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Goal Zero Yeti Alternatives – The Best Options In 2024

The Best Goal Zero Yeti Power Station Alternatives Right Now

Goal Zero power stations, also known as solar generators, are popular portable batteries that are great for camping, travel, and emergencies.

They’re also an alternative to the typical gas generator, and great for workers on the move that need to power gear and tools.

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 power stations in this article.

But there are a lot of power station brands on the market.

Today, we’re going to take a look at the best alternatives on the market today. Goal Zero is not a brand without competitors.

Since Goal Zero makes and sells power stations in a lot of different sizes, we can’t just point to one of Goal Zero’s competitors and say – there it is!

Therefore, I am going to list several alternatives and sizes.

We’re going to list the best alternatives to each power station made by Goal Zero (except discontinued ones), and talk a little bit about each.

Why is it a good alternative, and what does it have that the Yeti doesn’t, or doesn’t have that the Yeti does?

You might notice that not all of the alternatives are exactly the same in terms of battery capacity and inverter ratings, but I have picked the ones I believe are the best alternatives overall.

If you haven’t quite found the perfect power station for your needs, feel free to leave a comment and tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll do our best to help you out.

Try to give us as much information as possible, like where and why you’re considering a power station, what you need to power and for how long, and whether you have plans to also purchase solar panels.

Related Post: Goal Zero Yeti 1500X Vs 3000X

I also want to add that you should consider which brand you purchase your power station from, not just which model.

Do your research on customer support and service. See how they have handled warranty and issues in the past.

I am not going to recommend a specific brand or battery, and it’s your job to do this kind of research before purchasing anything.

You can use the table of contents to get to where you want to be in the post. As always, please leave a comment with any questions you might have.

Best Alternative To

Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 160

Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 160, 167Wh Lithium Battery...

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The Jackery Explorer 160 is a popular power station that has almost the same battery capacity as the Yeti 150, but Jackery uses lithium batteries instead of lead-acid.

It results in a much lighter power station (4 lbs vs 12 lbs). Lithium batteries are better in most ways, so it’s not a downgrade.

Related Post: Jackery Explorer 160 Vs Goal Zero Yeti 150

Here are a couple of things that the Explorer 160 does better.

  • More powerful inverter (AC outlet) – Although it uses a modified sine wave inverter just like the Yeti 150, the one in the Explorer 160 can output 100W (versus 80W on the Yeti). So if you have a device that requires 90W, it’s only going to work with the Explorer 160.
  • Better screen – The screen on the Yeti 150 only shows battery bars. The Jackery has a screen that shows not only battery bars, but battery percentage, and input/output watts. The display can also be lit up with the push of a button.
  • Regulated 12V output – If you’re going to plug any 12V devices into your power station, a regulated 12V output will be the best since it’s capable of outputting a stable voltage that doesn’t go down as the battery voltage drops.
  • USB C – The Explorer 160 has a USB C port that can output up to 15W. The two USB A ports can also output 2 more watts than the two USB A ports on the Yeti 150.
  • Built-in flashlight – Some people never use them, but I do want to mention that the Explorer has a built-in flashlight on the side of the power station.
  • Includes car charger – Jackery includes a car charger, Goal Zero does not.

Where the Yeti 150 wins is when you look at the maximum input. Both use 8mm input ports, but the Yeti can handle up to 60W input, or 5A.

The Explorer 160 can only handle up to 38W with solar panels connected. That means that it will take longer to charge the Jackery battery.

The Yeti 150 also has a full-size cigarette lighter output, whereas with the Jackery you need to connect the DC adapter to plug those devices in.

Goal Zero has also put a regulated 6mm output next to the cigarette lighter port where you can connect Goal Zero lights, etc.

Solar Panel Recommendation

TogoPower 100W Portable Foldable Solar Panel (click to view on Amazon) – Compatible with both the Explorer 160 and Yeti 150. DC output, dual USB ports, monocrystalline solar panel. Folds and stores easily.

As always with power stations, make sure you choose a solar panel that doesn’t have a charge controller built-in since the power station has one already.

Best Alternative To

Maxoak Bluetti AC50S

MAXOAK Power Station 500Wh Solar Generator AC50S Wireless Charging...

