Great detailed review. I've bought over 25 of the Goal Zero lights over the past six years (previous generation), and have them permanently installed in two hunt cabins, three off grid cottages, and in my ice fishing shack up here in the Canadian north country. They sip power, give off wonderful light, and are rugged and reliable. For my applications, they have been worth every penny I paid for them over the years. I use them with now "vintage GZ Yeti 400 and Yeti 15O AGM battery power packs due to the fact that all the buildings I use them in are not heated most of the year. All are solar powered via Renogy solar panels, and the Yeti 400's have multiple cascaded batteries. You're the first GZ reviewer to highlight the real benefit that GZ's lights provide - what I call a real added value. Keep the great reviews coming!
We're cut from the same cloth! I use my phone as a mobile light switch with the newer units, the app controls the yeti from bluetooth...we're spoiled. Really great input with the older AGM yetis and wider temp tolerances, I see a ton of people over looking that. I knew I'm not the only one using batteries in the cold...lol With the LiNMC units, I place them in an old cooler and throw a heated hot water bottle in with them. I still rely on AGMs a lot in the winter but the cooler hack has been a good addition. Thanks for watching and contributing!
@@DIYOutdoorLife Your cooler trick is a great idea. I live on the shores of Lake of the Woods, Ontario (just 30 minutes north of Baudette, MN), we regularly get winter temps in the -40C / -40F range, so I'll be sticking with AGM's in my recreational properties for now. The ice fishing up here is super hot right now, which makes up for the cold temps!
He's right, my 200x gets to stay in a tent Oct.- April and then sits in a pole barn all summer no ac/hv. It runs a iceco 47 vl for 30 + hours, this little guy gets abused. Mostly charged from solar level the 60w and have the light tent light. Good job!!!
Wow what a great and in-depth review. A few years ago I bought a Yeti 150, the predecessor to the 200. Aside from a lack of USB-C ports and using a lead acid battery it's nearly identical to the 200 reviewed here. I like it because it does what I need and doesn't take up much space. I charge it up before a camping trip and it recharges my phone, the batteries for my camera and any other batteries I need. I'm seriously pondering buying a 12 volt fan to create a nice breeze in the tent on those hot humid nights. I've never run out of power yet on the 3-4 day campouts I do. I bought mine from REI when they had a 20% off sale. I think that's the key to getting anything from Goal Zero. They're pricey, but as long as you don't need it RIGHT NOW, if you can wait for a sale you get a quality product for a more reasonable price. If my beloved 150 tanked I would have no qualms getting a Yeti 200 as a replacement.
Thank you so much for getting into the weeds of what makes the batteries good at different things, and explaining it like I'm 6 years old hahaha. As someone who's new to portable batteries I really appreciated how clear you made it :)
What a great video, you are so well informed and great at explaining. I'm researching lights for this camping season. I've had my yeti 200x for 3 years, works perfect for me.
enjoyed the video Brian, my wife bought me a 200 watt solar generator . we've used it to power up our internet modem during a power outage , they really are a great asset to have for many reasons.
Hey Brian. I have the Blueitti 500 watt Power station with a 300 watt inverter. I only use this for the same items that you mentioned. My RV has a solar system (190 watts of solar panels) and 2 onboard Lead acid batteries ( 170 amp hrs combined) that I use to power my furnace and 3 way fridge, a few led lights. I use the Blueitti for pretty much every chargeable devices I have. I do have a 22 inch TV/DVD player in the RV that does can run on 12 volt. I've only used it a few times but I can run this for 16 hours on the Blueitti as it only take 27 watts, that's with the DVD player running. I looked at the bigger units, Jackery 1000, Blueitti 2000 etc and I really don't have that kind of need for the units with that amount of watts. I'm also off grid about 80 to 90 percent of the time with never running out of power. I would encourage people to seat down and figure out what they would use it for honestly before buying something too big for your needs. Just my experience. I enjoyed your video on this. Easy to understand for the people not familiar with Solar Power Stations.
Granted I am viewing this video roughly two years later (6/30/2024), but you made the wish and Goal Zero delivered. 😀 They have a mid-summer sale on their website right now (20% off). Goal Zero YETI 300, $239 (usually $299), and it is now LiFePO₄ for the battery. Battery capacity is 296.96 Wh (25.6 V, 11.6 Ah). Figure I would mention it, but I am willing to bet you already knew this. 😉
Playing With Sticks brought up some good points about why they like having multiple smaller power stations: the ability to use one while charging the other, and the ability to use different units in different locations at the same time.
Experience in action! In the next couple weeks I hope to highlight some units that work well for a lot less money. You can actually achieve unlimited boondocking capability, even with high electrical needs, for a lot less money than huge camper batteries. With anything, there’s going to be advantages and disadvantages of each method. For me, multiple PPS is the way to go- and when the power goes out my house is set up using the same gear. Thanks for swinging by Mike!
Think you set the right level for me as although I’m not stupid, I’m wanting to get in but as I’m starting I’m struggling to make sense of every enough to try an actual choice of equipment. And no, I haven’t felt like you’ve patronised me. Thanks for the review. I’m going to see if you cover solar chargers not.
