Goal Zero Vs Jackery – Which Brand Is The Best?
Portable power stations, also known as solar generators, have become increasingly popular in the past years. Being able to charge your devices even when you’re far from the power grid gives you a sense of freedom.
Two popular brands in the power station category are Goal Zero and Jackery. Both of them make power stations for all kinds of uses.
Some are small, portable, and fit in a backpack, while others are large, powerful enough to run a microwave or a whole RV, and less portable due to their weight.
Related Product: Recharge your power station with a solar panel. The Twelseavan 120W (click to view on Amazon) is compatible right out of the box with all Goal Zero and Jackery power stations in this article.
A question we often get from our readers is, which brand should I buy, and why?
Today we’re going to compare the two brands, but since they both have products for different purposes and we want to compare apples to apples, we’re going to do seven comparisons with two similar power stations in each comparison.
I try to keep this post updated as new power stations are released. Because of this, the post can be messy and contradicting in some places. I appreciate comments that help me keep the post updated and accurate.
These are the comparisons (click to view on Amazon):
- Goal Zero Yeti 200X Vs Jackery Explorer 160
- Goal Zero Yeti 200X Vs Jackery Explorer 240
- Goal Zero Yeti 200X Vs Jackery Explorer 300
- Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium Vs Jackery Explorer 500
- Goal Zero Yeti 500X Vs Jackery Explorer 500
- Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Vs Jackery Explorer 1000
- Goal Zero Yeti 1500X Vs Jackery Explorer 1000
- Goal Zero Yeti 1500X Vs Jackery Explorer 1500
Keep in mind that when comparing two power stations to each other, which one is better for your needs depends on what you’re looking for.
It’s hard to say whether a more powerful AC outlet is more important than more battery capacity. We will compare the specifications of each product and explain what difference they make, but the final decision is up to you.
Since there are new solar generators almost monthly, we will come back and update the post in the future.
You can use the table of contents to navigate the post.
Goal Zero Yeti 200X Vs Jackery Explorer 160
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What The Yeti 200X Does Better
The Yeti 200X has a slightly more powerful inverter and can output 20 more watts continuously. It also has 20 more watt-hours of battery capacity.
It can handle more solar input and will charge faster when using solar panels.
The Yeti 200X can be charged with a USB C PD charger (click to view on Amazon) and it has a total of four USB ports compared to the three found on the Explorer 160.
The handle is recessed which results in a more compact design that takes less space.
While the Explorer 160 comes with a DC to cigarette port adapter, the Yeti 200X has a full-size port on the power station itself.
What The Explorer 240 Does Better
The Explorer 160 is lighter, includes a car charger, and has a built-in flashlight.
It also has a better screen that shows not only the battery percentage but battery bars, input and output watts.
What They Have In Common
Both use a modified sine wave inverter which powers a single outlet.
There is an 8mm input on both and a regulated 12V outlet.
Both use lithium-ion batteries, rated at 500 cycles to 80% capacity.
You can charge both with the wall charger, car charger, and solar panels.
Both of them can be used while charging.
Neither of them includes solar panels.
Solar Panel Recommendations
Since they have the 8mm input, you can use solar panels like the Jackery SolarSaga 60W, Rockpals 100W, Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, and with both.
To use solar panels with MC4 connectors, like the Renogy 50W and Renogy 100W you need to use an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
Conclusion
The Yeti 200X is a little newer than the Explorer 160 and it shows. With faster solar input, USB C PD charging, a full-size regulated 12V output, slightly more battery capacity, and a more powerful inverter, it looks like the clear winner.
But the Explorer 160 has a couple of things that I really like. Like the included car charger, and the screen that shows input and output watts.
Both are great power stations in 2021.
Goal Zero Yeti 200X Vs Jackery Explorer 240
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What The Yeti 200X Does Better
The Yeti 200X is the newer power station of the two, which shows with the better charge controller and input rating. It will charge faster than the Explorer 240 in every way. If you max the input, the Yeti 200X will charge fully in about 2 hours, versus Explorer’s 5 hours.
The 100W vs 54W max input is a big difference, so if you want to be able to charge a 60W laptop while the battery is being recharged with solar panels during the day, only the Yeti 200X will let you do it uninterrupted.
Related Post: What Solar Panels Are Compatible With Goal Zero Yeti?
It takes 4 hours to charge the Yeti 200X with the included wall charger, the Explorer 240 takes 7-8 hours.
It’s a lighter power station in a smaller chassis. The recessed handle makes it easier to store.
There are USB C ports on the Yeti, one being a USB C PD input/output port that you can use to charge both the battery and charge your devices.
If you have a tablet or laptop that can be charged via USB C, the charging efficiency will be higher than when using the AC outlet on either power station.
What The Explorer 240 Does Better
Jackery has put more battery cells and a larger inverter in the Explorer 240. It has almost 25% more battery capacity than the Yeti 200X and a 50% more powerful inverter.
With more battery capacity and a more powerful inverter, you will be able to run/charge devices longer, and for example, use a device that requires 150W which the Yeti 200X can’t run continuously.
The Explorer 240 has a better screen that shows not only the state of charge in a percentage but the input/output watts as well. It also shows the battery level in bars.
Its pure sine wave inverter creates a cleaner current and will not have any issues running sensitive electronics like printers, audio/video equipment, and fridges.
The Explorer 240 MPPT charge controller can handle a higher voltage (30V vs 22V), so you could possibly connect a panel with a higher VMP rating.
Jackery includes a car charger so you can charge the battery in a vehicle. Goal Zero sells one separately (click to view on Amazon).
What They Have In Common
Both use lithium-ion batteries, rated at 500 cycles to 80% capacity.
The screen on both shows the state of charge in percentage, although Jackery shows input/output watts as well.
Buttons above each kind of output lets you turn on/off the ports on both. There is also a button to light up the screen.
An 8mm input can be found on both, which means that you can connect Goal Zero solar panels to the Jackery and vice-versa.
The regulated 12V cigarette port output and one AC outlet can be found on both. This makes them reliable to use for CPAPs, 12V fridges, and other 12V devices.
You can charge both with the wall charger, car charger, and solar panels.
Both of them can be used while charging.
Neither of them includes solar panels.
Solar Panel Recommendations
Since they have the 8mm input, you can use solar panels like the Jackery SolarSaga 60W, Rockpals 100W, Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, and with both.
Related Post: How To Connect Third-Party Solar Panels To Goal Zero Yeti/Jackery
To use solar panels with MC4 connectors, like the Renogy 50W and Renogy 100W you need to use an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
Conclusion
To conclude, what you’re basically choosing between is a power station that you can charge fast (Yeti 200X), versus a power station with more battery capacity and a more powerful inverter (Explorer 240).
If you need to be able to use it to charge a laptop or power a TV uninterrupted during the day that uses more than 42W when a solar panel is plugged in, I recommend the Goal Zero Yeti 200X.
If you go camping on the weekend and need to power your CPAP at night and can leave the power station in/out during the day to let it charge, I recommend the Jackery Explorer 240.
Goal Zero Yeti 200X Vs Jackery Explorer 300
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What The Yeti 200X Does Better
The Yeti 200X can handle more input since it can do 100W from solar and 60W from USB C PD.
It’s lighter and has a smaller form factor.
It has a total of four USB ports, versus Explorer 300’s three. Two of these are USB C ports. It also has a 6mm 12V output in addition to the full-size 12V outlet.
What The Explorer 300 Does Better
The Explorer 300 has more battery capacity, an inverter that is more than twice as powerful powered by a pure sine wave inverter.
It has a better screen that shows input and output watts, battery percentage, and battery bars.
Jackery includes a car charger, while Goal Zero doesn’t.
What They Have In Common
There is a 60W USB C PD port on both, but the one on the Yeti 200X is both an input and output, while the one on the Explorer 300 is only an output.
Both use lithium-ion batteries, rated at 500 cycles to 80% capacity.
The screen on both shows the state of charge in percentage, although Jackery shows input/output watts as well.
Buttons above each kind of output lets you turn on/off the ports on both.
An 8mm input can be found on both.
Both have a regulated 12V output. This makes them reliable to use for CPAPs, 12V fridges, and other 12V devices.
You can charge both with the wall charger, car charger, and solar panels.
Both of them can be used while charging.
Neither of them includes solar panels.
Solar Panel Recommendations
Since they have the 8mm input, you can use solar panels like the Jackery SolarSaga 60W, Rockpals 100W, Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, and with both.