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Check out my full review of the Maxoak Bluetti AC50S here.

The Maxoak Bluetti AC50S is what I could call a modern power station, not only because it uses lithium batteries and has USB C PD, but it also has a wireless charging pad on top.

Is it just a gimmick or actually useful? Well, it’s nice to have since you end up needing fewer cables to charge your devices.

I see the AC50S as a great alternative to the Yeti 400 for a couple of reasons.

  • More battery capacity – The Yeti 400 has 396Wh, the Maxoak AC50S has 500Wh.
  • More ports – The AC50S has two AC outlets, five USB (four USB A, one USB C), and three 12V DC ports. Compared to the Yeti 400, the Maxoak has two more USB A and a USB C so you can charge more devices at the same time.
  • USB C PD – It can’t be used to charge the battery, but the USB C PD can output 45W which makes it a great port for newer phones, tablets, and laptops that can charge via USB C.
  • Regulated 12V Output – With 500Wh and a regulated 12V output, the AC50S is a great power station for people that want to run a 12V fridge/freezer in a car, van, or camper.
  • Built-in LED light – I get it, you’re never going to use it, but it’s there if/when you would want to.
  • Car charger, MC4 adapter, USB C cable included – Maxoak includes not only a car charger but also an MC4 to 8mm adapter, so you can connect 3rd party panels with MC4 connectors. Last but not least there is a USB C to USB C cable so you can connect devices to the USB C PD port right out of the box. One downside I do need to mention about the car charger is that it can only charge the battery to 50% when using a 12V outlet, but to 100% if it’s a 24V port.
  • Wireless charging pad – The 10W Qi wireless charging pad is great to have when you’re traveling.

Other than that, it’s very similar to the Yeti. Both can handle 120W of solar input, both have a great screen that show battery bars and input/output watts.

There are two AC outlets on both that can output 300W in total and buttons that control the ports.

One feature that can be useful to some with the Yeti 400 is the chaining port, so you can chain external lead-acid batteries to it.

Another great alternative is the Jackery Explorer 500, check out my full review here.

Solar Panel Recommendation

PAXCESS 120W Solar Panel (click to view on Amazon) – A 120W foldable and portable panel that’s very lightweight for how much power it’s capable of outputting.

Compatible with the Bluetti among other power stations. In addition to the DC outputs, it has a USB A port and a USB C port.

As always with power stations, make sure you choose a solar panel that doesn’t have a charge controller built-in since the power station has one already.

Best Alternative To Goal Zero Yeti 200X (click to view on Amazon)

Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300

Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300, 293Wh Backup Lithium...

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I know that the Explorer 300 is a larger power station than the Yeti 200X in almost every way, but I still believe it’s the best alternative.

There are a lot of power stations with battery capacity similar to the 200X, but they don’t have regulated 12V outputs, MPPT, or a screen.

Therefore, I recommend the Explorer 300, but if you absolutely need a small one that only weighs five pounds, the Yeti 200X is the best option right now.

Here are a couple of things that the Explorer 300 does better.

  • AC outlets and inverter rating – Two AC outlets powered by a pure sine wave inverter that can output 300W. The Yeti 200X has one AC outlet powered by a modified sine wave inverter that can output 120W. A pure sine wave inverter is better than a modified one.
  • The screen – The screen on the Explorer 300 shows not only battery bars and the percentage but input and output watts as well. The Yeti screen only shows the battery percentage and doesn’t let you track the wattage going in and out of the battery.
  • USB QC 3.0 Port – There is a QC 3.0 port on the Explorer that will charge compatible devices faster.

The Yeti 200X is better in a couple of ways. Its USB C PD port can be used for charging, it has an extra USB C port, it can handle up to 160W input with 100W from solar and 60W from USB C PD, and it supports a faster 120W wall charger so you can charge it quickly.

The Jackery will only accept 62W input from solar panels.

The Yeti is a smaller power station overall that weighs 5 pounds versus 7.1 pounds.

Both of them use MPPT charge controllers, have a USB C PD 60W port, an 8mm input, and USB A ports that can output up to 12W.

