Tired of feeling left in the dark during your camping adventures or worrying about power outages at home? The BougeRV Fort 1000 Solar Power Plant is the solution to your power dilemmas. There is a possibility that
Keep reading for our thorough review.
BougeRV Fort 1000 Review
Looking for power for your next camping trip, or backup for emergencies at home? We tested the BougeRV Fort 1000 Solar Power Station to see if it lived up to the hype.
Boasting a steady 1,000 watts of pure sine wave output, this power plant has the power to fuel small appliances, charge your devices, and light your campsite. Plus, the off-grid feature allows you to roam freely without the stress of finding external power.
Here is a summary of the specifications for the Bouge RV Fort 1000:
- 1120Wh LiFePO4 battery
- 1000W, 2000W peak
- 10 outputs
- Solar power, wall charging, or DC (car) charging
- color led smart display
Read on to find out if this unit is the solution you were looking for.
Solar generator for camping and off-grid
Solar generators can power everything from blenders and coffee makers to small refrigerators, further enhancing your off-grid camping experience. Enjoy lighting, music, and other amenities you won’t find at home.
The best part? Solar generators operate nearly silently and do not use fossil fuels compared to traditional gas or propane generators. You can also use the solar panel to charge it noiselessly at no additional charge. This allows you to operate from dawn to dusk, anytime, anywhere. Plus, if you’re in a park where gas generators have limited operating hours due to noise, a solar generator can turn on and provide power at any time of the day.
Unpacking the Bouge RV Fort 1000
What’s inside the box?
- BougeRV Fort 1000 Solar Generator
- AC charging cable
- solar charging cable
- 12v car charging cable
- Warranty
- manual
The Fort 1000 has a solid feel right out of the box. Dual handles on both sides make it easy to carry. It also weighs just under 30 pounds (28.7 pounds or 13 kg to be exact), which is a reasonable weight considering its power.
There are some nice little additions. The bottom of the BougeRV has a small rubberized pad to keep the generator from slipping on smooth surfaces. Remember to remove the protective plastic on the bottom.
It’s light enough for an average-sized woman to carry around the house or campsite with relative ease. I wouldn’t want to take this on a longer hike, but this is pretty standard for a solar generator at this power level.
How long does it take to charge?
You can charge using:
- BougeRV solar panels allow you to charge in 4.5-5.5 hours (up to 200W).
- Connect inside your car using the included DC cable (max. 200W).
- USB-C charging port (up to 60W)
- Quite large AC adapter brick charger
LiFePO4 battery can be recharged over 3500 times. There is also an advanced BMS (Battery Management System) to prevent power surges and overcharging.
In our case, it went from 20 percent charge out of the box to 100 percent charge in about 4 hours (using a wall charger).
Next, I tried charging various devices. There are 10 inputs, covering everything from USB to DC to AC.
What power does it have?
With 1,200W of power, you can run a small refrigerator for 15 hours, a coffee maker for 1.5 hours, a CPAP machine for 23.8 hours, or charge your laptop 17 times.
Fort 1000 allows you to connect standard household items using an AC outlet, USB charger, or even a car charger.
The Fort 1000 is a pure sine wave inverter that can safely operate sensitive electronic equipment.
Fort 100 has:
- There are three 3-prong, grounded household AC outlets (110V) that can be used to connect everything from a freezer to a laptop to a small heater, heating blanket, or blender.
- 4 USB ports including:
- One USB-C port with up to 60W output, perfect for charging laptops and tablets
- 1 USB-A port with Quick Charge 3.0, perfect for fast charging your phone
- Two USB-A ports that operate at 5V and provide a maximum current of 2.4A
- Traditional 12-volt automotive-style outlet allows you to charge any device you would normally connect to your vehicle’s cigarette lighter port
BougeRV does not have wireless charging capabilities. This is a bit disappointing, but I rarely use this feature so it’s not a big deal for me.
BougeRV Display
We found the Fort 1000’s LED display to be crisp and easy to read. This is a simple but intuitive smart display that shows input/output wattage and battery percentage.
I’m a little disappointed that there is no app for the BougeRV solar generator.
That said, I primarily use the solar power app to monitor charging via solar panels, so it’s not necessary.
Is the BougeRV generator noisy?
The fan does make some noise, but this is on par with other solar generators on the market. These he only works at one single speed. This means there is no option to turn down the fan to reduce noise. But the fans do the job of making the unit cool.
To be fair, the fan is no louder than other solar generators I’ve tried.
Is it durable?
The Fort 1000 is a durable unit, but like any solar generator, it must be kept away from water and handled with care to prevent water damage.
That said, it feels solid and has sturdy handles on each side for carrying.
The buttons on the display feel solid, and the charging and output plugs are solid as well.
Is there an app?
No, there is no app for the Bouge RV solar generator.
What is the warranty?
The warranty on the website says “5+2 years (exclusive benefit for purchasing from the BougeRV official website)”.
To be fair, it’s not 100% clear to me, so I contacted BougeRV support for clarification.
I emailed support on Saturday, September 30th, asking for clarification about the warranty. We will update this blog when more information becomes available.
Bottom line: Is BougeRV Fort 1000 worth it?
With a robust 1,000 watts of pure sine wave output, this power plant has plenty of power to run your appliances, charge your gadgets, and light your campsite. The ability to work off-grid gives you the freedom to explore without having to worry about separate power sources.
That said, it’s not perfect (nothing is perfect!), like the lack of wireless charging or the inclusion of an app to check your levels wirelessly. I also wanted a higher solar input maximum wattage so I could charge faster via a 200W larger solar panel. If your solar panel is only 200W or less, or you plan to charge it at home, the BougeRV portable power station will more than meet your needs.
Strong Points
- Great balance between 1,000W of power and weight (less than 30 pounds).
- Intuitive and easy to use
- sturdy carry handle
- Compatible with charging common household items and precision electronic devices
- All-solid-state lithium iron phosphate battery
Cons
- The fan is a bit noisy and only has one speed, which can be frustrating, but it does keep you cool.
- The higher the maximum solar input, the better when using larger solar panels.
- It doesn’t have a built-in wireless charger, which is a useful feature for some people.
- AC adapter brick chargers are large and difficult to handle.
Other great articles:
BougeRV Fort 1000 Solar Generator
Good balance between power and weight
No wireless charging or apps
summary
If you’re an avid RVer or looking for a home solar generator, the Fort 1000 offers a good balance of affordability, performance, and maneuverability.