To use solar panels with MC4 connectors, like the Renogy 50W and Renogy 100W you need to use an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
Conclusion
The Explorer 300 is a larger power station and better than the Yeti 200X in almost every way. The only reason to buy the Yeti 200X over the Explorer 300 is to be able to recharge it faster with more solar, or with a USB C PD adapter.
For camping or vanlifers, I recommend the Explorer 300 because it has two AC outlets, a great screen, and it can power a 12V fridge/freezer for longer with its bigger battery.
A pure sine wave inverter is preferable if you’re going to be using the power station a lot because it’s more efficient and compatible with more devices.
Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium Vs Jackery Explorer 500
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What The Yeti 400 Lithium Does Better
Just like in the comparison above between the Yeti 200X and the Explorer 240, the Yeti has a higher max input.
The Yeti 400 Lithium can handle up to 120W input, while the Explorer 500 maxes out at 88W. It’s advertised to have a 100W max input, but its DC input port can handle 25.2V and 3.5A which equals 88W. When using solar panels with the Explorer 500, the maximum input wattage is 65W no matter how many you use.
What this means is that the Yeti 400 Lithium will charge much faster than the Explorer if you use 200W solar panels.
Related Post: Easiest Way To Use Solar Power During Power Outages
Goal Zero has put two AC outlets on the Yeti 400 Lithium where Jackery has put one single outlet.
The screen on the Yeti is better than the one found on the Explorer. It will not only tell you input/output watts and the state of charge in a percentage and battery bars with 20% increments, but also show the battery voltage, used watt-hours, output amps, and time to empty/full.
I also like that the backlit screen on the Yeti can be left on. On the Explorer, the backlit screen can be lit up by pushing a button or by plugging a charger/solar panel into the input. It’s easier to see the battery levels and input/output watts from further away on the Yeti since the screen can be lit up at all times.
The handle on the Yeti 400 Lithium folds down and makes it easier to store in smaller places.
The Yeti is also smaller in general, although it weighs more.
What The Explorer 500 Does Better
Jackery recently put an MPPT charge controller in the Explorer 500.
The Jackery Explorer 500 has more battery capacity at 518Wh versus 428Wh. That’s 19% more battery capacity for you to play with.
Its inverter is also larger at 500W/1000W versus Yeti’s 300W/1200W. Yeti’s surge watts are higher, but the fact that the Explorer can power devices requiring 200W more continuously weighs heavier. 300 vs 500 is a 50% difference.
Related Post: Review Of The Jackery Explorer 500
There is one more DC output on the Explorer, and the cigarette port is regulated so you can use 12V fridges and other devices that have a low-voltage cutoff without issues.
Jackery includes a car charger.
The Explorer weighs 13.3 pounds, versus Yeti 400 Lithium’s 16.3 pounds.
What They Have In Common
Both of the power stations have three USB A ports rated at 5V, 2.4A.
There is a pure sine wave inverter in both of the units so you can power sensitive electronics.
Both use lithium-ion batteries, rated at 500 cycles to 80% capacity.
The screen on both shows the state of charge in percentage, battery bars, input/output watts.
Buttons above each kind of output lets you turn on/off the ports on both.
An 8mm input can be found on both.
You can charge both with the wall charger, car charger, and solar panels.
Both of them can be used while charging.
Neither of them includes solar panels.
Solar Panel Recommendations
Since they have the 8mm input, you can use solar panels like the Jackery SolarSaga 60W, Rockpals 100W, Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, and with both.
To use solar panels with MC4 connectors, like the Renogy 50W and Renogy 100W you need to use an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
Related Post: How To Connect Third-Party Solar Panels To Jackery Explorer Power Stations
Since the Yeti 400 Lithium can handle up to 120W input, you can plug in two 100W panels with MC4 connectors in parallel to max the input. To do this, you’ll need a MC4 Y Branch (click to view on Amazon), and an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
Take the positive wire from both panels and plug it into one of the MC4 Y adapters, then do the same with the negative wires. Then plug the single ends into the MC4 to 8mm adapter. This creates a parallel connection where positive is separate from negative and is safe to do with the Goal Zero Yeti.
Conclusion
While comparing the Yeti 400 Lithium to the Explorer 500, I came to the same conclusion as the comparison above between the Yeti 200X and the Explorer 240.
What it comes down to is a power station that can charge fast (Yeti 400 Lithium), versus a power station that has more battery capacity and a larger inverter (Explorer 500).
To take advantage of the higher max input on the Yeti, you’re going to have to use two 100W panels wired in parallel. If you’re only using a single 100W panel, there won’t be a difference in input watts between the two.
Related Post: Do Cell Phone Boosters Work For Data?
If you need to power a 12V fridge/freezer, there is no question, the Explorer 500 will do a better job with its regulated 12V output. Or if you want to plug an RV camper or van into it, I would go with the Jackery due to the larger inverter that can output 200 watts more.
The screen is better on the Yeti and gives you more information, but if you’re going to be close to the Explorer 500 and don’t need to see the state of charge from far away it won’t matter much.
The time to full/empty is a useful feature that I use sometimes on my Yeti 1000, but it’s not a necessity like the state of charge in a percentage that both have.
I like that Jackery includes the car charger, which Goal Zero sells separately.
The Jackery is also lighter and easier to carry around, but the handle on the Yeti folds down to make it easier to store in small places. You can’t do anything to remove the handle on the Jackery unless you bring the saw out.
Goal Zero Yeti 500X Vs Jackery Explorer 500
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What The Yeti 500X Does Better
The Yeti 500X has two AC outlets versus Explorer’s single outlet. So if you want to power two devices you won’t need to use a power strip with the Yeti.
Although the Yeti has a smaller inverter, it has a higher surge rate at 1200W versus Explorer’s 1000W.
It has more USB ports in total and a better selection of ports. With a regular USB C port, a USB C PD port, and two USB A ports you will be able to charge both older electronics but also newer phones, tablets, speakers, and even laptops.
The USB C PD port also works as an input, which adds another 60W of input.
Both have an 8mm input, but the Yeti can handle 120W while the Explorer maxes out at 65W when using solar panels.
The screen on the Yeti 500X has more information with the battery voltage, output amps, hours to empty/full in addition to the input/output watts and battery percentage/bars. You can also leave the backlight on, which is not possible with the Jackery.
Goal Zero uses an MPPT solar charge controller that is capable of inputting 120W to the Yeti battery, which is fast for a power station this size.
The Yeti 500X is lighter and smaller in general. It has a handle that folds down instead of a solid handle, so it’s easier to store in small spaces.
Last but not least, the fans on the Yeti 500X don’t turn on as much and aren’t as loud as the Explorer fans.
What The Jackery Explorer 500 Does Better
Jackery has a slightly larger battery (2.5% more capacity).
The big difference is the inverter rating since the Jackery has a 50% more powerful inverter. If you need to power devices that will require more than 300W in total, the Jackery Explorer 500 is the best option.
The wall charger included with the Jackery Explorer 500 is faster (81W vs Yeti 60W).
Although the Yeti uses a more efficient MPPT solar charge controller, the Jackery Explorer can handle larger panels since it has a 30V input max vs Yeti 22V. This makes it possible to use panels with a VOC rating above 22V with the Jackery that won’t be supported by the Yeti.
The Jackery has an extra 6mm DC output, and Jackery includes a car charger.
There is also a LED flashlight on the side of the Explorer 500.
What They Have In Common
Both have an MPPT solar charge controller.
There is a regulated 12V cigarette port on both, so running a 12V fridge/freezer or other sensitive 12V electronics with a low-voltage cutoff won’t cause any issues until the battery is drained.
There is a pure sine wave inverter in both of the units so you can power sensitive electronics.
Both use lithium-ion batteries, rated at 500 cycles to 80% capacity.
The screen on both shows the state of charge in percentage, battery bars, input/output watts.
Buttons above each kind of output lets you turn on/off the ports on both.
An 8mm input can be found on both.
You can charge both with the wall charger, car charger, and solar panels.
Both of them can be used while charging.
Neither of them includes solar panels.
Solar Panel Recommendations
Since they have the 8mm input, you can use solar panels like the Jackery SolarSaga 60W, Rockpals 100W, Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, and with both.
To use solar panels with MC4 connectors, like the Renogy 50W and Renogy 100W you need to use an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
Since the Yeti 500X can handle up to 120W input, you can plug in two 100W panels with MC4 connectors in parallel to max the input.
To do this, you’ll need a MC4 Y Branch (click to view on Amazon), and an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
Take the positive wire from both panels and plug it into one of the MC4 Y adapters, then do the same with the negative wires. Then plug the single ends into the MC4 to 8mm adapter.
