Yeti 500X Solar Charging

Goal Zero's Yeti 500X charging by the sun.
I'm using 4 x Boulder 30 solar panels for a total of 120 watts possible of solar input.
Additionally I use the Sherpa 100AC for an additional possible 60 watts of power input.
I show the Yeti 500X (finally) in a working condition taking a charge from the sun during the middle of the day in Hawaii. It helps the viewer visualize what the display will show while charging and how to utilize the charging functions of the solar generator.
I will post video soon of the Yeti powering various electrical devices to show if they are compatible to use with the medium size solar generator.

[@petebautista2507]

Goal Zero really backs their products. My Yeti 1400 was not working good and I called Goal Zero. I will be getting the Yeti 1500 in September’s.

[@bros6043]

Great video! Why is it your 3rd Yeti 500X? Did you have malfunctions with the others? I like your Boulder 30 setup!

[@gwelte]

I found that I can not run my Keurig Pod coffee maker from the 110 outlets. bummer. The coffee maker shows it uses 1430W? Seems high for such a small Keurig unit. Only has a 12oz capacity.

[@ilinauf]

@@gwelte I would check out the new Ecoflow delta 3 plus. This unit is on another level from these prior units. Goal Zero seems to be in a moment where they are being left in the dust. Hobotech does a great review of the Ecoflow

[@gwelte]

@@ilinauf The Yeti 500X is owned by my work and I just wanted to see if I could use it with my coffee maker, NOPE!. I plan on buying a solar power bank for my personal use, and will check out the Ecoflow delta 3 plus unit. Thanks

[@davesdiversions8078]

So, I thought I was having problems with my 500, I connected a 120 w and a 60 w charger in both 8 mm ports hoping to achieve 180 w max input. It would not go beyond 120 w. So I called Goal Zero 30 minutes ago, they informed me that the unit will only accept power from the 8 mm port showing the highest input, so I cannot combine the two 8 mm ports. I asked if I can provide addition input through the USB C PD port, they said "No, the 500 will only accept power from 1 input port and will select the highest watts". So I asked if I could combine both wall chargers using the 1 x High Power Port to 4 x 8 mm to the High Power Port to 8 mm to a single 8 mm port on the Yeti to achieve 180 w of input. They said yes. And here you are using two separate ports with good results. Weird, right?

[@davesdiversions8078]

Really glad you made this video. I was about to try the method I explained above, but decided to call Goal Zero again to clarify the USB C PD port use in conjunction with the 8 mm port which I was initially told will not work. When I explained everything to the second customer support, he clarified and corrected the bad info I initially received and confirmed your method used in this video.

[@peterhirzel]

Thanks. You say you had 2 failing units related to solar loading, right? Mine does not load well too 🙄 Do you know the failing reason?

[@ilinauf]

I did have two units that failed. It was in the charging of the units that was the issue for the two I spoke about. When you charged over 100 watts of power, the unit would stop taking a charge from the 8mm port. It was identified by goal zero and they sent out an email to, I believe, anyone who registered their yeti 500x. But you can go to their website and fill out a claim they made specifically for those early units. It only took me from April to August to get mine....nightmare because of shipping logistics for Hawaii. Several people on my last video stated they made the claim and 2 weeks to a month got the replacement resolution.

[@thomasallen8012]

I have heard there is a way to exchange it for this issue. Contact the company.

[@danielwenger6747]

Thanks for highlighting these issues. I'm interested in purchasing the 500x, but I'm a little wary after your experience and reading other customer reviews from REI and similar outlets with the same charging problem. Would you still purchase this if you had to do it all over again? Or would you wait a little longer until this glitch is fixed by Goal Zero?

[@ilinauf]

The glitch is fixed and Goal Zero setup a warranty replacement for the bad units out there. My new replacement is working fine now.

[@peterhirzel]

The device is top, only the solar loader seems to be strictly limited to 22v. My panel must be slightly too strong, but after I got a step-down voltage changer from www.wattgeizer.com/ top support it works for me. I even replaced it once but that problem remains. The goal zero car loader works fine and seems to operate at about 15.6V

[@jgg204]

Goal Zero backs their products. And you can call a human. With Jackery you have to email them, and all you get are canned responses. You literally have to leave a trash review for the product on Amazon, and then they response. Goal Zero all the way

[@thomasallen8012]

So are you saying anything more than a 180 watt panel is useless for this power station?

[@ilinauf]

Yes since the maximum input started from the manufacturer is 120 watts from the 8mm port. The other 60 comes from the USB PD 60 Watt port. So 180 from some solar panels would likely hit the 120 in good sun conditions.

[@ahhhhhderf1]

I’m planning to purchase a 500x but so many reviews of it failing when it is charging/not charging. Last thing anyone needs when your out camping. Have they fixed the issues plaguing it?

[@ilinauf]

On my newest replacement, the charging now works. The only issue now is that I have a set of "studio" lights with 5 CFL bulbs that run 40 watts each. The Yeti trips everytime I turn on 3 bulbs. (120 watts) I ran a Klein amp meter and the total wattage surges at most to 310 watts. The Yeti is to be able to handle up to 1200 watts surge. So being honest, I think I traded one issue for another. I had another viewer comment that his unit had issues loading so I think I now have one of those problems. Sorry my reply couldn't be more uplifting but this is my scenario. I hope others out there don't get anywhere near the amount of issues that I've had.

[@cpuen]

www.goalzero.com/product-features/yeti-500x-product-replacement/