Thanks for bringing up the point no one else mentions like battery charge-cycles vs actual lifetime: its not the battery that fails on the high charge-cycles units, it is the supporting components, so on high charge-cycle units, a broken charger/cell balancer is still a broken power bank even if the battery is still good. As you stated though, the higher charge cycle units have other positive attributes. Just some supporting charge cycle math to put it into perspective for others: 500 charge cycles charging once a day every day for 1.3 years. 1000 charge cycles charging once a day every day for 2.6 years. 2500 charge cycles charging once a day every day for 6.8 years. EVERY DAY. 365 days a year. Year after year. How long will it last if it spends 80% of its life in the closet? Decades? How many of your old electronics still work today? Still use today? New technology. What will new power stations look like in the next year? Next 5years? (Think of how power stations have changed in the last 5 years.) Will you suffer from "Power Station Envy" when the Turbo 8000 Xtreeme comes out in in a couple year with advertised 8,000 WH and 10,000 charge cycles (27 years charged every day) 😳🤣
I really appreciate that you get it! A lot more people are going to understand this in a few years. I have used these systems daily for many years and have seen enough failures to draw data points. The other super important factor that gets overlooked is C rate. Those cycles are determined on a 1C rate. You are applying a load equal to the capacity of the battery to execute that test. So a 2000w Power Station is being subjected to a 2000 W load to complete a cycle life. Under real world loads, the charge cycles go up dramatically. So if you discharged the unit at a .2C rate, even if you did it to 0% daily, it wouldn’t sag for a few years. You can’t even do a 1C discharge on a lot of these units without taking them apart to work in cells individually. Great points! Thank you for contributing!
@@DIYOutdoorLife C rate! Good point. Really a regular deep cycle battery (various chemistries) system have better power, charging speed, amps, reparability, and longevity. However, the power stations have the portability, easy implementation, and ease of use. I thought they were were filling two different jobs, but the lines are now blurred. Still, for me, I can now see the advantage of a small power station or two with my regular battery system. Thanks!
This is the video I needed to watch. 👏 I have a question, if you don't mind. I live in my car full time, currently using a secondary AGM battery in my car with an isolator, and of course, an inverter. I had three weeks of -38 C here in Canada, and it held up great. However, the inverter is not pure sine, and this limites how long it will power my laptop without the engine running to feed the batteries. I like the 200x, but my concern with buying a portable is the winter's. Any thoughts ?
They’re very easy to keep warm. It will work is very cold weather and not let you charge it if it’s too cold. If you insulate the unit, it will stay warm enough to charge. Since it’s so small, sometimes I heat it up on the dashboard with the defroster on and then it charges all day.
This is a good video, to be sure. The instructional aspects of it are dead on, and you have dealt with the "better chemistry" issue better than anyone I have seen. However, we'll have to disagree on the relative value of Goal Zero products, as I believe that in today's market, with current options available, they are overpriced. GZ200x=$300; Jackery 240=$200 with additional 40wh (Amazon prices). As an analogy, most people do not need the large SUVs/pickups they buy for 90% of their driving; a Corolla or Civic is the better choice in most circumstances. Most people will not need the "premium" features of the Goal Zero; they WILL need more watt hours. Compromises!! My personal recommendation is never buy smaller than 500wh anyway, because you need to keep some reserve energy available for times when you can't readily get any way to re-charge your power station. Because I use a CPAP machine, my personal minimum is 1000wh. Half of that is used nightly to get 8 hours of sleep running my CPAP via DC with humidifier (which is not absolutely necessary, but far more comfortable for sleeping). Enjoy your coffee!
I think you’re spot on. When I was editing the video, I realized it looks like I threw up when I said how much it cost…😂 I tried to give some good options for people in the video description to match their needs. I have a video coming up on a PPS that is $350 for 600wh and it stacks up! Thanks for swinging by and double thank you for supporting the channel 🙏🏻
As always, another great video Brian….. however, Ripple is the star of your channel (no offense), so if you wanna keep things at the high level we’re used to, Ripple has to make the compulsory appearance!😜
We usually take a couple Ebikes with us when we camp. I’ve got a Bluetti 500wh that looks after the fridge but was thinking about buying a 2000wh battery to look after the bikes. One bike is 500wh and the other is 630wh so we’d probably cycle through the battery a couple times on a trip with a 2000wh portable unit. What battery chemistry would u recommend in this situation? I could use the Tesla to charge the bikes but would prefer to use another source. Cheers
I would stick with bluetti, they make a great system and you may already have components that can be used with it. It will be heavy, but it doesn’t seem like you would have to move it much. How much for additional batteries for the bike?
@@DIYOutdoorLife Probably around $1000 each. I’d be nice to have extra battery capacity for other things besides the bikes so I think another power station is the answer.
Wow… you’re not kidding! The portable power station will obviously give you a lot more versatility and some solar charging options. I’ll stick with the recommendation for a large bluetti, I think you’d be best off. If you want to take on a small project, get a large lifepo4 battery, inverter and changer and assemble your own solar generator. Might be an option to get something very high-quality for less. I’d love to hear how you make out, I’m shopping for ebikes myself.
I think you are missing the point of the "lightweight" battery choice. Such would be such a luxury for those on a motorbike, or bikepacking, who should want some charging or camp lighting ability... whereas for them a heavier unit could be a deal breaker. Being a 4-wheel traveler, I would think for your "100 watt" loads you should just haul one of the larger portable power stations, that do not seem to cause any concern to you when placed under higher draw demands... Otherwise, thanks for the info, regarding wether or not I could consider this a reliable and quality product, for device charging and camp lighting, while moto camping
Now I'm at a cross roads. I want to live off the grid in my SUV and travel till I'm dead. I bought the 200 and an iceco jp40. Was gonna buy the nomad 50 for when I'm stationary. Not sure what will be best for the long haul. You give me much to consider.
Going totally off grid usually requires redundancy and a little overkill on how you build out. You will find weather, site conditions and other circumstances have you lean harder on gear. I would see how the smaller equipment performs but consider going as big as you can afford. My fridge, for instance, uses a 500w station and 100w solar. Overkill 9 out of 10 times but never has issues keeping up. Thanks for tuning in, good luck!
