Goal Zero Nomad 13.5 Vehicle Battery Charging Setup

[cactusjk]

I am interested in using a Goal Zero 13.5 solar panel to keep my Optima Yellow Top secondary batt topped off when stopped at camp. I would like to still use my Battery Tender charger but am open to suggestions on how to set this up.

[teotwaki]

I am interested in using a Goal Zero 13.5 solar panel to keep my Optima Yellow Top secondary batt topped off when stopped at camp. I would like to still use my Battery Tender charger but am open to suggestions on how to set this up.

Is a 13.5 Watt panel enough? Basically while in camp your battery is already fully charged and there will be no drain on it?

[wrcsixeight]

Define "stopped at camp".

A 13.5 watt panel, when moved 4 times per sunny day to face directly into bright sunlight might be able to return 8 amp hours daily into a battery.

Your Optima probably has about 64 amp hours total.

A regular head unit stereo will consume ~1.2 amps per hour at 1/5 maximum volume.

[cactusjk]

ARB fridge on and parked for 2 days.



Define "stopped at camp".

A 13.5 watt panel, when moved 4 times per sunny day to face directly into bright sunlight might be able to return 8 amp hours daily into a battery.

Your Optima probably has about 64 amp hours total.

A regular head unit stereo will consume ~1.2 amps per hour at 1/5 maximum volume.

[wrcsixeight]

That solar panel is insufficient by a factor of at least 4,

Others here claim a 60 watt panel will be needed to indefinitely run a Fridge on battery power.

That tiny panel might allow the Optima to power the ARB for 2 days assuming it is a healthy battery and was fully charged and the panel re oriented many times each sunny day.

Would not be good for the battery though.

[teotwaki]

ARB fridge on and parked for 2 days.

I hate to say search but... there are many threads on the topic and the answer is always the same: basically you do need a panel in the 55 to 65 Watt range. I think we recently had a discussion about it in Hilldweller's thread.

A good controller can make a difference too. Are you limited by budget for this project? If so, just keep saving money towards a good setup and in the mean time just run the rig often enough to charge the battery.

[cruiseroutfit]

I spent some time talking solar panels with a rep from Goal Zero at a outdoor expo here in SLC last weekend, a seemingly great product with some neat applications. Hiking, backpacking, emergency preparedness, hunting, fishing, etc all come to mind but I don't gather they have much application nor do they imply much application for vehicle based travel. Now I realize there is a fundamental difference between a user that moves on a daily basis or at least a few days a week and someone that sets up base camp in the same location for 3+ days. But as has been eluded to if your really interested in solar powering 12V accessories normally tasked to your vehicles charging system (ie fridges, high draw lights, stereos, etc) then you'll need far more wattage and surface area than a smaller panel can accommodate. For my travel routine, its rare that we are parked for more than 2-3 days and my single batter covers those needs including 24 hour fridge use (cycling as needed) and a low draw LED light at night. Worst case I have an isolated (when key off) 2nd battery that will reliable protect my start abilities. So while it is a total tangent from solar recommendations I would urge you to investigate a quality dual battery system before you opt for an arguably more troublesome and time consuming option ie solar.

I'm planning a Utah converse moto trip that will have us on the dirt for ~900 miles across some of the most remotes areas of Utah. My bike has lights but not enough power to readily run even some small accessories ie a phone charger, GPS & aprs tracking system simultaneously. It can handle some but not all... here is a seemingly appropriate application for the smaller Brunton/Goal Zero type solar kits. If I could reliably charge my GPS batteries during the downtime, or possibly capture some light during the day?

[cactusjk]

Appreciate the replies. I have looked at the other threads on ARB power requirements. Basically I wanted to know if this 13.5 watt panel with an appropriate controller would 'extend" my available secondary battery time. I fully understand it is not the complete solution but if you had this panel at least you could expand its uses beyond just small electronics.

[Jnich77]

Appreciate the replies. I have looked at the other threads on ARB power requirements. Basically I wanted to know if this 13.5 watt panel with an appropriate controller would 'extend" my available secondary battery time. I fully understand it is not the complete solution but if you had this panel at least you could expand its uses beyond just small electronics.

I am kinda in the same boat... don't need to indefinitely runt he fridge off solar, just trying keep the battery charged when my trailer is parked and help add a little to the battery life while its being used.

[chet]

of course it will extand your stay anything that adds juice back to your battery will HELP. But for the price I would buy something larger.

[Herbie]

Appreciate the replies. I have looked at the other threads on ARB power requirements. Basically I wanted to know if this 13.5 watt panel with an appropriate controller would 'extend" my available secondary battery time. I fully understand it is not the complete solution but if you had this panel at least you could expand its uses beyond just small electronics.

wrcsixeight did the math for you, that panel will net you ~8 AH under optimal conditions. Depending on temperature differential, your ARB will pull something like 1-2A per hour, so that panel MIGHT buy you as much as 8 additional hours. Under less optimal conditions, it might buy you a couple of hours.

You need a bigger panel.

[expdtnoffroad]

I am interested in using a Goal Zero 13.5 solar panel to keep my Optima Yellow Top secondary batt topped off when stopped at camp. I would like to still use my Battery Tender charger but am open to suggestions on how to set this up.

Cactusjk a possible solution for you would be to utilize a a Goal Zero Extreme 350 Power Pack if you were wanting to power something like an ARB fridge and keep it off your vehicles power system. An ARB fridge draws 0.87 amp/hr which is fairly low. You would be able to run your fridge for at least 30 hours on the Extreme 350 (350 watt-hour). If you added a panel like the Boulder 30M Panel you would really be able to offset the draw in good sun conditions. You could also recharge the 350 on your vehicles power system when you start traveling again.
55038


I'm planning a Utah converse moto trip that will have us on the dirt for ~900 miles across some of the most remotes areas of Utah. My bike has lights but not enough power to readily run even some small accessories ie a phone charger, GPS & aprs tracking system simultaneously. It can handle some but not all... here is a seemingly appropriate application for the smaller Brunton/Goal Zero type solar kits. If I could reliably charge my GPS batteries during the downtime, or possibly capture some light during the day?

