GOAL ZERO Solar

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I just wanted to post this up because I thought it was cooland I actually bought one of these units.
it's a portable solar rig that you can use to charge devices and recharge batteries.
I ended up getting it because someone gave me a gift certificate for REI and
I have so much regular gear I figured why not buy something I otherwise wouldn't..

http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/11/Nomad-7-Solar-Panel/3:1/
 
I have been looking at some of their stuff. How do you find the size of it to be? It's hard to tell from the pictures. Have you given it any testing?
 
so far it successfully charged my iphone, the one thing you need to do is let the panels warm up first.

The size is really convenient if you are backpacking it will fit well in any pack. the folded up size is about the size of an ipad.
I plan on also buying the Guide 10 battery pack to suppliment it.
 
I got the goal 10 with charger and batteries for around 129 on amazon. I think it could be useful. It will charge your phone, charge the batteries(the pack can then charge your phone). It will charge an iPad, but really slow.

The biggest challenge I had while testing this on a camping trip to Oregon is that It wasn't sunny very often, so the charger worked, but pretty slow.

I think that this is really a useful, relatively economical part of a prepper's toolkit because it will give you a long term supply of battery power for all the cool LED stuff you can get, and charge most small electronics.
 
Very cool - I don't have the $ to spend on this but to find the product actually works gives me confidence in making the purchase in the future.
 
I got the goal 10 with charger and batteries for around 129 on amazon. I think it could be useful. It will charge your phone, charge the batteries(the pack can then charge your phone). It will charge an iPad, but really slow.

The biggest challenge I had while testing this on a camping trip to Oregon is that It wasn't sunny very often, so the charger worked, but pretty slow.

I think that this is really a useful, relatively economical part of a prepper's toolkit because it will give you a long term supply of battery power for all the cool LED stuff you can get, and charge most small electronics.

that's great to know thanks man. I am going to definitely get the Guide 10 to go along with the Nomad. Overall most of the solar kit stuff will take much longer to charge but that's ok because at least you are free to charge up anywhere any time as long as the sun is out..
 
If you order the Guide 10 battery pack be sure to charge some AAA batteries. The unit I got could was not able to because the adapter would not make good contact.

I emailed them on it and the CSR admitted that there were issues and said there was nothing she could do...suggested I use tin foil :)....told me to wait a couple *months* for a new adapter. About 5 days after that email exchange a new part showed up and all is working as expected. Not sure what the CSR was smokin.

I could have fixed it by putting a blob of solder on the contacts....but I'm lazy.

EDIT: the bar light that they sell is actually pretty nice.
 
Just checking, it is 109 on amazon, not 129. It's great for the back window of your car, you just keep stuff plugged in and it charges them. The battery pack will charge at least 2 iPhones on a charge, plus is a little light. I will get some more AA and AAA batteries for it so I can use it in my kitty's and lanterns.

I want to test it more throughly and really see what it can do, but I believe that it is much more useful with the battery/charging pack than it is by itself.

I can't speak to it's longevity in active use traveling, but after one week banging around in my pack, it's none the worse for wear.
 
That's weird, I'm on there as Retired, and I have access to Goal 0 stuff. Then again, I'm also on as Phys Ed/Leadership/Sports Teams, so it might be that too.

That might be it..... The military team signup breaks out by service and this is what is detailed when you select Navy:

Does this sound like you: Active member of the Navy and a gear junkie? We know you have lots of influence and so do big name brands. They also know that if you like the gear you are likely to tell others about it, so why not get discounts for spreading the word? Top name brands appreciate the Navy and your expertise in rating gear and they have made special discount programs available to active members of the Navy. If you are an active service Member just apply to get started and accept our thanks for your service to our country.

Very clearly active duty only for this team anyway......[thinking]
 
That might be it..... The military team signup breaks out by service and this is what is detailed when you select Navy:



Very clearly active duty only for this team anyway......[thinking]


Which is weird, because that's the branch I'm under as "retired".
 
Which is weird, because that's the branch I'm under as "retired".

That's interesting..... Do you have a military email account? It looks like you need one to sign up.... I retired in 1989 as (at least as far as I know) don't have a military email account....
 
That's interesting..... Do you have a military email account? It looks like you need one to sign up.... I retired in 1989 as (at least as far as I know) don't have a military email account....

Ah, maybe that's it. I did use a .mil email account.
 
Ah, maybe that's it. I did use a .mil email account.

Yep, that signs you up automatically..... I found there was another option to email them a copy of my Military (Retired) ID..... Did that a couple of days ago and am still waiting to hear back....

Am hoping I can get in.... The deal is awesome and I have been thinking about getting some of their products for camping/SHTF....[thinking]
 
Yep, that signs you up automatically..... I found there was another option to email them a copy of my Military (Retired) ID..... Did that a couple of days ago and am still waiting to hear back....

Am hoping I can get in.... The deal is awesome and I have been thinking about getting some of their products for camping/SHTF....[thinking]

Yeah, promotive has some awesome prices on their stuff. I've been mulling over getting one of the big battery packs (even w/o the solar panel) to charge up and use for lighting at night w/o running a genny next time the power goes out.
 
Yeah, promotive has some awesome prices on their stuff. I've been mulling over getting one of the big battery packs (even w/o the solar panel) to charge up and use for lighting at night w/o running a genny next time the power goes out.

This is the package I've been looking at......

Goal0

Battery pack I would keep charged and with the inverter should run any of my electronics safely and the 30 watt PV panel is a nice backup just in case I need to charge it "off the grid".... Like the idea of the way the 30 watt panel is set up since a lot of times these PV panels can be pretty easily broken.....
 
Ah. I was actually looking at the Extreme Ranger stuff. Much bigger battery pack, although I do like the Escape panel (the Extreme panels are meant for semi-permanent installs).

ETA: the Escape/Scout 150 kit you're looking at is $248 on ProMotive, Bob.
 
I've been looking at Goal Zero products recently and wanted to see if anyone had any updates on their systems, now that you've had them for a couple of years... i.e, how well they've held up, any degradation in performance, how well the power storage units work, etc.
 
I've been looking at Goal Zero products recently and wanted to see if anyone had any updates on their systems, now that you've had them for a couple of years... i.e, how well they've held up, any degradation in performance, how well the power storage units work, etc.

Mine still works well..... Last winter had power go out for two days during a storm and used my small generator to power the heat and the two battery/inverter packs ran the blower on my fire place and the tv..... When a pack was low, I charged it back up off the generator....
 
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