@@DIYOutdoorLife got a question boss. Watched your video for a 3rd time and always learning something new. Can I charge the 200x with the 60w pd while plugging it into the wall as well. Therefore decreasing the charge time?
Hey thanks for the in depth review. I just ordered one of these today. I planned on using it to charge phones, head lamps & lanterns but I was curious if you think it would be enough to power a mattress pump that uses a cars cigarette lighter outlet.
I own one and like it, but it does not stack up against the little EcoFlow River 2. Currently, the EF unit is on sale for less money and I like it a lot more (same size) amzn.to/3v2LbW4
I bought 2 of these. No one will ship to Hawaii so I had to take advantage of a one time sale at full price from my local City Mill hardware store. If my power goes out I need to keep my bunny rabbit alive with a small fan. Goal Zero recommends 50 watt solar panels. Can I use 100 watts or will it overload the battery while charging?
It’s a quiet power station for sure, I don’t know the exact decibel rating. If you are using the PD or the inverter you will hear the fan pick up but it’s not as annoying as some of the other ones I use.
Great Video!! I am looking for power for busking (playing music out on the street). I want to power fx pedals which a typically 9V and 250mA. Gee.... I'm not sure if an inverter would mess up the audio?
I need a smallest possible one to run my Dometic CTX45 fridge for no more than 10 hours. I just want to keep my fridge powered when I'm out in the field. I have a Yeti 1000X but it's expensive and big to leave in the truck. Thoughts on this since I already have all the cables and a Nomad 100.
Hello, I am owner of a Yeti 200X. I've bought it 2 years ago and i use it every day. I charge it only from a solar panel GZ boulder 100 solar panel. I would like to make a report about this product to balance a bit all positive comments. Let's start by the most important problem i have got with it now : i call it "ghost use of battery". When i go to bed, the Yeti 200X is fully charged. When i wake up, the power station is only 75% or 80% charged... A loss of 20% in one night !!!! Why ???? No switch is on, nothing is pluggled in... Then, the second problem after 2 years of use : I've tried 2 or 3 times to charge it from the plug. The Yeti starts its charge then, but after 15 minutes, the fan begins to blow, then the red warning light turns on, even if the Yeti is absolutely cold !!! Another mystery !!! I want to be clear, i use this GZ Yeti 200X every day, only for charging 2 mobiles, a DJI pocket, 3 external powerbanks and i plug in led lights are plugged when there is power outages on evening... Not reliable, not long lasting
That’s a bummer… it’s a lot of money for it to lose its reliability, did you call GZ? I have 2 and have never had a single issue. Maybe theyll be able to help with a restart?
@@DIYOutdoorLife Thank you for your answer. I've contacted GZ by email. i cannot call them from Thailand. Now, waiting for an answer.......... The Thai reseller is just a box pusher. Actually, this is another problem about GZ: they sell everywhere but maintenance and accessories is not everywhere :(
@@DIYOutdoorLife Next episode of the Yeti 200x issue saga... GZ head office customer support answered me by email after 3 days. OMG !!! I was so happy. ;) So, they suggested me to do this : "Thank you for sending all that information over. You can try to reset the Yeti 200x by holding down the ‘12V’ and ‘AC’ port buttons together for 8-10 seconds and see if that will reset your unit. Depending on when you purchased it. I would suggest to take it back to your dealer and see if they cans set up a replacement for you. " Of course, the RESET solution does not work at all... As i am a bit stubborn, i contacted them again to ask for help. Here is their beautiful commercial answer : "I really advice seeing if you can take it back to where you originally purchased it from to see if they would be able to do a replacement or a refund done for you." As the local reseller does not answer my emails, i contacted GZ Head Office again to get some help from them about reseller. They answered me this "When did you purchase the Yeti 200x? Depending on that was I may be able to help you out." Actually, i was not hoping for any guarantee after 2 years. I just wanted to know the process to get my Yeti 200 repaired... Until now, i am still searching a solution to repair this... stuff My conclusion about GZ, based on my experience is : 1) The product is not long lasting nor reliable 2) Customer support is not efficient and getting repaired is quite impossible 3) Accessories are impossible to find if you live far from USA 4) Actually, this US brand is really a "Made in China" product
I realize that following question is like comparing apples to ranges. Do you have any experience with or any opinions about the Lion Energy Safari LT? Any input would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
@@DIYOutdoorLife same here. what is sadly missing from the lineup right now is the in-between space..... in that 1000-2000Wh range. goal zero has 300-700, and the pro 4000. what would have me sold is if they finally come out with a 1000-1500 lithium phosphate model. but will it be compatible with the pro tanks is another question. i hope the pro 4000 isn't the only model that is. i would like a lighter weight version that is more grab-n-go capable than the 100lbs pro 4000, yet is still able to be connected to tanks
It used to be the best, hands down. I have heard a lot of complaints since the pandemic started and the business changed hands. I hope that improves.... Thanks for swinging by and contributing.
Great video, I really appreciate your understandable explanation of this cool little device I bought 2 days ago. As I write this I'm waaaay out in the Pawnee National Grasslands with my phone, laptop, and headlamp all charging on it now, and the Boulder 100 briefcase solar setup is keeping the 200x totally topped up while charging all my devices. Infinite power, yay! I actually had a great experience with their customer service the day I bought it, so I hope they continue that trend if anything ever goes wrong with it.
I have seen the Yoshino, I do have some experience with solid state and semi solid. This appears to be a worthwhile advancement, it's safe, long, lasting, and performs just as well as the other sub chemistries. Solid-state technology is definitely a great option to consider.