Kurt I would recommend the Nomad 7 / Guide 10 combo with a few extra rechargeable batteries on the side. You could strap this to a backpack and take care of you phone, GPS, and PLB tracking needs easily.

55039

If anyone needs any more specifics on solar gear please let us know. We are an authorized dealer for Goal Zero and Brunton. We have great relations with both companies and know their products very well.

[lostworldexpedition]

I am interested in using a Goal Zero 13.5 solar panel to keep my Optima Yellow Top secondary batt topped off when stopped at camp. I would like to still use my Battery Tender charger but am open to suggestions on how to set this up.

I would trust anything that wrcsixeight has to say about auto electrical... you can also count on the folks at Adventure Trailers for help.

My 2 cents... A battery charger is definitely a good idea, that way you can keep the battery topped off when an outlet is available. I would consider a marine charger permanently mounted in the engine bay. I would also recommend a battery management system such as the one sold by Equipt/National Luna, if I were in the U.S. I would get it to replace my current manual set-up.

Furthermore I would say that if you are looking to keep your house battery topped off and part of your equipment includes a 12v fridge: forget about the 13.5. We have an 80 watt panel and in some conditions it is not enough, I would encourage you to spend the money on a decent 60 to 90 watt panel and charge controller.

[expdtnoffroad]

Lostworlexpedition makes a really good point about the National Luna dual battery system being the way to go. The permanent mount marine charger is also a fantastic idea!

The Nomad 13.5 is really designed for mid-duty electronic usage. Coupled with the Sherpa 50 and the Sherpa UI you are looking at a power system that would be great for running a laptop for a couple (1-2) hours between charges (100 watt output with the UI). The Sherpa 50 is a 50 watt-hour unit. It charges off the Nomad 13.5 in 6 or so hours. Think small to mid-sized portable electronics. Cell phone, sat phone, iPod, iPad, small laptop, etc.

[cactusjk]

How can you tell if the guide 10 is charging if the battery is full and the switch is in the off position?

Also, can you charge the guide 10 pack with an AC mini USB power adapter?

There are no guide 10 power pack instructions!





Cactusjk a possible solution for you would be to utilize a a Goal Zero Extreme 350 Power Pack if you were wanting to power something like an ARB fridge and keep it off your vehicles power system. An ARB fridge draws 0.87 amp/hr which is fairly low. You would be able to run your fridge for at least 30 hours on the Extreme 350 (350 watt-hour). If you added a panel like the Boulder 30M Panel you would really be able to offset the draw in good sun conditions. You could also recharge the 350 on your vehicles power system when you start traveling again.
55038



Kurt I would recommend the Nomad 7 / Guide 10 combo with a few extra rechargeable batteries on the side. You could strap this to a backpack and take care of you phone, GPS, and PLB tracking needs easily.

55039

If anyone needs any more specifics on solar gear please let us know. We are an authorized dealer for Goal Zero and Brunton. We have great relations with both companies and know their products very well.

[expdtnoffroad]

Catusjk the way that the system is supposed to work is as follows:
The LED will be solid green if the battery pack is full and in the off position.

Let me know if you see something different.

Also, you can charge it with any AC mini USB if it is pushing out the normal 5 volts.


-Jim

[GeoRoss]

I think I am going to pull the trigger on a Nomad 13.5 and Sherpa 50. I'd love to size it up for peace of mind, but budget is a consideration. ~$340 for the smaller one vs ~$600 for the larger Nomad/Sherpa set up. I'd love to see some more real life reviews, they are few and far between but always very positive.

This is the first season I'll be taking a laptop out for field work (heaven help me). I haven't in the past due to not wanting to deal with keeping it charged or needing to keep track of it. I have very limited access to the electric grid for a typical 2 month season and often without reliable vehicle access. I should be able to charge a macbook air enough to get a 2-3 hours or more of work per day with the Sherpa 50. I should be able to do this with a DC-DC charger as I get about 3 hours out of the internal 37W-hr battery.


There is just this niggling nagging in the back of my mind that bigger is better. :sombrero:

[cactusjk]

The Extreme 350 sounds like a pretty good way to go!




Cactusjk a possible solution for you would be to utilize a a Goal Zero Extreme 350 Power Pack if you were wanting to power something like an ARB fridge and keep it off your vehicles power system. An ARB fridge draws 0.87 amp/hr which is fairly low. You would be able to run your fridge for at least 30 hours on the Extreme 350 (350 watt-hour). If you added a panel like the Boulder 30M Panel you would really be able to offset the draw in good sun conditions. You could also recharge the 350 on your vehicles power system when you start traveling again.
55038



Kurt I would recommend the Nomad 7 / Guide 10 combo with a few extra rechargeable batteries on the side. You could strap this to a backpack and take care of you phone, GPS, and PLB tracking needs easily.

55039

If anyone needs any more specifics on solar gear please let us know. We are an authorized dealer for Goal Zero and Brunton. We have great relations with both companies and know their products very well.

[expdtnoffroad]

I think I am going to pull the trigger on a Nomad 13.5 and Sherpa 50. I'd love to size it up for peace of mind, but budget is a consideration. ~$340 for the smaller one vs ~$600 for the larger Nomad/Sherpa set up. I'd love to see some more real life reviews, they are few and far between but always very positive.

This is the first season I'll be taking a laptop out for field work (heaven help me). I haven't in the past due to not wanting to deal with keeping it charged or needing to keep track of it. I have very limited access to the electric grid for a typical 2 month season and often without reliable vehicle access. I should be able to charge a macbook air enough to get a 2-3 hours or more of work per day with the Sherpa 50. I should be able to do this with a DC-DC charger as I get about 3 hours out of the internal 37W-hr battery.


There is just this niggling nagging in the back of my mind that bigger is better. :sombrero:


The Extreme 350 sounds like a pretty good way to go!


