F3800 Plus
- you run more than 4,500W at once
- you need 120V and 240V together
- you use Anker’s Home Power Panel
S5000
- you want 5,024Wh in one box
- you’ll move it: 97 lb, 38.6 lb less
- you charge from a 240V outlet
Prices and stock checked by our price engine on November 5, 2026 at 4:31 AM EST. Each product is rechecked several times a day; the time refreshes when you load the page.
Pick by your biggest load, not by the battery: the S5000 holds more, the F3800 Plus pushes harder.
The Anker SOLIX S5000 stores 5,024Wh, delivers 4,500W at 120V or 240V, charges from a 240V outlet at up to 4,500W and switches to battery in 10ms, at 97 lb. The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus stores 3,840Wh and delivers 6,000W at 120V and 240V at once, takes 3,200W of solar, works with Anker’s Home Power Panel and weighs 135.6 lb. Both have a TT-30R and an L14-30R, and neither has a NEMA 14-50. If your loads stay under 4,500W, the F3800 Plus’s bigger inverter buys you nothing.
Below: every difference with numbers, a 20-second calculator for your own gear, eight modeled situations, and what published tests found on each.
Two 240V Anker stations on wheels, both with a TT-30R and an L14-30R. The S5000 adds 1,184Wh, charges from a 240V outlet at 4,500W and switches in 10ms, in a box 38.6 lb lighter. The F3800 Plus delivers 6,000W instead of 4,500W, at 120V and 240V at once, takes 200W more solar and works with Anker’s Home Power Panel.
- you run more than 4,500W
- you need 120V and 240V at once
- you want the Home Power Panel
- you want 5,024Wh per box
- you’ll move it: 97 lb
- you charge from 240V at 4,500W
The five differences that decide it
Both are Anker 240V stations with LFP cells, wheels, a TT-30R for an RV cord, an L14-30R for a transfer switch, expansion batteries and 5 years of warranty. Neither has a NEMA 14-50. These five 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 3,264Wh usable on the F3800 Plus and 4,270Wh on the S5000: on the same appliance, the S5000 runs about 31% longer.
Appliance for appliance, the S5000 lasts 31% longer than the F3800 Plus.
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The price gap, in numbers
The Anker SOLIX S5000 costs $100 less than the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus and still holds 1,184Wh more.
Prices refresh daily from Anker US.Batteries don’t cross over: the F3800 Plus takes BP3800 only, the S5000 BP5000 only. Anker rates the F3800 Plus at 3,000+ cycles and the S5000 at 6,000, both to 80%. What each price buys is different: 6,000W at 120V and 240V at once and the Home Power Panel on one side, 1,184Wh more, 38.6 lb less and 240V wall charging on the other.
Eight modeled situations, worked out
Same formula as the calculator above, with no expansion battery. The S5000 holds 1,184Wh more, so it runs longer on the same load; the F3800 Plus wins when the load is big or mixes 120V and 240V. The fridge averages 60W, about 525kWh a year, in the range printed on typical EnergyGuide labels; that average does not include compressor startup surges.
24-hour outage, essentials only
The S5000 runs about 11 hours longer. ESS News ran a large fridge plus phones for 61.5 hours on an S5000 during a real PG&E shutoff. PCMag ran a full-size fridge about 63 hours on an F3800 Plus, with one expansion battery.
Several big 240V loads at once
Only the F3800 Plus has the headroom. The S5000 stops at 4,500W, and its guide says it delivers 120V or 240V, not both at once; the F3800 Plus serves both together. Under 4,500W on one voltage, both do the job.
Recharging at 240V
The S5000 takes up to 4,500W from a 240V outlet or generator through its AC input, with Anker’s 240V Fast Charging Cable, sold in a separate bundle. The F3800 Plus’s AC input is 120V; 240V goes in through its generator port with the Generator Input Adapter, at 3,300W on one unit or 6,000W with an expansion battery.
An RV with a 30A inlet
Both take a 30A RV cord directly. The S5000’s TT-30R is rated 3,600W, the F3800 Plus’s 3,000W. Ground the S5000 first: Anker says it has a floating neutral. Only the F3800 Plus has a 12V socket for 12V gear.
Charging an EV at 240V
Neither has a NEMA 14-50, so a 14-50 mobile charger needs an L14-30 adapter on both. The F3800 Plus delivers more power, the S5000 more energy: 5,024Wh is still a top-up, not a full charge.
