Hysolis MPS 4500 Solar Generator (Honest) Review
Table of Contents
The line between full-fledged home solar systems and portable solar power stations blurs more and more with each passing year, as portable solar generators continue to become more powerful and more practical. A classic example of this is the Hysolis MPS 4500 Wh/3000 W Solar Generator.
The MPS is not just a machine with enormous energy capacity and output – it is also a fabulously designed piece of equipment. It comes with a range of impressive features such as a low-frequency inverter, up to 1500W solar input, and pass-through AC power. Sure, it has its share of limitations, like the absence of an LFP battery or the not-so-impressive 120 lb weight, but if those aren’t big concerns for you, this might be the only solar device you’ve ever needed.
Let’s take a more detailed look at it in this Hysolis MPS 4500 Solar Generator review.
1. Capacity:
Among the generator’s top features are its power and storage capacity. A 4.5 kWh battery coupled with the 3 kW output is useful for a wide range of applications.
Its size makes it perfectly capable of powering your RV as well as much of your home – just add a transfer switch and you’re good to go. If you need more power, you can expand the system. Just add more units to make a quad kit or a hex kit.
Its input rating, particularly for solar charging, is staggering. At 1.5 kW, it is considerably larger than something like the Goal Zero Yeti 6000X, a more popular counterpart.
2. Low-Frequency Inverter:
The product includes the usual features, like a lithium battery and an integrated MPPT charge controller, but where it separates itself from the competition is its inverter. The MPS opts for a low-frequency inverter instead of the regular high-frequency ones.
Low-frequency inverter and transformer (Source: Will Prowse)
What this means for the user is that the inverter delivers enhanced peak performance, has higher surge tolerance, and operates cooler.
3. Plug-and-Play
Installing a traditional inverter and/or battery bank is a highly technical affair that requires a significant amount of electrical and mechanical work. On the other hand, the Hysolis generator is, as the makers call it, a “truly plug-and-play” unit.
It comes with a plethora of input and output ports where all you need to do is plug in or out. It even comes with specially designed wires to charge from solar panels – wires with MC4 connectors on one end and an Anderson connector on the other end, meaning practically anyone can connect solar panels to the device.
4. Pass-Through AC Power
A feature that provides flexibility, pass-through AC power lets you use grid power flowing through the Hysolis power station without using the battery. This way, when you are using the device as a home generator, you can leave it plugged in and use it without worrying about battery discharging or charging.
The unit also allows you to charge simultaneously with solar panels and AC input, speeding up the charging time.
While the above four are the product’s unique features that require proper mentions, they are not all this unit has to offer. The MPS 3K comes with more features that may be less noteworthy but are still useful.
These include the smart fan control, which keeps the unit cool and safe. It also has a rugged, well-built case that comes with handles that make carrying or moving it relatively easy, while you can use the rigid mounting bars to secure the machine in your vehicle.
- Battery: 4,500 Wh, Lithium-ion (NMC), 2,000+ lifecycles
- Output:
– Rated AC power: 120VAC / 3,000 W -Continuous (6,000 W Surge)
– DC output: 5 V DC / 2 A USB Plug, 12 V DC / 10 A Car Plug - Input:
– AC/wall charging: Default 1 kW (0 – 1 kW Adjustable)
Solar Charger: Max 1,500 Watts, 48 V / 30 A MPPT
– Car Charger: Max 120 W (12 V DC x 10 A) - Protections:
– Battery Over-Voltage and Under-Voltage
– Overload
– Short-Circuit
– Over-Temperature and Under-Temperature - Size: (L*W*H): 503 mm (19.8 in) x 318 mm (12.5 in) x 483 mm (19 in)
- Weight: 121 lb/ 55kg
The MPS 3K packs an admirable 4,500 Wh capacity in a lithium battery that comes with 2000+ lifecycles. A 3,000 W power output means you can operate even larger appliances with it, such as refrigerators and power tools.
There are three different ways to charge the battery. A 35 A hardwired input allows you to use a wall charger to draw in up to 1 kW power, charging the unit in just 5 hours or less.
The second and most impressive option is solar charging. Hysolis built the MPS with solar in mind, incorporating a stunning 1500 W of solar power supply. Using solar panels, you can charge the device in less than 4 hours, provided you have good sunlight.
As a last resort, you can charge the device using your car battery. This method is not recommended, given the low efficiency of gas to electricity conversion and the longer duration required to charge it.
