Summary
Goal Zero is a popular and reliable brand in the solar power station market.
GoalZero products tend to cost a bit more than other brands, but in our experience their quality and performance are well worth the higher price tag.
The Yeti 1500x is Goal Zero’s best-selling large power station with a powerful 2000W AC inverter that can run almost any appliance that operates off a wall outlet.
With a 1516 Wh capacity, you can use it to power off-grid events, worksites, studios, base camps, essential circuits in your home, and more.
The Yeti 1500x from Goal Zero is essentially a portable power station designed to store energy and supply it when needed.
This Goal Zero portable power station features a high-capacity 1516 watt-hour lithium-ion battery.
This is an excellent mid-range power solution suitable for many different applications, from powering power tools for an hour to keeping your electronics going for many days.
The 1500x is equipped with an industry-leading 2000W AC inverter that boasts a high surge capacity of 3500 watts, making it suitable for powering small and large appliances as well as some power tools.
It is suitable for tools like smaller power drills, but not powerful enough to handle a giant miter saw.
The inverter is connected to two 120 watts pure sine wave outlets. These are premium AC outlets that ensure stable and reliable output without any voltage drops.
In addition to the AC outlets, this solar power station has six other types of output ports.
These include a 12 volts DC outlet, two USB-A ports, one 18 watts USB-C, a 60 watts USB-C PD, a 6mm DC port, and a 12 volts power port. This extensive collection of power outlets is designed to address all your needs.
The GoalZero 1500x offers three methods of recharging. The power station comes with an AC cable that you can use to charge the unit via a standard wall outlet.
The second option is DC charging via the carport. You will need to purchase an optional carport cable separately for this method. The last and the most sustainable charging method is solar charging.
But for this method, you will need to purchase solar panels separately. While the original Yeti 1500x comes as a standalone unit, you can also choose to purchase it as a kit complete with compatible solar panels.
Despite its powerful performance, the Goal Zero Yeti 1500x is one of the most compact and portable power stations in its range.
It measures 19 x 14 x 14 inches in dimensions with a total widget of 43 pounds. Unlike its more powerful counterpart, the Goal Zero Yeti 3000x, it does not come with a rolling cart.
However, it does have two groove-shaped handles on either side for easy carrying.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Best Features
This Goal Zero Yeti 1500x review would have been incomplete without an in-depth analysis of its best features.
Use at Home or On-The-Go
The best thing about this solar power generator is its versatile functionality. Think of it as a giant power bank that stores electricity inside its battery and supplies it when you connect a device to its port.
The 1500x is designed to store charge and supply it on demand. But, unlike a portable power bank, it does so at a much higher level.
You can use it at home for emergency situations or for creating an alternative power source. Outdoors, you can use it for off-grid living, on RVs, at remote worksites, or even while traveling.
The solar charging feature makes it highly suitable for both indoor and outdoor usage.
You can set it up as an alternative way of obtaining energy in your home or for providing you with home comfort when away from home.
It is suitable for remote worksites with no reliable source of power and tailgating events.
Built-In 2000W Inverter
The biggest problem with solar-powered devices is their inability to convert the stored DC supply into a stable AC supply. For this purpose, you need to purchase a separate inverter.
But with Goal Zero Yeti 1500x, this is not a problem. It features a built-in high-capacity inverter that can easily convert the DC charge stored inside the lithium-ion battery into a stable AC supply.
This inverter can produce up to 2000 watts of electricity with 3500 watts of surge capacity. This makes the power station highly suitable for running both low- and high-rated devices.
The concept may be easy to understand, but let’s make it more factual. For instance, according to Goal Zero, its Yeti 1500x can power a refrigerator for 28 hours, a pellet grill for 26 hours, Tv for 15 hours, and a CPAP machine for 24 hours.
But when it comes to low power consuming devices, this Goal Zero generator can supply enough power to keep the lights running for 138 hours, recharge your laptop 31 times, cell phone 127 times, tablet 51 times, and DSLR camera 84 times.
Wide Range of Power Outputs
The limited number of AC outlets is a common concern surrounding such a powerful, high-capacity power station. Some buyers have also pointed out this issue in Yeti 1500x.
But we think otherwise. Although it may have only two AC outlets, what you should not ignore is the wide range of power outputs. There are two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, a 12 volt DC port, and a regulated High Power Port (HPP).
Even if the two AC outlets seem less, you can use the other ports to keep your devices charged and running.
When used efficiently, this wide range of power outputs can keep all your small and large appliances charged and powered.
