Goal Zero Yeti lithium solar generators reviewed

In this article, we are going to review Yeti solar. Let’s get started.

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Goal Zero Yeti 150 Portable Power Station

Here we have a small, all-in-one power bank that’s designed to charge phones, tablets, small laptops, and other less demanding devices. You can quickly charge it at home from an AC wall outlet. Alternatively, you can pair it with one of Goal Zero’s solar panels for when you’re on the go.

It can work well with a 14W or a 28W solar panel from the same company. Examples include the Nomad 20 and the Bolder 50. Of it to completely charge, it will take about 6-12 hours depending on the solar panels, weather conditions, elevation, time of year, temperature, and other factors.

The third option of powering the Yeti 150 is using your car 12V adapter. That will take about four to six hours. With these three powering options, you’re assured that you’re dealing with a fume-free power source. The battery capacity of the Yeti 150 is 144h(12V0) and produces 150Wh, hence the product name.

In this model, you get two USB ports, an AC outlet, and a 12V output. The power station is quite portable, weighing in at 12lb (5.4Kgs). You can get this power station for when you’re out camping, and you need to charge essential items that don’t require high voltage. It is also useful in emergencies as it can also power the lights.

Looking at the devices that this power station can deliver, you’re able to charge a smartphone between 9 to 12 times, depending on the phone. If you have a POV camera with you, you can get in about 25 charges. Tablets and laptops don’t last as long, with the latter only being able to get charged once or twice before the power station runs out of juice. However, if you have Light-a-Life lights, you can power them for up to 50 hours.

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Goal Zero Yeti 400 Portable Power Station

Whether you’re looking for a reliable emergency power supply or something to use while camping in a tent or a trailer, then you can consider getting the Yeti 400 to meet your needs.

This portable power station helps keep the virtual devices that you need while on the road or otherwise charged and ready for use when you need them. One can charge their phones, tablets, cameras, and much more with this power source. What’s more is that it can run small appliances and lights, as well as some medical devices, when there’s a brief power outage.

You can get this portable station working at the press of a button. It has 428Wh with a battery capacity of 39.6Ah (10.8V). It is also lithium-powered, light, and quiet, too, so you can take it with you wherever you want. You’re also guaranteed extended shelf life of 18 months thanks to the replaceable lithium battery; it weighs 17lbs. Various powering options include three USB ports, a 12V output, and two AC outlets.

There’s an informative display that features the runtime/recharge time estimator to help you plan your time better. The battery level indicator is also available on display, along with the output/input meter. With these, you can know everything you need at a glance. The Yeti 400 is ideal when it comes to powering small devices but can also meet medium-sized power needs. You can charge your phone 40 times, a POV camera 70+ times, and your laptop 2-5 times, depending on the capacity and a tablet more than ten times.

When it comes to small appliances, the Yeti 400 can power a mini-fridge for seven hours and a 32” LCD TV for three hours. As for the lighting needs, this power station can recharge a headlamp more than 70+ times and also keep the Light-a-Life on for 130 hours.

There are three recommendations when it comes to solar panel pairing. You can consider getting the Nomad 20, though it’s not the best option given how long it will take to recharge the power station. The time estimated is 31-62 hours.

The Boulder 50 is better, taking between 12-14 hours, but if you want something, heavy-duty get the Boulder 100 Briefcase. With this solar powering option, the Yeti 400 will be full in 6-12 hours based on the environmental factors. If you’re at home or near an AC wall outlet, that’s the best way to charge it since the power station will be full in seven hours.

When you’re on the go, your car will do an even faster job, charging the generator in 4-7 hours. Be sure to use the 12V car charging cable the company provides. That said, when this Yeti is fully charged, it can last you 2-3 days if you’re powering smaller devices.

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Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Portable Power Station

If you’re looking for something increasingly heavy-duty, then this next Yeti power station could be for you. You can run all your devices using the clean and quite Yeti 1000 portable power station. These include laptops, refrigerators, and even power tools.

When Goal Zero was making it, their mission was to make this Yeti model the most versatile and innovative power station in the market. A unique feature about it is the 1500W AC inverter design they have in place that’s awaiting a patent. The purpose of it is to help meet both indoor and outdoor needs with ease.

As with other Yetis, this power source is meant to change how we power devices, tools, and appliances. You can take it anywhere with you and get things powered/recharged in the push of a button without the need for extension cords or even gasoline. The Yeti 400 stands at 1045Wh with a battery capacity of 96.8Ah (10.8V). The good thing is that it is powerful yet quiet.

