Goal Zero 36100 500W Portable Power Station: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

The Goal Zero Yeti 500X is a mid-sized portable power station designed for powering appliances and devices while camping or during power outages. As part of Goal Zero's Yeti Series of portable lithium power stations, the Yeti 500X offers 500 watt-hours of battery capacity and 500 watts of continuous power output.

With its rugged, compact design and variety of output ports, the Yeti 500X aims to provide versatile off-grid power for activities like RV camping, tailgating, outdoor recreation, and emergency preparedness. It can power anything from smartphones and laptops to small medical devices, mini-fridges, and power tools. The integrated battery can be recharged via AC, car, or solar panels.

Overall, the Yeti 500X provides a solid balance of power, portability, and features for powering essentials on-the-go or as an emergency backup energy source. This review will take a detailed look at the specs, usage, and performance of this mid-range portable power station.

Design

The Goal Zero Yeti 500x portable power station features a compact, durable design optimized for portability and outdoor use. At just 13.5 x 9.3 x 11.5 inches and weighing only 29 pounds, the Yeti 500x is sized for easy carrying and transport. It has an ergonomic top handle that allows you to comfortably lift and maneuver the unit with one hand. The outer casing is made of rugged molded plastic that protects the internal components from bumps, drops, water splashes and dust. Rubberized corners add further impact protection. Overall, the Goal Zero engineers focused on creating a durable, lightweight power station that you can easily take camping, use in an emergency, or transport in your vehicle when you need mobile power on the go.

Power Specs

The Goal Zero Yeti 500X has a 501Wh capacity lithium battery that provides 500 watts of continuous power and 1500 watts of surge power. This gives it enough juice to run most small appliances and electronics like mini-fridges, small TVs, CPAP machines, and gaming consoles.

It has a 300W AC outlet, a 60W USB-C PD port, dual 2.4A USB-A ports, a 12V carport, and dual 6mm charging ports. With its variety of output options, you can charge laptops, tablets, smartphones, small medical devices, and 12V accessories. The 500 watt-hours ensures you get multiple full charges or runtime for higher-power devices before needing to recharge the station itself.

Overall, the Yeti 500X provides ample power in a compact package to keep your essentials running during power outages or off-grid adventures. The continuous and surge power specs give you flexibility in what items you can power.

Battery

The Goal Zero Yeti 500X Portable Power Station features a high-quality lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. This type of battery is known for its long lifespan and stability compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.

The battery has a capacity of 505 watt-hours. This allows the Yeti 500X to deliver 500 watts of continuous power or 1000 watts of surge power. With careful use, Goal Zero states that the battery should retain 80% of its capacity after 2000 charge cycles. This translates to many years of reliable performance.

To extend battery life, the Yeti 500X has a built-in Battery Management System (BMS). The BMS protects the battery from overcharging, excessive discharge, high temperatures, and other damaging conditions. This helps maximize the lifetime of the battery.

Overall, the choice of a LiFePO4 battery with a decent capacity and protective BMS offers reliable power delivery over years of service. The battery meets the demands of powering appliances and electronics in outdoor, emergency, or off-grid situations.

Charging

The Goal Zero Yeti 500X can be charged in several ways:

• Solar - The Yeti has an integrated solar input that allows it to be charged by connecting Goal Zero's Nomad 20 solar panels. With optimal sunlight, the solar panels can fully recharge the Yeti from 0-100% in about 15 hours. The solar charging gives you an off-grid power option.

• AC Wall Outlet - The fastest way to charge the Yeti 500X is by plugging it into an AC outlet using the included 120V AC wall charger. This will fully recharge the 500Wh battery in about 5 hours. So it's great for overnight topping off before a camping trip or outage.

• Car Charging - You can recharge the Goal Zero Yeti from a car by using the 12V car charger. This will charge the Yeti completely in around 10 hours, making it feasible to top it off during long road trips.

The different charging options (solar, AC, car) provide flexibility based on your situation. The fast 5 hour AC charging time is a real plus for quickly topping it off before heading out.

Features

The Goal Zero Yeti 500X portable power station comes packed with useful features for powering and charging devices on the go.

• LED Flashlight - The Yeti has a built-in LED flashlight with high, low, and emergency strobe settings. The flashlight can be used to light up a campsite or work area in the dark.