Refill from solar, each at its maximum
The F3800 Plus refills sooner: more input and a smaller battery. Both take high-voltage strings up to 165V; the S5000 splits its input into 2,000W at 16 to 165V and 1,000W at 11 to 60V. ESS News saw 680W from two 400W panels on the S5000 on a sunny October day.
Home office through an outage
Both carry about two workdays. The S5000 switches in 10ms, and Bob Vila’s desktop PC kept running when it was unplugged from the wall. The F3800 Plus switches in 20ms on its three left 120V outlets, plugged into a 120V outlet, with a 1,440W bypass limit; PCMag’s workstation rode through simulated outages without a reboot.
Moving it
Both roll on wheels. AppleInsider found small bumps can stop the F3800 Plus’s wheels; ESS News found the S5000 tippy on grass. Plan on two people for stairs with either.
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.
F3800 Plus and S5000 weight, dimensions and full specifications
Weight: 135.6 lb for the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus (user guide; Anker’s page says 136.7 lb) and 97 lb for the Anker SOLIX S5000. Dimensions: 27.6 × 15.3 × 15.6 in and 10.6 × 22.0 × 15.2 in, wheels included. Everything else is in the sheet below.
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus and S5000 full specifications
Every published figure for both units, grouped. Green marks the better value.
What’s in the box
F3800 Plus
- F3800 Plus power station3,840Wh, 135.6 lb
- AC charging cable
- Solar charging cables × 2
- User manual
- Generator Input Adapter sold separatelyneeded for 240V generator charging
S5000
- S5000 power station5,024Wh, 97 lb
- AC charging cable
- User guide
- Solar cables sold separately
F3800 Plus: Anker US page and user guide. S5000: Anker US page and user guide; the 240V Fast Charging Cable comes in a separate bundle.
06 · ChargingHow fast each one refills
Shorter bar, faster refill. Each row is scaled to its slower unit.
F3800 Plus: 6,000W through the Home Power Panel or a generator, with an expansion batteryS5000: each BP5000 adds 3,200W of charging, up to 12,000W; ESS News saw 1.79kW for 2 h 49 at 120V
Our times divide capacity by input power, with solar at 70% of panel rating; real charging slows near full.
Every port, side by side
F3800 Plus
S5000
Practical consequence: the same big plugs on both, a TT-30R for a 30A RV cord and an L14-30R for a transfer switch, and no NEMA 14-50 on either. The F3800 Plus has six 20A outlets, a 12V socket and a Home Power Panel port; the S5000 takes 240V straight into its AC input.
08 · NoiseNoise: F3800 Plus vs S5000
Both are quiet at light loads. Anker rates the Anker SOLIX S5000 under 30dB at 2,000W; AppleInsider measured the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus at up to 60dB under a heavy load.
Anker publishes no rating for the F3800 Plus, and AppleInsider gives no distance.Every figure we found, with its source
What reviewers heard: Whisper-quiet until heavily loaded; then the fans may reach 60 decibels (AppleInsider).
What reviewers heard: Charging very quiet, even quieter than the S2000 (ESS News); nearly silent running a portable AC, but the fans hum noticeably as the load rises (Bob Vila).
Measured by a tester Brand figure
- Lower the AC charging power in the Anker app when the unit sits in a living space overnight.
Cold and heat: F3800 Plus vs S5000
The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus and the Anker SOLIX S5000 share the same limits: charging from 32°F to 104°F, running from −4°F to 104°F. Neither has a water rating.
Figures from the F3800 Plus (A1790P) and S5000 (AS510) user guides.- In a garage in winter, charge either one indoors or wait for the battery to warm up: neither charges below 32°F.
App, UPS and smart features
The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus delivers 120V and 240V at once and works with Anker’s Home Power Panel. The Anker SOLIX S5000 switches faster, 10ms against 20ms, and adds Storm Guard on its own, Smart Generator 5500 auto start and SurgePad.
Both use the Anker app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.Green zone: a switch under about 16ms, which most desktop PCs ride through without restarting.
Can it deliver 120V and 240V at once? The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus delivers 120V and 240V at the same time, except its 240V while it charges from a 120V outlet; the Anker SOLIX S5000 delivers one or the other, never both at once, per its guide.
Can it start a generator by itself? The Anker SOLIX S5000’s user guide lists automatic start and stop of Anker’s Smart Generator 5500 at set battery levels. The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus charges from a 240V generator at 3,300W through the Generator Input Adapter, with no auto start listed.