@@DIYOutdoorLife, thanks for your thoughts. I am trying to decide between the 600 and 2000. I probably only need the 600 for my camper, but a 2000 could be a real help at home in a power outage, which we seem to have now and then.
The Goal Zero Pro 4000 lithium phosphate weights 100 lbs.....the same weight as the 6000X. Just goes to show the weight difference between the two chemistries
@@DIYOutdoorLife Yep. Goal zero somehow made a 4000Wh lithium phosphate model, with an aluminum chassis, weight less than competitor's (ie bluetti and jackery) power stations which have fewer Wh. i watched the full goal zero unveiling video event. goal zero says they went with top tier suppliers for the design of their cell structure. probably use superior components while minimizing weight. hence the substantially higher price than the competition (which is fine, goal zero you get what you pay for)
Everyone knocks Goal Zero for still using lithium ion. Quite frankly, I bet the Goal Zero X Yetis will outlast all of the lithium phosphate bluetti and ecoflows. If I had to depend one on brand's products off the grid, it would be goal zero
We spoke about solar charging quite a bit, with charge times and a variety of panels covered. Do you have a specific question? Solar panels simply plug into this unit. It has a 22v and 100 watt limit. There’s thousands of different types of panel in this size that will either plug in directly or need an adapter. You’re looking for 8mm barrel output on panel that is standard on goal zero, Jackery, Dokio, and many other brands. Mc4 outputs will require mc4 to 8mm adapter. Hope this helps, sorry for missing what you were looking for.
@@DIYOutdoorLife I wanted to see the plug required. Is there a standardized plug? Is it two leads you put into screw terminals. Can any panel be used to charge this?
@@7thrx Sorry about that. This has an 8mm barrel input, It's a single plug. It can handle up to 100 watt panel. There are 1000's of options on that market that have this plug, goal zero and jackery being the most straight forward. ANY 100w or smaller solar panel made for a 12v system (most) can be plugged into this for charging. If it comes with a different plug, you can get the adapter. The most common plug for solar panels is called mc4, it has two plugs, a + and a -. There's and inexpensive adapter to convert mc4 to 8mm barrel. If you don't own a panel already, purchase one with a 8mm barrel end (jackery, goal zero, oupes, dokio, and many more). I would be happy to shoot a short video on the plug and email it to you, let me know if that would help. I could also post links to panels that will work. It's as simple as plugging the panel in and pointing towards the sun.
I don't think I agree with any part of that, but I appreciate you watching. A car battery with an inverter is certainly not easier or more reliable. Since this has a built-in wall charger, solar charger, USBs, power delivery port, battery monitor etc etc etc... it's probably cheaper as well.
Great detailed review. I've bought over 25 of the Goal Zero lights over the past six years (previous generation), and have them permanently installed in two hunt cabins, three off grid cottages, and in my ice fishing shack up here in the Canadian north country. They sip power, give off wonderful light, and are rugged and reliable.
For my applications, they have been worth every penny I paid for them over the years. I use them with now "vintage GZ Yeti 400 and Yeti 15O AGM battery power packs due to the fact that all the buildings I use them in are not heated most of the year. All are solar powered via Renogy solar panels, and the Yeti 400's have multiple cascaded batteries.
You're the first GZ reviewer to highlight the real benefit that GZ's lights provide - what I call a real added value. Keep the great reviews coming!
We're cut from the same cloth! I use my phone as a mobile light switch with the newer units, the app controls the yeti from bluetooth...we're spoiled. Really great input with the older AGM yetis and wider temp tolerances, I see a ton of people over looking that. I knew I'm not the only one using batteries in the cold...lol
With the LiNMC units, I place them in an old cooler and throw a heated hot water bottle in with them. I still rely on AGMs a lot in the winter but the cooler hack has been a good addition.
Thanks for watching and contributing!
@@DIYOutdoorLife Your cooler trick is a great idea. I live on the shores of Lake of the Woods, Ontario (just 30 minutes north of Baudette, MN), we regularly get winter temps in the -40C / -40F range, so I'll be sticking with AGM's in my recreational properties for now. The ice fishing up here is super hot right now, which makes up for the cold temps!
I really appreciated how simple you spelled everything out, It seriously helps those of us who are new to this :)
Thank you for supporting the channel, your help is appreciated!
The Light A LIfe 350s are amazing. REI had a clearance sale on them several months ago for $23 a pop. I bought the max 15. They are insanely useful.
What an awesome score, I would've bought the max as well!
He's right, my 200x gets to stay in a tent Oct.- April and then sits in a pole barn all summer no ac/hv.
It runs a iceco 47 vl for 30 + hours, this little guy gets abused. Mostly charged from solar level the 60w and have the light tent light.
Good job!!!
Nice! Great to hear that it’s going strong for you too!
Wow what a great and in-depth review. A few years ago I bought a Yeti 150, the predecessor to the 200. Aside from a lack of USB-C ports and using a lead acid battery it's nearly identical to the 200 reviewed here. I like it because it does what I need and doesn't take up much space. I charge it up before a camping trip and it recharges my phone, the batteries for my camera and any other batteries I need. I'm seriously pondering buying a 12 volt fan to create a nice breeze in the tent on those hot humid nights. I've never run out of power yet on the 3-4 day campouts I do.
I bought mine from REI when they had a 20% off sale. I think that's the key to getting anything from Goal Zero. They're pricey, but as long as you don't need it RIGHT NOW, if you can wait for a sale you get a quality product for a more reasonable price. If my beloved 150 tanked I would have no qualms getting a Yeti 200 as a replacement.