Solar Panel Recommendation

Jackery SolarSaga 100W (click to view on Amazon) – I love this panel. It’s so easy to set up, very efficient, lightweight, portable, has a built-in stand, and can even handle some wind. It also has USB A and USB C ports.

Disclaimer: Jackery sent us two of these SolarSaga 100 panels for free to do a review. So far it’s the best portable panel we have tested. You can check out our full review here.

Another great panel is the Rockpals RP082 100W (click to view on Amazon) foldable solar panel with kickstand.

Best Alternative To Goal Zero Yeti 500X (click to view on Amazon)

Ecoflow River Pro

EF ECOFLOW RIVER Pro Portable Power Station 720Wh, Power Multiple...

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Check out my full review of the similar Ecoflow River 2 Max here.

The Ecoflow River Pro is a new power station that I believe is better than the Yeti 500X.

Here are a couple of things that the River Pro does better.

  • Smart inverter – Ecoflow has put a “smart inverter” in the River Pro that can power devices up to 1800W. The special inverter can output that much power when used with “80% of essential devices like kitchen appliances, home appliances, and DIY tools”. You do need to turn on the functionality, otherwise, the inverter outputs 720 watts max. I haven’t tested it myself, but it sure sounds good on paper.
  • 3 AC outlets – The Yeti 500X has two, the River Pro has three.
  • WiFi – You can monitor and control the power station with your phone with an app.
  • More battery capacity – The River Pro has a battery capacity of 720Wh. The Yeti 500X has 505 watt-hours. That’s going to let you power your devices for longer.
  • 100W USB C PD – It’s the only power station that I know of with a 100W USB C PD port. It’s only for output, but a very powerful port that can charge the latest Macbook 16 inch laptop at full speed.
  • Faster charging – The Yeti 500X can handle up to 10A (120W) via its 8mm port, and 60W via USB C PD. The River Pro can handle up to 240W of solar input and charge within two hours. It also only takes 1.6 hours to charge the River with the included wall charger.
  • Car charger, MC4 adapter, USB cable, USB C to USB C cable – Both Goal Zero and Ecoflow include a wall charger, but Ecoflow also includes a car charger, an MC4 to DC adapter, a USB A cable, and a USB C to USB C cable.
  • Extra Battery – A second River Pro battery (click to view on Amazon) can be connected to the EcoFlow River Pro to double the battery capacity from 720Wh to 1440Wh.

What they have in common are the great screens that show battery percentage, time to empty/full, input/output watts, and battery bars.

The screen on the Yeti also shows total watt-hours used, battery voltage, and amps output.

Both use MPPT charge controllers, although the River Pro can handle more total input. There is a regulated 12V cigarette lighter port on both, and fast USB A ports.

Solar Panel Recommendation

Since Ecoflow includes an MC4 to DC adapter, you have a lot of options when it comes to solar panels.

Here are two compatible solar panels with MC4 connectors that will work right out of the box with the adapter Ecoflow includes: Renogy 100W (click to view on Amazon) and Renogy 175W (click to view on Amazon).

Another great panel that is compatible is the Ecoflow 160W (click to view on Amazon).

You can combine two of these with an MC4 Y branch (click to view on Amazon).

Best Alternative To Goal Zero Yeti 1000X (click to view on Amazon)

Ecoflow Delta Portable Power Station

EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA 1300, 1260Wh Solar Powered...

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Check out my full review of the Ecoflow Delta here.

One of the latest Yeti X power stations is the Yeti 1000X model.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t gotten all of the upgrades that the Yeti 1500X and 3000X did, which is why I believe that the Ecoflow Delta is the best alternative, and actually a better power station.

Here are a couple of things that the Ecoflow Delta does better than the Yeti 1000X.

