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“Hook them up to an AC Outlet and start charging them right away to 100% charge.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A Florida Redditor bought a Jackery backup battery setup for hurricane season, left it in the box, and got an urgent warning that they needed to get it out of the box right away. 
Posting in r/jackery, the buyer said they had limited experience with “electricity, home projects, etc.” and explained that a Jackery 2000 with an extra battery, bought on sale, had stayed unopened. They were trying to determine which adapter would connect the two units for use at home.
A commenter responded with urgency, saying, “You need to unpack it and hope it’s not dead.” They also said power stations are “charged at about 30% in the box” and told the owner to get both units onto an AC outlet immediately.
Once they checked, the original poster reported, “The explorer 2000 plus has 28%, the battery pack 2000 plus has 30%.” They then added, “I have it plugged in the wall, and it’s charging. Woohoooo! Thank you for the input.”
The commenter was concerned that if the battery drained to 0% while sitting in the box, it would be dead forever. However, batteries are often shipped with between 40% and 60% charge, and only lose 1-5% per month, according to the manufacturer. So it should easily last eight months or more before draining completely. Jackery suggests charging it every three to six months. 
The problem for the original poster was not buying backup power. It was becoming comfortable enough to set it up. They described DIY work as “a limited option at best” and said they would “pay for a handyman when needed.”
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Their questions focused on three basics: connecting the Jackery 2000 to the added battery, using two folding solar panels for daytime charging, and figuring out whether a covered outlet by the porch could help without leaving the unit outside.
A battery setup like this can make blackout preparedness more manageable for households that do not want a whole-home installation.
The commenter’s instruction was direct: “Hook them up to an AC Outlet and start charging them right away to 100% charge.” While the battery can be used right out of the box, Jackery suggests charging it to 100% before any heavy or prolonged use.
These stories look at the same challenge of keeping power on when storms or outages hit.
• In Florida, a teen built a 282-pound battery that rivaled Tesla Powerwall at half the price.
• BioLite’s system offers backup power during outages in an ultra-thin package.
• A tech expert tested solutions for homes that want to be ready for the next outage.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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