Summary
If you are looking for an honest Goal Zero 500x review, then you have come to the right place.
The Goal Zero Yeti 500 is a versatile portable power station perfect for all of your outdoor adventures.
You can trust this device to charge your appliances to keep them running off the grid. The 12V battery in this unit can keep your gear going for days while it charges from the wall, generator, or sun.
These features make Goal Zero 500x perfect for backyard parties, camping trips, or in emergencies where power is required while you are on the go. The unit comes with a 4ft cable and three different tips to fit any device.
The Goal Zero 500x is an award-winning power station that provides clean, reliable off-grid power for your electronics, cell phone, and small appliances.
The 500Wh lithium-ion battery will keep your laptop going for up to eight hours. There are many ports, so you can also plug in many electronics at once.
A 300 watt 120V A.C. inverter means this unit can handle low-power appliances only. Most people use this device to charge their massive gaming laptops.
The Goal Zero 500x offers four USB ports, two of which are:
There is also a 6 millimeter 12-volt port in the unit and a 12-volt carport ideal for things like laptops and camping lights.
You can activate any of the port groups by pressing the little button. This ensures that they aren’t always on. A small LCD is right in the middle of the goal zero 500x.
The display lets you know how much power is flowing through the system. It also tells you how much battery is left. If you want to save some power, you can turn off the backlight of the LCD.
The Goal Zero 500x is smaller than most other 500Wh portable power stations on the market.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Best Features
Mobile Power For Your Crew
Goal Zero's 500x is the world's most powerful mobile power station. It has a full range of ports to charge any device, including 12V carports for charging on the go.
Wide Range of Power Outputs
You can make power your plaything with a wide range of power output, perfect for all your needs. The goal zero 500x has four port options: AC, 12V, and 60W USB-CPD to power any appliance.
Lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries ensure unrivaled performance and durability. The quality of the battery is essential for the unit’s safety purposes. The LG company manufactures the batteries in this unit.
The batteries made by LG are of the best and highest quality.
Low-quality batteries can be a safety threat to life and property. The quality of any unit’s battery is an essential part of deciding whether to buy or not.
The lithium-ion batteries can become volatile as capacity increases; hence the exterior of the battery is covered by aluminum. This provides extra protection to the battery against bumps and punctures.
Water-resistant
The water-resistant casing and functionality do a lot to increase this model’s convenience.
The Goal Zero 500x has a protective casing to prevent harm to the unit caused by dust and sand. The unit can withstand submersion in water for half an hour or more upto a depth of one meter.
Issues & Concerns
The Goal Zero Yeti 500x is a versatile portable power station perfect for all of your outdoor adventures. It does not just charge laptops or cellphones, it also charges portable refrigerators, camping lights, and even grills.
However, there are some issues with this power station that we think are important to note:
The Yeti 500x is a mighty power station that has some fantastic features. It enables you to charge many devices when you are outdoors.
However, the solar generator is expensive and requires you to buy additional solar panels to recharge it.
Most people do not require greater than 300W. But the low continuous output limits the number of devices that you can plug in simultaneously to charge. Moreover, some competitor power stations offer up to 500W.
You should take note that the non-replaceable battery is not recyclable and hence not environmentally friendly.
Recommended Solar Panels
One way of charging the Goal zero 500x is through an outlet, while another is via a solar panel. The latter is a more sustainable approach to charge.
The Boulder 50 is a solar panel that has some amazing features such as:
Protected casing
Integrated stand
This panel is perfect for charging the Goal Zero 500x’s battery. The panel has a well-built frame and effective cells that output more power.
You can easily place it on the hood of your vehicle or beside your camping tents. It is excellent if you have a multiple outing frequency with moderate power requirements.
The Boulder 50 is compatible with Goal Zero 500x (and all other Goal Zero products). The solar panel is different from the other panels due to its aluminum frame with corner protection sets.
The kickstand and reinforced corners also make it stand out from its competitors.
The plugging pins are easy to use. Hence you don’t have to worry about becoming confused with circuit diagrams and incorrect polarity connections.
You also have the option of buying the Goal Zero Yeti 500x portable power station + boulder 50 solar kit.
This kit is a best seller. With the MPPT charge controller, you get to enjoy the most coherent solar charge.
From laptops to drones, and in cases of an emergency outage, you can make use of this efficient kit.
The Nomad 50 solar panels charge the battery in 12 hours or less. It weighs only 6.85 pounds, so it is very portable.