This creates a parallel connection where positive is separate from negative and is safe to do with the Goal Zero Yeti.
Conclusion
The Yeti 500X and Explorer 500 have more in common than the Yeti 400 Lithium and Explorer 500.
What sets them apart is the inverter rating, since the Jackery Explorer 500 has a 50% more powerful inverter.
300W is still enough to power several devices like phones, tablets, TVs, small kitchen appliances (not a coffee maker), CPAP machines, gaming consoles, and self-inflating air mattresses.
The Yeti 500X has more modern outputs with the USB C and USB C PD ports, and don’t forget the extra AC outlet that can matter to some.
I believe that the Yeti 500X is the best choice unless you need to power one or several devices that will require over 300W continuously.
The Yeti 500X beats the Explorer 500 with the extra AC outlet, the USB C ports, higher input wattage rating, the better screen, and the smaller design.
Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium Vs Jackery Explorer 1000
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What The Yeti 1000 Lithium Does Better
The Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium has more battery capacity and a larger inverter. The battery capacity difference isn’t huge (1045Wh vs 1002Wh), but the inverter is 40% more powerful at 1500W vs 1000W.
So what does it mean that the inverter is more powerful? Well, it means that if you had 15 lights that require 100W each, you could power all of them with the Yeti 1000, but only 10 of them with the Explorer 1000.
The difference in the battery capacity is so small that you won’t notice it, but the inverter difference means that you could run a 700W microwave that requires 1100W with the Yeti, but not with the Explorer.
Related Post: Best Portable Solar Panel Charger For RV Boondocking
Goal Zero has put the same screen on the Yeti 1000 as on the Yeti 400 Lithium, and it’s a better screen with more information compared to the Jackery.
It shows not only input/output watts and the state of charge in a percentage, but also output amps, battery voltage, total watt-hours used, and time to full/empty.
There are more DC outputs on the Yeti 1000. One unregulated cigarette port, one Anderson Power Pole output, and two 6mm ports. To regulate the 12V output on the Yeti, you must use a Goal Zero Regulated 12V cable.
The Yeti 1000 can handle a lot more solar panels than the Jackery, even though the Yeti has a PWM charge controller. You can upgrade to an MPPT charge controller, by buying the optional MPPT expansion module (click to view on Amazon).
You can plug chargers and solar panels into both the inputs on the Yeti 1000 at the same time, the Jackery 1000 only allows one input at a time even though it has two different kinds of input ports.
What The Jackery Explorer 1000 Does Better
Jackery has put an MPPT charge controller in the Explorer 1000, which makes it much more efficient than the Yeti that has a built-in PWM charge controller. The MPPT charge controller will especially outperform a PWM charge controller in cold climates.
The Jackery Explorer 1000 has three AC outlets, versus Yeti’s two. It also has a regulated 12V cigarette port, so you can use a 12V fridge/freezer and not have to worry about it shutting off when the battery goes below a certain percentage like with the Yeti.
While both power stations have four USB ports, the ones on the Jackery are more modern and useful. It has a regular USB A port, two USB C PD ports, and one USB A QC 3.0 port. So if you have a phone, tablet, or laptop with a USB C port, you’ll be able to quickly charge it with the Jackery.
To use USB C devices with the Yeti, you need either a USB A to USB C cable, or a power adapter, which will be more inefficient than charging via the USB C PD ports on the Jackery.
Jackery includes a car charger so you can charge it in a vehicle, Goal Zero sells one separately.
One big difference between the two is weight. The Explorer 1000 weighs only 22 pounds, and the Yeti weighs 40 pounds. It’s also smaller in total size.
The weight and size of the Jackery make it easier to carry around comfortably. Its handle on top makes it possible to carry with one hand which is not possible with the Yeti.
What They Have In Common
Both of them have an 8mm input and an Anderson Power Pole input. Unfortunately, the Jackery can only accept input through either of them at once. The Yeti can charge from both input ports simultaneously.
There is a pure sine wave inverter in both of the units so you can power sensitive electronics.
Both use lithium-ion batteries, rated at 500 cycles to 80% capacity.
The screen on both shows the state of charge in percentage, battery bars, input/output watts.
Buttons above each kind of output lets you turn on/off the ports on both.
You can charge both with the wall charger, car charger, and solar panels.
Both of them can be used while charging.
Neither of them includes solar panels.
Solar Panel Recommendations
First of all, if you’re going with the Yeti, I recommend upgrading to the MPPT charge controller (click to view on Amazon). It’s easy to install on the Yeti. The Jackery Explorer 1000 has an MPPT charge controller built-in.
Since they both have an 8mm input, you can use solar panels like the Jackery SolarSaga 60W, Rockpals 100W, Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, and .
To use solar panels with MC4 connectors, like the Renogy 50W and Renogy 100W you need to use an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
You can plug in two 100W panels with MC4 connectors in parallel to max the input. To do this, you’ll need a MC4 Y Branch (click to view on Amazon), and an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
Take the positive wire from both panels and plug it into one of the MC4 Y adapters, then do the same with the negative wires. Then plug the single ends into the MC4 to 8mm adapter. This creates a parallel connection where positive is separate from negative and is safe to do with the Goal Zero Yeti.
Conclusion
If you compare the two power stations in the table, it’s easy to believe that they have a lot in common. And they do, in some ways, but they’re different in almost every way if you look closely at each feature and port, and which one is the best depends on what you need.
I own a Yeti 1000 Lithium and I chose it because it can run the microwave in my travel trailer. The Jackery wouldn’t be able to do so since it can “only” output up to 1000W continuously. It would still power my coffee maker, TV, furnace, computer, and RV fridge though.
The Yeti can handle a lot more solar panels at once, and if you upgrade to the MPPT charge controller you can max it out with up to 800 watts worth of solar panels and charge it within a couple of hours.
Since the Jackery is limited to 126W when using 12V solar panels, I wouldn’t use any more than 3 100W solar panels wired in parallel with it.
Jackery did put an MPPT charge controller in the Explorer 1000, and that gives it a big advantage since you have to purchase that separately with the Yeti.
Related Post: Best Portable Power Station For Camping
For most people that go camping, the Jackery is more than enough though, and most likely the best choice due to its outputs and the weight.
Not everybody travels full-time and works on their computers full-time as I do, and a maximum of 126W input isn’t bad, but not as good as the Yeti.
If you’re a van dweller without a large microwave, I recommend the Jackery Explorer 1000.
Put two Renogy 100W solar panels on your roof, wire them together in parallel with a MC4 Y Branch, pull some MC4 extension cables down into your van, and connect them to the Jackery with the MC4 to Anderson adapter cable, and you’re set.
If you absolutely need the 500W extra power to power several power-hungry devices at once, or a microwave and power tools, I recommend the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium. But you should definitely upgrade to the MPPT expansion module (click to view on Amazon).
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X Vs Jackery Explorer 1000
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What The Yeti 1500X Does Better
More battery capacity (514Wh) and twice as powerful inverter (2000W vs 1000W).
Has a USB C PD port that supports both input and output, and at 60W it’s faster than the one found on the Explorer 1000.
Supports a lot more solar (600W vs 126W), and since the USB C PD port can be used to charge the Yeti, it supports up to 660W of input.
The Yeti 1500X also has WiFi capabilities and can be controlled with a phone app. Monitor, control, and set charging preferences.
What The Explorer 1000 Does Better
Jackery includes a car charger, and it has three AC outlets instead of two.
Much lighter and smaller overall.
What They Have In Common
Both have an MPPT charge controller.
Both of them have an 8mm input and an Anderson Power Pole input. Unfortunately, both can only accept input from one of the ports at a time. The port receiving the highest voltage is the one that is activated. Therefore, you can’t use the wall charger and solar at the same time.
There is a pure sine wave inverter in both of the units so you can power sensitive electronics.
Both use lithium-ion batteries, rated at 500 cycles to 80% capacity.
The screen on both shows the state of charge in percentage, battery bars, input/output watts.
Buttons above each kind of output let you turn on/off the ports on both.
You can charge both with the wall charger, car charger, and solar panels.
Both of them can be used while charging.
Neither of them includes solar panels.
Solar Panel Recommendations
Since they both have an 8mm input, you can use solar panels like the Jackery SolarSaga 60W, Rockpals 100W, Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, and .
To use solar panels with MC4 connectors, like the Renogy 50W and Renogy 100W you need to use an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
You can plug in two 100W panels with MC4 connectors in parallel to max the input. To do this, you’ll need a MC4 Y Branch (click to view on Amazon), and an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
Take the positive wire from both panels and plug it into one of the MC4 Y adapters, then do the same with the negative wires. Then plug the single ends into the MC4 to 8mm adapter. This creates a parallel connection where positive is separate from negative and is safe to do with the Goal Zero Yeti.
