Solar-powered generators are best in the sense that they operate without making noise. Also, they don’t emit any harmful fumes. You only need to charge their batteries via solar panels, carport, or a wall outlet and then power your devices with that stored power.
Goal Zero is one of the leading solar-generator brands. It has the power solution to all situations, from camping trips to off-grid projects to power outages and other outdoor events. Not only this, but Goal Zero has also introduced its award-winning Lithium power stations, the Yeti X Series, at the 2020 International CES.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your Goal Zero generator for your next outdoor trip.
Table of Contents
Goal Zero Generator Reviews
Image | Product | Features | Ratings | Check Price |
Goal Zero Yeti 3000 Portable Power Station |
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Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Portable Power Station |
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Goal Zero Yeti 500X Portable Power Station |
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Goal Zero Yeti 400 Portable Power Station |
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1. Goal Zero Yeti 3000 Portable Power Station – Expensive Generator
Weight: Goal Zero Yeti 3000 is one of the most powerful portable solar generators. It can power all of your essentials at home, office, worksite, or campsites. This machine’s weight is 68 pounds, but the inclusion of wheels and a telescoping handle make it easy to move around.
Power Output: Get clean and stable electric power to run your appliances, tools, and equipment.
It produces 3000 starting watts and 1500 running watts.
Battery Capacity: It comes with a Lithium battery featuring 280Ah/3075 watt-hour capacity.
Shelf Life: Charge your battery every 3 to 6 months for an uninterrupted power supply.
Chainable: The battery chaining technology allows users to link lead-acid batteries with this Lithium power station to increase their energy storage capacity.
Seamless Backup Power: The best thing about this power station is that you can merge it with your home’s circuits for a continuous backup power experience. It can backup up to four essential circuits in your house.
Power: Goal Zero Yeti 3000 helps you power various small and big appliances and tools together. It is compatible with all power-hungry devices because it delivers higher surge power. You can run a fridge, sump pump, washing machine, blender, electric drill, belt sander, and an air compressor (1/4 HP) along with smartphones, tablets, laptops, fans, lights, cameras, and more.
Ways to Recharge: Use a compatible solar panel to charge the generator’s battery. You can also charge it through a standard wall socket and a 12 Volt carport using the Goal Zero Yeti Lithium car charging cable.
Solar Pairings: The solar panels that are compatible with this generator include Boulder 100, Nomad 100, Boulder 100 Briefcase, Boulder 200, and Boulder 200 Briefcase.
Battery Recharge Time: It has a massive battery with huge power storing capacity, so it will take longer to be recharged than other batteries mentioned below.
The Boulder 200 Briefcase will charge its battery in about 18 to 36 hours. But if you want fast charging through a wall socket, use the Yeti Fast Charge 25 Amp Power Supply to fully recharge the battery within 10 hours.
MPPT Controller: A built-in MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) Charge Controller ensures your battery get the maximum power output from the solar panel. This controller establishes a better connection between the solar panel and your generator, resulting in 40% faster charging.
Battery Management System: Goal Zero Yeti 3000features an excellent battery management system that protects the battery from over-charging, over-current, and short-circuiting.
Ports: Its control panel has a variety of power ports. These ports include two 120 Volt AC outlets, two USB-A 5 Volt ports, two USB-C 5 Volt ports, two 12 Volt Anderson Powerpole® Ports, and one 12 Volt carport.
LCD Display: It has an informative LCD screen that features a battery level monitor, runtime evaluator, and an input/output meter.
GZ Yeti App: The Goal Zero Yeti App allows you to control your Yeti power station without moving an inch from your couch. You can check the battery status, real-time input, and output, and update the software. You can also turn on and off different power ports and connect multiple Yeti power stations to a single smartphone or tablet.
My Opinion:
Pros: Goal Zero Yeti 3000 is the most powerful solar generator. Its massive battery capacity allows you to power your appliances and devices quite along. The MPPT controller offers fast recharging, the LCD screen provides important information related to the generator, and the Yeti App adds convenience.
Cons: It is quite expensive.
2. Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Portable Power Station – Best under $2000
Weight: Goal Zero Yeti 1000 is an ultimate power solution for both indoors and outdoors. From large appliances to power tools, you can run anything through this powerful solar generator. The weight of this unit is 40 pounds.
Battery Capacity: It is featured with a Lithium battery having a 96.8Ah/1045 watt-hour battery capacity.
Shelf Life: Make sure you are charging your battery every 3 to 6 months.
