NagathaChristie
Well-known member
What do you think of the Goal Zero 3000? Is this a good idea to use in the nomadic life in place of a loud generator?
Goal Zero 3000 opinions?
- Thread starter NagathaChristie
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frater secessus
Well-known member
What do you intend to do with it? That's about 2.5x more battery capacity than the average vandweller has (and about 8x what the average vandweller spends on batteries + inverter + charge controller).
Unless you are doing something exotic it's probably way more than you need.
Unless you are doing something exotic it's probably way more than you need.
Trebor English
Well-known member
The Goal Zero 3000 is not a generator. It will not replace a generator. There is no tank to pour in gasoline. It is a battery. It is a very nice battery. It is a $3000 battery. It has to be charged. Every amp you take out of it you have to have put in there first.
It is a battery in the same box with an inverter. The inverter takes the low voltage DC and makes 120 volts AC. It is a big inverter. It is big enough so that with the right load, like a hair dryer or a space heater, you can empty the battery in two hours.
Charging is slow. It comes with two wall plug ins that will charge it in 25 hours. The solar, under the right conditions, will charge it in 30 hours. This is according to their web page. Thirty hours of solar means 5 days at 6 hours per day.
The point of this sort of product is that you can buy it, then it does what you want without you having to do any math or engineering. It may be possible to add external components and make it do something, like charge in a day of bright sun, that it didn't do right out of the box. If you have to do math and engineering anyway, a less expensive solution might be more like what you need at a much lower price.
The intended audience for this product is wealthy weekend warriors. They leave it plugged in during the week to charge then go camping or mountain climbing over the weekend. With this product the campers can have their phones and computers while they are off getting away from it all and never miss a text, an email or a tweet.
It is a battery in the same box with an inverter. The inverter takes the low voltage DC and makes 120 volts AC. It is a big inverter. It is big enough so that with the right load, like a hair dryer or a space heater, you can empty the battery in two hours.
Charging is slow. It comes with two wall plug ins that will charge it in 25 hours. The solar, under the right conditions, will charge it in 30 hours. This is according to their web page. Thirty hours of solar means 5 days at 6 hours per day.
The point of this sort of product is that you can buy it, then it does what you want without you having to do any math or engineering. It may be possible to add external components and make it do something, like charge in a day of bright sun, that it didn't do right out of the box. If you have to do math and engineering anyway, a less expensive solution might be more like what you need at a much lower price.
The intended audience for this product is wealthy weekend warriors. They leave it plugged in during the week to charge then go camping or mountain climbing over the weekend. With this product the campers can have their phones and computers while they are off getting away from it all and never miss a text, an email or a tweet.
NagathaChristie
Well-known member
I see so this is essentially a fancy battery+inverter in one?
Exactly, a large version of a USB power pack, batt in a box plus different voltage outlets and a tiny charger.
Very overpriced and as noted you still need a real generator or **some** actual power source to charge it.
Very overpriced and as noted you still need a real generator or **some** actual power source to charge it.
Here is a "hub" thread containing links to others discussing the product category.
https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=23546
https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=23546
And a Google site search on Goal Zero discussions specifically
https://www.google.com/search?q=site:cheaprvliving.com+goal+zero
https://www.google.com/search?q=site:cheaprvliving.com+goal+zero
Trebor English
Well-known member
NagathaChristie said:
They say:
Goal Zero Yeti 3000 Lithium Portable Power Station, 3024Wh/280Ah Silent Gas Free Generator Alternative with 1500 Watt (3000 Watt Surge) AC Inverter, USB, 12V Outputs
The "power station" and "generator alternative" words are, at best, intended to mislead. The watt hour spec and "gas free" are correct.
Yes it's a battery + inverter, not a maker of electricity.
To be fair, it is a nice battery, but still, a battery.
sephson
Well-known member
I actually looked into the Yeti 3000 and other similar systems for an upcoming project at work, basically hoping that I could be lazy and find an off the shelf system to provide power for a pair of rolling sets. I determined that I could build the two systems I need for about a fourth of the cost of the two Yeti 3000's I would need to power the lights on these two sets.
Motrukdriver
Well-known member
Wow, only 68 pounds for that battery. How much would the equivalent capacity lead acid batteries weigh? Pretty pricey but the weight savings would surely take the cost pinch out a little. Estimated 6 year lifespan might be a tough sell at that price.
LFP is a bit under three times the energy density / weight compared to lead acid.
The more fire prone chemistries a bit over that.
That's why the leading adopters for use as House banks are racing yachts, where every kg counts a lot more than prices.
The more fire prone chemistries a bit over that.
That's why the leading adopters for use as House banks are racing yachts, where every kg counts a lot more than prices.
