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A Family Handyman reviewer tested the Anker Solix Smart Generator 5500 for just over a month, using gasoline and propane and connecting it to a Solix E10 home battery system. The reviewer reported simple setup and app operation, but had not tested natural gas or a long-duration outage; the full battery-and-installation setup also cost substantially more than the generator alone.
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 an Anker Solix E10 whole-home battery system. He reported straightforward setup and app-based starting, while noting that the generator charged the battery system rather than directly powering every household appliance during his tests.
The 224cc, four-stroke generator can run on 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. Its AC output is rated up to 3,600 watts across the three fuels, through a TT-30R outlet and a 5-20R outlet. Rankin tested gasoline and propane, but not natural gas.
Rankin said first-time setup took about 20 minutes, including connecting the startup battery and adding engine oil. He tested manual and app-based starting, Eco and higher-output modes, portability, noise and battery integration. He reported no starting problems, overloads, connection failures or app glitches during the month. His longest continuous run lasted about two hours, and he observed DC charging output of around 4.5 kilowatts.
In the tested home setup, the E10 batteries supplied household power; the generator charged those batteries, which could also receive power from rooftop solar. Rankin’s system included two E10 power modules and three battery expansion modules. He reported that the battery equipment cost around $14,000, with professional installation adding about $4,500, separate from the generator’s cost.
How the Generator Fits Home Backup
The review examines a backup approach that combines fuel-powered generation, batteries and rooftop solar. When solar output is insufficient, a generator can add another way to charge a compatible battery system. In Rankin’s test, the batteries continued to run household loads while the generator supplied DC charging power.
That distinction matters for readers comparing portable generators with whole-home backup. The reported house support depended on the larger E10 installation, not on the generator alone powering the home directly. Rankin’s reported equipment and installation costs also show that a complete setup can require a much larger investment than buying a standalone generator.
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Rankin’s Florida Test Setup
Rankin said he wanted backup power for a Florida home where hurricanes and severe storms can interrupt electricity for hours or days. His existing setup included rooftop solar and Anker’s E10 battery system. Electricians installed the battery equipment and related home-backup components, according to the review.
The generator is also usable as a standalone portable unit, according to the report, and does not require an E10. Its direct DC connection is designed for compatible Anker equipment, avoiding a conversion from generator AC output back to DC for battery charging. Rankin described that integration as the strongest reason to choose this model, based on his testing.
“The entire process took me about 20 minutes.”
— Paul Rankin, Family Handyman reviewer
Limits of the Reported Testing
The review does not establish how the generator performs during a prolonged outage. Rankin’s longest continuous test lasted about two hours, and he had not tried the natural-gas connection, which he said requires professional installation at his home. The report also does not provide a measured noise level, fuel consumption over a defined period, or a full accounting of the generator’s price in the supplied material.
Rankin described noise and the cost of building out the complete Anker ecosystem as caveats. The test reflects one home and one battery configuration; results may differ with other household loads, installation choices and fuel supplies.
Natural Gas Test Still Planned
Rankin said he plans to add a professionally installed natural-gas connection and test the generator on that fuel. That would extend the review beyond the gasoline and propane tests reported so far. The source does not give a date for that work or describe a planned long-duration outage test.
Key Questions
Which fuels did the reviewer test?
Rankin tested the generator on gasoline and propane. He said he had not yet tested natural gas.
Did the generator directly power the whole house?
In the reported setup, the generator charged the Solix E10 battery system, and the batteries supplied household power. The review does not describe the generator directly powering every appliance.
How long did testing last?
Rankin tested the unit for just over a month. His longest continuous run was about two hours, so the report does not establish performance over a multi-day outage.
How much did the home battery setup cost?
Rankin reported spending around $14,000 for the battery equipment and approximately $4,500 for professional installation. Those figures describe his E10 home setup and do not include a stated generator price.
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