Power Output: It produces clean 3000 watts of peak power and 1500 watts of rated power.
What can you Power: You can run various power tools, fridge, headlamps, office equipment, cameras, smartphones, TV, medical devices, and more.
Ways to Recharge: Either you can recharge the battery from the sun, wall outlet, or a carport.
Solar Pairings: It is best to have a solar panel with higher watts to charge the battery faster. The solar panels that are suggested for this generator include Nomad 50, Nomad 100, Boulder 50, Boulder 100, Boulder 100 Briefcase, and Boulder 200 Briefcase.
Battery Recharge Time: If you are charging the battery via a car adapter, it will take around 9 to 18 hours to get fully recharged. The Boulder 200 Briefcase solar panel will charge it between 10 and 20 hours. And with Yeti 25 Amp fast charge power cable, the battery will be recharged within 4 hours.
PWM Charge Controller: It is equipped with a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) charge controller that is less efficient than the MPPT Controller.
Battery Management System: Also, there is a built-in low battery protection system.
Ports: Four 5 Volt USB ports, two 110 Volt AC ports, one 12 Volt Anderson Powerpole® Port, one 12 Volt carport, and more
LCD Display: Goal Zero Yeti 1000 also has an LCD screen that shows the battery level, runtime, and real-time input/output.
My Opinion:
Pros: Goal Zero Yeti 1000 is a powerful solar generator. It is one of the best products available in the market. With a massive battery capacity, it helps numerous appliances and tools to run longer. Also, it has versatile powering options and an informative display.
Cons: Its PWM Controller is not an efficient one.
3. Goal Zero Yeti 500X Portable Power Station – Best under $700
Weight: Goal Zero Yeti 500X is suitable for powering mid-size appliances and devices at backyard parties and campsites. It only weighs 12.85 pounds that makes it 20% smaller and lighter than its previous model. Also, a built-in carrying handle makes it easy to move around.
Battery Capacity: It is powered by a Lithium-ion battery having a 505 watt-hour battery capacity.
Shelf Life: You have to charge this battery every 3 to 6 months.
Power Output: Goal Zero Yeti 500X delivers 1200 peak watts and 300 rated watts.
What can you Power: With this generator, you can power a wide range of appliances and devices, including smartphones, tablets, coolers, power lamps, cameras, pellet grills, CPAP machines, and more.
Ways to Recharge: Its battery can be recharged via sun energy, a wall outlet, or a carport.
Solar Pairings: You can pair your generator’s battery with Nomad 20, Nomad 50, Nomad 100, Boulder 50, Boulder 100, Boulder 100 Briefcase, and Boulder 200 Briefcase.
Battery Recharge Time: If you need fast charging through a solar panel, select Boulder 200 Briefcase that will recharge your battery in 3 to 6 hours. For charging through a car power port in 4.5 hours, use the Goal Zero Lithium car cable. And a wall charger will do complete charging within 8.5 hours.
MPPT Controller: The MPPT Controller ensures efficient charging, especially from the solar panels.
Battery Management System: Goal Zero Yeti 500X also includes a low-battery protection system.
Ports: Users can power anything via two 120 Volt AC ports, two USB-A ports, one 12 Volt carport, and one 6mm port. Also, there are 8mm charge ports, one USB-C port, and one USB –C PD port.
LCD Display: The LCD helps you to keep an eye on the generator’s status. It shows the real-time input and output and the remaining battery life.
My Opinion:
Pros: Goal Zero Yeti 500X is ideal for power medium-size appliances and electronics. It is light in weight but a powerful machine with a 505 watt-hour battery capacity. The MPPT controller ensures efficient solar charging, and the USB-C port charges your tablets, laptops, and cameras in no time.
Cons: It is hard to charge the generator if your solar panels have their controller. You need to bypass the controller first to get your machine charged.
4. Goal Zero Yeti 400 Portable Power Station – Best under $500
Weight: Goal Zero Yeti 400 is a lightweight power station, ideal to power electronic devices at campsites and tailgates. It weighs 29 pounds, and a built-in handle makes transportation easier.
Battery Capacity: It comes with a lead-acid AGM battery featuring 396 watt-hour capacity. With this battery capacity, you can run seven different devices for a long.
Shelf Life: Its battery has a shelf life of 3 to 6 months.
Chainable: The best thing about this generator is that you can chain additional 33Ah lead batteries with it for extended runtimes during a road trip, power outages, and emergencies.