Can it run a heater or kettle above its rating? The Anker SOLIX S5000’s SurgePad runs heating loads up to 6,000W, not in bypass mode; Anker lists no such mode for the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus, whose continuous 6,000W is already that high.
Does it work as a UPS? The Anker SOLIX S5000 switches in 10ms, and Bob Vila’s PC kept running. The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus switches in 20ms on its three left 120V outlets, plugged into a 120V outlet, with a 1,440W bypass limit.
Does it connect to a home panel? The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus works with Anker’s Home Power Panel (6,000W in), Double Power Hub and Transfer Switch. The Anker SOLIX S5000 feeds a compatible transfer switch or power inlet box from its L14-30R, but not the Home Power Panel or the E10 system.
Does it prepare for storms? Both have Storm Guard. On the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus it needs the Home Power Panel; the Anker SOLIX S5000’s uses local weather alerts on its own to recharge at full speed before severe weather.
Can you add a battery later? Both grow: up to six BP3800 take the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus to 26.9kWh, up to five BP5000 take the Anker SOLIX S5000 to 30.1kWh. The batteries don’t cross over.
Warranty and support
Anker lists both the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus and the Anker SOLIX S5000 at 5 years. For the F3800 Plus, Anker’s registration page says registering activates that protection; we found no such condition for the S5000.
Same term. The S5000 is rated for twice the cycles to 80%.Subject to each brand’s warranty terms and eligibility.
Anker rates the F3800 Plus at 3,000+ cycles and the S5000 at 6,000, both to 80% (10,000 to 60% on the S5000): about 8 and 16 years at one full cycle a day. The F3800 Plus page also mentions 4,000 cycles in a marketing line; we use its spec table. Calendar aging and heat also reduce capacity.
- If you choose the F3800 Plus, register it with Anker: its registration page says that is what activates the 5 years.
- The S5000 needs no step we could find: Anker states no S5000-specific registration condition.
What reviewers report
We have not lab-tested these two units. Here is what 6 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.
F3800 Plus: PCMag (May 2026), How-To Geek (March 2025), AppleInsider (August 2025), Gear Diary (April 2025)S5000: ESS News (pv magazine group) (October 2026), Bob Vila (October 2026)
Usable capacity
- F3800 PlusReviewer With an expansion battery it ran a full-size fridge about 63 hours, delivering roughly 4,248Wh of AC. PCMag, Michael Lydick, May 2026
- F3800 PlusReviewer Running AC, fridge, lights and TV off-grid, the display estimated about two hours. Gear Diary, Travis Ehrlich, April 2025
- S5000Reviewer On a full discharge the app reported 4.87kWh delivered, about 97% of the 5,024Wh nameplate; output was not independently metered. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
- S5000Reviewer During a real PG&E shutoff it ran a large fridge plus phones for 61.5 hours, from 100% down to 18%. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
- S5000Reviewer Running a home refrigerator until the battery was empty, it lasted around 86 hours, matching Anker’s claim. Bob Vila, Paul Rankin, October 2026
Charging
- F3800 PlusReviewer Refilling from empty took roughly 9,000Wh from the wall, about 85% round-trip efficiency. PCMag, Michael Lydick, May 2026
- F3800 PlusReviewer Solar input rises to 3,200W and 165V, so third-party panels can run in series. How-To Geek, Bertel King, March 2025
- S5000Reviewer Charging at the 1,800W setting from 120V, wall draw held near 1.79kW for 2 h 49 min, then dropped to about 1.43kW for the last 50 minutes. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
- S5000Reviewer A full charge pulled 6.24kWh from the wall, giving roughly a 78% round trip based on the app’s discharge reading. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
- S5000Reviewer At the 1,000W setting the charge took 65% longer but used only 1.7% less wall energy. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
Noise and heat
- F3800 PlusReviewer Whisper-quiet until heavily loaded; then fans may reach 60 decibels (no distance given). AppleInsider, Wesley Hilliard, August 2025
- S5000Reviewer Charging was very quiet, even quieter than the smaller S2000; the reviewer did not measure decibels. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
- S5000Reviewer Nearly silent running a portable AC, but the cooling fans hum noticeably as the load rises. Bob Vila, Paul Rankin, October 2026
UPS and output
- F3800 PlusReviewer Kept a desktop workstation running through simulated outages without a reboot. PCMag, Michael Lydick, May 2026
- F3800 PlusReviewer The 240V port was replaced by a 120V TT-30R, a loss for users of a 50A home inlet. How-To Geek, Bertel King, March 2025
- S5000Reviewer A portable air conditioner ran for more than four hours at about 1kW with no problem. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
- S5000Reviewer There is no 12V DC output, which RV and van setups often expect. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
- S5000Reviewer Unplugging the S5000 from the wall while it powered a desktop PC caused no interruption. Bob Vila, Paul Rankin, October 2026
Daily use and issues
- F3800 PlusReviewer Background draw averages about 30 to 40W while operating, which adds up over days. PCMag, Michael Lydick, May 2026
- F3800 PlusReviewer The original F3800 uses over 1kWh a day idle; the Plus draws slightly less, maybe an extra hour or two. How-To Geek, Bertel King, March 2025
- F3800 PlusReviewer Weighs 136.7 lb; small bumps can stop the wheels. AppleInsider, Wesley Hilliard, August 2025
- S5000Reviewer With 120V output on and nothing plugged in, it lost 5% charge in 24 hours, about 10W, in line with Anker’s 8.8W idle rating. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
- S5000Reviewer Plugged in and full, it kept drawing about 7W from the wall, roughly 60kWh a year. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
- S5000Reviewer The E10 Smart Generator cable would not fully seat in this pre-release unit, so generator charging was not tested. ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026
Practical limits before you buy
- Neither has a NEMA 14-50. A 50A RV cord or a 14-50 EV charger needs an L14-30 adapter on both.
