Are you looking for a small portable power station to recharge your phone and tablet while on the go?
While definitely not the most powerful in its class, the Goal Zero Yeti 200x is definitely worth a look.
This power station is the company's lightest power station to date. With a weight of only five pounds, this unit is highly portable. It can be used for off-grid camping or as an alternative power source in your home.
The Yeti 200x features a rugged aluminum exterior with a rubberized top, which can handle a few bangs quite well. With a green fluorescent handle at the top, you can pick and place it anywhere.
This Goal Zero power station comes with a rather low-capacity 187Wh lithium-ion battery, so effective capacity is about 100Wh.
With the solar charging feature, it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. Its 187Wh battery has enough juice to run a small LED camp lighting system for a few days.
It offers a range of power output. There are two USB-C ports, two standard USB-A ports, a 6mm 12 V port, a 12V carport, and an AC inverter port.
There are several options to recharge the power station. You can either plug it in the outlet or recharge it through the car's adapter or even use a solar panel for optimized charging.
The Yeti 200x comes with an AC adapter, a brochure, and a user guide. Goal Zero offers a two-year warranty on this power station with excellent customer support backing it up.
Check out the complete Goal Zero Yeti 200x review below.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Best Features
Goal Zero is known for incorporating more advanced features in its products. The Yeti 200x is no different.
Keep electronics charged
With a limited capacity of 187Wh, this power station is still a high-speed charging solution that will keep your phone and tablets running for days. It can also run a small 12V cooler for up to 10 hours or recharge your laptop up to four times.
Lithium-ion batteries
The Goal Zero Yeti 200x is equipped with a single Li battery that efficiently stores the charge to power the appliances when needed. The unit is designed with multiple protection layers to make it secure and user-friendly.
It comes with over and under-voltage protection, temperature protection, and a battery management system to keep the battery from overcharging or discharging. This plays a crucial role in keeping the battery in good condition for a long time.
Light and Portable
The first thing you will notice about this power station is its compact design as compared to other models in the league. It's only nine inches wide, so you can throw it in your trunk as it won't take much space.
With a high-quality anodized aluminum exterior, the Yeti 200x is quite sturdy - but not waterproof. It has reinforced ribbing on the corners plus the top and bottom of the case are manufactured from rubberized plastic.
The tough construction can easily take a few bumps and beats so there’s no question about durability. There are little rubber feet at the bottom of the power station to prevent unwanted slip.
The body is colored powder-coated gray plus the fluorescent green handle on the top helps you easily find the Yeti 200x in low light.
Issues & Concerns
Though Goal Zero Yeti 200x is packed with some nice safety and battery management features, there are some things we don't like.
No IPx Weather rating
With a great combination of features and performance, the Yeti 200x is an ideal choice for camping. Unfortunately, you can't use it in harsh weather conditions.
The product doesn't have any IPX rating. And while it might have some level of water resistance, we would recommend that you don’t take any chances with it.
As far as we could tell, this power station is not waterproof. So, you need to keep it under some type of shelter or in your vehicle if it happens to rain in the area you’re in.
No solar panels included
This device comes as it is. So, you need to purchase the solar panels separately. This can deter if you are on a tight budget.
Pricey
A primary concern associated with the Yeti 200x is its high upfront cost. It is more expensive than other similar-capacity stations available on the market like the Anker 200, which we like better.
The package also does not include solar panels and cables for solar recharging.
Recommended Solar Panels
Another thing to take note of this power station is that you can charge it using a solar panel. Since the solar panel is not included in the package, you need to purchase it separately.
Simply plug it into one of the front USB ports. The charging time may vary according to the size and capacity of the solar panel.
So, if you intend to purchase separate solar panels or a complete solar kit for charging the Yeti 200x, here is a recommended list of options by Goal Zero.
Boulder 50 (fixed installation)
The Zero Gola Boulder 50 is a professional-grade solar panel. This monocrystalline solar panel can generate 50 watts of electricity with a voltage of 18-20V to charge your Yeti 200x.
With its compact dimension, this solar panel is highly space-efficient. Hence, it is field-tested and marked suitable for outdoor applications like camping, worksites, and off-grid events.
The anodized aluminum frame and tempered glass covering make the solar panel durable. You can easily place this solar panel for optimal sunlight collection, thanks to the built-in kickstand.