Conclusion
It might seem like an unfair comparison because there is a huge price difference, but I figured I might as well compare the two for the people that can’t decide.
The Yeti 1500X is a much better power station in my opinion because it can output twice as much, can charge more than three times as fast, supports USB C PD charging, has a faster USB C PD port in general, and has 514 more watt-hours battery capacity.
Another thing I like about the Yeti 1500X is the built-in Wi-Fi that connects to your home Wi-Fi so you can monitor and control the power station with your phone.
It’s a shame that neither of them can be charged with solar and the wall charger at the same time.
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X Vs Jackery Explorer 1500
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What The Yeti 1500X Does Better
Slightly more battery capacity (28Wh more). You won’t notice a difference here.
More powerful inverter, with a 2000W continuous output, versus 1800W in the Jackery. Both are powerful enough to power kitchen appliances like coffee makers, Instant pots, air fryers, induction plates, microwaves, etc. Neither will power a +13,500 BTU air conditioner.
The Yeti has an extra USB C port, and since it’s a USB C PD port it can also charge the Yeti battery if you have a compatible USB C PD charger. It’s a 60W USB C PD port.
Goal Zero has kept its two different inputs, the 8mm and the Anderson Powerpole (they call it the High Power port now).
Unfortunately, the Yeti 1500X only accepts input from one at a time, but it’s still nice to be able to choose which type of connector you want to use. The other caveat is that the 8mm input can only handle up to 150W, while the Anderson can handle up to 600W.
The great thing about the MPPT charge controller in the Yeti is that it allows up to 50V input. This means that you can connect two 12V panels in series.
The Yeti has more DC outputs which makes it more friendly for vandwellers that want to be able to power a lot of lights and other devices with 12V and not 120V.
The expansion module slot on the Yeti can also be very useful. You can install a second MPPT charge controller (click to view on Amazon) and increase the total input limit, or a Yeti link to connect external batteries for more battery storage.
Last but not least, the Yeti 1500X has WiFi-capabilities so it can connect to your WiFi and be monitored and controlled with the Yeti app on a smartphone. If you’re a traveler you could also connect it to a hotspot, so it doesn’t have to be a WiFi network in a house necessarily.
What The Explorer 1500 Does Better
The Explorer 1500 has an additional AC outlet, there are three instead of two. The three outlets are the 20A type, even though they can output a maximum of 1800W combined. This could be useful if you’re powering large tools or appliances with a 20A plug.
While both of them support 600W input, the Jackery allows input via both of the 8mm inputs at the same time. Each port can only handle 300W though, so you can’t use one only one port to reach the 600W max.
This means that you can use a wall or car charger while also charging the battery with solar panels. The Yeti can not do this.
Jackery includes a car charger, and a parallel connector that is supposed to be used with its SolarSaga panels.
Jackery also includes a second charger which lets you recharge the battery in two hours, which is incredibly fast for a battery this size. The Yeti takes 14 hours to charge with the included charger, but you can buy a faster 600W charger which brings the charging time down to three hours.
What They Have In Common
Both use MPPT charge controllers and accept up to 600W input. The difference is that the Yeti can handle 600W via the Anderson Power pole, while the Explorer can handle 300W via each port.
There are great displays on both that show input/output watts, time to full/empty, battery percentage and bars/indicators. The Yeti also shows output amps, watt-hours used, and the battery voltage. The Explorer shows which ports are active, and what charging method is being used (car, wall, solar).
A pure sine wave inverter can be found in both, and a regulated 12V port which makes it safe to use with 12V fridge/freezers.
Both can be used while charging, use lithium batteries, and neither include solar panels.
Buttons by each kind of output let you turn on/off the ports on both.
You can charge both with the wall charger, car charger, and solar panels.
Solar Panel Recommendations
You have a lot of options when it comes to solar panels for the Yeti 1500X and Explorer 1500, although the Yeti 1500X is better in that aspect since it can handle a higher voltage.
The Yeti supports up to 50V, while the Jackery can handle up to 30V. That means you can only do a parallel connection with the Jackery, but a series connection with the Yeti.
Please note that if you have an Explorer 1500 that was purchased in the late 2020 or beginning of 2021, it might be the model that supports up to 50V. The newer model does not. You will know which one you have by checking the input specifications in the included manual.
The 8mm input on both let you use panels like the Goal Zero Boulder 100 briefcase and the SolarSaga 100.
You can get two of either panels, and Jackery includes a parallel connector to hook two SolarSaga panels together.
To do the same with the Boulder 100, you’re going to need the Goal Zero 8mm combiner.
Since they both have an 8mm input, you can use solar panels like the Jackery SolarSaga 60W, Rockpals 100W, Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, and .
The 8mm on the Explorer 1500 is proprietary, so you need to use the parallel adapter included with the purchase to connect third-party panels and/or the SolarSaga.
To use solar panels with MC4 connectors, like the Renogy 50W and Renogy 100W you need to use an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
You can plug in two 100W panels with MC4 connectors in parallel (or series with the Yeti) to max the input. To do a parallel connection, you’ll need a MC4 Y Branch (click to view on Amazon), and an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).
The difference between a parallel connection and a series connection isn’t only how you connect the panels, but the total voltage and amperage will be different depending on how you do it.
A parallel connection will combine the amperage, but keep the voltage the same as if you only connected one panel.
A series connection will keep the amperage the same as if you only used one panel, but it will double (or triple depending on the number of panels) the voltage. Charge controllers are usually fine with exceeding the amperage, but not the voltage.
To do a parallel connection, take the positive wire from both panels and plug it into one of the MC4 Y adapters, then do the same with the negative wires. Then plug the single ends (one from each panel) into the MC4 to 8mm adapter. This creates a parallel connection where positive is separate from negative and is safe to do.
A series connection doesn’t require the MC4 Y branch, but you’re going to have to be more careful and know the total voltage of the panels when combined. Find the VOC rating of the panel, and double it (if you’re combining two panels), and make sure it’s below 50V if you have the Yeti.
To do a series connection, take the MC4 male connector from the first panel, and connect it to the MC4 female connector on the second panel. Then you’ll connect the MC4 to 8mm adapter, with one cable from each panel, and connect it to the Yeti.
You can not do a series connection to the Explorer 1500 or 2000 unless you have one of the earlier models (check the input specifications in the manual).
Note that the 8mm input on the Yeti only allow up to 150W input, so if you’re going to connect more than 200W of solar, you need to use an MC4 to Anderson adapter instead. You might have to change the orientation of the Anderson connectors for it to fit the input on the Yeti.
If you have any questions about doing any of this, or plan on doing a different type of setup, please leave a comment and I’ll do my best to help you.
Conclusion
Both the Yeti 1500X and Explorer 1500 are great power stations. They’re very similar in terms of features and ports, so it comes down to details and what you’re looking for.
The Yeti 1500X is a little bit more modern, with its expandability- and WiFi-capabilities, but the Jackery is still a versatile solar generator with lots of ports and a great display in a very portable package.
So which is better for your needs? Well, it depends on how and where you plan on using it. If you would like to be able to buy extra batteries to store more electricity, you’ll probably like the Yeti more. You could always buy a second Explorer 1500 and have twice the capacity though.
For RV, van, and car travelers, the Explorer 1500 is my choice because it’s more portable, has all the ports I need, and you’re not limited to only one input. Being able to use both a car charger and a solar panel at the same time might be a must for some travelers.
I also appreciate that Jackery includes two chargers that can charge the battery in two hours. To get even close to that with the Yeti, you have to spend more money and buy a faster charger.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Powered Generators
What Can A Power Station Power/Run?
The inverter in the solar generator/power station decides what it can power.
The inverter is what changes the 12V DC battery power into 120V AC power and powers the outlets that look like the wall outlets in your house.
A 500W inverter can power one or more devices as long as they don’t need more than 500W to run continuously.
Even if a power station only has one outlet, you can plug a power strip into the one outlet to provide electricity to several devices.
Related Post: Best Portable Power Bank For Travel
If you don’t know how many watts your devices use, you should look for a sticker on it or on its power brick. It’s possible that it only tells you the volts and the amps, but if you multiply them you get the watts. For example (5V, 3A equals 15W).
You can also plug your devices into a Kill A Watt (click to view on Amazon) to see exactly how much they use.