We will be doing some real world testing on these systems next weekend in the desert. I would be more than happy to share our findings with you guys before we write our review.

[Fireman78]

Just a little side note here... I have the Goal Zero Guide 10 AA charging pack, and the clamshell charging pack melted to the point of being unuseable. All of this happened why it was being charged...with the sun. (I have two emails and three phone calls into the company so far.)

[expdtnoffroad]

Fireman78 if I can be any help I would be happy to speak with Goal Zero next week on you behalf. Who did you buy the Guide 10 through?

[Fireman78]

Fireman78 if I can be any help I would be happy to speak with Goal Zero next week on you behalf. Who did you buy the Guide 10 through?

I bought a whole bunch of stuff from the Goal Zero guys at the OV Expo a couple weeks ago. I just haven't had the best of luck with the cust service so far with this issue though. I used it everyday until it melted though. I am getting addicted to solar.

[csPCV]

Fireman78 if I can be any help I would be happy to speak with Goal Zero next week on you behalf. Who did you buy the Guide 10 through?

Something very similar to what Fireman78 described happened to me as well. I left my Guide 10 charging in the sun with the Nomad 7 and when I returned later in the day I found one corner of the Guide 10 seriously disfigured. I could not figure out what had happened, I first thought maybe one of the cows stepped on it or something chewed on it but there were no scratches or scuff marks. Luckily it appears to still be somewhat functional, though I now have to remove the end panel to accuate the switch which is not accuating reliably. The only thing I can think of is it had melted and now Fireman's story seems to corroborate that, as well as a review posted at REI:

http://www.rei.com/product/814776

My Nomad 7/Guide 10 was purchased for me from an REI in Pittsburgh, PA. I would normally go and return it myself, however I am about 10,000 miles away at the moment. I am a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in RURAL South Africa a la no electricity, which makes having a working solar all the more pressing. Despite the melting I do like the Nomad 7 + Guide 10 setup. It works great for keeping my kindle, ipod, and cell phone charged as well as charging the AAAs for my headlamp.

Fireman78, if you make any progress talking with Goal Zero I would be very interested to hear about it. Likewise expdtnoffroad. Thanks a lot

[Fireman78]

I'll let you know.. still waiting for an answer. It is obivously a problem. Perhaps the clamshell should be made of a tougher material?

[r_w]

I'll let you know.. still waiting for an answer. It is obivously a problem. Perhaps the clamshell should be made of a tougher material?

Hmm, setting in the SUN and BLACK. If it didn't melt, the batteries will blow up soon after. It needs to be a reflective color and insulative.

[cactusjk]

Should I rething my recent Guide 10 REI purchase?

[Fireman78]

I just got off the phone with them, They are going to send me a replacement right away and a pre-paid box to ship back the bad one. They have had a couple issues with this happening but a very small percentage. I will probably buy a second unit, they are just so handy to have , to be able to charge a phone/GPS/camera, walkie talkie batts, whatever in the woods. Hopefully the melting thing is a rarity.


I also have the Escape 150 and 13.5 charge panel.. no issues. That thing is awesome, and the camp lights run all night for several nights on one charge

[expdtnoffroad]

I just got off the phone with them, They are going to send me a replacement right away and a pre-paid box to ship back the bad one. They have had a couple issues with this happening but a very small percentage. I will probably buy a second unit, they are just so handy to have , to be able to charge a phone/GPS/camera, walkie talkie batts, whatever in the woods. Hopefully the melting thing is a rarity.


I also have the Escape 150 and 13.5 charge panel.. no issues. That thing is awesome, and the camp lights run all night for several nights on one charge

Fireman78 I was going to give you the information to get you a replacement but it looks like you are already on it. Please let me know if you need any more product support. The percentage of Guide 10 failures is very small. I wouldn't worry about the purchase.
-Jim

[GeoRoss]

We will be doing some real world testing on these systems next weekend in the desert. I would be more than happy to share our findings with you guys before we write our review.


Thanks, I just received a Sherpa 50 yesterday. I would appear that my initial test is that it will run my MBA for about 3.5 hours if I am using an inverter and using the internet. When I get it running directly via DC I should get an improvement on that time. I'll do some more runs and see how it all turns out over several runs, but I am optimistic at this point.

I'll be testing the solar panels this weekend or maybe even tomorrow.

[expdtnoffroad]

GeoRoss I would love to hear more about your experience with the Sherpa 50.

[tdesanto]

... would encourage you to spend the money on a decent 60 to 90 watt panel and charge controller.

I couldn't agree with Luis more on this. This is the way to go for your scenario.

[GZ_walker]

I'm an engineer at Goal Zero. We have been experiencing a problem with some Guide 10s. The protection circuitry, which allows you to put cells of varying charge in at once, which is a unique feature to this product, can in rare cases prematurely engage, causing extra heat which can melt the plastic enclosure. Any units with this problem will be promptly replaced. We are committed to our products, and strive to provide very responsive customer service. Feel free to also contact me directly, especially if you have any technical questions. And please keep posting about your experiences. We're here to make sure you have a great experience.

[expdtnoffroad]

I couldn't agree with Luis more on this. This is the way to go for your scenario.

Another option would be to daisy chain 4 Boulder 30 or Escape 30 panels together and then run that to a controller. There are a number of variables including battery type, sun light, etc. but you could potentially charge a 12 volt battery in a day to a day and a half with this set up.

[expdtnoffroad]

I'm an engineer at Goal Zero. We have been experiencing a problem with some Guide 10s. The protection circuitry, which allows you to put cells of varying charge in at once, which is a unique feature to this product, can in rare cases prematurely engage, causing extra heat which can melt the plastic enclosure. Any units with this problem will be promptly replaced. We are committed to our products, and strive to provide very responsive customer service. Feel free to also contact me directly, especially if you have any technical questions. And please keep posting about your experiences. We're here to make sure you have a great experience.

Walker- Glad to see you here on ExPo :cool:

[tdesanto]

I am interested in using a Goal Zero 13.5 solar panel to keep my Optima Yellow Top secondary batt topped off when stopped at camp. I would like to still use my Battery Tender charger but am open to suggestions on how to set this up.