  • More battery capacity – The Delta has a 1260 watt-hour battery capacity, and the Yeti 1000X has 1045Wh. The more watt-hours, the longer you’re going to be able to power your devices.
  • More powerful inverter – Both power stations have a pure sine wave inverter, but the one in the Delta can output 300 more watts, and maxes out at 1800W like a regular 15A household outlet. The Yeti 1000X maxes out at 1500W. The Delta also has 300 more surge watts (3300W vs 3000W).
  • Faster charging – Ecoflow includes a wall charger that will charge the Delta from 0 to 80% in 1 hour.
  • Higher solar voltage input – The Yeti 1000X can handle up to 50V input, the Delta can do 10-65V. The downside with the Delta is that it can handle 400W input at most, and only 10A, so to reach 400W you’re going to have to wire panels in series.
  • More ports – There are 6 AC outlets, two USB A ports, two USB A QC3.0 ports, two USB C PD 60W ports, and one regulated 12V cigarette lighter output. The Yeti only has two AC outlets, two USB A ports, two USB C (1 60W PD), and 4 12V DC ports. I wish Goal Zero would put more AC outlets on their power stations.
  • Lighter – The delta weighs 30.9 pounds, and the Yeti weighs 38 pounds.
  • Included accessories – Ecoflow includes a protective bag, an MC4 to XT60 DC adapter, a fast wall charger, and a car charger. Goal Zero only includes a wall charger.

Both use an MPPT charge controller and have a regulated 12V cigarette outlet.

The USB C PD port on the Yeti 1000X can be used to charge the Yeti battery, but the USB C ports on the Ecoflow Delta are only outputs.

The screens on both of them are great, although the one on the Yeti shows more information like watt-hours used, battery voltage, and output amps.

Both show battery percentage, battery bars, time to empty/full, input watts, and output watts.

Last but not least, you can connect up to 800W of solar to the Yeti 1000X if you install the optional MPPT charge controller (a second one).

Solar Panel Recommendation

Since Ecoflow includes an MC4 to DC adapter, you have a lot of options when it comes to solar panels.

Here are a couple of compatible solar panels with MC4 connectors that will work right out of the box with the adapter Ecoflow includes: Renogy 100W, Renogy 175W, and Rich Solar 200W.

Another great panel that is compatible is the Ecoflow 110W. You can combine two of these with an MC4 Y branch.

Best Alternatives To Goal Zero Yeti 1500X/3000X/6000X

Since the Yeti 1500X, 3000X, and 6000X are very similar to one another, I’m going to list the alternatives to them together down below.

Before deciding which power station is right for you, you should consider whether battery capacity or a powerful AC outlet (inverter) is more important for your needs.

Some of the Yeti power stations have both, but there are not a lot of other brands that do. It’s either-or, in most cases.

Related: Goal Zero Yeti 1500X VS 3000X – Differences & What To Know

Most of the alternatives are not nearly as powerful as the Yetis, but I think you should consider alternative ways to go about it.

For example, if you don’t absolutely need a 2000W inverter but like the battery capacity of the Yeti 1500X, maybe you should get two smaller power stations instead and get more battery capacity for the same price?

Before we get to the other brands, let’s start by taking a quick look at the specifications of the three largest Yetis right now.

  • Battery Capacity – 1516Wh (1500X), 3032Wh (3000X), 6071Wh (6000X)
  • Inverter Rating (AC Outlet rating) – 2000W with a 3500W surge. Pure sine wave inverter
  • AC Outlets – Two
  • USB Ports – Two USB A (12W), two USB C (one 60W PD that is both input/output, one 18W)
  • 12V Ports – One 12V cigarette lighter port. One Anderson output. Two 6mm outputs. All 12V ports are regulated (outputs a steady voltage).
  • Lifecycles – 500 cycles to 80%
  • Input – 8mm (10A, 120W max input) and Anderson Powerpole/High Power Port (50A, 600W max input). Can handle up to 50V. Only one input can be used at a time.
  • Solar charge controller – MPPT
  • Screen – Input/output watts, battery percentage, battery bars, time to empty/full, watt-hours used, battery voltage
  • Wall charger wattage – 120W (1500X), 230W (3000X), 600W (6000X)
  • WiFi – Control and monitor the power station with a smartphone app
  • Weight – 45.64 lbs, 69.78 lbs, 106 lbs
  • In the box – A wall charger. A Yeti roll cart is included with the 3000X and 6000X
  • Other – Has an expansion module port where you can install an additional MPPT charge controller to be able to add another 360W of solar input.

Alright, so now we know what the new large Yeti X power stations can do. Here are some alternatives.