It’s good if have a rough estimate of how many watts you need before you choose which power station to buy, so you don’t end up with an inverter not powerful enough to power your electronics.
What Is A Solar Generator/Power Station?
A power station, also known as a solar generator, is a box with three main parts.
It has a battery, a solar charge controller, and an inverter.
The battery size is how much electricity the power station can hold, the solar charge controller lets you plug solar panel into the station to charge the battery without risking damage from overcharging, and the inverter changes the 12V DC battery power into 120V AC power so you can run standard 110/120V electronics with it.
Do Solar Generators/Power Stations Come With Solar Panels?
No, most power stations do not come with solar panels included. Unless it’s mentioned in the title, you should assume that you need to purchase solar panels separately.
It doesn’t matter if it’s called a solar generator in the title, the above still applies.
Can The Power Station Be Used While It’s Charging?
It depends on the model. If it’s not mentioned in the product specifications, you should contact the company and ask. Or you can leave a comment with the model you’re considering and I will look it up for you.
How Long Do Power Stations Last?
Most power stations use lithium-ion batteries that are rated at 500 lifecycles to 80% battery capacity.
What this means is that if you drain the power station from 100% to 0%, 500 times, the battery capacity will be at 80% instead of at 100% that it had as new.
If you take care of the battery by not discharging it lower than 10-20%, you can extend the lifetime of the battery and most likely get 1000 lifecycles before seeing the same 20% decrease in battery capacity.
Another thing you can do is not charge it above 80-90%.
Can I Plug An RV/Van Camper Into A Solar Generator?
Yes, I plug my Yeti 1000 into my travel trailer, and it powers everything except for the air conditioner. I plug it in with a 15A to 30A dogbone adapter.
I have also plugged in a Jackery Explorer 500 with the same kind of adapter and didn’t have any issues.
Related Post: RV Depreciation Rates
When I plug it in, it starts using between 100 to 300 watts to charge my trailer house batteries. Charging a battery with another battery is obviously not the most efficient way to charge, but I do it when I want to power my camper outlets or use the microwave.
I wouldn’t recommend plugging in a power station with an inverter smaller than 500W.
Will It Power My Device?
If your device is within the inverter limits, it will power your device as long as the inverter isn’t already powering other devices that would make it exceed the limit.
If the inverter is rated at 500W and the power station has two AC outlets, it doesn’t mean that each outlet can output 500W. They can output 500W combined.
Understand the difference between 500W and 1000Wh when looking at a power station listing. The 500W is how many watts the AC outlets can output, while the 1000Wh is the battery capacity that decides how long you can power a device.
How Long Will It Power My Device?
It depends on the battery capacity and how many watts your device is using. If it has 1000Wh (watt-hours) and you plug in a 100W device, it will run for about 10 hours (1000Wh/100W=10 hours).
An inverter is not 100% efficient, but usually 80-90% efficient, so to get a more worse-case/accurate number, multiply the hours with 0.8 (80%). If we use our example above, then 10*0.8= 8 hours.
How Long Will It Take To Charge A Power Station?
How long it takes to charge a power station depends on the battery capacity and the charging input wattage.
If you have a 100W solar panel connected to a 1000Wh (watt-hour) power station, and the solar panel generates about 70W (70 watt-hours per hour), it would take 14.29 hours to charge fully.
You might notice that the battery will charge fast when the battery is at a low state of charge, and then slow down when it reaches 80-90%.
For this reason, it’s smart to add another hour or two to the calculation above for an accurate number.
If you have any questions about either Goal Zero or Jackery power stations, or any question in general or want me to correct something in this post, please leave a comment down below.
Thank you so much for your reviews and detailed explanations. I have been comparing and inputting the information I could find online, creating a spreadsheet between these two brands and it has taken hours. I have zero electrical knowledge (input or output). Your review helped me understand my spreadsheet information more clearly and the application questions I had were addressed as well (we hope to use this device without disastrous, expensive consequences).
Thank you again! You have made this comparison/decision much easier!!
ps (There is a Yeti 500X, which I would be interested to see you add to your review as it may compare even more closely to the Jackery 500 Explorer-at least from what I have been able to see.)
Thank you for your comment, Kristen.
Good suggestion, I’m adding it to my to-do list!
Jesse
Kristen, Which unit did you go with? The “why”s are of great interest, too….
Thank you for your time,
Jesse, excellent article, thank you for the time to review. I am debating between the Yeti 500 and Jackery 500, now that the 400 has become obs. No defined purpose other than to power lights/charge phones for a short power outage (when its a pain to fire up a 2K Honda and run drop cords everywhere. Do you feel the Goal Zero is worth $200 more than the Jackery?
Thanks
Jack
Hello Jack, thank you!
For your needs – No, I would go with the Jackery.
The Yeti has an extra AC outlet, quieter fans, faster charging with solar (Jackery charges faster with the included wall charger), a more useful screen, and USB C ports. If you have a modern phone and laptop that charges via USB C PD, 100-200W solar panels, and plan on using it for several weeks and not just a couple of days every year, I would say it’s worth $200 more. But for powering lights and phones, the Jackery is more than enough.
You might even want to consider something like the nrgGo 400 (click to view on Amazon) which is very similar to the Yeti but with about 100Wh less battery capacity and a non-regulated 12V output. It has a better screen than the Jackery, USB C PD, two AC outlets, and faster solar charging.
Jesse
Jesse, thank you, this is invaluable. I will look at the nrgGO, but my thinking was I could get the Jackery and a solar panel for the price of the GZ. I just wanted to make sure the Explorer did not have any fatal flaws.
Secondly, I would like your $.02 or very portable solar panel for a WY backpack trip where I will not have AC for 7 days. I have 30K in Anker power banks, but would like a small solar panel to keep them topped off if that makes sense. Main purpose is to keep and iPhone and Garmin inreach charged.
No, the Explorer is a great power station. The only thing that sometimes bothers me with it is the fan noise, but it’s a good idea to save some money and buy a solar panel to pair it with instead.
When it comes to portable panels, the best ones out there are currently the BigBlue 21W and BigBlue 28W. For an even more portable panel, the Eceen 13W is a good choice.
Just make sure you check the input requirements of the power bank(s) first, so you don’t get a solar panel that can’t output the required volts/amps.
Jesse
Thank you an incredible write up!
I have a question and hope you might be able and willing to help.
I’m looking for a power station to take camping. The power station will run a small USB light (hardly any draw) and my CPAP machine for at most, three nights.
Would you recommend the Jackery 500 or the Goal Zero 500x?
Again, thank you for any help you can provide.
Hello Stewart,
With your needs, I would go for the Jackery Explorer 500.
I also recommend getting a DC cable/converter for your CPAP machine so you can run it off of the cigarette lighter port. It will be more efficient and save battery power.
Before you go camping I also suggest testing the CPAP at home with the Jackery and see which settings use more or less power. I don’t have any experience with a CPAP but from what I have read, some have settings that use more power.
The Jackery will tell you exactly how many watts the CPAP is using, so you can do some calculations and get an estimate of how long it will power your machine. Take the total battery capacity (518Wh) and divide it by the wattage used by the CPAP for the number of hours it will last.
The Yeti 500X is better in that sense since it does the calculation for you and tells you how many hours it will run on the screen.
Jesse
I need to power my Ewheels EW-11 Euro Sport scooter. Can you suggest a power supply for this:
Watts 500 Watt
Motor Type Trans-axel motor
Amps 20 AH
Volts 48 Volts
Batteries (4) 12 volt Sealed Lead Acid Maintenance Free
Hello Sharian,
I took a look at the Scooter listing and it appears that it would take about 1000Wh to fully charge the battery, which means that you would need a power station like the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 or Jackery 1000 at the very least.
Jesse,
You’re careful comparison of the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 and the Jackery 1000 was extremely helpful to this older gal. My family needs a solar generator to keep a couple of small fans going and perhaps a small television, if the grid goes down. We have a 10KW propane generator, but my goodness, does that big boy ever burn fuel!
My quandry is if this Goal Zero generator can be hooked into the house (like the 10KW), so I could plug a fan into the wall socket of a room upstairs and downstairs. Know it isn’t made for this use, but enquiring minds want to know. Otherwise, I’ll have to run a l-o-n-g extension cord hither and yon….
Thanks ever so much for your willingness to share your expertise.
Hello Kay,
Thank you for your comment.
So the Yeti has a 1500W inverter, which could be connected to your home with the right adapter. You’d need a 15A 120V to whatever connector you’re plugging the home into on the generator. 1500W should definitely be enough for some fans and a TV.
