I know I started this review off telling you about what wasn't working on this light. Goal Zero is replacing it under warrantee, overall I like the design of the light it's a good camp light. If I have an issue with a product I will always be upfront about it but I'll also give the manufacture an opportunity to make it right. Goal Zero makes good products and when there is an issue they stand behind their products.
Why do they replace it? 1 Because the USB port didnot work anymore and you couldnot charge your phone? 2 Or because it did not charge thrue the solar panel when it was completely dead??? Or is that normal? Or both isues mentioned above?? I just order one,.. I am curious how it will work with mine,.. especialy issue 2. You are doing a great job!! Keep it up!! Greetings from the Netherlands!!
@@edwinabbel3783 they sent me a new one because the USB port stopped working. they didn't ask me to send the old one back in either, sometimes you get a dud, at least they are good about standing behind their product if you run into an issue they'll make it right.
@@gearsNtools indeed,.. i had the same experiance. But is it normal that you cant charge the Torch by its solar pannel when the battery is completely drained/ dead? What do you think?
@@edwinabbel3783 I think so, I've seen that issue with other products that aren't goal zero, I think the charge controller inside must needs a little energy to get kickstarted. they probably could've overcome this with a simple capacitor but I guess they didn't do that.
Goal zero is well known for having quality control issues on their first production run. I had a different issue with this light when it came out. The battery indicator always showed 100% charge until it died. That being said i still like goal zero a lot. I'm picky about lighting, and there are so many cheap, white label flashlights and lanterns out there it's insane. Very few companies make quality lights that are both built well, and produce a nice looking light with good white balance. I understand nixing the hand crank, but I wish they kept the red lights, they were very useful as an alternative to having a road flare.
Torch 250 better, I dropped it in the cement and it didn’t damage, I own mine for 9 yrs n still work. Torch 250 was designed originally by the original founder. New torch 500 was designed by NRG who bought Goal Zero. NRG is all making money.
@@gearsNtools the hand crank already has saved my phone. The solar panel worked but took all day in direct sunlight. It gets hot. Wonder if it is good for the battery or electronics. Thank you for the video
I wouldn’t recommend a design like this. If u buy it charge it via wall outlet, only use the solar panel for emergencies. Solar panels absorb more heat than a regular panel/object painted black. Having a panel this close to a battery/electronic components is DANGEROUS! If u charge this via solar I wouldn’t expect the battery or components to last long before they fry. In theory, having a self charging device is super cool but it’s a lot harder to achieve that than one would expect. All panels should have at least a few inches gap between them and any components as to not transfer direct heat onto them. I really wish they would have put solar panels on their camping lanterns. At least it would make sense having a panel on the top shroud, and the battery in the base where it’s shielded from direct light and allows for ventilation from the panel.
Goal Zero sent me a new unit (didn't even ask for the original one back) so now I have both are still working and everything still works on the new one as it should. I keep the original one in my "extra camping gear" box for when I have more people than usual.
@@gearsNtools that's almost the whole the point with its super swiss knife value of course. and usually it's overpriced. this time the price seems to be right/fair. I'm not sure if I would have opted that quick for that option at 69/75€ or so. at 50 I bought it after one week I discovered the product. just did it with a petzl swift. curiously they have no headtorch...
Interesting I had an issue with my first one too… bummer I really like the concept but it doesn’t instill much confidence if they are having quality issues
I know I started this review off telling you about what wasn't working on this light. Goal Zero is replacing it under warrantee, overall I like the design of the light it's a good camp light. If I have an issue with a product I will always be upfront about it but I'll also give the manufacture an opportunity to make it right. Goal Zero makes good products and when there is an issue they stand behind their products.
Why do they replace it?
1 Because the USB port didnot work anymore and you couldnot charge your phone?
2 Or because it did not charge thrue the solar panel when it was completely dead??? Or is that normal?
Or both isues mentioned above??
I just order one,..
I am curious how it will work with mine,.. especialy issue 2.
You are doing a great job!!
Keep it up!!
Greetings from the Netherlands!!
@@edwinabbel3783 they sent me a new one because the USB port stopped working. they didn't ask me to send the old one back in either, sometimes you get a dud, at least they are good about standing behind their product if you run into an issue they'll make it right.
@@gearsNtools indeed,.. i had the same experiance.
But is it normal that you cant charge the Torch by its solar pannel when the battery is completely drained/ dead?
What do you think?
@@edwinabbel3783 I think so, I've seen that issue with other products that aren't goal zero, I think the charge controller inside must needs a little energy to get kickstarted. they probably could've overcome this with a simple capacitor but I guess they didn't do that.
@@gearsNtools ok,.. thank you for the answer,..
I will test it out and wil mention the result here,..
Greetings from the Netherlands!
Goal zero is well known for having quality control issues on their first production run.
I had a different issue with this light when it came out. The battery indicator always showed 100% charge until it died.
That being said i still like goal zero a lot. I'm picky about lighting, and there are so many cheap, white label flashlights and lanterns out there it's insane. Very few companies make quality lights that are both built well, and produce a nice looking light with good white balance. I understand nixing the hand crank, but I wish they kept the red lights, they were very useful as an alternative to having a road flare.
Removing the hand crank is insanity
No, it's not. It's stupid, no one used it. You have solar if you need to recharge it.
Torch 250 better, I dropped it in the cement and it didn’t damage, I own mine for 9 yrs n still work.
Torch 250 was designed originally by the original founder.
New torch 500 was designed by NRG who bought Goal Zero.
NRG is all making money.
So bad....
Goal Zero makes great stuff.
Hope they fix it.Like for real.
Sticking with the torch 250.
It's never failed me.
I really like the torch 250 the fact that it has a hand crank is worth a lot to me!
Thanks for watching!
@@gearsNtools the hand crank already has saved my phone.
The solar panel worked but took all day in direct sunlight.
It gets hot.
Wonder if it is good for the battery or electronics.
Thank you for the video
Good review, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
I wouldn’t recommend a design like this. If u buy it charge it via wall outlet, only use the solar panel for emergencies. Solar panels absorb more heat than a regular panel/object painted black. Having a panel this close to a battery/electronic components is DANGEROUS! If u charge this via solar I wouldn’t expect the battery or components to last long before they fry. In theory, having a self charging device is super cool but it’s a lot harder to achieve that than one would expect. All panels should have at least a few inches gap between them and any components as to not transfer direct heat onto them. I really wish they would have put solar panels on their camping lanterns. At least it would make sense having a panel on the top shroud, and the battery in the base where it’s shielded from direct light and allows for ventilation from the panel.
so what about now ? can you still use it as powerbank ?
Goal Zero sent me a new unit (didn't even ask for the original one back) so now I have both are still working and everything still works on the new one as it should. I keep the original one in my "extra camping gear" box for when I have more people than usual.
@@gearsNtools thank you good to now so I might order a new one this weekend then
@@punkpendulums For the price point it's pretty hard to beat!
@@gearsNtools that's almost the whole the point with its super swiss knife value of course. and usually it's overpriced. this time the price seems to be right/fair. I'm not sure if I would have opted that quick for that option at 69/75€ or so. at 50 I bought it after one week I discovered the product. just did it with a petzl swift. curiously they have no headtorch...
I bought two, one arrived DOA. Bummer
Interesting I had an issue with my first one too… bummer I really like the concept but it doesn’t instill much confidence if they are having quality issues
Whack. I preffer the 250 with the hand crank
This 500 model is no good. Removing the crank makes it worthless, compared to the 250. Worthless. Look elsewhere.
SHIT LIGHT