For a really compact setup, have you considered the Powerfilm foldable panels like these (http://store.adventuretrailers.com/products/60-Watt-Panel.html)at AT (http://www.adventuretrailers.com/)?

They're very rugged and provide a lot of power for their tiny footprint.

[GeoRoss]

GeoRoss I would love to hear more about your experience with the Sherpa 50.

I will be happy to. I do think I will be able to get 4+ hours of MacBook Air use out of a the Sherpa 50 once I can directly power the laptop without the inverter and tweak some of the energy saving features. My computer usage will be downloading GPS data, pictures and digitizing field notes. I have some other stuff like aerial photos and the like that I will have to refer to and those uses will be power hungry. I need to see how hard it is cache those photos for use in google earth as I won't have Internet. I may have to dual boot and use PC software for that.

I really like the inverter. It is silent and doesn't really even get warm while powering the laptop. I have noticed that the universal plug-in bows out the prongs to my power supply. I'll get a sacrificial plug adapter to deal with that.

I'm eager to test the 13.5M panels. If it can recharge the battery pack fully most days I'll be happy. Lots of sunshine at high elevation will help I'm sure. I have a 42 day field season planned so I should have plenty of time to become acquainted with this product.

I should have contacted Goal0 to see if they need anything tested. :lol:

[Fireman78]

A couple of these.. http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/18/Light-a-Life/4:4
attached to an Escape 150 makes for a really nice camp lighting set up.

[Martyn]

AT sells the foldable solar panels. Never had any issues with them, very reliable. I like the fact that they are individual components, in the event of an issue you can isolate the problem and replace just one part. So far we have never had an issue.

Great low light power, packs away small enough to put in a day pack, the 60 W panel is powerful enough to run a fridge all day.

I'd be happy to work with anyone interested in doing a power consumption work sheet so we can work out what your needs are and how we can address them. Once we know what your needs are we can recommend either running off your existing battery, adding a second battery, or going with solar.

Unfortunately solar is the most expensive option, and should to be justified by your requirements. For expedition vehicles the pros of a second battery that can be used as a starter battery also need to be balanced in the equation.

Lots to think about.

[Ash]

I'm hoping to get to 120w for my needs. Unfortunately, this equates to $1800 of Powerfilm, or I could do it much cheaper with 4 Goal Zero foldable 27W panels, which would come to around $1000.
I would rather have only two panels to worry about, instead of four, but Goal Zero don't offer anything larger than 27W foldable.

EEzi-Awn need to make a rain fly out of solar panels... :sombrero:

[lostworldexpedition]

EEzi-Awn need to make a rain fly out of solar panels... :sombrero:

Now, that would be awesome :exclaim:

Or an awning that uses flexible panels... Maybe some day the cost for flexi panels will come down...

[expdtnoffroad]

I spent some time this afternoon talking with Walker who is one of the lead development engineers over at Goal Zero. We had a great conversation and discussed the needs of the typical overlander. After the meeting Goal Zero decided to that they will be stocking and selling an off the shelf 10 Amp charge controller, with Goal Zero jacks pre-installed, for $49.99. Goal Zero will be making this product implementation immediately. We will also be stocking these charge controllers as well. This is fantastic news as you will now be able to have a true plug and play option for the spectrum of Goal Zero panels available with the purpose of charging an automotive 12 volt battery. You could potentially combine 4 of the Boulder 30 panels and the charge controller for $1250. This would give you an on hand 120 watt plug and play system. If you need less power just go with a few less panels.

Not to let the cat entirely out of the bag but I do think that Goal Zero would be open to a flexible / packable panel that is larger than the Nomad 27. I would really like to hear feedback on this if the community hear on ExPo would be interested in a bigger flexible unit? Don't get me wrong the rigid panels are great. If you were in a short wheelbase vehicle where space was an issue a packable panel would be nice.

The photo below is sort of a spy shot of a couple bigger panels that Goal Zero is working on. The one on the left is a 90 watt panel.
56199

The picture below gives you an idea of the of what the charge controller will be. You can see the two Goal Zero plug adapters in my hand. These plugs accommodate the Nomad and Boulder series panels.
56200

If you need Goal Zero product or have solar questions let me know. Starting next month (May) we will be offering free shipping to the lower 48 on most Goal Zero products. On the heavier items like the 350 Power Packs we will have a very attractive flat rate.

-Jim

Expedition Offroad
801-810-7632

[expdtnoffroad]

EEzi-Awn need to make a rain fly out of solar panels... :sombrero:


Now, that would be awesome :exclaim:

Or an awning that uses flexible panels... Maybe some day the cost for flexi panels will come down...


I'll talk with with Goal Zero and see what we can come up with. I have been planning to do a vehicle awning for a while now. It looks like it's time to make something happen. :sombrero:

[Salue]

I spent some time this afternoon talking with Walker who is one of the lead development engineers over at Goal Zero. We had a great conversation and discussed the needs of the typical overlander. After the meeting Goal Zero decided to that they will be stocking and selling an off the shelf 10 Amp charge controller, with Goal Zero jacks pre-installed, for $49.99. Goal Zero will be making this product implementation immediately. We will also be stocking these charge controllers as well. This is fantastic news as you will now be able to have a true plug and play option for the spectrum of Goal Zero panels available with the purpose of charging an automotive 12 volt battery.

Not to let the cat entirely out of the bag but I do think that Goal Zero would be open to a flexible / packable panel that is larger than the Nomad 27. I would really like to hear feedback on this if the community hear on ExPo would be interested in a bigger flexible unit?

Fantastic news Jim! I would also be interested in hearing about the possibility of a larger packable panel maybe in the 60-90 watt range.

Cheers,
Salue

[cactusjk]

Does Goal Zero offer any bags and methods to prop up the Boulder 30 panels? Will you offer the 20% off in May?