Goal Zero also makes a home integration kit (click to view on Amazon) that is supposed to be used with the Yeti 1000 and larger. I haven’t used one of these myself, but it’s supposed to do what you’re asking. If you have any questions about the integration kit I suggest calling Goal Zero, they have a great support team.
Hope I didn’t make it confusing, let me know if I can help out further in any way.
Jesse
Hey Jesse,
Amazing article. We’ll written and really easy to read and understand. I’m no pro with generators or this subject, but I plan to be camping and on the road for 2-6 weeks at a time. I am considering the Jackery 1000w. I will be traveling with a friend and we both work remote. So I will have a 2 laptops, a 12v fridge (probably the Alpi Cooler I think?), phones. My main concern is the Alpi cooler, do you think the Jackery 1000 + their 120w? Solar panel will be enough to run mainly the cooler (45W and roughly drawing 3-4 amps) full time?
Thanks again for your work and sorry if I butchered any of that.
Hello Ben,
Yes, that setup should work as long as you don’t have two gaming laptops that are going to be on 10 hours a day. We’ve written this post that compares power consumption between the Alpicool and Dometic fridges, and based on the numbers in that post, most Alpicool fridges will run for several days on the Explorer 1000 before the Explorer needs to be recharged.
Let’s say you have the Alpicool C20 which will use about 200 watt-hours total per day, so that’s 4-5 days on its own with the Explorer 1000. But then you charge two 60W laptops for four hours which will at most use around 500 watt-hours per day (120*4), then you’ll have 300 watt-hours left. Now, if you have a 100W solar panel charging the Explorer for 5 hours, it’ll generate around 350 watt-hours (70*5) as long as it’s sunny. So at the end of the day, the battery should be above 50% state of charge.
So you shouldn’t have any issues keeping the fridge powered with the Jackery as long as you have a solar panel connected to it. Cloudy days suck when you rely fully on solar panels, so how much you can charge your laptops will depend on the weather.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
Thank you so much for this review. I’m looking for a power station + solar kit to help power things during outages. I’m in CA and we’re coming into fire season which means PG&E will be cutting off power–last year up to 3 days it was off. I’m mainly concerned with powering laptop/wi-fi router, phone charge so I can work during the day. It seems like either GZ or Jackery 1000 should suffice but is there a bigger model that might be better for this use case? (i.e. maybe i’ll need to plug in my refrigerator for a few hours…)
Thx
Mary
Hello Mary,
The Jackery 1000 paired with a Jackery SolarSaga 100W would be a great kit. With the 1002 watt-hours, you could power a 50W laptop for about 17 hours. Phones and routers usually don’t need more than 5-20W.
To start your fridge, you might need more than the 1000W the Jackery can output though, and the Ecoflow Delta (click to view on Amazon) is a better choice than the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 right now. It has more battery capacity and a more powerful inverter than both the Jackery and Yeti.
So, to conclude, I recommend the Ecoflow Delta paired with a solar panel like the Twelseavan 120W if you want a portable panel or a Renogy 100W if you want a more rigid but heavier panel. Both of them are compatible with the Delta out of the box, you just have to connect the right adapter.
The inverter in the Ecoflow Delta is as powerful as a household outlet (1800W) and will power your refrigerator among other things without issues. If you change your mind and don’t think you’ll need to plug the fridge in, I would go with the Jackery kit.
Hope I didn’t make it confusing, let me know if you have any more questions.
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
Your review and summary are beyond helpful. I have learned so much. To add to what you recommended to Mary, I also live in CA and am affected by earthquakes and last week a long power outage. I am leaning towards the Ecoflow and the Renogy. Will it power my LG fridge, model # lmxs30776s, recharge a few phones and ipads, and run a small free standing fan, honeywell humidifier (small appliances) and potentially my router and modem? Also what connectors would I need to connect it all? My concern in CA is outages from a few hours to a week if we get another earthquake. After the ‘94 one power took a week to return.
Thank you for your assistance and research,
Julie
Hello Julie,
Yes, the Ecoflow Delta will power everything you mention. I looked at the specifications of your fridge and it uses around 2.02kWH a day, and the Delta has a 1.26kWH battery capacity. Therefore, I would definitely pair it with at least one 100W solar panel. To make the battery last longer, I suggest turning the fridge off in the evening and only run it for a couple of hours every day to keep everything cold enough to be safe.
Ecoflow includes an MC4 to XT60 adapter, so the Renogy 100W Suitcase will plug into the Delta straight out of the box. The only thing I would add is an MC4 extension cable like the Windynation MC4 cables so you can keep the battery inside and the solar panel outside.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
Thank you again for your research. We are going with your plan and are ordering it today and will go with the plan of only running the fridge part of the day to save the battery. With summer coming we are worried about more power outages and earthquakes.
Julie
Awesome, let me know if there are any issues or questions.
Jesse
Hello,
Great article, I have been researching power stations for over a week now and came down to these two brands. I was looking at the yeti 1400 as well.
I live in Florida and would like to have a back up for my ge side by side refrigerator and my 7cu chest freezer. Would the yeti 1000 be sufficient? Or would the yeti 1400 be more suitable.
Thank you!
Hello Tamra, thank you!
I can’t say with 100% certainty because it depends on your exact fridge model. Some of those GE fridges uses more watts than any power station can output. Based on what I could find though, the fridge on its own uses 1-2kWH per day.
The Yeti 1000 has a 1kWH battery capacity, which means that it wouldn’t even make it a full day unless you have several solar panels recharging the battery during the day.
If you only need to power your fridge and freezer for a couple of hours during a power outage and had to choose between the 1000/1400, the Yeti 1400 is definitely the better option but I would recommend the Ecoflow Delta over the Yeti 1400. It can recharge much faster and output more watts. Still, without knowing what exact fridge and freezer you have it’s impossible to say how long it would stay powered.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Jesse
Thank you! I’m looking at the Ecoflow Delta, and I believe I will be going with that one.
Awesome!
Hi Jesse, thanks for creating a fact filled site. It has been very helpful so far. I really appreciate the work you have put into it.
My goal is a semi-portable power supply for powering multiple computers as I travel. The current plan is to connect two Dokia 150w folding panels and bypass their controllers, using as SAE Y splitter, then SAE to 8mm male connector into the Jackery 1000, does that make sense to you?
Should I worry that the maximum power voltage for each solar unit is 18V so I would technically be over what the Jackery could handle?
Can I mix 10AWG and 14 AWG cables?
Any thoughts on the Dokia 150 and/or 300w folding panels? They seem much cheaper than other options?
Lastly, I will click your affiliate links, but humble suggestion since you respond so frequently to these comments, let us know what we can do to support you and your great website! Many thanks!
Hello Noah, thank you for your kind comment. I am just happy to help!
Your plan makes sense and is how I would do it as well. As long as you mean this type of SAE splitter that makes a parallel connection. By making a parallel connection, the voltage will stay the same but the amperage will double and be within what the Explorer can handle. You shouldn’t connect the panels in series because then the voltage will double and exceed 30V. In short, a parallel connection connects the positives together separate from the negatives, while a series connection connects the positive to the negative.
In this case, yes you can mix 10AWG and 14AWG cables.
I haven’t used the Dokio panels, but I have read about them and don’t have any reason to not recommend them. One thing I want you to be aware of is that the Explorer 1000 has a max solar input wattage of around 175W (even though Jackery advertises 200W). So your 300W panels will most likely max out the input during peak hours, which is fine but I figured I should let you know so you don’t wonder why it’s only generating 175W.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Jesse
Hi mate,
Thank you for posting this comparison. Looking at AIMTOM 155 vs Jackery 240. Have a setup that runs fridges, mainly looking to power devices (couple of phones and iPads and a 12v TV). Your review Has helped immensely 👍. I went for 2 Aimtom Units (same price as 240 Jackery). Hope I read correctly. Went for Ah and weight I n the end.
Cheers
Ben
Hello Ben,
Good choice, it’s a great idea to go with two more portable batteries like that unless you need a regulated 12V output. You even get an extra USB port vs the Explorer 240. The biggest downside to me is that there isn’t a screen to monitor the battery percentage and input/output watts, but for charging smaller devices like phones and tablets that’s not as much of a necessity.
I haven’t tested the Aimtom 155Wh myself, but it’s on my list of power stations I am going to try to review later this year.
Let me know if you have any questions or issues, and thanks for your comment.
