Goal Zero Nomad 13.5 Vehicle Battery Charging Setup

[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.
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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.

IMG_8246_large.jpg

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.
IMG_8200.jpg



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.

IMG_8246_large.jpg

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.

[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.
IMG_8200.jpg



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.

IMG_8246_large.jpg

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.

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.)