Jackery Explorer 1000

Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station, 1002Wh Capacity with...

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Check out my full review of the Jackery Explorer 1000 here.

The Explorer 1000 is the largest power station made by Jackery. The only way it beats the Yeti is with its third AC outlet, but I still think it’s worth considering due to its smaller size and portability.

Here are the specifications of the Explorer 1000.

  • Battery Capacity – 1002Wh battery capacity
  • Inverter Rating – 1000W inverter with a 2000W surge. Pure sine wave inverter
  • AC Ports – Three
  • USB Ports – Two USB A ports (one 12W, one QC3.0), two USB C ports (18W)
  • 12V Port – Regulated 12V cigarette lighter port
  • Lifecycles – 500 cycles to 80%
  • Solar charge controller – MPPT
  • Wall charger wattage – 163W. 0-100% in 7 hours
  • Input – Two inputs, 8mm and Anderson Powerpole. Only one can be used at once. Maxes out at 126W with solar panels, which means it takes 8 hours if you max the input with solar
  • Weight – 22 lbs
  • Screen – Shows input/output watts, battery percentage, and battery bars
  • In the box – Wall charger, car charger
  • Other – Built-in LED flashlight on the side

As I mentioned above, the size and the weight of the Explorer 1000 is a good enough reason to consider it.

Two of these might suit you better than one of the larger Yetis, as long as you don’t need the 2000W inverter.

A 1000W inverter is powerful enough to run most household items, but it won’t run larger kitchen appliances like microwaves, ovens, or large refrigerators.

It’s also not powerful enough to run space heaters on high, or air conditioners.

For solar panels, I recommend the SolarSaga 100W (click to view on Amazon).

The Explorer 1000 comes with a Y adapter so you can connect two SolarSaga panels together for a faster charge.

Maxoak Bluetti EB150 &

These are two popular power stations made by Bluetti. They’re very similar to one another, so let’s list the features.

  • Battery Capacity – 1500Wh, 2400Wh
  • Inverter Rating – 1000W, pure sine wave inverter
  • AC Ports – Two
  • USB Ports – four USB A (15W), one USB C PD (45W)
  • 12V Port – One 12V regulated cigarette lighter port
  • Lifecycles – 500 cycles to 80%
  • Solar charge controller – MPPT
  • Wall charger wattage – 200W
  • Input – 8mm. Can handle solar panels between 16-68V, max 10A. Max 500W solar in total
  • Weight – 37.9 lbs, 48.5 lbs
  • Screen – Battery bars, input/output watts
  • In the box – Wall charger, MC4 to DC adapter
  • Other – Briefcase-style design

These Bluetties got popular last year because they support a high input voltage due to a great MPPT solar charge controller, come with a lot of battery capacity for the price, and are portable.

Lately, competitors have been catching up, but they’re still solid power stations if you would rather have a lot of battery capacity than a big inverter.

Since the new Goal Zero Yeti X power stations can handle up to 50V, they’re a lot more similar to the Bluettis now.

If you would like to use solar panels to recharge the Bluetti EB150 or EB240, I recommend getting two BougeRV 12V 180W.

Wire them in series to double the voltage but not the amperage.

A series connection is made by connecting the positive wire from the first panel to the negative wire from the second panel.

Related: Bluetti 200W (PV200) Portable & Foldable Solar Panel Review

Make sure the total VOC output of the panels is below the limit before you connect any panels.

This is going to add the voltages together but not the amps, and quickly recharge the Bluettis. Since Maxoak includes an MC4 to DC adapter all you need are the solar panels.

You might want some WindyNation MC4 extension cables (click to view on Amazon) to go with the panels.

Make sure you choose a cable that’s thick enough to handle the total amperage and voltage.

BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station, 2000Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup...

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Another newer power station by Bluetti is the AC200P. It has gotten a lot of publicity for being a great all-in-one power station with both a lot of battery capacity and a powerful inverter.

It also has the most advanced display with a touch-screen.

Let’s take a look at the specifications and you’ll understand why it’s popular.