I spent some time this afternoon talking with Walker who is one of the lead development engineers over at Goal Zero. We had a great conversation and discussed the needs of the typical overlander. After the meeting Goal Zero decided to that they will be stocking and selling an off the shelf 10 Amp charge controller, with Goal Zero jacks pre-installed, for $49.99. Goal Zero will be making this product implementation immediately. We will also be stocking these charge controllers as well. This is fantastic news as you will now be able to have a true plug and play option for the spectrum of Goal Zero panels available with the purpose of charging an automotive 12 volt battery. You could potentially combine 4 of the Boulder 30 panels and the charge controller for $1250. This would give you an on hand 120 watt plug and play system. If you need less power just go with a few less panels.

Not to let the cat entirely out of the bag but I do think that Goal Zero would be open to a flexible / packable panel that is larger than the Nomad 27. I would really like to hear feedback on this if the community hear on ExPo would be interested in a bigger flexible unit? Don't get me wrong the rigid panels are great. If you were in a short wheelbase vehicle where space was an issue a packable panel would be nice.

The photo below is sort of a spy shot of a couple bigger panels that Goal Zero is working on. The one on the left is a 90 watt panel.
56199

The picture below gives you an idea of the of what the charge controller will be. You can see the two Goal Zero plug adapters in my hand. These plugs accommodate the Nomad and Boulder series panels.
56200

If you need Goal Zero product or have solar questions let me know. Starting next month (May) we will be offering free shipping to the lower 48 on most Goal Zero products. On the heavier items like the 350 Power Packs we will have a very attractive flat rate.

-Jim

Expedition Offroad
801-810-7632

[expdtnoffroad]

CactusJK, Goal Zero will be coming out with protective cases for a variety of their products later this year. They also have a very cool tripod for the Boulder 30 panels. We should have pricing and availability on the tripod soon. I have attached a crappy cell phone pic of the tripod below. As far as our pricing goes we are currently working on our pricing structure to become much more competitive than we are currently. The other thing that we will be offering is unique package deals oriented for the overland community. We will update the community as the packages become available. I will post up more pictures of the tripod and other accessories when I get back from the desert this weekend. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or feedback. I will continue to speak with Goal Zero about future product development. Feedback from the community is helpful and seriously considered.

56213

[cactusjk]

Thanks. Might be good to sit back and let all this settle out in favor of the overland users!



CactusJK, Goal Zero will be coming out with protective cases for a variety of their products later this year. They also have a very cool tripod for the Boulder 30 panels. We should have pricing and availability on the tripod soon. I have attached a crappy cell phone pic of the tripod below. As far as our pricing goes we are currently working on our pricing structure to become much more competitive than we are currently. The other thing that we will be offering is unique package deals oriented for the overland community. We will update the community as the packages become available. I will post up more pictures of the tripod and other accessories when I get back from the desert this weekend. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or feedback. I will continue to speak with Goal Zero about future product development. Feedback from the community is helpful and seriously considered.

56213

[orangeTJ]

I bought a whole bunch of stuff from the Goal Zero guys at the OV Expo a couple weeks ago.

I did too, and am loving it all! The Light-a-life is awesome.

I'm looking forward to seeing their controller as well, which is something I will need once I get around to outfitting my cargo trailer with solar.

[Fireman78]

So now I am using my Escape 150 and "Light a Life" lamp for lighting up my shop/out building which has no power to it. And, running my satallite radio in my grocery getter wind-up Subaru that has no cig lighter power. I pretty much use it every single day. Now Iam thinking it will charge up my R/C cars while in camp.

[cactusjk]

I have a female 12V receptacle already attached to my second battery. is there a male 12V connector setup option for the charge controller?



I spent some time this afternoon talking with Walker who is one of the lead development engineers over at Goal Zero. We had a great conversation and discussed the needs of the typical overlander. After the meeting Goal Zero decided to that they will be stocking and selling an off the shelf 10 Amp charge controller, with Goal Zero jacks pre-installed, for $49.99. Goal Zero will be making this product implementation immediately. We will also be stocking these charge controllers as well. This is fantastic news as you will now be able to have a true plug and play option for the spectrum of Goal Zero panels available with the purpose of charging an automotive 12 volt battery. You could potentially combine 4 of the Boulder 30 panels and the charge controller for $1250. This would give you an on hand 120 watt plug and play system. If you need less power just go with a few less panels.

Not to let the cat entirely out of the bag but I do think that Goal Zero would be open to a flexible / packable panel that is larger than the Nomad 27. I would really like to hear feedback on this if the community hear on ExPo would be interested in a bigger flexible unit? Don't get me wrong the rigid panels are great. If you were in a short wheelbase vehicle where space was an issue a packable panel would be nice.

The photo below is sort of a spy shot of a couple bigger panels that Goal Zero is working on. The one on the left is a 90 watt panel.
56199

The picture below gives you an idea of the of what the charge controller will be. You can see the two Goal Zero plug adapters in my hand. These plugs accommodate the Nomad and Boulder series panels.
56200

If you need Goal Zero product or have solar questions let me know. Starting next month (May) we will be offering free shipping to the lower 48 on most Goal Zero products. On the heavier items like the 350 Power Packs we will have a very attractive flat rate.

-Jim

Expedition Offroad
801-810-7632

[GeoRoss]

Well, I did some solar charging of the Sherpa 50 with the Nomad 13.5m this weekend. <20% on the battery both times. The first test was a very overcast day and after all day it charged the Sherpa to where the 60% icon was flashing. The next day it was sunny and was able to fully charge the battery after 7.5 hours.

The panels were tilted at about 45˚ and I moved them a few times to track the sun. In the field I won't be around to move them. I'm happy with these results and I'm not all that surprised. I have always considered the claim of charging in 4hrs under optimal conditions to be more of a holy grail and the I take the reminders from Goal0 that 7-8 hours as more realistic.

I am having a bit of trouble deciding what the LCD panel is telling me. When it is at the 80% mark, does that tell me I have between 80-100% or that I have consumed 20% and I have between 60-80%?