Power Output: The Yeti 400 is a pure-sine wave inverter generator that produces 600 surge watts and 300 rated watts.
What can you Power: You can power different small appliances, laptops, phones, tablets, and lights along with a mini-fridge, LCD TV, camera, and more.
Ways to Recharge: Goal Zero Yeti 400 can be recharged via solar panel, an AC wall outlet, and a carport.
Solar Pairings: The recommended solar pairings include Nomad 20, Nomad 50, and Nomad 100, along with Boulder 50, Boulder 100, Boulder 100 Briefcase, and the Boulder 200 Briefcase.
Battery Recharge Time: It depends on the power source. If you are using a 12 Volt carport, it will recharge the battery in 13 hours. With an AC wall outlet, the battery can be recharged within 5 hours. But with a Boulder 100 Briefcase solar panel, it will take around 8 to 16 hours.
Battery Management System: A built-in over-charging and low-battery indicator system makes life easier.
Ports: It features numerous power outlets, including two standard 110 Volt AC outlets, two USB ports, one 12 Volt DC carport, and two 6mm 12 Volt DC plug ports.
LCD Display: An informative LCD shows the power consumption and real-time input and output.
My Opinion:
Pros: Goal Zero Yeti 400 is a lightweight solar generator having a decent battery capacity. It is compatible with a variety of power panels. Also, it has various ports that help you to power numerous devices at the same time. Moreover, an LCD provides valuable information related to the generator.
Cons: Sometimes, its LCD screen shows wrong information.
Buyer’s Guide
For what purpose are you purchasing a Goal Zero generator?
The purpose of buying a solar-powered generator will exactly help you to select the right product. If you need one for camping or fishing, Goal Zero Yeti 200X or Yeti 400 will be ideal for you. If you are going to apply much load on your generator’s battery for a longer period, we suggest you go with Yeti 400. It is because its battery capacity is higher (396 watt-hour) than the Yeti 200X.
To power mid-size appliances along with big appliances and tools, Yeti 1000 is a perfect choice. But if you need a more powerful generator that can power many of your home appliances, office equipment, RV appliances, or power tools, go for the Goal Zero Yeti 3000.
Solar Panel
Goal Zero generators don’t come with solar panels, so you have to purchase one to recharge your generator’s battery through solar energy.
Always use the compatible solar panels to effectively and efficiently charge your batteries. The recommended solar panels include Nomad 20, Nomad 50, Boulder 50, Nomad 100, and Boulder 100, along with Boulder 100 Briefcase and the Boulder 200 Briefcase. The higher the watts of the solar panel, the faster it will recharge the battery.
Other Charging Ways
You can also charge your batteries via an AC wall outlet and a carport if you do not get the perfect sun rays.
If you need to recharge your battery fast through a wall socket, use Yeti Fast Charge Power Supply. And to power your battery through a carport, make sure you are using the Yeti Lithium 12 Volt car charging cable.
Controller
Goal Zero generators come with both MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) Charge Controller and PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) Charge Controller. Some models have built-in MPPT, whereas some generators have a PWM controller.
Both are effective when charging the generator battery, especially through solar panels, but the MPPT charge controller is 40% more efficient than the PWM.
Ports
Ensure the generator you are selecting has all the ports available to recharge the devices you need during camping, tailgates, or power outages.
Goal Zero Yeti App
It is one of the useful features of Goal Zero Yeti 1400 and 3000 models. Download the Goal Zero Yeti from Google Play Store or Apple App Store and control your generator through it. You can check the battery status and input and output of the generator through your smartphone and turn on and off different power ports. Moreover, if you have one Yeti generator, then all the people of your family can sync their devices with that generator. Or if you have multiple Yetis and are the only user, you can control all your models through a single phone.
FAQs
What chaining cable is recommended to chain two Yeti 400s together?
If you need to chain two Yeti 400s together, it is recommended to use Goal Zero Anderson Chaining Cable. By chaining these two units, the overall runtime will increase to double.
Is it possible to combine Boulder 100 and Nomad 100 solar panels to recharge Yeti 500X?
Yes, there is no problem with doing that. But first, you have to combine both the panels together through a 4X 8MM Combiner to Anderson Connector cable. And then plug them into the Yeti 500X with the help of Anderson to 8MM connector.
Can I charge Yeti 1000 with a carport and solar panels at the same time?
Yes. You cannot only recharge Yeti 1000 with a carport and solar panels simultaneously but also from the solar panels and the wall charger.