I just watched this excellent review and wanted to throw a word of caution into this equation. I have a huge variety of GZ products ranging from lights through to a couple of the power packs ( 1 x yeti 150, 2 x yeti 400 agm and a yeti 400 lithium amongst a whole bunch of other products ) and I also have 1 x Boulder 50 and 2 x Boulder 100 panels which do a great job of charging my gear...BUT...I've had a 30' cable fail for no reason and just the day before yesterday, one of my Boulder 100 panels failed!!! I love my GZ products but long term ownership and usage ( all in a domestic environment and with careful handling ) have shown poor production values and earlier failure. I've been using my 2 x 100 panels to charge my devices and yeti Lithium 400 and run other items with great effect but this panel failure has thrown my trust in GZ...here in Australia, these panels can set us back up to $500 a piece! and the 30' cables are from $50 - $100...so when they fail within a 2 year period, it shows a serious lack of trust in investing in these pricey items...when they work, they're great...but how long will they last???? and sometimes GZ USA are great at responding to my concerns, but at other times, the silence is deafening...as for GZ Australia? I'm still learning about how good / bad they can be in terms of customer service... :(
Hi Paul. The total charge time will depend on the current state of charge of the battery, sun exposure, and draw from the battery for running gear. A quick calculation can be made based on the assumption of pulling in 120 watts of solar, and using a nominal amount of 50 watts. At that rate the Yeti 1,400 will charge up about 5% every hour.
We're about to do some capacity tests on the various yetis we have (200x --> 3,000). Please let us know what you'd like to see? Fridge, computers, power tools?
You could run our Dometic in-car fridges with the Goal Zero 500x, but we’ve found that the rating won’t hold up for a standard size home fridge. Our 1,000 and 3,000 have the output capabilities to run a home fridge. We use them for intermittent power outages.
@@LornaA56 Hi Lorna. Thanks for getting in touch. We have our Yeti 3000 (the prior version to the 3000x) hooked up at home to 8 Goal Zero Expansion Tanks. It’s been working pretty well. Recently we have had some failures with the Goal Zero module that goes between the Yeti and the tanks as well as a couple of their solar panels, cables, and lights. Overall the equipment is holding up okay, but after a few years we’re noticing more and more failures come on.
The 400 is the same as the 500 in normal usage. The only difference is the surge-60-watt connector. To really see a major difference is to get a large unit.
I thought I heard something about the 8mm wiring only being able to carry 150W of power, so I think the Boulder 200 might be limited a bit in terms of output. It's still very good, but with a larger Yeti with an APP connector, I think you might be able to get more out of it.
I know this video is 3 years old, but I recently bought a yeti goal zero 500x and a boulder 200 solar panel. I have no clue how to connect it, do I need another type of cable line? Please help. This is the only video I seen you pair a boulder 200 with a 500x. I hope you can help me out .
Hi there! You will need a connector that goes from Anderson to 8mm. Goal Zero sells them and I also think you can find some more inexpensive ones on Amazon.
I'm getting ready to purchase a yeti 1500x. 3rd party extension cord connectors for the Boulder 200 solar panel. Who are some good retailers I can look at for the extension cord that's Compatible with yeti and solar panels
Hi William White! Apologies for the delay. We’ve been thrilled with Goal Zero’s Anderson extension cords as well as the 8mm ones. We recommend running Anderson all the way, and if needed the Anderson to 8mm adaptor at the end (if going into a link)
Hey there. The Yeti 500x is about $500 as is the Boulder 200. So it would put you back about $1000. That said, keep an eye out for deal, there are lots to be had. We just bought a foldable 200 watt panel from Goal Zero through an open box sale and got about 35% off and it’s in perfect condition.
Hi Bryan. Thanks for the great question! There is likely some efficient way to rig up an Andersen power pole splitter to run power to both power stations. What you could do right away (and we’ve done this to keep our Yeti 150 always charged up to 100% using our Yeti 3,000 that is connected to solar) is plug in the solar panel to the larger capacity input power station then use the 110v outlet on that station and the standard 110v charger to charge the smaller capacity power station. You will have a loss of power to convert from 12v to 110v but we’ve found that to not be an issue for our use. In our use case where the Yeti 3,000 is always on solar and at 100% we feel pretty good about having it keep our smaller Yeti charged up. We do the same with our Goal Zero lights. When the power goes out we pull our yeti 150 and Goal Zero lights into the house and get things lit up pretty quickly, then assess if we need to run the 3,000 for appliances and small devices like our modem and router. We hope that helps and if you come up with great ways to rig yours up please share with us. We’re always learning. Best! Ofer @ Outdoor Adventures Team.
On the Power Stations (Yeti 1,000 and above) the capability exists to easily charge simultaneously from multiple sources into multiple inputs. The 200X and 500X will accept a single incoming charging source, and not more than one. We hope that helps.
Was 145 watts input from the panel with the 6 ft cable or the 30 ft extension? If it's without the extension than very disappointing. I see 150+ with my Nomad 200, no extension and winter sun.
