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Family Handyman reviewer Paul Rankin tested the Anker Solix Smart Generator 5500 for just over a month at his Florida home. He reported easy setup and reliable operation on gasoline and propane, with output reaching about 4.5 kW when charging a compatible Solix E10 battery system. He did not test natural gas, and the generator did not directly power the home during the reported whole-home test.
Family Handyman reviewer Paul Rankin tested Anker’s Solix Smart Generator 5500 for just over a month at his Florida home, reporting that it started reliably on gasoline and propane and reached about 4.5 kW of DC output while charging a compatible Solix E10 battery system. The review describes a potentially useful backup-power option for homes with Anker equipment, while noting that the generator’s noise and the cost of a full battery setup are significant considerations.
Rankin tested the 224cc, four-stroke generator as a standalone unit and connected to a Solix E10 whole-home battery system. The generator accepts gasoline, propane or natural gas. Anker lists up to 4,500 watts of DC output on gasoline or propane and 4,000 watts on natural gas. For AC use, its rated output is up to 3,600 watts across the available outlets.
In Rankin’s tests, preparation took about 20 minutes, including connecting the startup battery and adding oil. He reported successful starts using the physical controls and Anker app, and said the manual pull start is available as a backup. He also reported no starting problems, overloads, connection failures or app glitches during the month of testing.
The reviewer’s longest continuous run was about two hours. He tested gasoline and propane, but not natural gas, which would require a professionally installed connection at his home. When connected to the E10, the generator supplied DC power to charge the batteries; the batteries, rather than the generator directly, supplied the home’s electrical loads.
How the Generator Fits a Home Backup System
The review is relevant to homeowners comparing generators with battery and solar backup, especially in storm-prone areas. A generator that can charge a compatible battery gives the system another power source when sunlight is limited, including at night. Rankin said the generator’s direct DC connection to the E10 avoids converting generator output to AC and then back to DC for battery charging.
That arrangement depends on compatible equipment and a larger investment. Rankin said his setup included rooftop solar, two E10 power modules, three battery expansion modules and installation equipment. He put the battery equipment at about $14,000, with professional installation adding roughly $4,500. Those figures describe his system, not the generator’s standalone price or a universal installation estimate.
The review also gives a limited account of performance: one home, just over a month of use and a longest run of about two hours. It offers useful hands-on observations, but does not establish how the unit performs through a multi-day outage or across other homes and climates.
A Florida Test With Solar and Batteries
Rankin said severe storms and hurricanes in Florida led him to seek backup power that did not depend entirely on stored battery energy or sunshine. His home already had rooftop solar and an Anker Solix E10 system, so he tested the generator as an additional charging source for that setup.
During an outage, the E10 batteries power the household in Rankin’s configuration. Solar can recharge them during sunny hours, while the generator can add power when solar is insufficient. The reviewer’s description of the system supporting his whole house refers to the batteries supplying household loads while the generator charged them; it does not mean the generator directly ran every appliance.
““The entire process took me about 20 minutes.””
— Paul Rankin, Family Handyman reviewer
Natural Gas and Extended Runs Remain Untested
The review does not establish how the generator performs on natural gas, because Rankin had not installed the required connection. His longest continuous test lasted about two hours, so extended operation over a prolonged outage was not covered. The source also does not provide a measured noise level, fuel consumption figures, or a comparison with other generators.
Rankin described the unit as noisy but did not quantify sound levels in the supplied report. The review’s findings also reflect his Florida home and its particular E10 configuration; performance and installation needs may differ in other setups.
Natural Gas Testing Is Planned
Rankin said he plans to add a professionally installed natural-gas connection and test the generator on that fuel. Until that test is reported, the review’s practical findings apply to gasoline and propane. Readers considering a similar battery integration will also need to check compatibility and account for the cost of the generator, battery equipment and professional installation.
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 report.
Did the generator directly power the reviewer’s whole house?
No. In the reported E10 setup, the generator charged the battery system, and the batteries supplied household loads.
How much power did the generator produce in the test?
Rankin said DC charging output reached about 4.5 kW. The report lists a maximum of 3,600 rated watts for AC output and up to 4,500 watts of DC output on gasoline or propane.
How much did the reviewer’s home backup system cost?
Rankin reported about $14,000 for battery equipment and roughly $4,500 for professional installation. These are costs for his E10 system and installation, not a quoted price for the generator alone.
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