On top of the remarkable input and output numbers, a modern battery management system (BMS) provides several safety options, making the product sufficiently reliable. The integrated MPPT charge controller also improves efficiency. It’s rated at 85% for this device.
Hysolis Design and Construction
Take a quick look at the MPS 3K and it seems to resemble a small gas generator, but look carefully, and you will notice that it is a high-tech device that is neatly designed and put together.
Hysolis goes with a minimal design for this product, with a simple, boxy design with plain grey and black colors. The build quality, however, of everything from the metal to the plastic components is excellent.
One end of the device comes with four 15 A AC output ports, which should be enough for most users. It has several circuit breakers for battery, solar, ac input, and ac output, which give a little more control and safety in the user’s hands.
There’s also a 12V car charger DC input port and two USB ports to connect your mobile devices, Bluetooth speakers, lamps or similar, small electronics. Hysolis has also provided a terminal block for AC input and output for connecting a panel or charging from the grid.
On the other end of the unit sits a large orange port, which you can use for battery extension if you need to join multiple MPS units together for higher energy or power capacity. Below the port are a fan vent, an Anderson connector for solar input, and a 12V DC output similar to the cigarette lighter in your car.
On the top surface of the device sits a small LCD screen that displays several bits of information such as power received from solar, battery capacity, power output to load, etc. It also comes with four LED indicators for PV, Line, Inverter, and Fault, respectively.
The screen is by no means as advanced as, say, your smartphone, but it does not need to be, and the limited functionality it has is sufficient for its purpose.
The enclosure of the MPS has spaces you can use as handles, but it is painfully difficult for one person to lift it, given its 120 lb weight. A pair of wheels or an optional wheeled cart would have been an excellent addition.
Hysolis Pros
Let’s summarize all the great reasons for buying the Hysolis MPS 3K. Besides its massive, 4500 Wh energy storage capacity and impressive solar power input rating of 1500 W, the generator offers excellent functionality with many conveniently placed ports.
It also comes with durable housing and neatly assembled components, so you don’t have to worry about shocks and vibrations. Inside sits a low-frequency inverter that provides better surge protection and peak power performance, churning out power in a pure sinewave waveform – something suitable even for sensitive electronics such as medical devices.
The device has a 2-year warranty (3 years for the battery), which is at par with other leading manufacturers. Hysolis might be a relatively new company, but it has been said that they offer solid customer service, and are pretty ambitious in maintaining the product as well as service quality.
Hysolis Cons
There aren’t many reasons to discourage you from buying the Hysolis MPS 3K solar generator, but let’s look at a few things.
Of the few areas where the MPS does not score full marks is its weight. The low-frequency inverter adds not just to safety and reliability but also the total pounds of the generator. At 120 lb, this is one of the heaviest solar power stations, especially under the sub-5000Wh category. For comparison, the Goal Zero Yeti 6000X is 106 lb, despite having a 33% larger battery.
Another drawback is that when many manufacturers have started opting for lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are safer and better, Hysolis still sticks to the lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese battery (Li-NMC). Furthermore, although you can extend the battery capacity, you cannot connect separate LFP (or lead-acid) batteries to the kit through the battery extension connector.
Top 3 Hysolis MPS 4500 Solar Kits
Final Words: Should You Buy the Hysolis MPS 3K?
There is no such thing as the ultimate solar generator that suits every single person on this planet. Each user’s “perfect solar generator” is different and depends on a long list of factors such as storage capacity requirement, frequency of use, type of application (RV, home, off-grid living/adventures), ease of operation, etc.
Fortunately, the Hysolis ticks a lot of boxes and is suitable for a wide variety of users. It boasts a large capacity, a better inverter and enough flexibility to be used for both RVs and homes. It also comes with a superb price tag that falls on the lower end of the spectrum when you compare the $/kWh for several power stations.
It is also an excellent alternative if you have been waiting for something like the Titan solar generator. It might be one of the more popular power stations out there, but Titan has had some notably serious supply shortages in recent times. The MPS 3K promises to be equally good and delivers many similar advantages while sitting in the same price bracket.
It is also worth looking at if you have thought about Goal Zero products but are hesitant because of the comparatively higher pricing.
Overall, the Hysolis MPS 3K solar power station gets far more things right than it gets wrong, and if you aren’t too concerned about its weight or the lack of an LFP battery, it is one of the best choices you can make as far as solar generators are concerned.
