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Family Handyman’s Paul Rankin tested the Anker Solix Smart Generator 5500 for just over a month, using gasoline and propane and connecting it to a Solix E10 battery system. He reported straightforward setup and app operation, but the longest continuous test lasted about two hours; natural-gas operation was not tested.
Family Handyman reviewer Paul Rankin tested Anker’s Solix Smart Generator 5500 for just over a month at his Florida home, running it on gasoline and propane and connecting it to a Solix E10 whole-home battery. He reported that setup and app-based operation were straightforward, while noting that noise and the cost of the full battery system are significant caveats.
The 224cc, four-stroke generator can run on gasoline, propane or natural gas. Anker rates its direct-current output at up to 4,500 watts on gasoline or propane and 4,000 watts on natural gas. Its rated alternating-current output is up to 3,600 watts across all three fuels, through a TT-30R outlet and a 5-20R outlet.
Rankin tested gasoline and propane, as well as manual and app-based starting, operating modes, portability, noise and the connection to his Solix E10 system. He said setup took about 20 minutes, and that both the app and physical start button worked during his tests. He also reported no starting problems, overloads, connection failures or app glitches over the review period.
When connected to the E10, the generator can send power directly to the battery system as DC, rather than converting it to AC and back. Rankin observed output of around 4.5 kilowatts during DC charging. In his setup, the battery—not the generator directly—supplied electricity to the home’s loads. His longest continuous test lasted about two hours.
Charging a Home Battery During Outages
The review focuses on a particular use for a portable generator: charging a home battery when rooftop solar is not producing enough, including at night. That can add a fuel-powered charging source to a system that otherwise relies on stored electricity and sunlight. The reported performance applies to Rankin’s Solix E10 setup; it does not establish how the generator would perform with every home or battery configuration.
Cost is part of that decision. Rankin said the battery equipment in his system cost about $14,000, with professional installation adding about $4,500, before accounting for the generator. Those figures describe his installation, not a quoted package price. The generator can also be used on its own, but the reviewer identified its direct DC link to the E10 as its strongest advantage.
Rankin’s Florida Test Setup
Rankin said hurricanes and severe storms make backup power a practical concern where he lives in Florida. His home already had rooftop solar and an Anker Solix E10 system with two E10 power modules and three expansion battery modules. Electricians installed the home equipment.
During an outage, the batteries power the home, solar can recharge them in daylight, and the generator can provide another charging source. The review’s description of the generator supporting the home refers to this generator-to-battery arrangement, not direct supply of every household appliance by the generator.
“The biggest surprise was how easy Anker made practically everything about using a gas-powered generator.”
— Paul Rankin, Family Handyman reviewer
Natural Gas and Longer Runs Untested
Rankin had not tested natural-gas operation, which he said would require a professionally installed connection to his home’s gas supply. He planned to add one later. His longest continuous test was about two hours, so the review does not establish performance over an extended outage or a full fuel cycle.
The source also does not provide measured noise levels, runtime per tank or fuel source, or results from powering particular appliances directly through the AC outlets. Its reported charging output and operation describe one reviewer’s home and equipment, not a controlled comparison against other generators.
Planned Natural-Gas Testing
Rankin said he plans to install a natural-gas connection professionally and test that fuel mode in the future. Further testing could clarify how the generator performs on natural gas and over longer operating periods. The review does not state when that testing or an update will appear.
Key Questions
Which fuels did the reviewer test?
Rankin tested the generator on gasoline and propane. He had not tested natural gas at the time of the review.
How did the generator support the reviewer’s home?
It charged the Solix E10 battery system, which supplied power to the home’s loads. The generator was not directly powering every appliance in the described setup.
What output did the review report?
Anker rates DC output at up to 4,500 watts on gasoline or propane and up to 4,000 watts on natural gas. Rankin observed about 4.5 kilowatts during DC charging.
Was the full system inexpensive?
No. Rankin said his battery equipment cost around $14,000, with about $4,500 more for professional installation. Those are costs for his home setup; the review does not give a complete combined price for every buyer.
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