Lithium-ion batteries
Being a portable power station, this unit is equipped with a high-capacity 1516 watt-hour lithium-ion battery.
Unlike its smaller counterparts, this Goal Zero power station has enough charge storing capacity to keep most of your appliances up and running.
Whether you are using it as an alternative source of power at home or are outdoors and need a reliable power source to provide you with home comforts, the Yeti 1500x will sufficiently fulfill all your needs.
Water-resistant
The 1500x incorporates a watertight enclosure that protects its components from light showers, rain, and splashes.
However, there is no IP rating backing it up, so you should be careful to keep it inside during adverse weather conditions.
If you need a similar-sized power supply for use outdoors, we recommend the Jackery 1500 solar generator instead.
Issues & Concerns
Despite being one of the best-selling units from Goal Zero, the Yeti 1500x has some issues and concerns associated with its usage.
High upfront cost
The biggest concern most buyers have about Goal Zero Yeti 1500x is its high upfront cost. Where other similar capacity units are somewhat affordable, this Goal Zero device entails a significantly higher price tag.
And that does not include the cost of purchasing the carport cable or solar panels separately for recharging purposes.
Longer Recharge Time
Having a high capacity comes at a cost for Goal Zero Yeti 1500x. Although the large battery may keep your appliances running for a long time, recharging it takes longer.
The generator takes a long time to charge completely whether recharging using the conventional AC wall plug-in method.
But be warned that because of its large capacity, complete charging on AC supply is going to take as long as 14 hours. In contrast, the dual-AC charging system of the Jackery 1500 cuts that down to 4-6 hours.
Similarly, when connected using a DC for charging, it still takes a long time. Plugging it into the cigarette port of your car will have the generator charged in about 14 hours.
Goal Zero claims solar charging is faster, provided that you use solar panels with appropriate wattage.
When charged using 400 watt solar panels, it takes about 4 hours of peak sun exposure to charge completely.
But this is only possible in ideal situations. In reality, solar charging also tends to take much longer.
No Solar Panels Included
While there are two kit options for Yeti 1500x available on the Goal Zero website, the device is supplied as a standalone unit without any solar panels.
One such best-selling option is Yeti 1500x Power Station + Boulder 100 Briefcase. It comes with a single 100 watt Boulder Solar panel.
Another best selling kit is the Yeti 1500x Power Station + (4) Boulder 100. This kit comes with four 100 watt Boulder Briefcase Solar Panels, allowing you to quickly and conveniently recharge your unit in a day.
Both options come complete with the compatible cable allowing so you won’t need to purchase that separately.
Awkward Carry Handles
When it comes to transportation, this Goal Zero power station is vastly different from the other ones in its league. The smaller Yetis have a built-in handle that makes them extremely easy to lug around.
While the bigger 3000x comes with a rolling cart that makes it simple to move from one place to another.
The 1500x has two carry handles on sides that make for an awkward carrying posture and are unsuitable for one-handed handling.
Recommended Solar Panels
As you already know now, the 1500x comes without any solar panels. If you want to use sunlight as a sustainable source of energy for your unit, you have to either purchase compatible solar panels or invest in a complete kit.
Here are some solar charging options recommended by Goal Zero:
Boulder 100 Solar Briefcase
The Boulder 100 Solar Briefcase is a 100-watt monocrystalline solar panel. It generates 100 watts of electricity that you can use to charge your 1500x.
The briefcase is designed for portability and comes as two 50 watts solar panels combined together into a folding briefcase design with a hinge.
It features a built-in kickstand that you can use for easy setup. For weatherproofing, the solar circuit is encased inside tempered glass and an anodized aluminum frame to keep it protected.
One Boulder 100 Briefcase can completely recharge your Yeti in about 30 to 60 hours. However, a good thing about this solar panel is that you can chain in with multiple units to produce more power.
Nomad 100
Like the Boulder 100 Briefcase, the Nomad 100 Solar panel set is also designed for portability. It features a foldable design with four 25 watt monocrystalline solar panels.
The panels are thin and lightweight and collapse over one another for compactness. It is a suitable choice for people on the go. You can use it to power your 1500x in remote locations. However, to achieve the required 400 watts wattage, you will need to purchase four of these.
Home Integration Kit
The Home Integration Kit from Goal Zero comes as a solution to your alternative power needs. Using the kit, you can link up to four Goal Zero Yeti units directly into your home’s electric circuit.
This way, they can serve as an alternate source of power for sustainability or during power outages.
The kit is straightforward to install and supports one-button functionality that enables you to switch all the connected power stations at once.