Thanks, so far I am pretty happy the set up. If it performs like this over the summer I'll be plenty happy. I'm particularly happy with my booty-fabbed panel frame. I made it with some stuff I had in the shed, plastic plumbing fittings for 3/8 flex tubing and some garden stakes.

[expdtnoffroad]

I am having a bit of trouble deciding what the LCD panel is telling me. When it is at the 80% mark, does that tell me I have between 80-100% or that I have consumed 20% and I have between 60-80%?


GeoRoss as it was explained to me the LCD should be telling you that you are between 80-100% power. I will double check with Goal Zero tomorrow for clarification. It would seem to make sense though with the experience that I had testing a 350 Power Pack this weekend. We charged the 350 for 12 hours on the 110 wall charger before heading out. We hooked just about everything that we had in camp to the 350 and the LCD dropped to 80% immediately. However we ran the 350 for more than a day and it is still at 80% without putting the pack on the panels to charge.

56372

[expdtnoffroad]

Here are a couple of pictures of the Goal Zero plug and play charge system for automotive 12 volt charging.

56376

56374

56375

[cactusjk]

Okay now I am looking at starting with a Goal Zero 30W panel with controller for my ARB. Comments welcome!



wrcsixeight did the math for you, that panel will net you ~8 AH under optimal conditions. Depending on temperature differential, your ARB will pull something like 1-2A per hour, so that panel MIGHT buy you as much as 8 additional hours. Under less optimal conditions, it might buy you a couple of hours.

You need a bigger panel.

[Rando]

While those certainly look like nice panels, they are definitely on the high end of the $/W. Depending on which brands you are comfortable with, you could get a 50 - 80W panel at this price point with very similar specs. In the 60 - 80w range you are pretty close to being able to stay put indefinitely with your ARB. I have friend who is currently installing a 100W system on his Vanagon, with the ultimate goal of being able to leave his ARB running in his van all summer. Always having a case of coldies in the fridge is a pretty attractive outcome!



Okay now I am looking at starting with a Goal Zero 30W panel with controller for my ARB. Comments welcome!

[Corey]

Okay now I am looking at starting with a Goal Zero 30W panel with controller for my ARB. Comments welcome!
I would not go less than a 60 watt panel like I run to power an ARB fridge or keep your battery topped off while running one.

A 60 watt ones can power the fridge hooked directly to it with good sunlight.

[cactusjk]

Agree 60W would be perfect. Options include 2 Boulder 30 panels or if Goal Zero starts making a 60W panel. Not sure if you can combine the Escape 30 W panels?


I would not go less than a 60 watt panel like I run to power an ARB fridge or keep your battery topped off while running one.

A 60 watt ones can power the fridge hooked directly to it with good sunlight.

[Rando]

http://www.ul-solar.com/65_Watt_12_Volt_multicrystalline_solar_panel_p/stp065p-n.htm

PS I wouldn't connect your fridge straight to a solar panel. The battery is a critical part of the circuit - it provides the voltage regulation. Without a battery the panel voltage could be anywhere from 0 - 20V depending on the load.

[Jnich77]

56372

gotta love a jumping jack :-)

[Salue]

Agree 60W would be perfect. Options include 2 Boulder 30 panels or if Goal Zero starts making a 60W panel. Not sure if you can combine the Escape 30 W panels?

You can combine the Escape 30. I'm considering getting 2 Escape 30's or 2 Nomad 27's....Leaning more toward the former.

Salue

[Fireman78]

Another cool use for the Escape 150.... soccer tournament, parents using it to charge camcorders... worked like a charm!

[cactusjk]

How do you combine them?



You can combine the Escape 30. I'm considering getting 2 Escape 30's or 2 Nomad 27's....Leaning more toward the former.

Salue

[Salue]

I think this is the correct one:

http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/36/Solar-4-7mm-Splitter-Cable/5:1/

[cactusjk]

Perfect! Thanks.


I think this is the correct one:

http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/36/Solar-4-7mm-Splitter-Cable/5:1/

[cactusjk]

Perfect! Thanks.


I think this is the correct one:

http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/36/Solar-4-7mm-Splitter-Cable/5:1/

[expdtnoffroad]

Sorry to chime in late. Thanks Salue that is the correct cable.

[cactusjk]

Jim - Thanks for pioneering the custom Goal Zero overland setups! It's a great product that will only get better with our feedback.



Sorry to chime in late. Thanks Salue that is the correct cable.

[Lawmaker]

I was just about to pick up the Extreme 350. How much longer before a 60 watt panel?

[expdtnoffroad]

I was just about to pick up the Extreme 350. How much longer before a 60 watt panel?

Lawmaker for now you would have to combine a couple of Boulder 30 of Escape 30 panels. I don't have a lead time on bigger panels from Goal Zero yet. It could be 3 months it could be a year.

-Jim

[Lawmaker]

Lawmaker for now you would have to combine a couple of Boulder 30 of Escape 30 panels. I don't have a lead time on bigger panels from Goal Zero yet. It could be 3 months it could be a year.

-Jim

Ok from what I am reading they are the same price. Same 30w. Both Rigid but the Escape folds into a briefcase. Boulder says that it can be linked to other panels. Can the Escape?

I like the Escape because of the folding more secure features. The boulder would be better mounted. The Escape comes with folding legs. Do you have any preference/experience that you would like to share?

Would an extreme 350, Ext UI and 2x escape panels work?

[expdtnoffroad]

Ok from what I am reading they are the same price. Same 30w. Both Rigid but the Escape folds into a briefcase. Boulder says that it can be linked to other panels. Can the Escape?

I like the Escape because of the folding more secure features. The boulder would be better mounted. The Escape comes with folding legs. Do you have any preference/experience that you would like to share?

Would an extreme 350, Ext UI and 2x escape panels work?