- The S5000 stops at 4,500W, and delivers 120V or 240V, not both at once.
- The F3800 Plus can’t charge at 240V through its AC input. That input is 120V, 1,800W; 240V charging goes through its generator port with the Generator Input Adapter.
- The S5000’s 240V charging uses Anker’s 240V Fast Charging Cable. On November 1, 2026, Anker’s page listed that cable in a separate S5000 bundle.
- The S5000 doesn’t work with Anker’s Home Power Panel, and its batteries don’t fit the F3800 Plus: BP3800 and BP5000 don’t cross over.
- The S5000 has no 12V output. RV and van setups need a converter; the F3800 Plus has a 12V car socket.
- The F3800 Plus’s Storm Guard needs the Home Power Panel; the S5000’s works on its own.
- Both are heavy. 135.6 lb and 97 lb: wheels help on flat floors, plan on two people for stairs.
- F3800 Plus, per its US documentation: The 240V output cannot be used while the unit charges from 120V AC.
- F3800 Plus, per its US documentation: On a 120V wall outlet only the TT-30R (no UPS) and the 3 leftmost NEMA 5-20R (UPS) work, with a 1,440W bypass limit.
- F3800 Plus, per its US documentation: Generator charging: generator must output pure sine wave with THD under 5%; 6,000W 240V bypass needs the Generator Adapter, single unit only.
- F3800 Plus, per its US documentation: Storm Guard requires the Home Power Panel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Anker S5000 and the F3800 Plus?
The S5000 stores 5,024Wh, delivers 4,500W at 120V or 240V, charges from a 240V outlet at 4,500W, switches in 10ms and weighs 97 lb. The F3800 Plus stores 3,840Wh, delivers 6,000W at 120V and 240V at once, takes 3,200W of solar, works with the Home Power Panel and weighs 135.6 lb.
Which is cheaper?
The Anker SOLIX S5000 costs $100 less today: $2,499.99, against $2,599.99 for the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus. Prices refresh daily; the price section above has the full breakdown.
Which has more power?
The F3800 Plus: 6,000W at 120V and 240V at once. The S5000 delivers 4,500W, at 120V or 240V but not both at the same time, with an 8,000W surge for one second; Anker publishes no surge figure for the F3800 Plus.
Which lasts longer in an outage?
The S5000: 5,024Wh against 3,840Wh, about 31% more runtime on the same load, or about 47 hours against 36 on our essentials preset.
Which charges from a 240V outlet?
The S5000, through its AC input at up to 4,500W with Anker’s 240V Fast Charging Cable, full in 99 minutes per Anker. The F3800 Plus charges at 240V from a generator through its Generator Input Adapter: 3,300W on one unit, 6,000W with an expansion battery.
Does either have a NEMA 14-50?
No. Both have a TT-30R and an L14-30R. A 14-50 EV charger or a 50A RV cord needs an L14-30 adapter on either one.
Which is better for an RV?
Both take a 30A cord on their TT-30R: 3,600W on the S5000, 3,000W on the F3800 Plus. Only the F3800 Plus has a 12V socket; ground the S5000 first, since Anker says it has a floating neutral.
Can I use BP3800 batteries with the S5000?