It has a USB port, and a charging cable. This is used to charge your phones outdoors. The Nomad 50 is made from top-notch materials; hence you can expect it to last long.
You can avail the best-selling combination by getting your hands on the Yeti 500x power station + nomad 50 solar kit.
You can use the built-in charging cables with the Goal Zero Yeti Power Stations and USB devices. Additionally, you can buy connectors that connect to the 8mm cable
The Nomad 100 is small and easy to carry, and it only takes about an hour to recharge fully. It has a built-in charging cable and is compatible with all Goal Yeti power stations.
It can be chained using an 8 mm Combiner cable with other solar panels to collect more power.
The MPPT solar charging optimization module is manufactured to work only with Goal Zero power stations.
It optimizes the power input; hence you can expect your power station to solar charge 20% to 40% faster while charging from the wall.
For a complete understanding of the product, make sure you read this Goal Zero 500x review till the end.
How Does the Goal Zero 500x Differ From The Competition?
Today there are a lot of alternatives to Goal Zero 500x.
One key thing that differentiates Goal Zero products from its competitors is their safety features. The power stations manufactured by this company are guaranteed to have multiple layers of protection.
They are protected against over and under-voltage and temperature changes. The efficient BMS (battery management system) ensures that the individual cell and the battery-pack health are safe.
The design of the Goal Zero 500x ensures that it is compact and easy to handle. Unlike its competitors, Jackery Explorer 500, the unit doesn’t have a fixed handle.
A fixed handle makes it hard to store the products. So, it’s the minor yet important details, from the physical construction to user interface, that Goal Zero’s product manufacturers haven’t ignored. And that makes their products the best of their kind in the market.
One of the primary competitors of the Goal Zero 500x is the Bluetti EB55 700W Portable Power Station.
Size-wise, the Goal Zero 500x is larger and heavier than the Bluetti, with a footprint of 13 x 15 x 10 inches and a 16.6 pound weight. In contrast, the Bluetti EB55 700W is 10.94 x 7.87 x 7.79 inches and weighs 12.9 pounds.
When it comes to energy storage, the Goal Zero 500x provides up to 505Wh of juice and the Bluetti provides 537wh.
The Goal Zero 500x also has no wireless charging while the Bluetti does.
The Goal Zero 500x has a dedicated power button to switch on or off each area. However, the Bluetti EB55 has to be turned on as a whole, and then you have to press the second button to turn on AC or DC outputs.
Another drawback of the Bluetti is that there is a noise of the fan blowing when you are charging the Bluetti EB55 or running it at 110 volts. The noise isn’t loud but it is noticeable and can annoy some people.
Recharging Your 500x
There are several ways to recharge this unit.
Besides the USB-C port that is mentioned earlier, there is a barrel connector at the front and back. This is used with either the car charger, AC charger, or compatible solar panels like the nomad 50.
The time it takes to recharge the Goal Zero 500x varies depending on the charging method you use. The included 60-watt power supply will fully charge the battery in about 10 hours.
Care and Maintenance
To ensure that you can use your power station for many years, you have to store and use it properly. Make sure you follow these tips to care for your Goal Zero 500x properly:
Warranty
The Goal Zero 500x comes with a 2-year warranty.
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Battery Chemistry: | Li-ion NMC |
Capacity: | 505 Wh, 10.8 V, 46.8 Ah |
Charging Port: | 8 mm Plug, 13-22 VDC, up to 10 A (120 W Max) |
2 x USB | 5 VDC up to 2.4 A (12 W Max), Regulated |
1 x USB Type-C, | 5 - 9 VDC, up to 3.0A (18 W Max), Regulated |
1 x USB Type-C Power Delivery (PD) (Input/ Output): | 5 - 20 VDC, up to 3.0 A (60 W Max), Regulated |
Output Ports: | 1 x 6mm Port (Output, 6 mm): 12 VDC, up to 10 A (120 W Max) |
1 x 12 V Car Socket, | 12 VDC, up to 10 A (120 W Max), Regulated |
2 x 3-Prong | Grounded 120 VAC 60 Hz, 2.5 A (300 W, 1200 W Surge) via 120 V AC Inverter |
Operating Temperature range | 0 to 40°C |
Dimensions: | 13 x 15 x 10 inches |
Weight: | 12.9 pounds |
Where to Buy
Before purchasing the GoalZero 500x we strongly recommend learning more about it by visiting the manufacturer’s product page. There you can learn the latest about upgrades and accessories.
When you’re finally ready to buy, then definitely check out the latest prices & kit deals on Amazon.com.