As I’m sure you are aware, they are running one of those sales right now. I love those 20% off events but they always get me to spend $$$… lol
just found you today...Love love love your Authenticity! 🌟
That makes my day! I hope you check out our past content on the channel. Thank you 😀
Man..I don’t even need this but want one because of your in depth and comprehensive review!
Haha… be careful, they get addicting 😂
Thank you so much for getting into the weeds of what makes the batteries good at different things, and explaining it like I'm 6 years old hahaha. As someone who's new to portable batteries I really appreciated how clear you made it :)
Thank you for watching, I’m glad that the video was helpful. -Brian
What a great video, you are so well informed and great at explaining. I'm researching lights for this camping season. I've had my yeti 200x for 3 years, works perfect for me.
Thank you for the kind words, it's been a great system, Im happy you like it as well!
enjoyed the video Brian, my wife bought me a 200 watt solar generator . we've used it to power up our internet modem during a power outage , they really are a great asset to have for many reasons.
Wow, nice gift! I love the versatility, it adds to the value. I use it camping and at home. Thanks for watching.
Hey Brian. I have the Blueitti 500 watt Power station with a 300 watt inverter. I only use this for the same items that you mentioned. My RV has a solar system (190 watts of solar panels) and 2 onboard Lead acid batteries ( 170 amp hrs combined) that I use to power my furnace and 3 way fridge, a few led lights. I use the Blueitti for pretty much every chargeable devices I have. I do have a 22 inch TV/DVD player in the RV that does can run on 12 volt. I've only used it a few times but I can run this for 16 hours on the Blueitti as it only take 27 watts, that's with the DVD player running. I looked at the bigger units, Jackery 1000, Blueitti 2000 etc and I really don't have that kind of need for the units with that amount of watts. I'm also off grid about 80 to 90 percent of the time with never running out of power. I would encourage people to seat down and figure out what they would use it for honestly before buying something too big for your needs. Just my experience. I enjoyed your video on this. Easy to understand for the people not familiar with Solar Power Stations.
That's a great system. These power stations are changing the game, great advice Really happy you swung by and contributed. Thanks for watching!
Super informative without putting me to sleep!😂 thanks for the help!!! Keep up the good work!
Thank you, appreciate you tuning in!
Granted I am viewing this video roughly two years later (6/30/2024), but you made the wish and Goal Zero delivered. 😀 They have a mid-summer sale on their website right now (20% off). Goal Zero YETI 300, $239 (usually $299), and it is now LiFePO₄ for the battery. Battery capacity is 296.96 Wh (25.6 V, 11.6 Ah). Figure I would mention it, but I am willing to bet you already knew this. 😉
Yes, I love it! They really kept the build quality and upped the features A+
@@DIYOutdoorLife Awesome, well, ignore the email I sent you then. 😀
wow, this is the best review out of so many. thank you thank you!
That's kind, thank you!
Lotta other stuff to check out on the channel if you get bored...lol
Playing With Sticks brought up some good points about why they like having multiple smaller power stations: the ability to use one while charging the other, and the ability to use different units in different locations at the same time.
Experience in action! In the next couple weeks I hope to highlight some units that work well for a lot less money. You can actually achieve unlimited boondocking capability, even with high electrical needs, for a lot less money than huge camper batteries.
With anything, there’s going to be advantages and disadvantages of each method. For me, multiple PPS is the way to go- and when the power goes out my house is set up using the same gear.
Thanks for swinging by Mike!
@@DIYOutdoorLife I look forward to your reviews!
Thanks for the review and the deeper explanation of how batteries work.
Thank you for watching!
Keep on keeping on. Very informative video.
Thank you, I appreciate that!
Think you set the right level for me as although I’m not stupid, I’m wanting to get in but as I’m starting I’m struggling to make sense of every enough to try an actual choice of equipment. And no, I haven’t felt like you’ve patronised me. Thanks for the review. I’m going to see if you cover solar chargers not.
Thank you for watching, I have a whole playlist all on solar!
Charge controller info in there.
Well done! Best info available for the GZ Yeti 200x. Thank you...
Thank you, I appreciate you tuning in!
Thank you for this video. Lot of good info and i love the deep dive.
Thanks for watching!
What an awesome review. Really appreciate it. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks man, super helpful.. much appreciate it!
Thank you for watching!
Lifts the unit with his pinky, talking about how light weight it is - Fails to mention he possess the strength of 10 men!
😂 coffee spit…lol
@@DIYOutdoorLife 😂
The best video ever Brian❤
Thank you so much, I appreciate you watching!
Thanks for bringing up the point no one else mentions like battery charge-cycles vs actual lifetime: its not the battery that fails on the high charge-cycles units, it is the supporting components, so on high charge-cycle units, a broken charger/cell balancer is still a broken power bank even if the battery is still good. As you stated though, the higher charge cycle units have other positive attributes.
Just some supporting charge cycle math to put it into perspective for others:
500 charge cycles charging once a day every day for 1.3 years.
1000 charge cycles charging once a day every day for 2.6 years.
2500 charge cycles charging once a day every day for 6.8 years.
EVERY DAY. 365 days a year. Year after year.
How long will it last if it spends 80% of its life in the closet? Decades? How many of your old electronics still work today? Still use today?
New technology. What will new power stations look like in the next year? Next 5years? (Think of how power stations have changed in the last 5 years.) Will you suffer from "Power Station Envy" when the Turbo 8000 Xtreeme comes out in in a couple year with advertised 8,000 WH and 10,000 charge cycles (27 years charged every day) 😳🤣
I really appreciate that you get it! A lot more people are going to understand this in a few years. I have used these systems daily for many years and have seen enough failures to draw data points.