No. The S5000 takes BP5000 batteries only, up to five for 30.1kWh. The F3800 Plus takes up to six BP3800, for 26.9kWh.
Which works with Anker’s Home Power Panel?
The F3800 Plus, with up to 6,000W in, plus Storm Guard. The S5000 isn’t compatible; it feeds a transfer switch or power inlet box from its L14-30R.
I own the original F3800. Where does it fit?
Our F3800 vs S5000 comparison covers it; the F3800 Plus keeps its 3,840Wh and 6,000W, with a TT-30R in place of the NEMA 14-50.
Related comparisons and reviews
How we compared and sources
Research-based comparison. We have not physically tested these two units. Specs come from Anker US documentation for both and their user guides; usage observations are attributed to named reviewers. Prices and availability are checked by our price engine; specs were read on October 30, November 1 and November 2, 2026.
- Specs: Anker US, F3800 Plus and its user guide (A1790P), and Anker US, S5000 with its user guide (AS510), read on October 30, November 1 and November 2, 2026.
- Anker’s F3800 Plus page lists 136.7 lb and its user guide 135.6 lb; we use the guide. The same page gives 3,000+ cycles in its specs and 4,000 cycles in a marketing line; we use the specs. It also calls the unit compatible with 240V wall outlets, while its AC input is rated 120V: we describe 240V charging through the generator port, as its FAQ does.
- S5000 outlet count: ESS News; Anker doesn’t state the number of NEMA 5-20R outlets. Anker’s S5000 page reuses some S2000 text; we used its spec table, FAQ and user guide only.
- Reviewer reports on the F3800 Plus: PCMag, Michael Lydick, May 2026, How-To Geek, Bertel King, March 2025, AppleInsider, Wesley Hilliard, August 2025, Gear Diary, Travis Ehrlich, April 2025; on the S5000: ESS News (pv magazine group), Andrew Riha, October 2026, Bob Vila, Paul Rankin, October 2026.
- Runtime = capacity × 0.85 ÷ watts. Solar harvest = min(panel watts, max input) × sun hours × 0.70.
The S5000 holds 1,184Wh more, weighs 38.6 lb less and charges from a 240V outlet; the F3800 Plus delivers 6,000W at 120V and 240V at once and works with the Home Power Panel.
Prices checked November 5, 2026 at 4:31 AM EST
Looking at other models? Browse all power station comparisons, or pick any two models on the hub and we point you to the right duel.
Originally published: November 4, 2026
Interested in the Anker 3800 plus with one extra battery to use as a backup to connect thru a outside gas generator inlet box-I want to get back-up solar panels also-can you tell me what additional cables I need to charge the unit from the gas generator and what solar cables-and anything thing else I might need.
Hi Ken, good setup. You’ll be making three separate connections, so here’s what each one needs.
Station to your inlet box. Use a 30A, 4-prong generator cord: the L14-30P end goes into the station’s L14-30R outlet, and the L14-30R end goes into the inlet box. This assumes a 30A L14-30 inlet. A 50A inlet needs a different cord. The cord isn’t included.
The inlet box must feed an interlock or a transfer switch, so your home is isolated from the grid. Anker also asks you to confirm that the neutral and ground are properly connected at the inlet box, so have an electrician check that part.
Gas generator to the station. You can’t charge through the inlet box. You need Anker’s Generator Input Adapter, which is sold separately. It plugs into the generator’s 240V L14-30 outlet and into the station’s Home Power Panel/generator port.
Charging runs at up to 6,000W with your expansion battery, compared with 3,300W for the station alone. The generator must put out clean pure sine wave power (under 5% THD), so check its spec sheet first. While it’s connected, the L14-30R and TT-30R stay available, but the 20A household outlets on the station are off. Keep the generator outdoors, well away from doors and windows.
Solar panels. The station has two solar inputs. Each one takes 11 to 165V, 17A and 1,600W, for 3,200W in total. Two solar cables come in the box, so look at those first. If you need another cable for standard MC4 panels, Anker’s High-Voltage Solar Charging Cable goes from the station to MC4, and it’s only about 20 inches long, so plan on MC4 extension cables to reach the panels. Keep each series string under 165V, even on cold days, because going over can damage the port.
Expansion battery. The BP3800 comes with its own connecting cable, so you don’t need anything extra there.
If you tell me your generator model and your inlet box amperage, I can confirm that they’ll work together. If the generator is 120V only, the setup is different, so that’s worth checking before you buy. Our Anker transfer switch guide also covers the home connection in more detail.