I spend most of my time traveling, camping, and learning new things, and sharing them with the world. For this, I need to be online most of the time and need my smartphones, laptops, cameras and other devices charged.
I realized that I need electricity wherever I go, so I decided to go for a solar power generator, as it is clean and produces no fumes or noise. After a lot of research, I purchased a Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium which I have already reviewed.
But, now I needed a solar panel to make this power station a solar generator. So, I started researching on which are the compatible solar panels for my Goal Zero Yeti and finally came across these six solar panels.
The 6 compatible portable solar panels for Goal Zero Lithium are:
- Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase
- Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel
- SUAOKI 100W Portable Foldable Solar Panel
- Renogy 100W Solar Panel Suitcase
- Rockpals 100W Foldable Solar Panel Charge
- ALLPOWERS Flexible Solar Panel 100W
Best Portable Solar Panels For Goal Zero Yeti Lithium
Using a solar panel which is compatible with Goal Zero yeti help your solar generator charge in less time and also protects from several other problems that you can have using an uncompatible solar panel.
So, here’s our list of 6 best compatible solar panel for Goal Zero Yeti Lithium.
Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase
The Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase is the best solar panel to charge your Goal Zero Yeti Lithium, made up of highly efficient monocrystalline solar cells for producing 100 watts of power protected with a strong and sturdy tempered glass.
The solar panel is lightweight and is supported by rigid aluminum frames. Its weight makes it portable to carry it anywhere you want, either use it for camping or for your RV, it would never dissatisfy you with its charging power.
For fast charging, you can also chain it with other solar panels but you need a combiner chaining cable for this.
For setting up the solar panel for an angle at which you can get maximum sunlight, the panel is provided with a portable kickstand. This kickstand is foldable and therefore can be carried wherever you want.
The protective carrying canvas bag makes it easy to carry and transport, included with the solar panel.
You can use Boulder 100 Briefcase for charging Yeti 400, Yeti 400 Lithium, Yeti 500X, Yeti 1000 Lithium, Yeti 1400 Lithium, and Yeti 3000 Lithium. However, the charging time varies on different factors like the angle of elevation, time of the year, temperature, and position of the sun.
Boulder 100 Briefcase is highly durable and is equipped with added corner protection. The waterproof is another feature that makes it usable in all climate conditions.
Charging times: –
- Yeti 400 – 6-12 hours
- Yeti 400 Lithium– 6-12 hours
- Yeti 1000 Lithium– 15-30 hours
- Yeti 1400 Lithium– 22-44 hours
- Yeti 3000 Lithium– 35-70 hours
Note- For reducing the charging time chain it with other solar panels.
The solar panel weighs 25.9 lbs and comes with a one-year warranty. You can check the current price of the Boulder 100 Briefcase at Amazon.
Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel
The solar panels for Renogy have always been popular in the US because of their high power and compact size.
This new Renogy portable solar panel has a lot of the latest features and abilities. The enhanced performance and self-service life are the features that really excites me.
The panel is made from advanced encapsulation material and is layered with multi sheets for better performance. All the solar modules are EL tested and therefore, it is guaranteed that they won’t have any heating issues.
You also get a bypass diode already fixed to the panel that ensures that power will not drop even you get shades over the panel.
This solar panel is highly durable and can withstand high winds and snow loads. The panel also has a corrosion-resistant aluminum frame so that you can use it outdoors for decades.
What we don’t get in most of the portable solar panels? This is the question that you won’t have imagined since now. The one thing that we don’t find in all portable solar panels is versatility.
Thank god! Renogy has taken care of this and therefore this solar panel can be used for both on-grid and off-grid inverters. You can even mount this panel on the ground.
For enhanced stiffness and impact resistance, it is equipped with anti-reflective, more transparent, and low iron tempered glass.
The junction box is IP65 rated and therefore it is protected against low-pressure water jets and environmental particles.
So, either you use it in your RV, boat, house, or for your cabin, this would be your best friend to keep your Goal Zero Yeti Lithium charged always.
You can check the current price of the Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel at Amazon.
SUAOKI 100W Portable Foldable Solar Panel
SUAOKI is not a new name to the solar power world, it has been in the market for years and therefore, has earned the trust of the people with its unbeatable solar panels and portable solar power stations.
