The short version: the Anker SOLIX Alternator Charger wires to your vehicle's starter battery and feeds an Anker SOLIX station at up to 800 W while the engine runs. Anker says that fills a 2kWh station in about 3 hours of driving, where the 12V socket would take most of a day. If you drive between campsites more than you sit in the sun, it is the most useful thing you can add to a C2000 Gen 2.
Why the 12V socket is so slow
A vehicle's accessory socket is a small fused circuit. Anker puts its output at 120–200 W, and its own stations cap what they take from it: the C2000 Gen 2's car input is listed at 100 W, which Anker says takes 23 hours to fill it. Very few people drive 23 hours between stops.
The Alternator Charger skips the socket. It connects to the starter battery with its own cable and fuse, and talks to the station over a PPS XT-60i cable. Anker rates it at up to 800 W and about 8 times faster than a car auxiliary socket.
How fast, in real numbers
| Charging method | Power (Anker) | C2000 Gen 2, empty to full (Anker) |
|---|---|---|
| 12V car socket | 100 W | 23 h |
| Alternator Charger | 800 W | about 3 h |
| Solar, at its 800 W limit | 800 W | 3 h in full sun |
| Wall outlet | 1,800 W | 88 min |
Anker's product page says a 2kWh station charges in "only 3 hours"; its FAQ says 2.6 hours. Our own math agrees with the lower figure: 2,048 Wh ÷ 800 W = 2.56 hours, before losses and assuming the alternator has 800 W to spare the whole time.
Which stations it works with
Anker sells the Alternator Charger alone and in bundles with the C2000 Gen 2, the C1000 Gen 2 and the F3000. We stock it on its own and in two bundles:
- C2000 Gen 2 + Alternator Charger: the combination Anker quotes its 800 W and 3-hour figures for.
- S2000 + Alternator Charger: Anker sells this pairing too, but does not publish the S2000's alternator charging rate. Ask us before you plan a trip around it.
For the C1000 Gen 2 and F3800 Plus, Anker does not publish an alternator charging rate on the pages we checked, so confirm with us before you buy for that use.
What vehicles it suits
Anker says it supports 99% of RVs and gas vehicles. Its FAQ is more specific:
- It works with 12V or 24V starter batteries.
- It is compatible with LFP and lead-acid starter batteries, including AGM, flooded, GEL and GL types. You pick the type in the Anker app.
- It is not compatible with electric vehicles.
- It monitors starter-battery voltage and alternator output and uses only surplus power, up to 800 W, so it does not run the starter battery down.
800 W at 12V is about 67 amps before losses (800 ÷ 12). Check the rating on your alternator's label. If it is small, or your vehicle has a smart alternator, ask us before you install.
The three charging modes
- PPS charging: alternator to power station while you drive. This is the main job.
- Seamless RV expansion: Anker names this mode but only illustrates it, pairing the charger with an F3000 and three expansion batteries for 12 kWh more capacity. Ask us how it applies to your rig.
- Vehicle battery recharge: the charger runs both ways. Enable reverse charging in the app and the station tops up a low starter battery.
What's in the box and how it installs
Anker lists the charger, a 1 m PPS XT-60i cable to the station, a 7 m battery cable with a 100A fuse wire, an installation board and six screws. The board mounts the charger, the 7 m cable reaches the starter battery, and the 100A fuse protects that run; the short XT-60i cable goes to the station, so the charger sits within about a metre of it. If you are not comfortable working at the battery, have a shop do it.
Control is through the Anker app over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi: start and stop charging, switch modes and set the power.
Alternator charger, solar, or both?
- You move most days: the Alternator Charger. Three hours on the highway refills a C2000 Gen 2.
- You park for a week: solar. A pair of PS400 panels wired in parallel reaches the C2000 Gen 2's 800 W limit. See our panel sizing guide.
- You do both: both. Drive days and sun days cover each other.
If you would rather build a fixed lithium bank than carry a station, our guide to charging a power station while you drive compares that route. To choose the station itself, see which Anker SOLIX power station for an RV.
FAQ
Will the Alternator Charger drain my starter battery?
Anker says no: it watches the starter battery voltage and the alternator output and only takes surplus power.
Does it work on a diesel truck?
Anker lists 12V and 24V starter batteries as compatible and excludes only electric vehicles. Anker lists 12V and 24V starter batteries as compatible and excludes only electric vehicles; its product bullet says "99% RVs and Fuel Vehicles". Confirm your setup with us if you drive a diesel with a dual-battery system or a smart alternator.
Can it charge my RV's house battery?
Its reverse mode charges the vehicle's starter battery from the station. Anker does not describe it as a house-battery charger for a separate lithium bank.
Where does it ship from?
From our warehouse in Upland, California, to the lower 48 states, with Anker's warranty. See the full Anker SOLIX range.