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
I recently found your website and informative articles, thank you. I read up on solar generators and solar panels for home backup before purchasing a Yeti 200X, 2 Yeti 500Xs, and 3 Sunpower SPR-E-Flex-110 panels. I purchased the Yeti “X” batteries because of their built-in MPPT controllers, which work great. These batteries can/will provide emergency backup options within our house for future power failures, including our refrigerator which has a power draw under the 500X’s 300W limit.
I just wanted to point out in your article above suggests one can parallel 2 100W panels into the Yeti’s 120W input port: “Since the Yeti 500X can handle up to 120W input, you can plug in two 100W panels with MC4 connectors in parallel to max the input. To do this, you’ll need a MC4 Y Branch (click to view on Amazon), and an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).”
My understanding is this could be dangerous. If bright sunshine comes along, the 2 panels could collectively generate well more than the Yeti’s allowable 120W, which could overheat & melt the port. This is why I stick with a single 110W Sunpower panel for my Yeti’s, and I’ve seen it input 95-100W in full sun.
Just food for thought re: safety. I could be wrong.
Thanks again for all the great information!
Best, Mike
Hello Mike, thanks for your comment and nice setup!
You won’t do any harm to the solar charge controller or the port as long as you don’t exceed the max voltage. You can connect 200W of solar panels, but the solar charge controller will limit the input to 120W.
I have talked to Goal Zero about the Yeti 500X specifically and they recommend up to 200W of solar panels, but not more.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Jesse
Once the Yeti1000X is released and they phase out the 1000, it will be interesting to see the side by side with the Jackery 1000. A lot of the shortcomings in the Yeti will be addressed in the 1000X.
Yes, indeed! I think the 1000X is going to kick the Explorer 1000’s butt in terms of features, but it will all come down to the price whether it’s going to be worth it or not.
Are you sure E500 using PWN ??
Because Jackery saying the E500 uses the MPPT.
Hello Karl,
Yes, I am sure. As far as I know, there haven’t been any updates to the Explorer 500, so it still has a PWM charge controller. Where does Jackery say that it does?
Jesse
I came to ask the same. Jackery’s manual for their 500 states MPPT
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0970/9262/files/E500_3.22-min_1.jpg?v=1596087904
Thoughts?
Yes, they claim that the latest 300 and 500 have an MPPT charge controller.
I’m going to update this post soon to include this.
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
I have been on the fence about which company to buy my backup generator from. I’m a firm believer in great customer service and I have read many reviews on Amazon regarding terrible customer service from Bluetti, Delta, etc…. If you had to recommend one or 2 manufacturers based on customer service responsiveness who would you recommend? Goal Zero? Jackery? Thanks.
BTW I’m considering the new Yeti 1500x and the Jackery 1000. Mainly used for emergency power back-up when power goes out. I live in hurricane alley. The Jackery being $1000 and the Yeti based on the deal would cost me $1520. Which would you go for?
Hello Brian,
They’re not going to like me for saying this but I don’t think either of them has great customer service. You can get great customer service from the companies that sell their products though, and I recommend buying Goal Zero products from REI and Jackery products from Amazon. I’m talking about the kind of customer service you get if you’re having issues though, if you only want to ask about features they’re both easy to reach over phone or email, although Goal Zero is a bit better on the phone.
I haven’t tested it yet, but if the Yeti 1500X can do what Goal Zero says it can, I would go with the Yeti 1500X every day of the week. I’m actually thinking about buying one to test it myself.
Twice as powerful inverter, more than twice as fast charging capabilities overall, WiFi, more info on the screen, and faster USB C PD. But as I said, I haven’t had the chance to test it yet.
Jesse
Thanks for the information. I was thinking of buying the Goal Zero from Campsaver. I am only looking at the customer service if something goes wrong and I need technical assistance. From reading the comments I see you mentioning Eco Flow Delta. I really like the unit based on what I have read, but it seems the customer service or lack of is scaring me off. The same for the Bluetti 1500 or 2400, but I think their customer service is a bit better than EcoFlow Delta. I haven’t been impressed with Jackery. They have been unresponsive and never pick up the phone. I emailed and they responded about 2 days later and offered me a discount code to use on Amazon. I tried the code and it didn’t work. I let them know and the response was essentially sorry, but nothing we can do if it doesn’t work. I never experienced anything like that before that they could not correct the special promo code they were offering me. That is enough to take my business elsewhere. Since all I want is emergency back-up power when the power goes out in your opinion as I looking at the right units? You have any opinion on the Bluetti 2400. I could pick that up for $1500 something with a good promocode and the 1500 for around $1100 and the 1500 being close in price to the Jackery 1000 it seems going with the Bluetti is a no brainer. The Goal Zero 1500X I’m still on the fence as the reviews for the 500X are not good and it seems the consensus is they are overpriced, but for $1500 something it doesn’t seem so bad with that 20% off.
Hello Brian,
I understand, and it seems to be a problem with most power station companies. Based on what I have seen, Bluetti doesn’t make its own power stations but buy them from a manufacturer that also sells them to other companies to slap its name on it, just FYI. Based on your concerns though, I would say that Goal Zero is the way to go.
The Ecoflow Delta has impressed me but that’s only based on other people’s reviews I have seen, the same with the Bluetti EB150, but I don’t have anything positive or negative to say about their customer service because I don’t have any experience there. I have talked to both of their marketing teams but not their customer service.
I think the issues with the Yeti 500X have been fixed in the latest models, although there might be some older units for sale still. If I were you I would go for the Yeti 1500X, but maybe wait a couple of weeks for some reviews.
Jesse
I wonder if you would help me with these questiona. Your blog postings are exceptional and easy to follow. I am new to solar and trying to get up to speed quickly. You provide so many helpful options, but my head is swimming at this point.
I decided to keep things as simple as possible with a GZ yeti 1000 and 1500 with GZ Boulder 200 briefcase solar panel
What I need your help with is that I want to purchase one or two RV 12V AGM type batteries. I want to use solar panels to charge the 12 volt batteries, which I then plan to use for backup power on no sun days to charge/power the yeti 1000 and/or 1500. I installed the MPPT optimization unit (charge controller) you recommended on the 1000 yeti. The1500 yeti has the MPPT kit already installed (like the 30 am external kit you recommend for the 1000 yeti). Because I live in a state that is cold in winter and hot in summer, I will most likely go the AGM battery route, but am open to suggestions on that subject. My other concern is the probability of discharging them under 50% unintentionally. A quick read of your blog indicates the batteries would need to be connected in parallel.
Would you detail what connections I need to use the boulder 200 solar panel to charge the 12 v battery. What connections I would then need to connect the 12 v to the 1500 yeti and separately to the 1000 yeti (I assume they will differ based on the 1000 not having the external MPPT kit installed) ?
I am also considering purchasing another Bolder 200 briefcase solar panel. Is that overkill for charging both the Yeti units in one day? Also, when connecting the 200 panels to each other is that technically considered 2 or 4 panels? These panels are Anderson power pole connections. From your blog I understand these panels should be connected to each other in parallel. I like the Renolgy you recommend, but trying to keep things simple and uncomplicated for ease of use.
I have read and understand the blog postings you have on each of these subjects. These units will be used for emg needs as opposed to camping or RVing.
Thank you for your help with this matter.
Ken / Confused in KS
Hello Ken, thanks for your comment.
Let’s see. Someone else might have something to add to this conversation, but here are some thoughts.
1. Based on the recent tests I have read on AGM batteries, they’re ok to discharge below 50% but not below 20%. You’re still going to shorten the lifecycles by doing this, as with any battery, but as long as you don’t bring it below 20% you’re ok. I would still try to keep it as charged as possible at all times, but going below 50% a couple of times won’t make a huge difference.
2. Yes, if the batteries are 12V AGM batteries they should be connected in parallel to increase the amperage but not the voltage. Just connect the positive terminals together, then the negatives together separately from the positive.
3. The Boulder 200 doesn’t have a charge controller built-in, since the Yeti 1000 and 1500X has one built-in. If you want to charge a 12V battery with a solar panel you need to put a charge controller between the two. The charge controller regulates the voltage and makes sure that the battery isn’t overcharged. Goal Zero used to sell a product to connect a Boulder panel to a 12V battery, the Guardian 12V Plus, but it has been discontinued. This makes it much trickier to charge your external 12V battery with a Boulder panel. It would take some rewiring.
4. To add to the above, what I would recommend instead of getting another Boulder panel is to get a portable solar panel that has a charge controller with a built-in quick disconnect so you can disconnect the charge controller to charge the Yeti batteries, then connect the charge controller when you want to charge the AGM batteries. A panel like the Acopower 100W portable solar panel which can charge both a power station and a 12V battery at the same time would work great for that purpose. All you would have to add to the Acopower panel is the MC4 to 8mm adapter.