This portable solar panel is designed in such a way that it fits almost all solar power generators. The truth is that without a solar panel, a power station can’t be a solar generator.
SUAOKI is equipped with advanced solar cell technology that allows this 100W panel to absorb sunlight more efficiently and faster than other panels.
Even during winter, when there is low light, this panel can absorb the sunlight and convert it into electricity more efficiently.
The one thing that I like most is its durability. It is high temperature resistant and made from durable cloth and PET material. You can easily hang it up on your RV or tent.
With the use of TIR C technology, the panel quickly understands the device current and fastens up the charging process.
With this solar panel, you get a power source for DC as well as USB devices. The package, therefore, includes an Anderson cable for power stations, a 10 in 1 connector for all laptops, and a DC to DC cable.
The SUAOKI solar panel is designed and made for travelers and that’s why it comes with handles and can be easily folded and carried in hand. It only weighs 10.9 lbs.
You can buy this amazing solar panel with 24 months’ warranty, compatible with your Goal Zero Yeti at Amazon.
Renogy 100W Solar Panel Suitcase
Renogy 100W Portable Solar Panel can be the best fit if you are looking for an off-grid product. This solar panel suitcase is lightweight and is equipped with two 50W monocrystalline panels, MC4 connectors.
The feature that I like most is the ability of Renogy to give excellent performance even in low sunlight. You can say that even if it is not a sunny day, you would get the excellent power input to charge your Goal Zero Yeti Lithium.
The stand used for angling the panels is made up of aluminum and therefore it is corrosion-resistant. The solar panel has strong handles and latches that make it long-lasting and easy to carry.
Renogy is designed in such a way that it can be extended i.e., you can connect multiple solar panels based on the space available.
In ideal weather, the solar panel can provide an output of 500W per day. You would see almost the same output even in a low-light environment.
Apart from all these features, you get a premium rugged canvas protective case and corner protector for better portability.
The solar panel can work in even worst conditions ranging between -40°F to +185°F. The overall weight of the product is 14.3lbs.
You can find this amazing Renogy 100W Portable Solar Panel Suitcase at Amazon.
Rockpals 100W Foldable Solar Panel
Rockpals is one of the best-rated Solar Panels which is compatible with almost all solar power generators.
They provide 5 different size connectors which can be used for connecting different power stations. You don’t have to look for a connector that fits your power station, it costs only a few bucks but is a very tedious job to get from outside.
I really don’t like going to different supermarkets and electrical shops to get a connector.
One feature that makes it a unique solar panel is the presence of TIR C technology. The panel is already equipped with an intelligent chip that monitors the electrical flow of charge for fast charging and protects the charging device from overheating or overloading.
They use the single crystal silicon which is the new technology in the market and provides 20% better efficiency than the other solar panels.
Apart from being foldable and portable, the solar panel is also water-resistant and durable. It is made from durable oxford cloth and is water-resistant so that even it is raining and there is low light, you can use it efficiently.
However, you must have to take care of the junction box as they are not waterproof and you would have to keep them away from water or cover them with a plastic or other waterproof cover.
Overall, Rockpals 100W foldable solar panel is a must to have a product to charge your Yeti 150 and yeti 400 during camping, hiking, climbing, picnic, and other outdoor activities. It weighs only 10.8lbs and can work well in the temperature ranging from 0-120 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can check the current price of Rockpals 100W Foldable Solar Panel at Amazon.
ALLPOWERS Flexible Solar Panel 100W
This solar panel from ALLPOWERS has a lot of abilities and features that make it much more affordable and portable and at the same time packed with 100W power.
This flexible solar panel provides an efficiency of up to 23.5 percent which is much greater than what we normally get in other portable panels. The other monocrystalline solar panels available in the market have a maximum efficiency of 19 percent only.
Another feature is its durability, the panel is water-resistant and more durable than the traditional glass or aluminum models. The junction box is also sealed and water-resistant, so you don’t have to worry even when it’s raining outside.
If you need to capture more sunlight, then you need a solar panel that is bendable and can be curved to an arc. You can bend this ALLPOWERS solar panel to a maximum to a 30-degree arc and mount it on your RV, boat, cabin, tent, car, truck, or even at an irregular surface.
