Capacity
Higher is better | Scale max: 1,516 Wh | Yeti 1500X leads
Yeti 1500X 1,516 Wh
Explorer 500 518.4 Wh
Yeti 1500X: +998 Wh (+192.4%).
Yeti 1500X vs Explorer 500
VS
2,000W
Running power
500W
1,516 Wh
Battery
518.4 Wh
45.6 lbs
Weight
13.2 lbs
At a Glance
This comparison targets buyers choosing between a high-capacity home backup unit and a lightweight portable option. The Yeti 1500X delivers 2000W of running power and 1516 Wh of battery capacity, enough to handle 43 out of 53 tested devices. The Explorer 500 manages just 500W and 518.4 Wh, covering only 20 of those same 53 devices.
Solar recharge tells a similar story: the Yeti 1500X accepts up to 600W of solar input and refills in roughly 5.4 hours, while the Explorer 500 tops out at 112.5W and needs about 6.6 hours. Expandable battery support on the Yeti 1500X adds long-term flexibility the Explorer 500 cannot match. The tradeoff is weight.
At 13.2 lbs, the Explorer 500 is less than a third the Yeti 1500X's 45.6 lbs, making it far easier to toss in a car or carry to a campsite.
Overall Winner
Yeti 1500X
Powers 43 of 53 tested devices vs 20 for Explorer 500
Home backup: Yeti 1500X RV / mobile: Explorer 500 Solar: Yeti 1500X
Yeti 1500X wins overall, but the best pick depends on your use case.
Choose Yeti 1500X if...
- + You want faster solar recharging
- + You want future battery expansion
- + You want broader device compatibility
- + You need all-day runtime headroom
Choose Explorer 500 if...
- + Portability matters (13 lbs vs 46)
- + You value battery longevity (Other, 800 cycles)
Spec Snapshot
Absolute values shown. Bars are scaled within this comparison for readability.
Each metric is independent. Bar lengths are not comparable across different compare pages.
Running Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 2,000 W | Yeti 1500X leads
Yeti 1500X 2,000 W
Explorer 500 500 W
Yeti 1500X: +1,500 W (+300.0%).
Surge Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 3,500 W | Yeti 1500X leads
Yeti 1500X 3,500 W
Explorer 500 1,000 W
Yeti 1500X: +2,500 W (+250.0%).
Weight
Lower is better | Scale best: 13.2 lbs | Explorer 500 leads
Yeti 1500X 45.6 lbs (20.7 kg)
Explorer 500 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg)
Explorer 500: -32.4 lbs (71.0% lighter).
Battery Life
Higher is better | Scale max: 800 cycles | Explorer 500 leads
Yeti 1500X 500 cycles
Explorer 500 800 cycles
Explorer 500: +300 cycles (+60.0%).
Where Compatibility Actually Differs
Out of 53 devices tested, 23 show a different result between these two stations.
Both can run: 20 · Differences: 43% (23/53) · Neither can run: 10
Only Yeti 1500X can run 23
2-Slice Bread Toaster Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Coffee Maker Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Digital Air Fryer Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Electric Skillet Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Electric Stove (Single Burner) Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Electric Water Kettle Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Instant Pot (6 Qt) Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Microwave Oven (1000W) Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Toaster Oven Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Rice Cooker Explorer 500: Running shortfall
Dehumidifier (70 Pint) Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Gas Furnace Fan (Blower) Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Space Heater (1,500W) Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Window AC (8,000 BTU) Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Dishwasher Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Washing Machine Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Sump Pump (1/2 HP) Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Desktop PC (Gaming/Workstation) Explorer 500: Running shortfall
EV Charger (Level 1, 120V) Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Portable Ice Maker (Countertop) Explorer 500: Surge shortfall
Professional Hair Dryer Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Corded Drill / Hammer Drill Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Laser Printer Explorer 500: Running + surge shortfall
Neither can run · 10 devices
These devices have startup surges that exceed both stations.
Central AC (3-Ton)
Portable AC (12,000 BTU)
Electric Clothes Dryer
RV Rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)
Circular Saw (Corded)
Electric Chainsaw (14-inch)
Pancake Air Compressor (6-Gallon)
Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)
Electric Water Heater (50 Gal)
Well Pump (1 HP)
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | Yeti 1500X | Explorer 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,516 Wh ✓ | 518.4 Wh |
| Running Power | 2,000 W ✓ | 500 W |
| Surge Power | 3,500 W ✓ | 1,000 W |
| Weight | 45.6 lbs (20.7 kg) | 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg) ✓ |
| Energy Density | 73.2 Wh/kg | 86.4 Wh/kg ✓ |
| Portability Tier | portable | ultralight |
| Chemistry | NMC | Other |
| Cycle Life | 500 | 800 ✓ |
| Expandable | Yes | No |
| UPS | No | No |
| AC Voltage | 120V | 120V |
Solar Charging
Best-case charging profile using compatible solar panels.