The other super important factor that gets overlooked is C rate. Those cycles are determined on a 1C rate. You are applying a load equal to the capacity of the battery to execute that test. So a 2000w Power Station is being subjected to a 2000 W load to complete a cycle life. Under real world loads, the charge cycles go up dramatically. So if you discharged the unit at a .2C rate, even if you did it to 0% daily, it wouldn’t sag for a few years. You can’t even do a 1C discharge on a lot of these units without taking them apart to work in cells individually.
Great points! Thank you for contributing!
@@DIYOutdoorLife C rate! Good point.
Really a regular deep cycle battery (various chemistries) system have better power, charging speed, amps, reparability, and longevity. However, the power stations have the portability, easy implementation, and ease of use. I thought they were were filling two different jobs, but the lines are now blurred. Still, for me, I can now see the advantage of a small power station or two with my regular battery system. Thanks!
Goal Zero just came out with the Yeti Pro 4000, a lithium phosphate model. Q2 of 2024 they are redoing their entire lineup with lithium phosphate
I know, its what people want. Im still a fan of them making both.
This is the video I needed to watch. 👏 I have a question, if you don't mind. I live in my car full time, currently using a secondary AGM battery in my car with an isolator, and of course, an inverter. I had three weeks of -38 C here in Canada, and it held up great. However, the inverter is not pure sine, and this limites how long it will power my laptop without the engine running to feed the batteries. I like the 200x, but my concern with buying a portable is the winter's. Any thoughts ?
They’re very easy to keep warm. It will work is very cold weather and not let you charge it if it’s too cold. If you insulate the unit, it will stay warm enough to charge. Since it’s so small, sometimes I heat it up on the dashboard with the defroster on and then it charges all day.
This is a good video, to be sure. The instructional aspects of it are dead on, and you have dealt with the "better chemistry" issue better than anyone I have seen. However, we'll have to disagree on the relative value of Goal Zero products, as I believe that in today's market, with current options available, they are overpriced. GZ200x=$300; Jackery 240=$200 with additional 40wh (Amazon prices). As an analogy, most people do not need the large SUVs/pickups they buy for 90% of their driving; a Corolla or Civic is the better choice in most circumstances. Most people will not need the "premium" features of the Goal Zero; they WILL need more watt hours. Compromises!! My personal recommendation is never buy smaller than 500wh anyway, because you need to keep some reserve energy available for times when you can't readily get any way to re-charge your power station. Because I use a CPAP machine, my personal minimum is 1000wh. Half of that is used nightly to get 8 hours of sleep running my CPAP via DC with humidifier (which is not absolutely necessary, but far more comfortable for sleeping). Enjoy your coffee!
I think you’re spot on. When I was editing the video, I realized it looks like I threw up when I said how much it cost…😂
I tried to give some good options for people in the video description to match their needs. I have a video coming up on a PPS that is $350 for 600wh and it stacks up!
Thanks for swinging by and double thank you for supporting the channel 🙏🏻
@@DIYOutdoorLife $350 for 600wh - now we're talking! $0.58/wh is a sweet deal!
As always, another great video Brian….. however, Ripple is the star of your channel (no offense), so if you wanna keep things at the high level we’re used to, Ripple has to make the compulsory appearance!😜
😂 I know… her talent agent is demanding higher pay… 🐾
Thanks Craig 🐕🦺
We usually take a couple Ebikes with us when we camp. I’ve got a Bluetti 500wh that looks after the fridge but was thinking about buying a 2000wh battery to look after the bikes. One bike is 500wh and the other is 630wh so we’d probably cycle through the battery a couple times on a trip with a 2000wh portable unit. What battery chemistry would u recommend in this situation? I could use the Tesla to charge the bikes but would prefer to use another source. Cheers
I would stick with bluetti, they make a great system and you may already have components that can be used with it. It will be heavy, but it doesn’t seem like you would have to move it much.
How much for additional batteries for the bike?
@@DIYOutdoorLife Probably around $1000 each. I’d be nice to have extra battery capacity for other things besides the bikes so I think another power station is the answer.
Wow… you’re not kidding!
The portable power station will obviously give you a lot more versatility and some solar charging options. I’ll stick with the recommendation for a large bluetti, I think you’d be best off. If you want to take on a small project, get a large lifepo4 battery, inverter and changer and assemble your own solar generator.
Might be an option to get something very high-quality for less. I’d love to hear how you make out, I’m shopping for ebikes myself.
I think you are missing the point of the "lightweight" battery choice. Such would be such a luxury for those on a motorbike, or bikepacking, who should want some charging or camp lighting ability... whereas for them a heavier unit could be a deal breaker. Being a 4-wheel traveler, I would think for your "100 watt" loads you should just haul one of the larger portable power stations, that do not seem to cause any concern to you when placed under higher draw demands... Otherwise, thanks for the info, regarding wether or not I could consider this a reliable and quality product, for device charging and camp lighting, while moto camping
Thanks for watching!
@7:37 that reality hit was hilarious
😀
Now I'm at a cross roads. I want to live off the grid in my SUV and travel till I'm dead. I bought the 200 and an iceco jp40. Was gonna buy the nomad 50 for when I'm stationary. Not sure what will be best for the long haul. You give me much to consider.
Going totally off grid usually requires redundancy and a little overkill on how you build out. You will find weather, site conditions and other circumstances have you lean harder on gear. I would see how the smaller equipment performs but consider going as big as you can afford. My fridge, for instance, uses a 500w station and 100w solar. Overkill 9 out of 10 times but never has issues keeping up. Thanks for tuning in, good luck!