Hi Manish. We’ve definitely seen incoming rates as high as 180 watts when we’re optimize the panel’s direction and glass cleanliness. Very high quality gear in our opinion. Be well
Hi Acetigg. You definitely could. We’d recommend shooting Goal Zero a quick note on the best way to do that. (We currently have multiple panels charging our 150 and 1,500x and have experienced no issues over the past 18 months).
Hi Jared. The best panel will likely be the one that provides near maximum allowed input for your Nomad, had a solid connection, and a size that works best for you. We’ve found those factors to be the most helpful when planning out that part of the kit.
My 500x handbook states maximum input on the 8mm socket is 120 watts so I’m using a 110 watt panel. You have a much higher input, has it given you any problems? Nice review, thanks.
Thank you for the question. I have not had any issues when when I pair them. Goal Zero support said that the 200 briefcase brings in 120 watts on average so it’s right there. They also list them as a pairing on their site. I generally have a 100 watt panel hooked up to it but if I want to charge back up quickly the 200 briefcase is great.
Hi Tetta. Absolutely. We have a few eBikes and charge their batteries on the go with the Yetis. Mostly our 1000x and 1,500x connected to the car kit and solar. Although either will do totally great simply on their own charging up an eBike one cycle. It’ll all depend on how long you’ll be for. Best of luck, keep riding, and let us know what solutions you came up with.
I just watched this excellent review and wanted to throw a word of caution into this equation. I have a huge variety of GZ products ranging from lights through to a couple of the power packs ( 1 x yeti 150, 2 x yeti 400 agm and a yeti 400 lithium amongst a whole bunch of other products ) and I also have 1 x Boulder 50 and 2 x Boulder 100 panels which do a great job of charging my gear...BUT...I've had a 30' cable fail for no reason and just the day before yesterday, one of my Boulder 100 panels failed!!! I love my GZ products but long term ownership and usage ( all in a domestic environment and with careful handling ) have shown poor production values and earlier failure. I've been using my 2 x 100 panels to charge my devices and yeti Lithium 400 and run other items with great effect but this panel failure has thrown my trust in GZ...here in Australia, these panels can set us back up to $500 a piece! and the 30' cables are from $50 - $100...so when they fail within a 2 year period, it shows a serious lack of trust in investing in these pricey items...when they work, they're great...but how long will they last???? and sometimes GZ USA are great at responding to my concerns, but at other times, the silence is deafening...as for GZ Australia? I'm still learning about how good / bad they can be in terms of customer service... :(
Goal Zero Boulder 200 is the best investment I have made for my off grid cabin. Amazing!!
We’re finding that too. We recently camped in Utah for a week and used two of them to keep batteries charged for multiple vehicles. So great
I own two yeti batteries ( 1000, 1400) and prefer to recharge them with my Honda eu2200i. I can stay out for weeks on one gallon of gas.
Really great review! Loved the different scenarios you showed! Nice job.
Thank you Eric!
Thank you. Great vid.
Thanks Rob!
Nice, I have the Nomad 200 version with the Yeti 1400.
Hi, how many hours does it need to be complete full?
Hi Paul. The total charge time will depend on the current state of charge of the battery, sun exposure, and draw from the battery for running gear. A quick calculation can be made based on the assumption of pulling in 120 watts of solar, and using a nominal amount of 50 watts. At that rate the Yeti 1,400 will charge up about 5% every hour.
This review is excellent and gave me ample information to feel confident in my expected purchase. Thank you!!
Great! Glad it was helpful and thanks for the comment.
We're about to do some capacity tests on the various yetis we have (200x --> 3,000). Please let us know what you'd like to see? Fridge, computers, power tools?
Can you run a fridge on a 500x?
You could run our Dometic in-car fridges with the Goal Zero 500x, but we’ve found that the rating won’t hold up for a standard size home fridge. Our 1,000 and 3,000 have the output capabilities to run a home fridge. We use them for intermittent power outages.
Could you give a demonstration on the Yeti 3000X. Hook up.
@@LornaA56 Hi Lorna. Thanks for getting in touch. We have our Yeti 3000 (the prior version to the 3000x) hooked up at home to 8 Goal Zero Expansion Tanks. It’s been working pretty well. Recently we have had some failures with the Goal Zero module that goes between the Yeti and the tanks as well as a couple of their solar panels, cables, and lights. Overall the equipment is holding up okay, but after a few years we’re noticing more and more failures come on.
The 400 is the same as the 500 in normal usage. The only difference is the surge-60-watt connector. To really see a major difference is to get a large unit.
I thought I heard something about the 8mm wiring only being able to carry 150W of power, so I think the Boulder 200 might be limited a bit in terms of output. It's still very good, but with a larger Yeti with an APP connector, I think you might be able to get more out of it.
You are correct, his limitation here is not the panel, I reviewed this a while back and was getting 188 watts.
When you say it can chain with other panels, up to how many?
Hi! There won’t be a real limit if wired correctly and safely. We’d guess the power device would likely be your limiting factor.