  • Battery Capacity – 2000Wh
  • Inverter Rating – 2000W with a 4800W surge. Pure sine wave inverter
  • AC Ports – Six
  • USB Ports – Four USB A ports (15W), one USB C PD (60W) port
  • 12V Port – Three DC outputs. One regulated 12V cigarette lighter port
  • Lifecycles – 3000+ cycles
  • Solar charge controller – MPPT
  • Wall charger wattage – 400W
  • Input – XT90. Can handle solar panels between 35-150V, max 12A. Max 700W solar in total
  • Weight – 60.6 lbs
  • Screen – Display Shows Current, Voltage, Power, Temperature and Charging Status. Users Can Independently Alter The Output Voltage, Frequency, Charging Mode, Etc
  • In the box – Wall charger, car charger, MC4 to DC (XT90) adapter, USB C cable, XT90 to aviation plug adapter
  • Other – Two Qi wireless charging pads on top

The Bluetti AC200P is a great alternative to both the Yeti 1500X and 3000X. With an inverter of the same size and more battery capacity than the Yeti 1500X, it’s a great power station.

To charge the AC200P with solar, I would get two Rich Solar 200W 24V solar panels and wire them in series.

Two of these wired in series will output almost 80V.

To wire two panels in series, you take the positive MC4 connector from the first panel and connect it to the negative MC4 connector on the second panel.

Then you connect the positive and the negative to the MC4 to DC adapter and plug it into the power station.

That will add the voltages together but keep the amperage the same.

Before connecting anything, you need to make sure that the total amperage and voltage your panels are going to output is safe for the charge controller.

You also need to make sure that any extension cables or adapters can handle the total amperage and voltage.

Point Zero Energy Titan

Another new and expandable solar generator made by Point Zero Energy.

Can be configured with more or less battery capacity and solar panels. Sticks out with its dual MPPT charge controllers that can handle up to 2000W of total input.

Here are the specifications of the Titan, note that it’s configurable and some of the specs depend on what you choose.

  • Battery Capacity – 2000Wh
  • Inverter Rating – 3000W with a 6000W surge (when using at least two batteries). Pure sine wave inverter
  • AC Ports – Six 15A, one 30A (RV) outlet
  • USB Ports – Six USB A, two USB C
  • 12V Port – Four regulated ports, 20A each
  • Lifecycles – “Life span of 10 years”
  • Solar charge controller – MPPT x 2
  • Wall charger wattage – 600W (can use two if you have two batteries)
  • Input – Anderson, Anderson Powerpole, SAE. Supports panels rated between 35V to 145V. Max 30A per input port
  • Weight – 67 lbs (32 lb power module, 35 lb battery)
  • In the box – Wall charger, car charger, MC4 to SAE, MC4 to Anderson, four USB cables

What’s special with the Titan compared to the others, is the fact that you can add more batteries to it.

If you have at least two batteries, the 30A RV outlet comes close to outputting 30A (about 600W less), and none of the other ones do that.

For more information on the Titan, you can check out Point Zero Energy’s website or contact them directly with questions.

the maxoak and jackery power stations are both great alternatives to goal zero yeti solar generators
Jackery 1000 and Maxoak 500W are both fantastic alternatives to Goal Zero Yeti power stations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s Inside A Power Station?

There are a lot of parts in a power station, but the three main parts are:

A battery – This is what holds the electricity. Often talked about in watt-hours since it makes it easy to compare different sizes even if the batteries have different amp-hour ratings and voltages.

An inverter – Changes direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). Changes battery power to 110/120V so you can plug regular electronics into AC outlets on the power station.

A solar charge controller – Makes it possible to safely recharge the batteries inside the power station with solar panels. Without a charge controller, the amperage and voltage wouldn’t be regulated which can hurt batteries. Since almost every power station has a solar charge controller already, you need to pair it with a solar panel that doesn’t come with a charge controller, since you shouldn’t use two controllers.

If you’re going to build your own power station you’re going to need more than these three things.

Do Power Stations/Solar Generators Include Solar Panels?

No, unless you’re buying a kit that clearly shows that a solar panel is included, you should assume that it’s not. That means that you’re going to have to buy a solar panel to recharge it with solar.

Every power station I have seen include a wall charger, while only some include a car charger that you can plug into a 12V cigarette lighter port in a vehicle to recharge the power station.

