Explorer 1500 Ultra
- it works in rain and dust: IP65
- a job site or a campsite
- it runs down to 5°F
HomePower 2000 Plus v2
- you’ll add batteries up to 12kWh
- a PC needs a 10ms UPS
- you run 2,400W loads
Prices and stock checked by our price engine on November 13, 2026 at 8:36 AM EST. Each product is rechecked several times a day; the time refreshes when you load the page.
A power station you can hose down, or one you can grow into a home battery.
The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra stores 1,536Wh behind an IP65 rating with its lids closed, delivers 1,800W (2,000W for 15 minutes) from three outlets and refills from the wall in 1.5 hours, at 38.6 lb; it switches in 20ms and is rated for 4,000 cycles. The Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 stores 2,048Wh, delivers 2,400W from four 20A outlets, switches in 10ms, is rated for 6,000 cycles and takes up to five Battery Pack 2000 Plus v2 for about 12kWh, at 41.45 lb. Both take 800W of solar. Outdoors in any weather, the Ultra; at home, the HomePower.
Below: every difference with numbers, a 20-second calculator for your own gear, eight modeled situations, a non-rugged third option, and what published tests found.
Same 800W of solar input, same 12V car port, same 3+2-year warranty, and only 2.85 lb apart; prices sit $120 apart today. The 1500 Ultra is the weatherproof one. The HomePower 2000 Plus v2 has 512Wh more, 600W more output, a fourth outlet, a 10ms UPS, 2,000 more rated cycles and a battery port.
- it lives outdoors: IP65
- you run tools on a site
- you refill in 1.5 h
- you’ll add packs up to 12kWh
- a desktop PC needs 10ms
- you cycle it daily
The six differences that decide it
Both take 800W of solar over two DC8020 ports, have a 12V, 10A car port, use the Jackery app and carry a 3+2-year warranty, and they weigh within 3 lb of each other. These six gaps decide it.
Will it run your setup? Check in 20 seconds
Estimates use 85% usable capacity and 70% of rated solar output. Real results vary with temperature, inverter load, shade and appliance cycling. Fridge and freezer watts are daily averages and do not include compressor startup surges.
Runtime by appliance, one at a time
Simple energy estimates, not measured runtimes: about 1,306Wh usable on the Explorer 1500 Ultra and 1,741Wh on the HomePower 2000 Plus v2, without extra batteries.
Appliance for appliance, the HomePower 2000 Plus v2 lasts 33% longer than the 1500 Ultra.
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The price gap, in numbers
The Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 costs $120 more than the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra and adds 512Wh: that is $0.23 per extra Wh, against $0.70 per Wh for the 1500 Ultra.
Prices refresh daily from Jackery US.The price gap is $120 today; the Ultra pays for an IP65 case, the HomePower for 512Wh more, 2,400W and a battery port.
Jackery counts both cycle ratings to 70% of capacity, so the second card compares like for like. Part of the Ultra’s price pays for the sealed, drop-rated case, which no spreadsheet captures.
The third option: the Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 at $849
Jackery Explorer 1500 v2: $849 today
If you want the Ultra’s capacity without paying for the sealed case: the same 1,536Wh, 2,000W from three outlets, a 10ms UPS, 6,000 cycles to 70% and a 64-minute wall refill, at 31.97 lb. It charges and runs from −4°F. It has no water rating, takes only 400W of solar and can’t be expanded. Our Jackery 1500 v2 vs 1500 Ultra comparison goes deeper. See the Explorer 1500 v2 at Jackery.
Eight modeled situations, worked out
Same formula as the calculator above: 85% of the rated capacity, no extra battery unless stated.
A rainy campsite or tailgate
The Ultra is rated IP65 with all lids closed; AutoExpert hosed one down while it ran, on an Australian unit. Jackery rates the HomePower for indoor use: bring it in.