• USB Ports - There are two standard USB ports and one USB-C PD port for charging smartphones, tablets, and other USB-powered devices. The USB-C port supports 45W Power Delivery for fast charging.

• LCD Screen - The easy-to-read LCD screen clearly displays the remaining battery percentage, estimated runtime, power draw, and input/output power. This lets you monitor power usage and battery levels at a glance.

• App Connectivity - Connect the Yeti to the Goal Zero app via Bluetooth to remotely monitor power draw and control ports. The app also lets you firmware update the Yeti when connected to WiFi.

• Pure Sine Wave AC Inverter - The 300W AC inverter provides clean, pure sine wave energy just like you get from a wall outlet. This allows you to safely power sensitive electronics and appliances.

Application

The Goal Zero Yeti 500X Power Station is perfect for a variety of applications where you need portable power.

• Camping - With 500 watts of power, you can easily run small appliances like mini-fridges, phones, laptops, lights, and more while camping. The Yeti 500X gives you the freedom to camp off-grid for multiple days without worrying about your devices dying. It's much better than relying on your car to charge things.

• Emergencies - Having backup power on hand for emergencies like storms and power outages can be invaluable. The Yeti 500X will keep your essentials powered on for hours or days when the power goes out so you can stay connected. The peace of mind is worth the investment.

• Outdoor Events - For tailgating, outdoor concerts, camping festivals and more, the Yeti 500X delivers reliable power to keep the party going. Run speakers, lights, blenders, phones and more. Much better than a noisy, gas generator or trying to find power sources.

The Yeti 500X power station really shines for off-grid adventures, emergency backup power, and outdoor events where portable power is a must. It's versatile enough to handle many key needs for power on the go.

Pros

The Goal Zero Yeti 500X Portable Power Station has several excellent pros that make it a top choice for portable power needs:

• Portability - Weighing only 20 pounds, the Yeti 500X is highly portable and easy to transport wherever you need power. The compact size with a folding handle makes it simple to pack in a car, boat, RV or take camping.

• Power Output - With a 500 watt continuous output and a 1500 watt surge capacity, the Yeti 500X can power most appliances, tools, medical devices, and electronics on the go. This is enough power for running things like mini-fridges, CPAP machines, laptops, lights, small TVs and more.

• Features - The Yeti 500X comes equipped with a variety of useful features for powering devices on the go. This includes 2 AC outlets, 2 USB-A ports, a USB-C PD port, and a 12V car port. The LCD screen shows real-time monitoring of watts/voltage. It also allows for recharging via AC, solar panels, or car charging cable.

Cons

The Goal Zero Yeti 500X comes with a few downsides that are worth considering before purchasing:

• Price - This is a premium portable power station that comes at a premium price. At around $500, it is significantly more expensive than some competing models with similar power specs. The high price may put it out of reach for some consumers.

• Battery lifespan - The lithium battery is only rated for 500 cycles before its capacity begins to diminish. This means after 500 full charges and discharges, the battery will hold less power. For some users who need to regularly cycle the battery, this lifespan may be lower than desired.

• No solar charging - Unlike some Goal Zero models and competitors, the Yeti 500X does not have built-in solar charging capabilities. You need to purchase separate solar panels to charge with the sun.

• Weight - At over 40 pounds, this is a heavy unit to move around and transport if you plan to take it on camping trips or use it for portable power needs. The weight makes it less ideal for activities where easy portability is desired.

Verdict

The Goal Zero Yeti 500X is a reliable and versatile portable power station that is perfect for recreational use and emergency backup power. Its 518Wh lithium battery provides plenty of power for camping trips, tailgating, outdoor events, and power outages.

The 500 watt continuous and 1500 watt surge output can power most electronics, appliances, tools, and CPAP machines. While not as robust as industrial generators, it provides clean and quiet portable power.

The modular expansion ports allow you to connect additional Goal Zero batteries to increase capacity. Integrated MPPT solar charging enables fast recharging from solar panels. With the app connectivity you can monitor power usage and control ports remotely.

Overall the Goal Zero Yeti 500X hits the sweet spot for a mid-sized portable power station. It's portable enough for travel while providing ample power output. If you need an all-in-one portable power solution with solar charging, the Yeti 500X is a top choice to consider.