Yes. Jackery power stations support pass-through charging.
Pass-through charging allows you to simultaneously charge your Jackery power station and use it to charge other devices.
However, for the longevity and battery health of your power station, I suggest using this feature only with devices that consume less energy than the input wattage displayed on the unit’s screen.
Related: The Best Jackery Power Stations
Understanding Jackery’s Pass-Through Charging: Why Device Consumption Should Be Below Input Wattage
When you’re using pass-through charging, the power station is doing two things simultaneously:
- Charging its internal battery: The power station takes in energy from the external power source and stores it in its battery.
- Powering connected devices: It provides power to the devices plugged into it.
Jackery’s recommendation to ensure that the devices being charged draw less power than the input wattage is primarily to avoid overloading the power station’s internal electronics and to ensure efficient charging of the power station’s internal battery.
However, they don’t elaborate much on the topic, so I wanted to dive deeper.
Can Pass-Through Charging Damage a Jackery Power Station?
If the devices connected for charging draw power that’s close to or more than the input wattage, the following scenarios could occur:
- Inefficient or Slower Battery Charging: The battery of the power station may charge more slowly or not charge at all because most of the incoming power is diverted to the connected devices.
- Potential Overload: If the total power demand (from the connected devices plus the battery charging) exceeds the power station’s design limits, it might strain the internal electronics or even trigger safety mechanisms to prevent damage, causing the unit to shut down or malfunction.
- Reduced Lifespan: Regularly straining the power station in such a manner could reduce its overall lifespan and efficiency.
- Heat Generation: Overloading can lead to increased heat generation, which is generally not good for electronics and can pose safety concerns.
By ensuring your devices draw less power than the input wattage, you allow a buffer to ensure the power station can efficiently charge its internal battery while safely powering connected devices.
The Importance of Pass-Through Charging
For me, pass-through charging is very important.
It allows me to charge my power station using solar panels while working remotely while camping. Instead of waiting 5 to 10 hours for my solar panels to charge my Jackery Explorer 1000, I can continually use it to keep my laptop charged while camping.
Here are other scenarios to consider and be mindful of pass-through charging.
Solar Charging: The Significance of Pass-Through Charging
Solar charging presents a prime situation for leveraging pass-through charging.
When you’re outdoors or on a camping trip, you might connect solar panels to your Jackery.
As these panels charge the power station during daylight hours, you might simultaneously wish to power certain devices. This is where the pass-through charging feature becomes indispensable.
However, it’s important to note that solar charging can be unpredictable.
Factors like cloud cover and the time of day can cause variations in the charging input. Given these fluctuations, it’s advisable to power or charge less energy-intensive devices, such as phones and laptops.
Home Use: Charging with a Gas-Generator
In a power outage, you might rely on a gas generator as a primary backup and a power station as a secondary source.
If your power station runs out of charge, you can replenish its energy using the gas generator. However, while it’s charging, be cautious about the devices connected to the power station.
Charging on the Road: Cars and Van Life
When you’re on the move, be it in a car or living the van life, you might use your car’s 12V outlet to charge your Jackery.
Don’t miss out on my article on the best portable power stations for van life.
This setup allows you to power devices that either aren’t suited for your vehicle’s outlets or demand more energy than those outlets can deliver. The feature of pass-through charging proves handy in these situations.
Looking for other Jackery FAQs? Read Are Jackery solar panels waterproof?