A day of power tools on a site
Both run these loads. AutoExpert ran a bandsaw, a drill press and a circular saw on the Ultra, but it did not start a small 2hp compressor. The Ultra’s sealed case is the reason to take it to a dusty site.
24-hour outage, essentials only
Neither covers a full day alone; one Battery Pack 2000 Plus v2 takes the HomePower past a day and a half. The Ultra can’t be expanded.
CPAP, how many nights
Four nights on the Ultra, five on the 2000 Plus v2.
A desktop PC through an outage
Desktop power supplies built to the ATX spec ride through about 16ms at full load. The HomePower’s 10ms is comfortable; the Ultra’s 20ms may restart a PC. Jackery’s manual tells you to test your devices first.
A cold job site
The Ultra runs from 5°F, at up to 1,000W between 5°F and 14°F, but only charges from 32°F. The HomePower 2000 Plus v2 charges and runs from 14°F, so it charges in colder air than the Ultra.
Refill from solar at 800W
Same 800W input, so the smaller battery fills first. Jackery says 2.5 hours for the Ultra.
Refill from the wall before a storm
About the same: Jackery’s 1.5 hours for the Ultra, and PCMag measured about 98 minutes on the 2000 Plus v2 in Emergency Charging Mode.
Nine more differences, the spec sheet and the box
Smaller gaps that rarely decide the purchase, then the full specifications and what ships in the box.
Explorer 1500 Ultra and HomePower 2000 Plus v2 weight, dimensions and full specifications
Weight: 38.6 lb for the Explorer 1500 Ultra and 41.45 lb for the HomePower 2000 Plus v2. Dimensions: 13.2 × 10.4 × 11.6 in and 14.4 × 10.0 × 10.7 in. Everything else is in the sheet below.
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra and Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 full specifications
Every published figure for both units, grouped. Green marks the better value.
What’s in the box
Explorer 1500 Ultra
- Explorer 1500 Ultra1,536Wh, 38.6 lb
- AC charging cable
- User manual
- Car charging cable sold separatelyper the manual
HomePower 2000 Plus v2
- HomePower 2000 Plus v22,048Wh, 41.45 lb
- AC charging cable
- Documents
- Car charging cable sold separatelyper the manual
From Jackery’s US pages and manuals; battery packs, the transfer switch and the car charging cables are sold separately.
07 · ChargingHow fast each one refills
Shorter bar, faster refill. Each row is scaled to its slower unit.
Explorer 1500 Ultra: Jackery’s figures; no allowed reviewer timed a US unitHomePower 2000 Plus v2: PCMag measured about the advertised 98 minutes
Our solar times assume panels deliver 70% of their rating; the brands’ figures assume ideal sun.
Every port, side by side
Explorer 1500 Ultra
HomePower 2000 Plus v2
Practical consequence: the Ultra’s three outlets sit under a weatherproof flap; the HomePower has four 20A household outlets and a 140W USB-C port in the open. Both keep a 12V car port; only the HomePower has a battery port.
09 · NoiseNoise: 1500 Ultra vs HomePower 2000 Plus v2
Jackery rates the Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 at 30dB at 1 m in Quiet Mode and publishes nothing for the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra. No reviewer measured either.
One brand figure, no measurements.Every figure we found, with its source
No decibel figure published.
Measured by a tester Brand figure
- Use Quiet Charging Mode overnight, on either.
Cold and heat: 1500 Ultra vs HomePower 2000 Plus v2
The Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 charges and runs from 14°F. The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra charges from 32°F but runs from 5°F, at 1,000W below 14°F, and is IP65 with its lids closed.
Figures from the US manuals for both.1500 Ultra: 1,000W max below 14°F
- Charge the 1500 Ultra above 32°F: bring it into the cab or the house in winter.
App, UPS and smart features
The Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 switches in 10ms and takes extra batteries; the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra switches in 20ms and is the only one rated for rain.
Both use the Jackery app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.Green zone: a switch under about 16ms, which most desktop PCs ride through without restarting.
