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Family Handyman reviewer Paul Rankin tested the Anker Solix Smart Generator 5500 at his Florida home for just over a month, using gasoline and propane and connecting it to an Anker Solix E10 battery system. He reported straightforward setup and app-based starting, with DC output reaching about 4.5 kW during testing. He did not test natural gas, and the generator’s noise and the cost of the full home-backup setup remain important caveats.
Family Handyman reviewer Paul Rankin tested Anker’s Solix Smart Generator 5500 at his Florida home for just over a month, reporting that it started reliably on gasoline and propane and reached about 4.5 kW of DC output while charging a compatible Solix E10 home battery. The report describes a generator designed to supplement household backup power, but its results do not establish that it can keep every home powered indefinitely: Rankin’s longest continuous test lasted about two hours, and he did not test its natural-gas operation.
The 5500 is a 224cc, four-stroke inverter generator that can use gasoline, propane or natural gas. Anker rates its DC output at up to 4,500 watts on gasoline or propane and 4,000 watts on natural gas. Its rated AC output is up to 3,600 watts on any of the three fuels, delivered through a NEMA TT-30R outlet and a NEMA 5-20R outlet, according to the report.
Rankin tested gasoline and propane, including manual and app-based starting, Eco and higher-output modes, portability and the connection to his E10 system. He said setup took about 20 minutes: he connected the startup battery and added engine oil. He also reported that app starting and the electric starter worked during the test period, with a pull-start available as a backup. He encountered no starting problems, overloads, connection failures or app glitches during that month.
The reviewer’s home was backed by rooftop solar and an Anker Solix E10 system with two power modules and three expansion batteries. During testing, the generator sent DC power to the battery system, which powered the household loads. That distinction matters: the generator was charging the batteries, not directly supplying every appliance in the house. Rankin observed output of around 4.5 kW in this setup, consistent with Anker’s stated maximum for gasoline or propane.
A Generator Built Around Battery Charging
The report’s main finding is about how the generator fits into a solar-and-battery backup system. Its direct DC connection can send power to a compatible E10 without first converting it to AC and back to DC, according to Family Handyman. In Rankin’s setup, solar could recharge the batteries during sunny periods, while the generator offered another charging source when solar production was insufficient.
That arrangement may help homeowners who want multiple ways to replenish a home battery during an extended outage. It also limits what the review demonstrates: household appliances were supplied by the E10 batteries, and the generator’s role was to recharge them. Readers considering the system should distinguish that configuration from a generator directly powering a home through a transfer system.
Cost is another factor. Rankin said the battery equipment in his setup cost about $14,000, with professional installation adding approximately $4,500. Those figures describe his E10 installation, not the generator’s price or a universal installation quote. They show that evaluating the generator as part of the full ecosystem involves a much larger expense than evaluating the portable unit alone.
Rankin’s Florida Backup Setup
Rankin said he tested the generator at his Florida home, where hurricanes and severe storms can cause outages lasting hours or days. He already had rooftop solar and the E10 battery system before adding the generator. During an outage, his batteries would power the house; solar could recharge them in daylight, and the generator could provide additional charging when needed, including at night.
The report notes that electricians Arcenio Garcia of Firstline Electric & Energy and Oswin Fernandez of Future Electric Solutions installed Rankin’s home battery equipment. The reviewer describes the generator as usable on its own as well as part of Anker’s Solix home-energy ecosystem, though he identified the battery integration as its strongest argument for buyers who already own compatible equipment.
His hands-on period covered gasoline and propane operation and lasted just over a month. His longest continuous run was about two hours. The published account therefore offers a practical initial review, but it does not report a prolonged outage test or extended continuous operation.
“The biggest surprise was how easy Anker made practically everything about using a gas-powered generator.”
— Paul Rankin, Family Handyman reviewer
Natural Gas and Long Runs Untested
Rankin did not test natural gas. The report says connecting that fuel would require a professionally installed connection to his home’s gas supply, which he planned to add later. The generator’s advertised natural-gas output is therefore a specification in the report, not a result from his hands-on testing.
The report also does not establish how the unit would perform through a multi-day outage or a long continuous run. Rankin’s longest test lasted about two hours. It gives no measured noise level, fuel consumption figures, or full comparison with other generators. The reported absence of app problems and connection failures applies to his month of use and does not guarantee identical performance in other conditions.
Rankin’s home test involved an E10 battery system that supplied household loads. The article does not demonstrate that the generator alone can power an entire house, nor does it establish how much backup time a buyer would get; that depends on the loads, battery capacity, fuel supply and operating conditions.
Natural Gas Test Planned
Rankin said he planned to add a professionally installed natural-gas connection and test that fuel in the future. Such a test could add practical evidence about the generator’s third fuel option, which remained untested in the published report.
For now, the account documents just over a month of use with gasoline and propane, including operation with the E10 battery system. Buyers weighing the setup can compare those findings with their own power needs, expected outage length, available fuel and the cost of compatible home-battery equipment. The report does not provide a date for Rankin’s planned natural-gas test.
Key Questions
Which fuels did the reviewer test?
Rankin tested gasoline and propane. He said he had not yet tested natural gas because doing so requires a professionally installed connection to his home’s gas supply.
How much power did the generator provide in the test?
Rankin reported around 4.5 kW of DC output while charging his Solix E10. The report lists up to 3,600 rated watts of AC output on all three fuels and DC maximums of 4,500 watts on gasoline or propane and 4,000 watts on natural gas.
Did the generator directly power the reviewer’s whole house?
No. In Rankin’s setup, the generator charged the E10 battery system, and the batteries supplied the household loads. The report does not show the generator directly powering every appliance.
How long was the generator tested?
Rankin tested it for just over one month, but his longest continuous test lasted about two hours. The report does not include a multi-day outage test.
What costs did the reviewer report?
Rankin said the battery equipment in his home setup cost about $14,000, with professional installation adding approximately $4,500. Those amounts refer to his E10 home-backup installation, not the generator’s price.
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