With the Yeti 1000, you can get more things plugged it than the previous two models discussed. It has four USB ports, two AC outlets, and a 12V output. If you want to know how the generator is performing, you can look at the informative display. It shows the runtime/recharge time estimator for easy planning. There is also a battery level monitor and also an input/output meter.

The number of charges you can get from this power station is impressive. If you’re out camping or in an emergency, you won’t have to worry about power for quite a while. You can get more than 50 charges for your hone, and 17 times for your laptop. Since it has a higher power capacity, there’s more time you can get out of it for powering a fridge and a 32” LCD TV. You’d be happy to know that your fridge would stay on for 17+ hours, and you can comfortably watch TV for 10 hours.

Let’s now look at the solar panel options. To recharge this portable power station, you have to stick to the solar panels in the Boulder series. The 50 will take the time that a Nomad would on the Yeti 400, lasting about 31-62 hours. The 100 Briefcase will take 15-30 hours, but your best bet in terms of cutting down on time is purchasing the Boulder 200 Briefcase. It’ll take 8-16 hours to charge, all based on the conditions at the time. Some more practical estimates put the time at 10-20 hours.

When you use the wall power supply, it’ll table about 18 hours to recharge the Yeti 1000 fully. Don’t have the time and want to fast-track the charging? Consider using the Yeti Fast Charge 25 Amp Power Supply that will fill the juice up in just four hours. When using your vehicle, it’ll take about 9-18 hours to charge, depending on the capacity. Also, remember to use the 12V car charging cable the company provides to avoid causing damage to the unit.

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Goal Zero Yeti 1250 Portable Power Station

This version of the Yeti can power anything from phones to refrigerators and everything that falls in between. The Yeti 1250 assures you that you have backup power in any situation that you’re in. The added advantage is that you don’t have to deal with noise or fumes to power or charge the things you need. Overall, you can enjoy unlimited power from both the wall and also the sun. You’re free to pick how you will power this portable generator.

What makes this model of the Goal Zero ideal is that it’s versatile and provides instant power for both everyday and emergency use. It has a 1200Wh (100Ah) capacity and also has an integrated 1200W puresine wave inverter. It is the same as having a portable inverter generator; the only difference is that there isn’t the use of gas, and there’s no fumes or noise. You can start using the Yeti 1250 once it’s out of the box, all at the push of a button. That is a mighty step up from the typical generator where you’ll need to pull a cord to get the power station started.

If you somewhat heavy-duty appliances, then you can consider using the Yeti 1250 for them. It can power fridges and also medical devices and even other small to medium power devices and appliances.

The outputs available are 2.1A USB port, 1200W AC, and 12V that allow you to power or charge more than ten devices at once. If you want to know how much power is going in and out, you only have to glance at the level indicator. The overall weight of the power station is 1000lbs, but that’s not too much of a bother because it comes with a rolling cart that has wheels and handles for easier moving.

While you can use this power station in short outages, you can extend the runtime by chaining another similar battery. You can purchase these separately if you feel that your context will require more power for an extended period. It is such features that allow you to get more power even when the initial machine cannot accommodate it.

When it comes to the solar generator aspect of this machine, the Goal Zero suggests that you use the Boulder 200 Briefcase or something of similar or more capacity to charge the power station. Even so, when you get the solar panels that you recommend, you’d have to wait 12-24 hours for it to be fully recharged. While that might feel like a lot, it’s worth noting that pugging it into the wall means that you’ll have to charge it for about 18 hours. What about your car? It’s perhaps not the best idea unless you absolutely have to because it takes 44 hours for it to fill up.

If you get the Yeti 1250, you’re sure that it can charge your phone, tablet, laptop, and even headlights quite several times. Even so, it can charge the more heavy-duty stuff for a long time before you need to recharge them.

For example, if you have a power outage, you can power your fridge for more than 20 hours and even get to enjoy 12 hours of watching a 32” LCD TV. If you’re only using the Yeti 1250 for smaller devices, you can enjoy the outdoors for quite a few days, given that you can recharge your smartphone more than 60 times, a POV camera 200+ times, and a laptop more than 20 times.

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Goal Zero Yeti 1400 Lithium Power Station

It would not be inaccurate to state that the Yeti 1400 is one of the most versatile and also innovative power stations in the market. The primary reason is that its mobile app-enabled, which allows you to control the ports and even monitor power outage from your phone. There are built-in surge allowances and multi-stage protection.

What that means for you is there’s excellent compatibility with more devices that range from lights, laptops, refrigerators, and even power tools. The fantastic thing about this power station is that it gives you the confidence to power anything and anywhere you want. Even so, the app is always updated, so you still have the latest features and functions when they have released.

