Goal Zero Yeti Generators?

“Normal” solar is less expensive. 33 AHs for $450? And a NOMAD solar panel for $200...twenty watts!

Goal zero is a super high quality company with great people. I have personally worked with them before, and can't say enough good things.

I suspect you will hear the word "overpriced" bounce around in this thread. And it's very true, that if you are both handy and motivated, you can come up with something that stores more for less.

The GZ stuff is just plug and play, easy easy to work with, looks good, and is backed by a cool company.

:-)

If your goal is small storage, and inverter, it's a nice neat package. For a TT though consider, for less than $225 you can get a pair of GC-2 batteries, and another $100 will get you a larger PSW inverter for running AC powered items.
The 400 model listed on their site has a 33 Amphr battery (Lion)
and a 300 PSW inverter. (enough to run a tv, or to power small appliances or lights. for $449.
Spending less on bigger batteries on the TT, GC-2 could give (200 amphr), with a 500 inverter, would in a pinch even allow you to run an extension cord into your home from the trailer (if you can park close) and power something like your refrigerator in a pinch. You would even have money left over to get a solar panel and small controller.

If compact and a clean little unit is your goal, go for it, if you want maximum bang for your buck, use the sysyems as are common on a TT.
JMHO

Yeti is very expensive per watt compared to other individual components.

Perhaps this plain English series on solar may be of help:

https://freecampsites.net/adding-solar/

I just realized that I posted this under the wrong forum. My apologies to the TV folks. Mods, I tried to notify you but for some reason the Notify Moderation button isn’t working right.

Pianotuna...great link, thank you! I followed that rabbit trail from that tutorial and now I know that there were a thing called Edison batteries and that they can last over 100 years reliably, and they can be rebuilt. Darned Rabbit Trails!

Thanks!

Jeremiah

I have a friend who has one. I like them but I wouldn't spend the money on them. As has been said, high quality for sure but for the price, you could build your own for far less and have way more. They kind of remind me of Zamp.

They're just overpriced batteries and an overpriced inverter in an overpriced box.

Plus, they're only good until the batteries run low. Unlike a generator, you can't just refill the gas tank, pull the cord, and have power again. The batteries need to be recharged, and that takes hours when you have mains power available. A little fold-out solar panel you set on the ground isn't going to be able to keep up with even the most basic of usage. It takes a LOT of solar panels, like a trailer roof full, and bright sunny days to effectively recharge this thing.

We have the baby Yeti, the 150 and love it. I'd like to upgrade to the 400 lithium ion at some point. We have a handful of their accessories and some of their solar panels too. Everything bought at a discount through multiple channels, with Costco being the primary.

Ours gets used the most for 2 reasons. First is to provide better lighting in our dining area in the TT, especially if I'm reading newspapers in there. Second it is a great phone and tablet charging station if we're dry camping.

If the TT goes off-site for storage the GZ gear comes into the house to be available should we have an extended power outage.

what has a Yeti generator have to do with Tow Vehicles?:h

bikendan wrote:
what has a Yeti generator have to do with Tow Vehicles?:h

See post 6.