Shop: Anker SOLIX S5000 (5,024Wh, pre-order) · Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus Power Station & Kits
Genuine Anker SOLIX with Anker's warranty, shipped from Upland, California to the lower 48 states.
The S5000 is Anker's newest big station, and it lands right on top of the F3800 Plus: both are wheeled, both run 120V and 240V, and both grow into a whole-home battery bank. The S5000 holds more energy in a much lighter box. The F3800 Plus puts out more power.
Short answer: pick the S5000 for more capacity, far less weight, fast 240V charging and a longer-rated battery. Pick the F3800 Plus if you need the full 6,000W of output, or you want to use Anker's Home Power Panel.
Side by side
| S5000 | F3800 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,024Wh LFP | 3,840Wh LFP |
| Cycle rating | 10,000 cycles | 3,000+ cycles |
| AC output | 4,500W continuous, 8,000W peak, 120V/240V | 6,000W, 120V/240V |
| 240V outlet | L14-30R, up to 4,500W | L14-30R, 25A, up to 6,000W |
| RV outlet | TT-30R | TT-30R, 25A, up to 3,000W |
| Solar input | 3,000W: one 11–60V input at 1,000W, one 16–165V input at 2,000W | 3,200W: two 11–165V inputs at 1,600W each |
| AC charging | 1,800W at 120V; 4,500W at 240V; full in 99 minutes (Anker) | 1,800W at 120V; 240V through the Generator Input Adapter |
| Generator charging | Up to 4,500W, Anker Smart Generator or third-party | 3,300W, or 6,000W with an expansion battery, through the 240V Generator Input Adapter |
| Alternator charging | 800W | Not listed by Anker |
| Expansion | Up to 5 expansion batteries, 30kWh total | Up to 6 BP3800, 26,880Wh total |
| UPS switchover | 10 ms | Not listed by Anker |
| Certification | UL9540 and UL9540A | Not listed on the pages we checked |
| Size | 10.6 x 22.0 x 15.2 in | 27.6 x 15.3 x 15.6 in with wheels |
| Weight | 97 lb, built-in wheels | 136.7 lb, built-in wheels |
Figures are from Anker's S5000 and F3800 Plus product pages and our listings.
Where the S5000 wins
- Weight. About 40 lb lighter while holding about 31% more energy. At 97 lb it is still a two-person lift into a truck bed, but it is far easier to roll around a garage or campsite.
- Battery life. Anker rates it for 10,000 cycles against 3,000+ for the F3800 Plus. For a station that will cycle daily with solar, that is a big gap.
- Fast 240V charging. It takes 4,500W from a 240V source without an extra adapter, and up to 4,500W from a generator.
- More ways to charge. Anker lists 800W of alternator charging and can run expansion batteries and a Smart Generator at the same time.
- Certified for home installs. UL9540 and UL9540A, the energy-storage safety listings your electrician or inspector may ask about when a battery is connected to a home.
Where the F3800 Plus wins
- Output. 6,000W against 4,500W continuous. If you want to run a well pump, a range and a heat pump at once, that extra 1,500W counts.
- Solar on portable panels. Both of its inputs accept 11–165V at 1,600W, so two separate arrays of folding panels each get the full rate. The S5000's low-voltage input tops out at 1,000W.
- Home Power Panel. The F3800 Plus works with Anker's Home Power Panel. The S5000 does not; it connects through a compatible transfer switch or power inlet box.
- Existing batteries. If you already own BP3800 batteries, they fit the F3800 Plus. The S5000 uses its own expansion batteries.
How long each one runs
We plan on 85% of rated capacity being usable: hours = Wh x 0.85 ÷ watts.
| Load | S5000 | F3800 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge, 100W always on | about 43 h | about 33 h |
| Essentials during an outage, 300W average | about 14 h | about 11 h |
| 13,500 BTU RV AC, 1,300–1,800W | about 2.4–3.3 h | about 1.8–2.5 h |
Availability
The S5000 is new and on pre-order; its listing shows the expected delivery date, and you can cancel for a full refund before it ships (see how Anker SOLIX pre-orders work). The F3800 Plus on its own is between shipments; the F3800 Plus + Smart Home Power Kit is available now.
Bottom line
- Buying fresh for home backup: the S5000. More energy, much lighter, longer-rated cells and UL9540 certification.
- Your heaviest loads add up to more than 4,500W: the F3800 Plus.
- You already have BP3800 batteries or a Home Power Panel: stay with the F3800 Plus.
- Mostly RV use: either has a TT-30R, but consider whether you need this much battery. The F3000 is lighter still; see F3000 vs F3800 Plus.
FAQ
Do BP3800 batteries work with the S5000?
No. The S5000 takes its own expansion batteries, up to five for 30kWh.
Can the S5000 power a whole house?
It can back up a home's circuits through a compatible transfer switch or power inlet box, installed by a licensed electrician, within its 4,500W output. For more power and automatic whole-home switchover, look at the Anker SOLIX E10.
Is the F3800 Plus being replaced?
Anker has not said so on the pages we checked.