@@DIYOutdoorLife got a question boss. Watched your video for a 3rd time and always learning something new.
Can I charge the 200x with the 60w pd while plugging it into the wall as well. Therefore decreasing the charge time?
@@usmcdoc2512 yes you can...check this out
czcams.com/video/arSJPs0ykuQ/video.html
@@DIYOutdoorLife if I had 3 thumbs id give you 3 thumbs up
@@usmcdoc2512 haha- thanks!
Wow! Great instruction!!!
Thank you, I appreciate you watching!
Excellent. Thanks so much.
Thanks for watching!
Hey thanks for the in depth review. I just ordered one of these today. I planned on using it to charge phones, head lamps & lanterns but I was curious if you think it would be enough to power a mattress pump that uses a cars cigarette lighter outlet.
You’ll have no trouble doing that, that’s one of the uses for mine.
@@DIYOutdoorLife awesome! Thanks for your help and quick reply!
Thanks!
Thank you for your generous support of the channel!
What is your opinion of the BLUETTI EB3A for $198. Just as a handy little tool
I own one and like it, but it does not stack up against the little EcoFlow River 2. Currently, the EF unit is on sale for less money and I like it a lot more (same size)
amzn.to/3v2LbW4
Thanks Brian I will check that one out
@@gburnett9033 I have a review video on the channel, I think I even use the EBA in that video to compare
I bought 2 of these. No one will ship to Hawaii so I had to take advantage of a one time sale at full price from my local City Mill hardware store. If my power goes out I need to keep my bunny rabbit alive with a small fan. Goal Zero recommends 50 watt solar panels. Can I use 100 watts or will it overload the battery while charging?
100 watts is fine, that’s what I use.
What about the noise? How loud works the 200x versus bigger ones? Thank you for a short answer!
It’s a quiet power station for sure, I don’t know the exact decibel rating. If you are using the PD or the inverter you will hear the fan pick up but it’s not as annoying as some of the other ones I use.
Great Video!! I am looking for power for busking (playing music out on the street). I want to power fx pedals which a typically 9V and 250mA. Gee.... I'm not sure if an inverter would mess up the audio?
It depends, it can be hit or miss. It should be fine for your pedal but sometimes it will buzz if you plug amplifiers into inverters.
I need a smallest possible one to run my Dometic CTX45 fridge for no more than 10 hours. I just want to keep my fridge powered when I'm out in the field. I have a Yeti 1000X but it's expensive and big to leave in the truck. Thoughts on this since I already have all the cables and a Nomad 100.
This would do it
Hello, I am owner of a Yeti 200X. I've bought it 2 years ago and i use it every day. I charge it only from a solar panel GZ boulder 100 solar panel. I would like to make a report about this product to balance a bit all positive comments.
Let's start by the most important problem i have got with it now : i call it "ghost use of battery". When i go to bed, the Yeti 200X is fully charged. When i wake up, the power station is only 75% or 80% charged... A loss of 20% in one night !!!! Why ???? No switch is on, nothing is pluggled in...
Then, the second problem after 2 years of use : I've tried 2 or 3 times to charge it from the plug. The Yeti starts its charge then, but after 15 minutes, the fan begins to blow, then the red warning light turns on, even if the Yeti is absolutely cold !!! Another mystery !!!
I want to be clear, i use this GZ Yeti 200X every day, only for charging 2 mobiles, a DJI pocket, 3 external powerbanks and i plug in led lights are plugged when there is power outages on evening...
Not reliable, not long lasting
That’s a bummer… it’s a lot of money for it to lose its reliability, did you call GZ? I have 2 and have never had a single issue. Maybe theyll be able to help with a restart?
@@DIYOutdoorLife Thank you for your answer. I've contacted GZ by email. i cannot call them from Thailand. Now, waiting for an answer..........
The Thai reseller is just a box pusher. Actually, this is another problem about GZ: they sell everywhere but maintenance and accessories is not everywhere :(
@@DIYOutdoorLife Next episode of the Yeti 200x issue saga...
GZ head office customer support answered me by email after 3 days. OMG !!! I was so happy. ;)
So, they suggested me to do this : "Thank you for sending all that information over. You can try to reset the Yeti 200x by holding down the ‘12V’ and ‘AC’ port buttons together for 8-10 seconds and see if that will reset your unit. Depending on when you purchased it. I would suggest to take it back to your dealer and see if they cans set up a replacement for you. "
Of course, the RESET solution does not work at all... As i am a bit stubborn, i contacted them again to ask for help. Here is their beautiful commercial answer : "I really advice seeing if you can take it back to where you originally purchased it from to see if they would be able to do a replacement or a refund done for you."
As the local reseller does not answer my emails, i contacted GZ Head Office again to get some help from them about reseller. They answered me this "When did you purchase the Yeti 200x? Depending on that was I may be able to help you out." Actually, i was not hoping for any guarantee after 2 years. I just wanted to know the process to get my Yeti 200 repaired...
Until now, i am still searching a solution to repair this... stuff
My conclusion about GZ, based on my experience is :
1) The product is not long lasting nor reliable
2) Customer support is not efficient and getting repaired is quite impossible
3) Accessories are impossible to find if you live far from USA
4) Actually, this US brand is really a "Made in China" product
I realize that following question is like comparing apples to ranges. Do you have any experience with or any opinions about the Lion Energy Safari LT? Any input would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
It’s a great system. I have had a lot of success with Lion Energy products and think they’re a great buy.