Don’t be surprised if I say you that this is the most lightweight solar panel that you can get. It weighs only 4.7lbs and therefore can be easily carried by even a 10-year-old guy.
If you look at the design, you would find that the panel has a frameless design and all four corners have a metal hole for easy installation and mounting.
But, the solar panel needs to be taken care of and you must avoid any bumps or over bending so that it doesn’t get damaged and stop working.
Some warm tips
This flexible solar panel has loads of features and abilities but it also needs some care and therefore, you need a charge controller while using this flexible solar panel.
Controller: PWM 20A
- Only connect 3 solar panels in parallel and 2 panels in series.
Controller: PWM 30A
- Don’t use 3 solar panels in parallel and 4 in series.
Controller: MPPT 30A, Max voltage input: <100w
- Maximum connect it with 3 parallel and 4 series connection.
This flexible solar panel from ALLPOWERS has really revolutionized the way solar panels are being manufactured traditionally. Overall, the solar panel is flexible, affordable, can be used at any place, and is really very lightweight.
You can check the current price of this flexible solar panel at Amazon.
How to connect two or more solar panels to Goal Zero yeti?
The most important thing that we need to take care of while connecting two or more solar panels is the Voltage at the Open circuit (VOC). When we wire two panels in series then the maximum voltage is crossed easily however, in parallel connection the voltage remains the same.
Two connect two panels you need a BougeRV Connector. First, plug the positive wire into the connector and then connect both the negative wire to the negative (black) on the adapter and plug to the Goal Zero Yeti.
For connecting three panels use BTSKY Parallel Adapter Wire and for four panels, use Bouge RV Connectors Y Branch 1 to 4 Parallel.
The Yeti Power stations come with a PWM or MPPT charge controller. Yeti 1400 and 3000 uses MPPT controllers however, all others are integrated with PWM charge controllers.
For fast charging on other yeti power stations, you can buy this Goal Zero Yeti Lithium MPPT Solar Charging Optimization Module at Amazon.
Try using the Anderson cable only as an 8mm charging port can only link up to 10A.
Note- For Renogy and ALLPOWERS you need an external adapter. If you are using an 8mm cable, then you need this adapter from SolarEnz. However, you need this adapter from iGreely if you are using Anderson Power Pole.
How to decide solar panel compatibility with Goal Zero Yeti?
The input in a Yeti Lithium power station is limited to 22V only. This input voltage is called VOC (Voltage at the open circuit), it is the same power that a solar panel should produce without any load.
Therefore, in this article, we have only those solar panels which produce less than or equal to 22V and can be used with a Yeti solar generator.
When you connect a charge controller then you look for Vmp (voltage at maximum power). This refers to the actual voltage that a solar panel produces when it is at the highest output.
All the above solar panels listed above are the best solar panels for Goal Zero Yeti power stations. However, you must use the monocrystalline panel that is non-flexible.
Flexible panels are lightweight and easy to install but at the same time, they can get hotter. Sometimes, they get burn due to excess heat which you can easily find in an old flexible panel.
If you want to use a solar panel for your RV, boat, or camper then you must go for Boulder 100 Briefcase, Renogy, or SUAOKI solar panels. All three of them are can provide you the maximum efficiency with a suitcase-style holder and a kickstand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Monocrystalline vs. Polycrystalline solar cells?
Monocrystalline panels are of high quality, saves power output and space, and therefore are costly. However, Polycrystalline panels are of standard quality and are less efficient. They also take more space and can’t tolerate the higher temperatures.
The efficiency of Monocrystalline panels is 18-22 percent whereas polycrystalline has only 14-16 percent.
Can solar panels with built-in charge controllers be used with Goal Zero Yeti?
The Goal Zero Yeti power stations are already integrated with charge controllers’ either it is PWM or MPPT. Therefore, it is not advised that the energy should go through another charge controller before it reaches to Yeti.
How can I charge my Goal Zero Yeti faster?
The best way to charge the Goal Zero Yeti faster is by using the MPPT charge controller. This charges the Yeti faster as well increases the efficiency.