Yeti 1500X
Faster Max solar input 600 W
Connector Anderson + DC7909
Full charge time ~5.4h
Compatible panels 17/20
MPPT: 14-50V
Explorer 500
Max solar input 112.5 W
Connector DC7909
Full charge time ~6.6h
Compatible panels 12/20
MPPT: 12-30V
Charge speed comparison
Longer bar = faster charge (inverted scale)
Device Compatibility
All tested devices grouped by category. Click a category to expand.
Yeti 1500XExplorer 500
Emergency(2)
2/21/2
2/2
1/2
Entertainment(2)
2/21/2
2/2
1/2
EV & Transportation(2)
2/21/2
2/2
1/2
Heating & Cooling(7)
5/71/7
5/7
1/7
| Device | Yeti 1500X | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Fan (20-inch) | Safe | 12.8h | Safe | 4.4h |
| Central AC (3-Ton) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Dehumidifier (70 Pint) | Tight | 1.2h | Fail | N/A |
| Gas Furnace Fan (Blower) | Safe | 1h | Fail | N/A |
| Portable AC (12,000 BTU) | Soft Start | 0.8h | Fail | N/A |
| Space Heater (1,500W) | Safe | 0.7h | Fail | N/A |
| Window AC (8,000 BTU) | Safe | 1.5h | Fail | N/A |
Home Infrastructure(3)
1/31/3
1/3
1/3
| Device | Yeti 1500X | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Water Heater (50 Gal) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Garage Door Opener (Residential) | Safe | 5.9h | Safe | 2h |
| Well Pump (1 HP) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
Kitchen Appliances(11)
11/111/11
11/11
1/11
| Device | Yeti 1500X | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Slice Bread Toaster | Safe | 0.7h | Fail | N/A |
| Coffee Maker | Safe | 0.7h | Fail | N/A |
| Digital Air Fryer | Safe | 0.6h | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Skillet | Safe | 0.7h | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Stove (Single Burner) | Safe | 0.6h | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Water Kettle | Safe | 0.7h | Fail | N/A |
| Instant Pot (6 Qt) | Safe | 0.7h | Fail | N/A |
| Microwave Oven (1000W) | Tight | 0.6h | Fail | N/A |
| Rice Cooker | Safe | 1.1h | Fail | N/A |
| Slow Cooker | Safe | 3.5h | Safe | 1.2h |
| Toaster Oven | Safe | 0.6h | Fail | N/A |
Large Appliances(4)
3/41/4
3/4
1/4
| Device | Yeti 1500X | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | Safe | 0.6h | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Clothes Dryer | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| French Door Refrigerator | Safe | 5.1h | Safe | 1.8h |
| Washing Machine | Safe | 0.8h | Fail | N/A |
Medical(4)
4/44/4
4/4
4/4
Outdoor & RV(6)
5/64/6
5/6
4/6
Personal Care(2)
2/21/2
2/2
1/2
Power Tools(5)
1/50/5
1/5
0/5
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The Bottom Line
The Yeti 1500X suits buyers who need serious device coverage and home backup capability, with the power headroom to run high-draw appliances. The Explorer 500 makes sense for hikers, car campers, or anyone who prioritizes portability over output and only needs to charge phones, laptops, and small electronics.
With a score of 82.5 versus 40, the Yeti 1500X is the clear winner for overall capability. In our 53-device benchmark, Yeti 1500X powers 43 devices and Explorer 500 powers 20.
Yeti 1500X vs Explorer 500 FAQ
Q Which is better for home backup, Yeti 1500X or Explorer 500?
Yeti 1500X is the stronger overall choice in this matchup based on weighted compatibility across 53 tested devices.
Q Which has longer runtime, Yeti 1500X or Explorer 500?
Yeti 1500X has higher battery capacity (1,516 Wh), which generally supports longer runtime on the same load.
Q Which charges faster with solar panels?
Yeti 1500X has the faster best-case solar recharge profile in our panel compatibility test set.
Q Which is more portable, Yeti 1500X or Explorer 500?
Explorer 500 is lighter at 13.2 lbs vs 45.6 lbs. Explorer 500 is rated ultralight for portability.
Q How many devices can each power station run?
Yeti 1500X powers 43 of 53 tested devices, compared to 20 for Explorer 500.
Q Can you expand the battery capacity of Yeti 1500X or Explorer 500?
Only Yeti 1500X supports expansion batteries for additional capacity. Explorer 500 is limited to its built-in 518.4 Wh.