Goal Zero is rolling out Yeti 300, 500, and 700 in lithium phosphate in less than 2 weeks
I've been all over it, I'm on the mailing lists! I'm gonna run out of money if I keep collecting power stations lol
@@DIYOutdoorLife same here. what is sadly missing from the lineup right now is the in-between space..... in that 1000-2000Wh range. goal zero has 300-700, and the pro 4000. what would have me sold is if they finally come out with a 1000-1500 lithium phosphate model. but will it be compatible with the pro tanks is another question. i hope the pro 4000 isn't the only model that is. i would like a lighter weight version that is more grab-n-go capable than the 100lbs pro 4000, yet is still able to be connected to tanks
@@jgg204 i'm with you, I have high hopes 😉
Goal zero has some great stuff but I have found when I have had an issue their customer service has not been the best
It used to be the best, hands down. I have heard a lot of complaints since the pandemic started and the business changed hands. I hope that improves.... Thanks for swinging by and contributing.
same experience, such bad customer support.
Great video, I really appreciate your understandable explanation of this cool little device I bought 2 days ago. As I write this I'm waaaay out in the Pawnee National Grasslands with my phone, laptop, and headlamp all charging on it now, and the Boulder 100 briefcase solar setup is keeping the 200x totally topped up while charging all my devices. Infinite power, yay!
I actually had a great experience with their customer service the day I bought it, so I hope they continue that trend if anything ever goes wrong with it.
Have you had any experience with Yoshino and solid state technology?
I have seen the Yoshino, I do have some experience with solid state and semi solid.
This appears to be a worthwhile advancement, it's safe, long, lasting, and performs just as well as the other sub chemistries. Solid-state technology is definitely a great option to consider.
@@DIYOutdoorLife, thanks for your thoughts. I am trying to decide between the 600 and 2000. I probably only need the 600 for my camper, but a 2000 could be a real help at home in a power outage, which we seem to have now and then.
@@cherylbarrett3443the big one will be heavy but wow, its nice to have that runtime
The Goal Zero Pro 4000 lithium phosphate weights 100 lbs.....the same weight as the 6000X. Just goes to show the weight difference between the two chemistries
Exactly. Theyre also advertising the 4000 as being lighter than the competitors lifepo set us at that weight
@@DIYOutdoorLife Yep. Goal zero somehow made a 4000Wh lithium phosphate model, with an aluminum chassis, weight less than competitor's (ie bluetti and jackery) power stations which have fewer Wh. i watched the full goal zero unveiling video event. goal zero says they went with top tier suppliers for the design of their cell structure. probably use superior components while minimizing weight. hence the substantially higher price than the competition (which is fine, goal zero you get what you pay for)
I want to power my portable digital piano for 3-6 hours
120V 15W
Will the 200x work?
This is a better option for less money. The inverter is better for what youre doing.
amzn.to/43uYytd
The best thing about it being smaller is that it is faster to solar charge 😉
👍
Everyone knocks Goal Zero for still using lithium ion. Quite frankly, I bet the Goal Zero X Yetis will outlast all of the lithium phosphate bluetti and ecoflows. If I had to depend one on brand's products off the grid, it would be goal zero
It was excellent marketing. 99.9999 will never cycle those batteries out, I agree.
Can other solar panel brands adapt to the goal zero?
Yes, very easy to adapt.
Thank you.
Can you link 2 of these small units together?
No, there’s some models on the market that can but they’re usually bigger
Something was up with the audio - very quiet - ads came on at 4x the speaking volume.
I know… sorry. I’m getting better at matching the volume of the obnoxious ads..lol
thanks for watching
Can it be charged in the car with only the usb
Yes, get a 12v cigarette plug to USB-C and it will charge. They also sell a car charger that is faster than usb-c.
All that and nothing about how solar panels connect to them?
We spoke about solar charging quite a bit, with charge times and a variety of panels covered.
Do you have a specific question?
Solar panels simply plug into this unit. It has a 22v and 100 watt limit. There’s thousands of different types of panel in this size that will either plug in directly or need an adapter. You’re looking for 8mm barrel output on panel that is standard on goal zero, Jackery, Dokio, and many other brands. Mc4 outputs will require mc4 to 8mm adapter.
Hope this helps, sorry for missing what you were looking for.
@@DIYOutdoorLife I wanted to see the plug required. Is there a standardized plug? Is it two leads you put into screw terminals. Can any panel be used to charge this?
@@7thrx Sorry about that. This has an 8mm barrel input, It's a single plug. It can handle up to 100 watt panel. There are 1000's of options on that market that have this plug, goal zero and jackery being the most straight forward. ANY 100w or smaller solar panel made for a 12v system (most) can be plugged into this for charging. If it comes with a different plug, you can get the adapter. The most common plug for solar panels is called mc4, it has two plugs, a + and a -. There's and inexpensive adapter to convert mc4 to 8mm barrel. If you don't own a panel already, purchase one with a 8mm barrel end (jackery, goal zero, oupes, dokio, and many more).
I would be happy to shoot a short video on the plug and email it to you, let me know if that would help. I could also post links to panels that will work. It's as simple as plugging the panel in and pointing towards the sun.
First
I guess you win sometimes?
@@DIYOutdoorLife something about a broken clock 2x a day
lol
Like gun owners say. The right tool for the job!
This would be like a 22short... lol
car battery and 200W AC inverter is easier, cheaper and more reliable.
I don't think I agree with any part of that, but I appreciate you watching. A car battery with an inverter is certainly not easier or more reliable. Since this has a built-in wall charger, solar charger, USBs, power delivery port, battery monitor etc etc etc... it's probably cheaper as well.
Costs Way Too much!!
Sure does!