solar power

[debbor]

Does anyone know what the best and most efficient folding solar panel is please, I want to use it with a goal zero yeti 150 solar generator , I know a home made kit is cheaper but maybe this option would be better for camping weekends ?

[lightningxl]

poly vs mono crystal. From my research mono is more efficient.

Look at watts divide by 12 (volts) = amps give you some idea of amount of energy going into battery.

I use solar panels on boat keep battery charged and back up GPS.

Let us know how you get on...

[Yorkshire Andy]

From the looks your goal zero is a 14000mah unit

What's the rate of charge of the plug in charger?

Can you charge it from 12v?


Many of these units have fancy charge circuits built in making direct solar charging difficult.....

If you can charge via 12v a caravan solar charger and leisure battery would be my option

[Yorkshire Andy]

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=11070&start=10#p122286

[ukpreppergrrl]

The Goal Zero Yeti website seems to recommend their own Nomad 20 folding solar panel Goal Zero Yeti 150, which will re-charge the Yeti in 17-34 hours (optimal conditions). The Nomad 20 seems to be a 20 watt monocrystaline panel. So at the very least you're looking for a 20 watt panel, but realistically I'd have thought you're going to need a higher wattage panel, 34 hours is a long time, you'll have been and gone by the time it's done its thing!

Efficiency is a moving goalpost - watts per square foot of panel; watts per £; watts per hour of random light? To add to the heady mix of questions...at what time of year and where are you planning to use your solar panel / Yeti combo? The wattages quoted on panels are always the peak wattage output under optimal conditions (i.e. cool yet bright blue skies with no shadows). Whilst poly/mono crystal panels are both very efficient in summer under bright blue skies, their output drops dramatically as soon as you get cloud or shadows. If you're under weak, cloudy, grey wintery skies, or likely to be subject to a lot of shadows from, say, trees, you're better off with thin-film panels as they will still be producing useable charge long after poly/mono panels have dropped to outputting nearly nothing. The caveat being that you need a thin-film panel about 4 times the size of a poly/mono panel to produce the same wattage under optimal conditions, though the cost is about the same.

Most portable/foldable panels will be mono panels as they're small per watt of power. If your camping weekends involve carrying all the equipment in backpacks then go for the highest wattage per size/weight you can carry. If you're packing your stuff into a car/van, then size/weight may be less of a consideration than higher wattage/better output in sub-optimal conditions. Folding/rolling (yes you can get flexible panels!) panels will always be much more expensive than a plain single flat panel. A 60w plain flat panel will cost you much less than the Nomad and will charge the Yeti much faster.

If you're only going on camping weekends do you actually need the solar charger? If you fully charge the Yeti will it last the whole weekend - obviously this depends on what you're trying to power from the Yeti!

EDIT: as YorkshireAndy says though - check your Yeti to see if it's got some bespoke sockets/circuits which means you have to use a panel from the same manufacturer or if it can be charged from any standard solar panel.

[dangerman]

The Yeti is a nice little gadget but expensive and needs really needs a GZ solar panel to go with it.

I've just bought a Boulder 15 and paid $49 for it. Bargain! The problem is that in the UK it will cost a lot more. Have a look at this and see how much postage would be: http://www.goalzero.com/p/20/boulder-15-solar-panel

I have a Nomad 27 too, and connect both panels to the Guardian 12v adapter to charge my leisure battery. This gives me 42w potential charge.

If I were you, hold on until you can find a very cheap GZ panel. Using any other solar panel is going to be an arse.

However! There may be hope. Does it have the 8mm input on the Yeti? The current generation of the Nomad 7 kit had an 8mm output and would connect to your Yeti directly. If there is a 4mm input then there is a adapter that costs a fiver.

It would be a slow charge, anything between 52-104 hours to charge fully. But it would be cheap and effective. The Nomad 7 would be a good option too because it's versatile. Buy the kit and you'll have the Guide 10 battery pack too, and I swear by that thing. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Goal-Zero-Guide ... s=guide+10 (See my post on it)

You could charge the Yeti through your cars 12v output and then just keep it topped off with the small solar panel.

[dangerman]

Debbor - can I ask - can you access the battery on your Yeti 150 easily? I've been looking for videos showing it opened up but can't find anything.

If you can gain access to it easily then that could make it quite a lot more useful. Here is the spare battery on the GZ site: http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/85/Escap ... ttery/6:4/

If you can remove it then you could buy a spare and connect to any solar panel you like. Keep it fully charged and then use up the power of the battery inside the unit, making the most of it's inverter. Then, when the battery is dead, swap them out.

You could get a 20w (ish) solar panel with a charge controller for about £50 from eBay or anywhere you like really. Also, you don't need to get the spare battery from GZ, if you can show it to a battery dealer then anything that has the same spec and fits in the unit will do.

[debbor]

now that is a fantastic ideal 2nd battery, right its time to get out the screwdrivers...... I thought I had bought a duffer of an item.
but even if I cant get the batt out I might just ebay the item and take a look at some of the great DIY kits on here.

this is such a learning curve , thank you all

d

[Yorkshire Andy]

Least it contains a decent battery (Advanced Glass Mat)
Lots of info on batteries here
http://batteryuniversity.com

I don't plan on using the inverter much if I can avoid it most my bits and bobs will run _ charge on 12v.

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=8297

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=10935

Leisure batteries don't really like the draw of big inverters but its cost vs lifespan vs use

[dangerman]

Least it contains a decent battery (Advanced Glass Mat)
Lots of info on batteries here
http://batteryuniversity.com

I don't plan on using the inverter much if I can avoid it most my bits and bobs will run _ charge on 12v.

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=8297

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=10935

Leisure batteries don't really like the draw of big inverters but its cost vs lifespan vs use

That's what is so good about the Yeti and other GZ 'generators' - the inverter is optional. There are buttons above each power outlet and you need to switch on the one (or ones) you're using at any one time. If you don't switch on the AC outlet then there is no loss of energy due to the inverters inefficiency. But, if you decide that you want to power your laptop or don't have a USB adapter for something, the inverter will allow you another option. My MacBook Pro has a 65w charger and the Yeti has an 80w inverter (160w max) and so should be perfect for the modern camper or back up.

There is a good guide to the battery and solar (and spec) on the user guide here: http://www.goalzero.com/creative/assets ... eti150.pdf

now that is a fantastic ideal 2nd battery, right its time to get out the screwdrivers...... I thought I had bought a duffer of an item.
but even if I cant get the batt out I might just ebay the item and take a look at some of the great DIY kits on here.

this is such a learning curve , thank you all

d

If you're selling let me know - I'd like a Yeti.