Similar to other Goal Zero generators, this Yeti 1400 power station is simple to use. You don’t have to worry about gas or fumes, and you can power your electronics and appliances by merely pushing a button. The other significant aspect of it is that you can use it in your apartment or home in the event of emergency power surges. That doesn’t have to be the primary purpose; you can also use it for your next outdoor adventure or project.

Making your way up the Yeti series, then you’re assured that you’re dealing with a more heavy-duty machine. What you’ll find about this particular power station is that it has industry-leading outputs. They include patented AC and 60W USB-C power delivery ports. Overall, there are ten ports that you can use so that you can keep your various items powered anywhere. The USB-C power delivery can charge larger USB devices that include laptops.

Let’s now look at what makes the Yeti 1400 different. With Wi-Fi connectivity, you can connect to the Yeti via a mobile app so that you can control the power station remotely. From the palm of your hands, you can check the battery levels, and turn ports on and off. What’s more, is you can update the Yeti’s firmware from the device you’re using to access the power station. You can get this app through the Apple Store or Google Play.

The lithium battery in this power station is considered super safe. The lithium batteries are known for stability, and there’s a management system that prevents overcharge and over current, along with short-circuiting. The battery pack is also enclosed,and it’s sealed from the various elements. It is also watertight so you can use it even in the most inconvenient situations knowing that the Yeti 1400 is protected.

If you’re outdoors and where you are doesn’t have a wall outlet or even solar panels, you can still capture the wonders of the world with 230+ recharges off your POV camera. Even then, you can charge your tablet more than 50 times or your laptop 20+ times. When you need to power your fridge, you can do so for almost 24 hours, and watch you 32” LCD TV for 14 hours.

When you need to use solar panels to charge this power station, the best to use is the Boulder 200 Briefcase x2 because it takes about 5-10 hours to recharge. The other Boulder options will take a lot longer with the 100 series taking between 22-44 hours and the 200 Briefcase taking 11-22 hours.

That is all dependent on the temperature, weather, time of year, and other factors. If you are to make this your solar generator, then you have to go with the strongest solar panels that Goal Zero has to offer. You can also purchase the fast charge cable where you can charge the power station in just 4.5 hours.

One thing that some will be pleased to know about is that you can connect cost-effective lead-acid to the lithium power station so that you can increase your energy storage capacity. With that, you can do a lot when it comes to powering appliances that also include medical supplies and another context where having power is essential. As per the company, you can get up t0 25 hours of power supply. You can also get their fast charger cable when you want o use your car to charge the power station.

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Goal Zero Yeti 3000 Lithium Portable Power Station

Lastly, we are going to look at the largest power station that Goal Zero has. It has the largest capacity of 3000Wh storage that can allow you to run all the necessary equipment. It provides clean energy all at the push of a button.

The Yeti 3000 produces 1500W of continuous power and a 3000W surge for when you need to run high-power devices. There is also the Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to work the machine through the use of an app. This function is always updated, so you get the latest features, including the ability to turn ports on and off to save power.

The outputs on this Yeti are Patented AC and 60W USB-C power delivery ports. There are ten ports in total to pick from, allowing you to charge anything, anywhere and at any time. It is ideal for more power-hungry devices that you need to power at any one time. What makes this power station different is that it is MPPT pre-installed, meaning that solar charging is optimized. That way, you can charge the Yeti 4000 faster, especially when you’re using solar panels.

The lithium cells, as with all the other power stations in the Yeti series that have them give you the peace of mind that you’re getting the best. They offer safe battery management that prevents over-charge, over-current, and also short-circuiting.

Moving this power station around is easy since it has wheels and a telescoping handle. You don’t have to worry about having to carry it back since it’s quite heavy. The battery pack is enclosed in a watertight enclosure, and thus sealing it off from the elements.

The charging capacity is a lot higher than the other Yetis. For example, you can power your fridge for up to 50 hours and enjoy using a 32” LCD TV for 30 hours. It is, therefore, not a surprise that you can get up to 150 recharges on your phone and 110+ for the tablet. With this power station, you don’t have to worry about running out.

For solar power options, the recommended one is Boulder 200 Briefcase ×3, which takes 6-12 hours to charge depending on environmental factors. For the wall recharge, use the Yeti Fast Charge 25-amp power supply to charge it in 25 hours. You can use your car as well.

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Wrap up

There is much to love about the Yeti series of lithium generators from Goal Zero. We hope that with this information you can make the right call for you.