MPPT Charge Controller
The MPPT charge controller is a small device designed to improve the charge efficiency of a portable power station. You can use one to lower the solar charge time.
Fortunately, the Goal Zero Yeti 1500x comes with a built-in battery MPPT charge controller. This small device is powerful enough to increase charge efficiency by 30% when recharging with a Goal Zero solar panel.
If your MPPT charge controller malfunctions, you can always replace it with a new one.
Recommended 1500x Solar Kits
Since the Goal Zero Yeti 1500x comes without solar charging panels, purchasing it as a kit can help you save some money.
This Goal Zero Yeti 1500x review is incomplete without mentioning some popular options. Have a look!
Big Power On The Go: Yeti 1500x Power Station + Boulder 100 Briefcase
The Yeti 1500x Power Station + Boulder 100 Briefcase is a reliable source of power for people on the go.
Whether you are on a camping trip or operating from a mobile basecamp, or working at a remote site, this kit will keep you supplied with a stable electric supply.
It consists of a Yeti 1500x and one Boulder 100 Briefcase. You can use it to power your various small and large appliances.
If the 100-watt charge generating capacity seems low, this solar panel set supports pass-through charging so you can continue to use the kit while it is charging.
Off-Grid Power Solution: Yeti 1500x Power Station + (4) Boulder 100s
This kit from Goal Zero is a perfect solution for anyone looking to adopt an off-grid lifestyle. This kit consists of a Yeti 1500x and four Boulder 100 Briefcase Solar Panels.
Each of these briefcases produces 100 watts of energy, so the four of them combined together to generate 400 watts of electricity that is enough to completely recharge your 1500x in as little as four hours.
To make the setup more worthwhile, you should consider getting a Goal Zero Home Integration Kit into your home’s electrical circuitry to keep everything on your home powered and running.
How Does the Goal Zero 1500x Differ From The Competition?
Goal Zero Yeti 1500x is a powerful power station with an incredible battery storage capacity designed for more than charging your phones. It can also power refrigerators, pumps, medical equipment, and power tools, amongst many others.
But how does it compare to its competitors? This Goal Zero Yeti 1500x review also goes over the various specifications of its direct competition EcoFlow 1260 Delta.
Delta is one of the latest models from EcoFlow. It is similar to Goal Zero in many aspects except that its battery charges much faster.
EcoFlow claims that its 1260 Delta can recharge from a wall outlet to 80% in an hour. The Yeti 1500x takes about 12 hours to do that, considering its full recharge on AC supply takes about 14 hours.
However, recharging the Delta battery is a noisy affair with loud fans that continue to run even when the battery is full.
Features wise, Delta has a 1260 Wh capacity battery, 1500x has 1516 Wh. Delta comes with two 160 watt solar panels while Goal Zero has none.
Yeti 1500x has two AC outlets, while Delta boasts six. Performance-wise, both devices can power small and large appliances, are waterproof, and require 400-watt solar panels for adequate charging speed.
Recharging Your 1500x
In this section of the Goal Zero Yeti 1500x review, we discuss the various methods of charging the 1500x supports. Have a look!
Care and Maintenance
The care and maintenance of Goal Zero Yeti 1500x mainly revolves around its battery. You should be careful about both its charging and discharging, as overcharging or over-discharging both can significantly reduce its lifespan.
It is also important to not let it sit for long periods without using or charging as lithium-ion batteries lose their charging ability if left idle for a long time.
The Yeti 1500x is said to have a shelf life of three months, so be sure to charge or use it a few times within this period.
Warranty
Goal Zero covers all of its devices, including Yeti 1500x, with a two-year warranty.
Plus, there is also strong customer support backing it up. When you buy from Goal Zero, you know you’re investing in a quality product.
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimensions: | 19 x 14 x 14 inches |
Weight: | 43 pounds |
Battery Capacity: | 1516 Wh |
Inverter: | 2000 watts |
AC outlets: | 2 |
DC outlet: | 1 |
USB-A Port: | 2 |
USB-C Port: | 1 |
USB-C PD Port: | Yes |
AC Charging: | Yes |
DC charging: | Yes |
Pass-through charge support: | Yes |
Where to Buy
Before buying, we strongly recommend first researching the Goal Zero Yeti 1500x portable power station by visiting the official website. There, you can see the latest upgrades and accessories.
To buy the Goal Zero Yeti 1500x, we recommend first checking out Amazon.com where prices tend to be competitive. Or, you can purchase from the GoalZero website directly.
