Anker SOLIX F3800 vs F3800 Plus

Solar voltage is where Anker widened the SOLIX F3800 Plus. The ceiling climbs from 60 V to 165 V, input rises from 2,400 W to 3,200 W, and the current rating falls from 27 A to 17 A. Capacity (3,840 Wh), AC output (6,000 W), surge (9,000 W) and split-phase output are the same on both. The Plus weighs 135.6 lb against 132.2 lb. The maker no longer sells the F3800 new in its US store, so the F3800 Plus is the model to buy new, and it keeps the 5-year warranty.

Solar input and the voltage window

Both start at 11 V. The F3800 stops at 60 V and 2,400 W, and the Plus stops at 165 V and 3,200 W. A higher ceiling lets panels with more voltage in the string connect without exceeding the limit. At full input, a refill works out to about 2.13 hours on the F3800 and 1.6 hours on the Plus. Check the maker's own panel guidance before pairing, since being inside the window is not an approval.

What matches

Wall input is 1,800 W on both, which works out to about 2.13 hours from empty, so only solar changes the refill story. UPS switchover is 20 ms. Both list LFP, 3,000 cycles to 80%, a 5-year warranty and use from -4 F to 104 F. A 100 W USB-C port and a 10 A car port appear on both.

Expansion and split-phase output

Each station takes up to six BP3800 Expansion Batteries of 3,840 Wh, which makes a 26,880 Wh system. Both list split-phase output, so neither has an edge there. The Plus lists the same BP3800 battery as the F3800, so the expansion path does not change when you move to the newer model. At the 26,880 Wh ceiling the six batteries and the station together make a very large system.

Weight and runtime

The F3800 weighs 132.2 lb, or 29 Wh per lb, and the Plus weighs 135.6 lb, or 28.3 Wh per lb. Runtimes match because the estimated usable 3,264 Wh does. A refrigerator lasts 36 h to 4 days, Starlink 33 h to 44 h, a window air conditioner 4.5 h to 7.3 h and a space heater 2.1 h to 2.5 h.

Which way to lean

Take the F3800 Plus if your panels will reach above 60 V or total more than 2,400 W; the 165 V ceiling and 3,200 W input are its reason to exist. An F3800 only suits an array that stays under 60 V, and the maker no longer sells it new in its US store. Runtime, output and expansion are equal, so extra weight, 135.6 lb against 132.2 lb, is the only cost of the upgrade.