby watts over the night.

 

[JM No Sparks]

I've decided to keep the UPS mode turned off. I find the 5-second delay before switching to battery more beneficial, especially since grid power tends to blink briefly rather than fully drop. If this delay helps reduce idle power consumption, even slightly, it's worth it to me. Initially, I was concerned about the 5-second switchover especially since I plan to run on solar/battery and thought this delay every morning and evening would be disruptive. But I’ve learned that the delay only applies when the system detects a grid failure. It doesn’t affect the regular transitions between battery and grid during normal operation. Since the system anticipates these switches, the transition is seamless and my household appliances don’t even notice.

 

[Nonna23]

Thanks for explaining your result. I am going to experiment with no charge schedule again. My first attempts at this did nothing. Does the battery take over as soon as it hits the threshold for "Power for charging-discharging plan" or does it have to get all the way up to 100%?

I'm noticing that if I power cycle the STS with the button on the front after I make a change in the schedule It works at the next time period. For anyone still trying to figure out the charge discharge plan look at this pic and if you don't have this extra box appearing during a scheduled cycle, power cycle the STS:

As soon as you hit the time you have specified in the discharging schedule the battery takes over. I haven't had to cycle the STS at all, other than when I got a software upgrade. I'm at 1.3 now. If you are at a lower level, you may need an upgrade. If you haven't already, you may want to open an incident explaining that you have to recycle the STS when a new schedule is added.

 

[Nonna23]

Another scenario I'm working through is if i have the AC tuned off at the front panel or via the app, will the STS re-enable it when the charging-dischaging plan kicks in, does it actually shut the inverter down? Im hoping yes, but cant immeditly verify how this works. I hope to preserve those 90 idle standby watts over the night.

If you are using a discharging schedule and solar, you do not need to enable AC unless you are plugging something in to the E5000 itself. The internal workings of the STS handles all that. If you leave AC enabled when you don't need it, it will drain the battery faster.

 

[Gaijin2]

delete

 

[Gaijin2]

I've decided to keep the UPS mode turned off.

Instantaneous UPS is a feature that's excellent if you need it, and wasteful if you don't. In essence, if you're running instantaneous UPS you're never truly running from the grid; you're always running from battery power, and yes the power consumption will always be higher than the regular backup mode. Those are the tradeoffs you make for having instantaneous power switchover.

 

[Gaijin2]

I am currently using solar to charge the batteries and have a discharge schedule defined for 9 am to 9 pm every day. It works beautifully.

That's great to hear! I was hoping that would be a better fit, and it's awfully nice to hear someone having success with this setup.

 

[plympton]

Instantaneous UPS is a feature that's excellent if you need it, and wasteful if you don't. In essence, if you're running instantaneous UPS you're never truly running from the grid; you're always running from battery power, and yes the power consumption will always be higher than the regular backup mode. Those are the tradeoffs you make for having instantaneous power switchover.

Been reading through this thread. I use the UPS mode on my gear because I want the benefit (knowing the power cost).

The whole battery-full-not-passing-solar thing is really puzzling. My Bluetti stuff prioritizes solar for loads, and draws from battery, and below a set threshold, pulls from the grid.

• If Load + Battery charging < Solar, solar is throttled (since I'm not grid interconnected).
• If Load > Solar, battery doesn't get charged.

We're having a weird day today (overcast morning), but the delta between the yellow and the blue is going into charging the battery. The orange is the grid input into the inverter (AC500).

Edit: My solar went to 0 after all my batteries fully charged. Now I'll get 99-100% cycling from battery-solar since my transfer switch is pulling from the inverter (powered by the batteries).