Goal Zero Yeti 1250 Portable Solar Power Generator Review

Goal Zero Yeti 1250, one of the affordable models of the Goal Zero power stations is still a popular and great choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

It is so powerful and affordable that even after the new models of Goal Zero have come to the market like Yeti 1400 which is lightweight and equipped with a lithium-ion battery, Yeti 1250 is still available.

Goal Zero Yeti 1500 can charge multiple devices multiple times. Let’s have a look-

Devices	Back-up time/Recharges
Smartphone	60+ Recharges
Camera	200+ Recharges
Tablet	45+ Recharges
Laptop	20+ Recharges
Fridge	20+ Hours
LCD TV 32”	12+ Hours
Headlamp	200+ Recharges
Light-a-life	400+ Hours

The above backup table clearly shows that this model of Goal Zero is really a beast by performance and can keep all your devices running whether that is a larger size or smaller size.

However, you must know that Yeti 1400 is more powerful and lightweight than its predecessor Yeti 1250. Goal Zero has also introduced the Goal Zero Yeti 1000 Lithium as a counterpart of the 1250 model.

Features of Goal Zero Yeti 1250

• Required Voltage is only 110V
• Three way charging system
• Multiple charging output ports
• Pure sine wave inverter
• 1500W surge power

Key Features of Goal Zero Yeti 1250

Durability

Yeti 1250 is made up of reinforced plastic with extra protection on its edges that makes it withstand rough usage. The handles are strong and I have not seen any part which is misaligned. The front panel has an LCD screen and several ports for input and output of power.

All of the ports are placed in such a manner that they are risk-free and can work for years without any issue.

Compatibility

Compatibility has never been an issue for Goal Zero power stations, all of their products can be connected (chained) to each other and other devices too.

You can charge your Yeti from any of the Goal Zero solar panels, however, with a decrease in panel size, the charging time increases. But at the same time, when you use a 200W solar panel instead of 100W, the device gets fully charged quickly.

This device also has an in-built inverter that ensures that you can connect AC and DC, both the units at the same time. The pure sine wave inverter can produce up to 1200W of power which can run your small to large appliances very easily.

Speaking of myself, I have even used my hand drills while fixing up my wainscoting.

Ease of Use

The Yeti 1250 is very easy to use, you can see all the details and information on its big LCD screen. All the ports are provided on the front of the panel and each one of them has its description written over there, so you easily know which one is 12V or 5Amp.

Moreover, the output and input connections are also very simple and the single pin design eliminates all the confusion of connecting positive and negative wires.

Design

I have used Goal Zero Yeti 400 and therefore I just find this Yeti 1250 as a scaled-up version. The design is almost the same as Yeti 400 but its reinforced edges provide a durable and rugged look.

On the bottom and the top, the power station is black and in the middle, it has metallic grey colour with printed Goal Zero name on the logo on the front.

On the top, the Yeti 1250 houses a small compartment where you can easily store wires and cables, and small items. The compartment lid has some guidelines printed on the inner side for using the solar generator.

Portability

What we have seen when we check for the portability in a solar generator is the ability to carry and charging it anywhere!

This solar generator can be charged wherever we want with the sunlight but at the same time carrying a generator of weight 103lbs is a big deal. But, Goal Zero has solved this issue by providing a rolling cart having a tall handle.

The durability is another ability that we look and this power station is really unbeatable on this. However, you can check some other portable solar generators if you have any confusion regarding this particular one.

Three-way charging

This is one of the features that you would find in Goal zero yeti 1250 i.e., charging through sunlight, wall socket and carport.

You can charge your Goal Zero yeti 1250 by connecting it with a compatible solar panel, however, the charging time depends upon the solar panel you use. The recommended solar panel is Boulder 200 briefcase that charges the power station in 12-24 hours.

You can also use a wall socket to charge the power station really fast in just 18 hours.

The third way of charging is just for emergency use as it takes more than 40 hours to fully charge the device. You can connect it to a 12V car socket by an 8.0mm to 12V connector.

Chaining

This is the most important feature for you if you are living in a place where power outage is frequent. You can connect/chain 12V, 100Ah batteries to extend the run time but you need the chaining cable that you can buy on Amazon separately.

Pure Sine Wave Inverter

All the inverters are not created with pure sine wave ability. This power station is however equipped with an in-built pure sine wave Ac inverter for 1200W continuous power out with 1500W surge.

If you have owned a gas generator, then you must have gone through a lot of fumes and noise which is irritating for you as well as harm nature. This solar generator provides clean power that produces no fumes and noise and can be used for charging all sensitive devices like smartphones, laptops and even power tools.

3 Power output type

Every electronic device requires a different charging socket with different power. Goal Zero understands this and therefore, it has versatile outputs of 3 types. Either you have a device that uses 2.1A USB, 12V, or 1200W, you can charge 10 devices at the same time.

This allows you to power up your fridge, coffee maker, and laptop at the same time without any voltage fluctuation.

What we Like

We know that Goal Zero Yeti 1250 is not the best solar power station that Goal zero offers but it is yet powerful and capable of doing a lot. You can use this as the backup power for your home and even use it for outdoor activities like camping, grilling.

The device can run most of the devices from refrigerators that you use in your RV to power tools that you may require for fixing up things. The versatile charging and 10 different outputs ease the worry.

So, despite having a few drawbacks, Goal Zero 1250 is a power station that is worthy!

What we don’t Like

The first thing that I don’t like in this power station is the use of a lead-acid battery which is outdated and quite heavy. The weight of this acid battery makes this device heavy and unable to carry without a roller cart.

The other feature is the very slow charging via a 12V carport. Even the Goal Zero yeti 3000 charges faster than this.

However, it has a lot of abilities but at the same time, it costs more than Yeti 1000 lithium which even has a low charging time, is less costly and even comes in handy.

Pros

• Simple and easy to use
• Durable build quality
• Multiple inputs and outputs
• Fast charging ability
• Small compartment for carrying wires and cables

Cons

• A bit costly than Goal Zero 1000 lithium
• Heavy to carry without Roller cart
• Lead Acid battery (currently lithium battery is used)
• DC charging is very slow

Recommended Solar Panel for Goal Zero Yeti 1250

Since all the solar panels are not compatible with a solar generator, you have to be a little cautious while choosing the solar panel for Goal Zero Yeti 1250.

The solar panel which is recommended is Boulder 100W Briefcase but if you can also use Boulder 50W or Boulder 200W. This solar panel is lightweight and features strong tempered glass that protects it from breakage.

The frames that are used are of high-grade aluminium and therefore doesn’t rust, even when you use them on a cloudy day you don’t have to worry about drizzles.

The adjustable kickstand is equipped for setting it up at any angle and wherever you want.

Other compatible solar panels

• Renogy 100 Watt
• Newpowa 100 Watts

You can also go through other compatible solar panels for Goal Zero Yeti in this article.

Final Verdict

Basically, a Yeti 1250 is a powerful solid box that can power a lot of devices at the same time. But, its heavyweight, slow DC charging and outdated lead-acid battery push people for other options.

However, if you are looking for an inexpensive alternative to a lithium power station that can work in the temperature range from 6°-40° C then you can go for this one without a second doubt.

I would personally recommend you to get a Yeti 1000 lithium or Yeti 1400 lithium (Wi-Fi) with easy portability options having a bit less or more power than Yeti 1250.

If you are looking for a monster power, Goal Zero Yeti 3000 Lithium (Wi-Fi) is what you need!

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