Lawmaker you are on the right track. You can pair up to 4 of the Escape briefcase panels with a combiner cable. Both the Escape and Boulder panels are great and both will work with the Extreme 350. If you are going for one or two panels I would go for the Escape (my preference). If you need more power I would spring for the Goal Zero tripod that's coming out for $200 and then get a Pelican case to store the 4 Boulder panels. You can mount 2 Boulder panels on the tripod. However I would recommend saving the $200 on the tripod and go with the Escape panels if you are only going for 2 panels. This is a much more utilitarian approach.

-Jim

[Lawmaker]

Yes I am leaning towards the Escape also so that I can man pack them to another AOR.

Is the cable this: http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/36/Solar-4-7mm-Splitter-Cable/5:1/
To hook two panel together to the 350?

I am surpised the kits with more than one panel do not have a connector cable listed as coming with the kit.

[expdtnoffroad]

Yes I am leaning towards the Escape also so that I can man pack them to another AOR.

Is the cable this: http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/36/Solar-4-7mm-Splitter-Cable/5:1/
To hook two panel together to the 350?

I am surpised the kits with more than one panel do not have a connector cable listed as coming with the kit.

Lawmaker that cable is for daisy chaining 2 Extreme Power Packs together.

The cable that you would want for the Escape panel is this one: http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/36/Solar-4-7mm-Splitter-Cable/5:1/

[Salue]

Lawmaker that cable is for daisy chaining 2 Extreme Power Packs together.

The cable that you would want for the Escape panel is this one: http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/36/Solar-4-7mm-Splitter-Cable/5:1/

It looks like both your link and Lawmaker's go to the daisy chain for the Escape/Elite panels. If you do use the Escape panels to charge an Extreme (350) powerpack, you will also need this adapter:

http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/27/Solar-4-7mm-to-Input-8-0-Adapter/5:1/

Salue

[expdtnoffroad]

Weird. When I first clicked on the link it took me to the 350 chaining cable. Thanks for the correction.

[Salue]

Jim,
Did you already do a writeup of the Goal Zero products you tested a couple weekends ago or is that still in the works? If you already did, can you point me to the review? If not, looking forward to it.

Cheers,
Salue

[Lawmaker]

Weird. When I first clicked on the link it took me to the 350 chaining cable. Thanks for the correction.

Yea I corrected it like 2 secs after I posted it. Do you sell any of the accessories such as that cable?

[expdtnoffroad]

We sure do sell the cable and plug jacks. Let me know what you need.

-Jim

[cactusjk]

Here are a few pictures of my setup. I went with the Escape 30 briefcase and Battery Tender solar charge controller. For keeping my Yellow Top toped off it is perfect! Thanks to Jim at Expedition Offroad for the great support!

[cactusjk]

Another question:

Can you combine the 13.5 Escape and the 30 Escape? If so what cable do I need?

[expdtnoffroad]

To combine the Nomad 13.5 and the Escape 30 panels you would need the Solar 4.7 splitter cable. This allows you to put up to 4 Nomad or Escape panels in parallel.
We don't have it up on the site yet but the sku is 90814A.

-Jim

[cactusjk]

Great. I thought that was the one.

[suntinez]

Please let us know when this happens! It would be nice to be able to utilize both Nomad and Boulder panels together.


.... Goal Zero decided to that they will be stocking and selling an off the shelf 10 Amp charge controller, with Goal Zero jacks pre-installed, for $49.99. Goal Zero will be making this product implementation immediately. We will also be stocking these charge controllers as well.

The picture below gives you an idea of the of what the charge controller will be. You can see the two Goal Zero plug adapters in my hand. These plugs accommodate the Nomad and Boulder series panels.
56200

[GoalZero]

Sorry about that! I'd be frustrated too if I were in South Africa without power. We have resolved the issue in the Guide 10 that was causing them to melt and are offering a FREE update to the latest model for anyone experiencing this issue.

Visit http://www.goalzero.com/support.html and we can get you going again.

Cheers.

[GoalZero]

Hey all! Sorry for the inconvenience. We've resolved the issue with the Guide 10 that was causing them to occasionally melt, and we are offering a FREE UPGRADE to the newest version of the product to those that have had trouble.

Visit http://www.goalzero.com/support.html and we can get you going again.

Thanks!

[Corey]

Just an FYI, Jim at Expeditionoffroad.com is carrying a 6' and 30' cable now for those like me who have a Powerfilm 60 watt solar panel who want to hook it to the Extreme 350 kit which has the inverter as seen in my thread here (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/62848-Goal-Zero-Ranger-350-Kit).

This will allow me to disconnect my Powerfilm 60 watt panel from my rig which charges the main battery, and I can then recharge the Goal Zero 350 Ranger battery back up when out in extended trips.

The 30' cable had adapter plugs on one end that mates it to the compression plugs like Powerfilm uses on their panels, and the other end plugs into the Ranger 350 battery to charge it back up.

Here are a few pictures of the new cable.
In the second picture you can see one end plugged into the 60 watt panel.
Also shown is a short extension which can be plugged back into the 30' cable allowing it to act like an extension cord for running their lights if you need a longer cable.
You would just plug one end into the 12v outlet on the UI inverter where you would normally plug one of the light globes cables into.

This is very nice that I am now able to use my Powerfilm solar panel to charge Goal Zero's stuff.

Going to be ordering a few of those lights today too.

http://www.pnw4runners.com/camping/solar/goal_zer_cable1.jpg

http://www.pnw4runners.com/camping/solar/goal_zer_cable2.jpg

[squatch]

Corey I like the power film adapter. Very cool!!

[Corey]

Thanks!

My Goal Zero 350 kit showed up yesterday, very cool!
I will have some pics of it in my Goal Zero thread showing stuff hooked up to it.

Right now I have it charging my Droid instead of the wall outlet like I do every morning before I head off to work.

[cactusjk]

When will the replacement packs ship out?



Hey all! Sorry for the inconvenience. We've resolved the issue with the Guide 10 that was causing them to occasionally melt, and we are offering a FREE UPGRADE to the newest version of the product to those that have had trouble.

Visit http://www.goalzero.com/support.html and we can get you going again.

Thanks!

