Learn

How Goal Zero portable solar power products work

Our products are very simple to use and connect – just plug and play. You collect power from the sun, USB, wall or 12Vdc. You store this power in any of our Goal Zero rechargers. You then are ready to use this power anywhere at anytime with only your imagination as the limit. Our rechargers provide power for USB, 12Vdc and AC devices.

Let’s break it down, COLLECT – STORE – — — USE

First, let’s cover step one, COLLECT.

To collect solar power you require a solar panel that will ‘magically’ turn the sun’s rays into power. Well, not quite like magic but your solar panel has cells that will absorb these rays with the ability to use this power which is then stored into a secondary device. Depending on what panel you are using will vary the amount of solar you are able to collect and in what timeframe. For example a 7 watt panel is only able to collect 7 watts of power whilst a 90 or 100 watt panel can collect much more power and within a quicker timeframe. There is also a few different types of panels on the market but you can read more about monocrystalline, amorphous and polycrystalline panels over on this blog.  For now we will just cover the collect part.

Bring on step two, the STORE.

The “Store” is vital into how you use your solar power. Depending on the amount of power you need will depend on which storage device you want to use. If you’re only wishing to charge a mobile phone you will get away with having a smaller battery storage device such as a Flip or Venture 30.  If you’re wanting to charge something like a DSLR camera or a laptop, the Sherpa range will be able to handle larger devices. And our third option, The Yeti range, will allow the recharger to power up items  such as fridges and power tools. They also boast a greater storage capacity for more run time, as well as the ability for charging multiple devices at once. For optimal use we recommend you find the right balance between panel size and your battery device to ensure your panels can keep up with power supply. We also recommend working out your worst case power supply, for example if you had no sunlight for 3 days, how many days would you be able to survive on your current power needs with your current recharger.

Now it’s time to — — USE!       

So long as you get Collect and Store correctly, use is the easy part. But just to reiterate you want to have the right size panel to collect the sun’s rays and the appropriate size recharger for the products you want to charge. Ideally, you want to look at ensuring you can charge enough throughout the day to have your charging needs sorted for the evening such as lights, phones, tablets and fridges. If you have any further questions regarding your solar requirements, or understanding your volts, amps and watts, please Contact Us.

 

 

Find A Retailer