Nomad 50 (portable)
Another compatible option for the Yeti 200x is the Goal Zero Nomad 50 solar panel. Like Boulder 50, this solar panel has a monocrystalline solar cell on the surface that generates 50 watts of electricity to charge your power station quickly.
With a foldable body, this solar panel is ideally designed for portability. It includes four panels combined and is covered in a protective enclosure.
They fold down and collapse over one another for compactness. This makes the solar panel highly suitable for outdoor use.
A sought-after combination happens to be the Goal Zero Yeti 200x power station being paired with the Nomad 50 and Lights.
The Nomad 50 works to recharge the power station through solar energy and you can illuminate the area with four 110 lumen LED lights. The lights can be set to high or low depending on the type of ambiance you’re going for.
And while we’re talking about solar panels from Nomad, the best-seller is the Yeti 200x Portable Power Station paired with the Nomad 20 Kit.
Such a combination is cheaper than buying Nomad 50, and the Nomad 20 gives you enough energy to recharge smartphones, fitness trackers, and more.
MPPT Charge Controller
The Goal Zero MPPT Charge Controller is specifically designed to optimize the charging efficiency of the Yeti 200x.
This device increases the solar charging efficiency up to 40% and up to 20% when charging from the wall. It works exceptionally well when the Yeti 200x has a solar panel with it.
How Does the Goal Zero 200x Differ From The Competition?
Goal Zero Yeti 200x ensures a powerful performance for both indoor and outdoor applications. Among various models out there, the Jackery Explorer 240 is its most popular direct competitor and our favorite between the two.
Both these power stations come from renowned brands and are similar in terms of size, weight, intended use, price, capacity, versatility, and solar support. You can also use both to power small 110V appliances when needed.
However, the Jackery has a higher battery capacity than the Yeti 200x. It comes with a 240Wh battery, while the Yeti 200x has a 187Wh battery pack. The Yeti 200x charges more slowly, too: it takes 4.5 hours to get charged from a wall outlet, while Jackery only takes 3.5 hours.
A feature that makes the Yeti 200x stand out from its competitor is the incorporation of two USB-C ports, which Jackery Explorer 240 lacks.
Recharging
The Goal Zero 200x can be recharged using three different methods discussed in detail below.
AC charging
The Yeti 200x comes with an AC charging cable that you can plug into the regular wall outlet in your home. This charging method can be time-consuming as it can take almost 4.5 hours to charge the power station completely.
DC charging
You can also use your car's DC supply to charge the Yeti 200x. Get an optional 12V power cable and connect the power station using this cable to the cigarette port in your car. It will take around two hours to charge the Yeti 200x through your car's battery fully.
Solar charging
Another way to charge the Yeti 200x is using a 50W solar panel. It is the most efficient way to charge the power station. You can buy the solar panels separately from Goal Zero or get a complete solar kit.
Zero Goal recommends using a 50W solar panel in combination with Yeti 200x for optimum charging. It will take around four hours to completely charge the 200x power station via this method.
Care and Maintenance
One of the most significant advantages of a portable power station like Yeti 200x is that they require little maintenance.
However, it is better to ensure proper care and maintenance, so this power pack remains in good condition for a long time. Here is what you can do!
Warranty
Goal Zero offers a two-year warranty on the Yeti 200x power station. The warranty covers any technical damage or material fault during this period. Plus, the product is backed by excellent customer support.
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Brand: | Goal Zero |
Model: | Yeti 200x |
Dimensions: | 11 x 9 x 8 inches |
Weight: | 2.27 kg |
Color: | Silver |
Material: | ABS plastic/ aluminum |
Frequency: | 60 Hz |
Output Wattage: | 200 watts |
Voltage: | 14.4 Volts |
Power source: | Solar powered |
Batteries: | 1 Lithium battery |
Battery storage capacity: | 12986 milliamp hours |
Best use: | Camping |
Operating Usage Temperature: | 32-104F (0-40C) |
Warranty: | 24 months |
Management system: | MPPT charge controller, low battery protection |
Charging port: | input, 8mm (13-22V) |
Where to Buy
If you are interested in purchasing the Zero Goal Yeti 200x Portable power station, you can go find it on Amazon and on Goal Zero’s official website, where you can find a variety of pre-designed solar kits for a variety of applications.