Can you add a battery later? The Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 takes up to five Battery Pack 2000 Plus v2. The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra can’t be expanded.
Can it stay out in the rain? The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra is rated IP65 with all lids closed. The Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 has no water rating.
Does it work as a UPS? Both switch to battery when the grid drops. The Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 does it in 10ms; the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra in 20ms, at up to 1,440W in UPS mode.
Does it have a quiet charging mode? Both have one in the Jackery app. Jackery rates the Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 at 30dB at 1 m in it and publishes no figure for the Ultra.
Warranty and support
Same 3 years plus 2 on the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra and the Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2; the HomePower is rated for 2,000 more cycles.
Same coverage, different cycle ratings.Subject to each brand’s warranty terms and eligibility.
Jackery rates the HomePower 2000 Plus v2 at 6,000 cycles and the 1500 Ultra at 4,000, both to 70% capacity. Calendar aging and heat also reduce capacity, so read both as ceilings.
- Register either one with Jackery if you didn’t buy it on Jackery.com.
- Charge it fully within 7 days of purchase and at least every 6 months to keep the cell coverage.
What reviewers report
We have not lab-tested these two units. Here is what 2 published reviews found, with the source, author and date for each point. Reviews of UK and EU units are flagged: those models charge from 230V outlets and have different sockets, so their charge times and outlet findings don’t carry over to US units.
Explorer 1500 Ultra: AutoExpert (July 2026, Australian unit)HomePower 2000 Plus v2: PCMag (October 2026)
Usable capacity
- HomePower 2000 Plus v2Reviewer Measured about 1,830Wh of usable AC energy, roughly 89% of the rated 2,048Wh. PCMag, Michael Lydick, October 2026
Charging
- HomePower 2000 Plus v2Reviewer From a household outlet it pulled up to 1,600W and went from empty to full in about Jackery’s advertised 98 minutes. PCMag, Michael Lydick, October 2026
- HomePower 2000 Plus v2Reviewer Measured about 2,320Wh from the wall to refill the battery, roughly 88% charging efficiency. PCMag, Michael Lydick, October 2026
UPS and output
- 1500 UltraReviewer Ran a 500W bandsaw through steel while the unit was charging: pass-through charging works. AutoExpert, John Cadogan, July 2026, Australian unit
- 1500 UltraReviewer Delivered 2.15kW to an electric kettle for only 10 to 20 seconds before it tripped. AutoExpert, John Cadogan, July 2026, Australian unit
- HomePower 2000 Plus v2Reviewer A household fridge with normal door openings ran about 27 hours. PCMag, Michael Lydick, October 2026
- HomePower 2000 Plus v2Reviewer Bridged a large 3D printer drawing nearly 1,500W as a continuous UPS. PCMag, Michael Lydick, October 2026
Daily use and issues
- 1500 UltraReviewer Hosed it while running and dropped it 1 m onto concrete twice; it kept working. AutoExpert, John Cadogan, July 2026, Australian unit
- 1500 UltraReviewer Did not start a small 2hp air compressor. AutoExpert, John Cadogan, July 2026, Australian unit
- 1500 UltraReviewer The air intake sits low, close to the dust; the heat sink is washable. AutoExpert, John Cadogan, July 2026, Australian unit
- 1500 UltraReviewer The app installed easily and connected seamlessly. AutoExpert, John Cadogan, July 2026, Australian unit
- HomePower 2000 Plus v2Reviewer The app lets you prioritize one of the two AC outlet banks so it stays on longest. PCMag, Michael Lydick, October 2026
Practical limits before you buy
- IP65 only with every lid closed. Open the AC flap in the rain and the rating no longer applies.
- The Ultra holds 2,000W for 15 minutes at most; its continuous rating is 1,800W.
- The Ultra doesn’t charge below 32°F and drops to 1,000W between 5°F and 14°F.
- The Ultra switches in 20ms and caps UPS mode at 1,440W; test a PC on it first.