5. To monitor the battery voltage, I recommend connecting a Shunt with a battery monitor like this.
6. To charge your Yeti batteries with the AGM batteries, I would actually recommend a typical car inverter, like the Bestek 500W inverter. Hook it up to your batteries, then plug the Yeti chargers into the inverter.
7. Another 200W of solar wouldn’t be overkill at all, although it depends on what you need to power during emergencies and for how long. The Yeti 1000 and 1500X have a 2561Wh (watt-hour) battery capacity combined. A total of 400W of solar will generate about 250-300Wh per hour in good sunshine, so in the best-case scenario, it would take 9-12 hours to recharge both.
8. It would be four panels connected in parallel.
Hope I didn’t make it too confusing, let me know how I can help out further. I wish it was easier than this to deal with Goal Zero lithium batteries and external batteries that don’t come from Goal Zero!
Jesse
Thanks for your comparisons between Goal Zero and Jackery batteries. I know nothing about batteries and connecting them to the car battery etc. I am thinking of going on road trips and camping using my car but need power more than my car battery. I intend to use my old laptop with an adaptor all day, i have cell phone & tablet to charge, a little rice cooker that uses 200 watts, maybe some lighting, a non 12V plug in small fan that I have, a 300 watt water immersion heater. Maybe, I might get a 12V fridge.
1) I am not sure what size battery I should buy
2) solar panels may not be an option as it is not always sunny here in Canada to charge the battery, so what can I use to charge back the battery without solar panels
3) Will a Bapdas 150 W inverter help me in the set up?
4) What are all the things I need to set myself up without solar power recharging? Is that even possible?
I would truly appreciate your input as I am a total newbie and just contemplating on starting my trips in the car and need a lot of help to make a right decision.
Thank you very much for your help and what you do to inform people and answer their questions. Blessings on your generosity.
Hello Amy and thank you for your comment.
1. Based on what you told me, here are some very rough estimates.
50W laptop six hours a day – 300Wh
200W Rice cooker used 20 minutes – 70Wh
Cell phone and tablet charged two hours – 30Wh
12V lights, fan for a couple of hours – 50Wh
300W immersion heater for 10 min – 50Wh
That adds up to 500Wh. A 12V fridge would add another 2-300Wh.
Therefore, I would recommend an Explorer 1000. Or two Explorer 500. If I were you I would start with one Explorer 500 and use it for a while to figure out whether it’s enough or not. Its inverter is powerful enough to run everything you need, just not all at the same time.
2 & 4. The Explorer power stations include a car charger, and that’s what you would have to rely on. I would still get a 100W solar panel so you could charge the battery without running your car though.
3. If you recharge the battery by plugging the Jackery wall charger into the Bapdas inverter, you’re going to be recharging the battery faster. The wall charger is twice as fast. Just make sure the 12V port in your car can handle it.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
Great article. Thank you
My question(s) is, id like to go the portable power route for our van conversion. We will not be living in ‘full time’ but we will be wintering in Arizona (when its safe to travel and borders are reopened) and a few weeks in the summer at home here in Ontario.
would a Goal Zero Yeti 3000 be able to accomodate Maxx Air fans, gas heater, hot water heater, blow dryer, fridge,
single induction cooktop, keurig, and water pump? Sounds like alot lol but of course they all wont be running at the same time. Would i perhaps be better getting two 1500 and splitting the load? Would 2 jackery 1000x do the job?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Thanks for your time ( and expertise)
Hey Kelly,
I would get the new Yeti 1500X (click here for a Amazon Canada link) or the 3000X if I were you, to get that extra 500W (2000W vs 1500W inverter).
If you’re going to be using all of that daily I suggest going with the 3000X for twice the battery capacity.
The reason I’d want the extra power is that most induction cooktops are rated at 1800W, Keurig’s 1500W, and blow dryers 1800W. The old Yeti 3000 can only output 1500W.
I have a Yeti 1000 which uses the same inverter as the old 3000, and it honestly doesn’t like anything above 1350-1400W.
The Jackery Explorer 1000 maxes out at 1000W.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Jesse
Hi Jesse,
I have been going back and forth between the Jackery 1500 and Yeti 1500X. We would be using it for tent camping for 14 days. We need it to power my husbands ResMed AirSense 10 CPAP machine, as well as a couple cell phones and tablets. We would also like to use it to power a 10” oscillating fan and a sound therapy machine that would both be on all night. What would you recommend?
I would go with the Jackery Explorer 1500 if I needed one for tent camping. Much lighter, more AC outlets, includes car charger, and easier to carry around.
Before buying I recommend checking your CPAP and sound therapy machine to make sure that 1488 watt-hours is enough to power both through one or several nights without having to charge the battery. Maybe the plan is to charge it with the wall, car, or solar charger though?
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you so much for this information! I live in California and we are looking for a backup in emergencies. We live in an area that has had several power outages over the last couple of weeks (thank you PG&E). We have solar panels on out house but can’t find a company that will install anything like a Powerwall because our system was installed by Solar City which is no longer in business. We are trying to decide whether to get a Generac whole house generator or try to do something more environmentally friendly and have been looking at the Yetis, Jackerys, etc. Being a very non-technical person, I feel like I’m spinning my wheels. I have no idea what the best course of action would be. I care most about being able to keep our refrigerator running during outages, keeping our electronics charged, and perhaps being able to use a TV. We have 1 fully electric car so can’t really charge from there but have another hybrid. Thanks very much for any suggestions, recommendations and/or insight into best options.
Hi Allison,
Yes, a gas generator would be the most power efficient way to go. Large power stations can power appliances like a residential fridge, but even the largest models wont last very long. Depending on your fridge, the largest Yeti 6000X would probably only last around 1-3 days.
To replenish the electricity used by your fridge, I would guess that you would need around 400W solar panels, like two Boulder 200.
You could start out small, with a Bluetti AC200P and the SP200 200W solar panel. Then you could power your fridge on it for a day to see how it would do in an emergency, and whether you need another panel.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Hi! This was very helpful thank you!
Do you know if you can use a goal zero expansion set up with the jackery?
Hi,
Unfortunately you can’t.
Hi,
Thank you for this details info. I have a condo in lake Tahoe( it snow’s there) and go there sometimes. We get power outages off and on and i need the battery backup if we are there and there is no power. I need mainly to charge electronic devices like iPhone, laptop, electric blanket, worst case a portable heater ( might not be possible). I was thinking of getting Jackery 1000, i saw there is jackery 880 and than i saw ur reviews yeti. What is it that you recommend for my use case.
Hi,
For those needs, I would actually recommend the Ecoflow Delta or Delta 1000 (click to view on Amazon). It has more outlets capable of outputting more wattage, and more battery capacity. If it’s not for longer than a day or two, the smaller Ecoflow River Pro would also be a great choice.
While it could power a space heater, it would drain the battery within an hour so I recommend using a propane heater instead to heat up your condo.
Thanks so much for this site. I’m looking at the 500-range or less models. The Jackery just seems to have so many more reviews and a significantly higher rating on Amazon. What do you think about this? You prefer the Yeti, and I agree, mainly on size/weight as well as the ports etc. BUT! The price! $180 price difference, which is significant when you consider adding a solar panel. Do you feel the Yeti is worth the price? What about reputation and reliability and customer support? It would be nice to see comparisons in these categories as well. Thanks.
Also, maybe it’s best to ask directly: I need to charge/power a Surface Pro 7 (65 total wattage, it seems), plus a C-PAP, phone, booklight, Kindle. Not all at once, necessarily. Was is the least amount of money I can get away with spending?
Hi,
Yep, Jackery is definitely the most popular one.
If I were you, I would get the EcoFlow River Pro (click to view on Amazon) instead of the Jackery/Goal Zero models because it’s newer and can do more. It also has more battery capacity than both.
There is also the EcoFlow River Max, which has a smaller battery (still larger than Jackery).
If you want to stick to Jackery for better resale value, the Explorer 500 is still a great reliable power station.
The question is how much electricity the CPAP uses with your specific settings, and I would want to find out if a ~500Wh battery will power it for a full night or two before buying anything.
Wonderful information! I have a GZ Yeti 3000X to power my living quarters horse trailer which I live in a few months out of the year, besides week or weekend long dry camping. I have a Boulder 200 suitcase. Would love to have quicker recharging of the Yeti. I am thinking adding more solar panels would help. Are there other more portable panels like the Nomad 200 that I could use that would work with the setup I have or do you have other suggestions? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.