You can also use the wall charger to recharge the battery with a gas generator.

How Much Battery Capacity Do I Need?

It depends on what devices you plan on powering, for how long, and how often you’re going to be able to recharge the battery.

If you only need to charge a phone and a tablet for a weekend trip, it’s probably enough to bring a small power bank.

But if you’re going to charge laptops, lights, CPAP machines, TVs, and similar electronics, it’s a good idea to figure out how many watts each device uses and consider how many hours you want to be able to power each device before you can recharge the battery.

For example, here are my power needs for a day.

  • Phone – 10W for two hours = 20Wh
  • Tablet – 20W for one hour = 20Wh
  • Laptop – 100W for five hours = 500Wh
  • TV – 60W for two hours = 120Wh
  • Lights – 10W for three hours = 30Wh

Based on these numbers, I need a power station with at least a 690Wh battery capacity.

If we consider the inverter efficiency (since I am going to use the inverter for my laptop and TV) I am actually going to need 800Wh (85% inverter efficiency).

Now, if I am not going to be able to recharge the battery throughout my trip and I am heading out for three days, I need to triple that which equals 2400Wh.

I’m not going to dive deeper into this in this post, but I suggest making a list of your devices and calculating until you have a watt-hour estimate.

It’s better to overestimate your electricity needs if you’re going to rely on this power station daily.

How Powerful Should The Inverter Be?

Just like with the battery capacity, it depends on what you need to power.

To power devices like phones, tablets, and laptops, you’re probably fine with a 200W inverter unless you have a gaming laptop.

You can usually find the required wattage for a device pretty easily by looking at the device itself, its charging brick, or doing a quick search online.

But it’s not enough to know what each device requires, you also need to consider if you’re going to power several devices at the same time.

A 200W inverter won’t charge a 150W laptop while also powering a 100W TV, even though they can both be run separately on a 200W inverter.

Figure out what you need to power and how much electricity it requires, then you’ll know what should be enough. Add about 25% onto the number to be safe.

Most power stations can’t run appliances like microwaves, air conditioners, heaters, and similar power-hungry things.

Also, for example, a microwave might be rated at 700W output power but require 1100W input power.

I recommend getting a Kill A Watt meter (click to view on Amazon) to see how much electricity your devices actually use.

What Do I Need To Think About When Choosing Solar Panels For My Yeti/Power Station?

Before you even figure out how to connect the panel, you need to make sure that the solar charge controller in the power station can handle the voltage and amperage rating of the solar panel.

Everything you need to know in terms of specifications can usually be found in the input specifications of the power station, and the output specifications of the solar panel.

You should also be aware that charge controllers usually have both a minimum and a maximum voltage rating, and you need to find a panel within those limits.

What Is A Regulated 12V Output?

A regulated 12V output outputs a steady voltage. A non-regulated voltage follows the voltage of the battery.

Some devices and appliances have a low-voltage cut-off, which will turn the device off when it senses a voltage too low to power the appliance safely.

So if you plug it into a non-regulated 12V port, your device might shut off when it reaches a certain battery percentage, even though it’s nowhere close to empty.

Can You Charge A Goal Zero Yeti X In A Car?

According to Goal Zero, the Yeti 12V Car Charger (click to view on Amazon) can be used with the Yeti 1500X and 3000X.

I don’t see why it wouldn’t also work with the 1000X and 6000X, but I would contact Goal Zero to be sure.

Can You Replace The Battery Inside A Yeti Power Station?

You can replace the batteries in the older lead-acid models Yeti 400 and 1250, but not in any of the lithium models (yet).

How Do I Charge My Yeti Faster?

The first thing I would do is buy the MPPT charge controller (unless you already have it). It’s compatible with the Yeti 1000 and larger.

It was included with the old Yeti 3000 (which is no longer for sale, note the difference between 3000 and 3000X).

With the non-X models, it increases the charging efficiency and the total solar input the Yeti can handle. With the X models, it allows you to connect more solar panels and chargers.

The MPPT charge controller has a voltage limit of 22V, unlike the MPPT charge controllers in the new Yeti X models 1000X and larger.