- The HomePower 2000 Plus v2 is indoor-only and stops below 14°F.
- Neither has a TT-30 RV outlet, and neither has a transfer switch built in.
- Explorer 1500 Ultra, per its US documentation: Charges from 32°F to 113°F, discharges from 5°F to 113°F; output drops to 1,000W between 5°F and 14°F.
- Explorer 1500 Ultra, per its US documentation: IP65 only with all lids closed.
- Explorer 1500 Ultra, per its US documentation: Sustains 2,000W for up to 15 minutes; 1,800W continuous.
- Explorer 1500 Ultra, per its US documentation: One DC8020 input port takes at most two solar panels; do not combine car and solar charging.
- HomePower 2000 Plus v2, per its US documentation: Expands only with the Battery Pack 2000 Plus v2 (to 12kWh); the Battery Pack 2000 Plus is not compatible.
- HomePower 2000 Plus v2, per its US documentation: Solar 800W max over two DC8020 ports, 16-60V; car input 11-16V 8A; car cable sold separately.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra and the HomePower 2000 Plus v2?
The Ultra is IP65 rated with its lids closed, stores 1,536Wh and delivers 1,800W. The HomePower 2000 Plus v2 stores 2,048Wh, delivers 2,400W, switches in 10ms instead of 20ms, is rated for 6,000 cycles instead of 4,000 and takes up to five extra batteries. Both take 800W of solar.
Which is cheaper?
The Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra costs $120 less today: $1,079, against $1,199 for the Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2. Prices refresh daily; the price section above has the full breakdown.
Is the Explorer 1500 Ultra waterproof?
It’s rated IP65 with all lids closed: dust-tight and protected against water jets. It isn’t made to be submerged.
Can I add batteries to either?
Only to the HomePower 2000 Plus v2: up to five Battery Pack 2000 Plus v2, about 12kWh.
Which is the better UPS?
The HomePower 2000 Plus v2, at 10ms. The Ultra switches in 20ms and caps UPS mode at 1,440W.
Which handles the cold better?
The Ultra runs down to 5°F but charges only from 32°F. The HomePower charges and runs from 14°F.
How fast do they recharge from the wall?
1.5 hours for the Ultra per Jackery; PCMag measured about 98 minutes on the HomePower 2000 Plus v2.
How much do they weigh?
38.6 lb for the Explorer 1500 Ultra and 41.45 lb for the HomePower 2000 Plus v2, per Jackery.
Related comparisons and reviews
How we compared and sources
Research-based comparison. We have not lab-tested these units. Specs come from Jackery’s US pages and US user manuals for the Explorer 1500 Ultra and the HomePower 2000 Plus v2; usage observations are attributed to named reviewers. Prices and availability were checked on October 31, 2026.
- Specs: Jackery US, Explorer 1500 Ultra and its US user manual (JE-1500C); Jackery US, HomePower 2000 Plus v2 and its US user manual (JHP-2000A), read on October 31, 2026.
- The only allowed hands-on review of the 1500 Ultra we found (AutoExpert) used an Australian 230V unit supplied by Jackery: its battery and ruggedness findings apply, its outlet findings don’t. Neither model has a transfer switch built in.
- Reviewer reports on the Explorer 1500 Ultra: AutoExpert, John Cadogan, July 2026, Australian unit; on the HomePower 2000 Plus v2: PCMag, Michael Lydick, October 2026.
- Runtime = capacity × 0.85 ÷ watts. Solar harvest = min(panel watts, max input) × sun hours × 0.70. Cost per lifetime kWh = price ÷ (cycles × capacity in kWh).
The 1500 Ultra is IP65 and takes rain on a job site; the 2000 Plus v2 adds 512Wh, 2,400W, a 10ms UPS, 6,000 cycles and packs to 12kWh.
Prices checked November 13, 2026 at 8:36 AM EST
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Originally published: November 13, 2026