[orangeTJ]

Right now I have it charging my Droid instead of the wall outlet like I do every morning before I head off to work.

I did the same thing last week while out camping over near Lake Wenatchee, WA. Everyone was in awe when they saw my system. :sombrero:

[Corey]

Jim, any word yet on the tripods?
As you know, I use the Powerfilm 60 watt panel to keep the FJs battery topped off, and I will be using it too to keep the 350 Extreme Ranger kit charged up.
But I may want to get the Boulder or Escape solar panel in the near future to dedicate it to the Extreme 350 kit.

The tripod works for both of the Goal Zero panels too right?

[Corey]

I did the same thing last week while out camping over near Lake Wenatchee, WA. Everyone was in awe when they saw my system. :sombrero:
It is a very cool system indeed.

[expdtnoffroad]

The tripods just became available. We are getting them put on our site as we speak.

The tripods will accommodate up to 4 Boulder 30 solar panels.

http://www.goalzero.com/images/products/91109.jpg

Please note that we are offering free shipping on all Goal Zero products until August 31st to the lower 48.

[cactusjk]

Any update on the replacement Guide 10 packs? Has anyone received one?

[Corey]

I am going to more than likely want to get one tripod and one Boulder panel, unless the suitcase style panel works with the tripod too.

[GeoRoss]

Well, I did not end up taking my computer with me out into the field this summer. I did use the Sherpa 50/Nomad 13.5 set up though. It is a very slick. I was easily able to use it to keep my phones charged, eReader, cameras, etc. I am very pleased. I used the battery pack on the plane so I wouldn't run out of juice for the 12hr flights. Worked great there and I only had to explain it to a security guy once. The Nomad 50 is perfect if all you are doing is keeping small batteries charged. I play with it on my computer and it does get me ~4 extra hours, but only if I start out with a fully charged battery in the laptop. I only ever used the female cig lighter attachment. I didn't try to charge anything from the USB port.

The caveats I noticed. It is solar and you need the sun to charge the battery. DUH! :D It would sometimes take 2 days for the 13.5 panels to fully recharge the Sherpa 50. This is in large part due to the fact that the Indian Monsoon hit us and we didn't get that much sunshine. Lots of snow, sleet and rain. I would set up the panels facing south inclined at ~45˚. I was typically gone from camp most of the day so I would not be able to move the panels into an optimal position as the sun moved. One day I was able to set things up on a day with no clouds with about 3 hours of sunshine left. It was able to fully charge the battery from <20% to full charge in that time. I don't find this unreasonable at all and I am very pleased with the performance. I think it is very important to realize that I think unattended real world charging should be gauged at 5+ hours or longer and much less under ideal conditions.

I ended up only have to recharge the system 4 times over 30 days. The panels seemed to be fine out in the weather unattended, but I did stake down the little frame I made for them so the wind would not blow them over. I would keep the battery under my tent fly during the day and out of the weather. The panels survived the trip without anything but common sense packing. I'm very happy with this system and I am glad I purchased it.

http://i.imgur.com/DqCmX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1HNIb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/DUQyQ.jpg


I will be happy to. I do think I will be able to get 4+ hours of MacBook Air use out of a the Sherpa 50 once I can directly power the laptop without the inverter and tweak some of the energy saving features. My computer usage will be downloading GPS data, pictures and digitizing field notes. I have some other stuff like aerial photos and the like that I will have to refer to and those uses will be power hungry. I need to see how hard it is cache those photos for use in google earth as I won't have Internet. I may have to dual boot and use PC software for that.

I really like the inverter. It is silent and doesn't really even get warm while powering the laptop. I have noticed that the universal plug-in bows out the prongs to my power supply. I'll get a sacrificial plug adapter to deal with that.

I'm eager to test the 13.5M panels. If it can recharge the battery pack fully most days I'll be happy. Lots of sunshine at high elevation will help I'm sure. I have a 42 day field season planned so I should have plenty of time to become acquainted with this product.

I should have contacted Goal0 to see if they need anything tested. :lol:

[mattm01]

FYI - Goal Zero now has their version of the solar controller listed on their site.
Goal Zero Accessories (http://www.goalzero.com/shop/c/5/)

Looks good so far. I wish they had both the 4.7mm and 8mm inputs on it together though. I'd use the 4.7mm in the field and then hook up my GoalZero 8mm Extreme charger to it at home for 120v charging without needing to buy a separate battery charger at home.

I'm planning on using this with a Battery Box (MinnKota Trolling Power Center) and Deep Discharge Solar Bat for a portable power center. Not as slick as dual bats or the National Luna PPP but a hell of a lot cheaper and portable for numerous applications.

[Corey]

I like!
I read over on Mud's Goal Zero thread in their camping section that it was coming out soon.

My current Powerfilm solar panel is used to charge up my starting battery, and also with an adapter cable I got from Jim who sells the Goal Zero stuff I can charge my Extreme ranger 350 battery in the field.

If I get one of these charge controllers, I can not also charge up my 2nd battery.
The only thing hooked up to my backup battery is my Yaesu 857D radio, so having this extra charge controller in the field would be helpful as I think the Yaesu will be getting a workout during long camping trips.

I believe 8 mm is the one I need.

http://www.goalzero.com/images/products/91301.jpg

[TRegasaurus]

For the price of nearly anything Goal-Zero you can buy something much larger. Goal-Zero is a great product if you've got the Benjamin's.

[mattm01]

For the price of nearly anything Goal-Zero you can buy something much larger. Goal-Zero is a great product if you've got the Benjamin's.

I guess it depends on the product and feature set you want. Yes, Goal Zero MSRPs are pretty high (if not ridiculous). If you shop around though, you can find their stuff at FAR LOWER prices.

Part of what you get with the higher pricing is a well polished and integrated product. You minimize exposed terminals and alligator clips (among other things) and that may be worth it for some. In the highly portable category though, goal zero is a leader.

You can get one of their 30 Watt Panels for $175. Pretty good for how portable that item is...

Love to see other options though.