You need to be aware of the voltage your panels are going to output since the same panel configurations might not be compatible with both charge controllers and ports.

If you have a Yeti 1000, 1400, or 3000, you can use the Yeti 25A Power supply to recharge the batteries faster.

If you have a Yeti 1500X, 3000X, or 6000X, you can use the Yeti X 600W Power supply (click to view on Amazon).

One of these is included with the 6000X.

Please leave a comment down below if you have any questions or suggestions on how to improve the article.

by Jesse
Jesse has always had an interest in camping, technology, and the outdoors. Who knew that growing up in a small town in Sweden with endless forests and lakes would do that to you?

13 thoughts on “Goal Zero Yeti Alternatives – The Best Options In 2024”

  1. It may be because I’m researching from NZ and Amazon recognises that but none of your alternatives are available on the pages you link to.

    Reply
  2. Hi Jesse,

    First of all, big thanks to you for all the super handy information. I have a quick question regarding the Bluetti Maxoak Bluetti EB150. Is this solar generator compatible with the Offgridtec 150W Mono 12V Solarpanel? I have this particular solar panel with an MC4 end connected to an Anderson adapter. Is it possible to connect the MC4 to the Anderson adapter and then to an 8mm adapter. OR, is it better to connect the MC4 end coming off the solar panel directly to an 8mm adapter that can plug into the Maxoak station. Lastly, is the 8mm input a big disadvantage for charging this power station? Thank you so much for any thoughts or considerations.

    Cheers,
    Pia

    Reply
    • Hi Pia,

      Yes, it’s compatible, as long as the male MC4 connector is positive, and the female MC4 connector is negative. From the pictures it looks like it tells you on the cables, but I can’t see which is which.

      The EB150 includes an MC4 to 8mm adapter, so you wouldn’t have to buy anything extra. You could connect an 8mm adapter to the Anderson connector, but for better efficiency you should connect an MC4 to 8mm adapter directly to the solar panel.

      No, the 8mm input is the way to go since it can handle up to 500W solar input.

      Let me know if you have any more questions, and thank you for your comment!

      Reply
      • Hi Jesse,

        Okay, I did have one more (probably) question for you to confirm this compatibility . The 150W Mono 12V Solarpanel has a ‘system voltage’ of 12V, but a ‘module voltage’ (vmp) of 20V. Will the Maxoak Bluetti EB150 battery will still work with only one solar panel since the battery’s rated required input from panels voltage range is 16V-68V? After researching, I am still confused about which voltage rating would apply to the battery’s input needs. Thank you very much for your thoughts!!!

        Reply
        • Yeah, you should look at the VMP spec. A 100W 12V panel usually sits at around 18V when it’s doing its job, so your 150W panel will output more than 16V when it’s generating electricity. You can use most multimeters to check the voltage of the panel, but I don’t see any reason it shouldn’t work with the EB150.

          Reply
  3. Hi Jesse,
    Thank you for your infos…
    Re:Jackery 1500… mc4 to 8mm doesn’t works…like it works on Jackery 1000….we need an adapter 8mm large pin and smaller pin on the other side

    By any chances…do you know where I can buy this 8mm adapter …
    Thanks
    Alain

    Reply
    • Yeah it’s a shame that they have changed it… I haven’t gotten my hands on the Explorer 1500 yet so I haven’t been able to test the 8mm adapters I have. I’ll update my articles as soon as I know more.

      Reply
  4. Okay, I checked out this article to do a comparison to the Goal Zero 3000 like others. Is there a reason you did not just put them side-by-side in columns with the results? I tried copying them into Excel but everything wound up in one column. Yes, there’s a lot of good information, but I now have to do a lot of extra work to create a comparison spreadsheet and then go and check for prices on Amazon. Thanks for the effort and reading kept me on your article for awhile that could have been longer if the spreadsheet comparison was included.
    Joe

    Reply
  5. I have a Gaal Zero Boulder 100w solar panel (suitcase) and a new EcoFlow R600. The Boulder has a single connector from the panel and the cable for the EcoFlow needs a positive and negative feed from the solar panel? What do I need to connect the Boulder to the EcoFlow?

    Mike Dalla

    Reply

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