Thanks Peter! Love seeing those quality Goal Zero components come into the group. So... can I borrow your set up now? Haha
Thanks, good review
I know this video is 3 years old, but I recently bought a yeti goal zero 500x and a boulder 200 solar panel. I have no clue how to connect it, do I need another type of cable line? Please help. This is the only video I seen you pair a boulder 200 with a 500x. I hope you can help me out .
Hi there! You will need a connector that goes from Anderson to 8mm. Goal Zero sells them and I also think you can find some more inexpensive ones on Amazon.
I'm getting ready to purchase a yeti 1500x. 3rd party extension cord connectors for the Boulder 200 solar panel. Who are some good retailers I can look at for the extension cord that's Compatible with yeti and solar panels
Hi William White! Apologies for the delay. We’ve been thrilled with Goal Zero’s Anderson extension cords as well as the 8mm ones. We recommend running Anderson all the way, and if needed the Anderson to 8mm adaptor at the end (if going into a link)
I may have missed it, but how much do one of these systems cost?
Hey there. The Yeti 500x is about $500 as is the Boulder 200. So it would put you back about $1000. That said, keep an eye out for deal, there are lots to be had. We just bought a foldable 200 watt panel from Goal Zero through an open box sale and got about 35% off and it’s in perfect condition.
Would it be possible to charge a yeti 400 and a 500x at the same time with the Boulder 200?
Hi Bryan. Thanks for the great question! There is likely some efficient way to rig up an Andersen power pole splitter to run power to both power stations. What you could do right away (and we’ve done this to keep our Yeti 150 always charged up to 100% using our Yeti 3,000 that is connected to solar) is plug in the solar panel to the larger capacity input power station then use the 110v outlet on that station and the standard 110v charger to charge the smaller capacity power station. You will have a loss of power to convert from 12v to 110v but we’ve found that to not be an issue for our use. In our use case where the Yeti 3,000 is always on solar and at 100% we feel pretty good about having it keep our smaller Yeti charged up. We do the same with our Goal Zero lights. When the power goes out we pull our yeti 150 and Goal Zero lights into the house and get things lit up pretty quickly, then assess if we need to run the 3,000 for appliances and small devices like our modem and router. We hope that helps and if you come up with great ways to rig yours up please share with us. We’re always learning. Best! Ofer @ Outdoor Adventures Team.
Can i use this panel with a jackery 1000 generator?
Hi Sam! If it has the same inputs you should be able to.
Can you charge both front and rear at the same time?
On the Power Stations (Yeti 1,000 and above) the capability exists to easily charge simultaneously from multiple sources into multiple inputs. The 200X and 500X will accept a single incoming charging source, and not more than one. We hope that helps.
Was 145 watts input from the panel with the 6 ft cable or the 30 ft extension? If it's without the extension than very disappointing.
I see 150+ with my Nomad 200, no extension and winter sun.
Hi Manish. We’ve definitely seen incoming rates as high as 180 watts when we’re optimize the panel’s direction and glass cleanliness. Very high quality gear in our opinion. Be well
Could u still daisy chain 2 Boulder 50s and charge the 500x?
Hi Acetigg. You definitely could. We’d recommend shooting Goal Zero a quick note on the best way to do that. (We currently have multiple panels charging our 150 and 1,500x and have experienced no issues over the past 18 months).
Are the panels waterproof?
Hi Nico. Yes they are. Just gotta watch out for where the cable is plugged into and ensure there is chance of water around those contacts.
I have a 200x what panel is best?
Hi Jared. The best panel will likely be the one that provides near maximum allowed input for your Nomad, had a solid connection, and a size that works best for you. We’ve found those factors to be the most helpful when planning out that part of the kit.
My 500x handbook states maximum input on the 8mm socket is 120 watts so I’m using a 110 watt panel. You have a much higher input, has it given you any problems? Nice review, thanks.
Thank you for the question. I have not had any issues when when I pair them. Goal Zero support said that the 200 briefcase brings in 120 watts on average so it’s right there. They also list them as a pairing on their site. I generally have a 100 watt panel hooked up to it but if I want to charge back up quickly the 200 briefcase is great.
goal zero yeti 6000x portable power station coming soon
Yep! We just received our 1,500X this past week and will be comparing it to our 1,000 and 3,000. Video coming soon :)
That’s great! Can you use 3rd party cables and adapters?
long as it ends up plugging to a 8mm port for the generator.
Absolutely. And do your research. I know I’ve ordered an incorrect cable or two along the way.
Any experience with charging an e bike?
Hi Tetta. Absolutely. We have a few eBikes and charge their batteries on the go with the Yetis. Mostly our 1000x and 1,500x connected to the car kit and solar. Although either will do totally great simply on their own charging up an eBike one cycle. It’ll all depend on how long you’ll be for. Best of luck, keep riding, and let us know what solutions you came up with.
GOAL ZERO YETI 3000 LITHIUM PORTABLE POWER STATION WITH WIFI GENERATOR 200WATTS SOLAR PANELS GOALZERO TEST IT OUT YETI 6 LINK EXPANSION MODULE 1200