clshade-

Awesome breakdown.  I think your better than some of the EE's I've worked with.  The cheaper the panels you go with the output isn't guaranteed and then you need to think about shading and choke other factors.  That's why I really liked the Green Path Technologies stuff I just couldn't bring myself to drop that kind of coin.  They were getting solid power output with the fluorescent lights in the convention center and partial shading or a damaged or malfunctioning cell didn't degrade overall power output by that much.  I am interested to see what the Goal Zero products are capable of.  Hopefully I can make it out to the Hawaii Kai Costco before they leave.

Thank you for the breakdown.
Really makes it easy to understand.
Maybe one day when i own my own house i can suppliment with solar.

Quote from: Ufa Built on January 02, 2012, 07:39:15 PM

hey heavy, if you dont mind my asking but what did you pay for the goal zero setup ?

Aloha

It was $125 for the panel, AA charger, and mp3 speakers. Could live without the speakers but figured i'm getting them for free so might as well use them on the job site.

Mostly interested in putting together items that use AA and AAA for lighting when the power goes out. Charges the Gopro as well so that's a bonus. I'm going to put together a larger system with an inverter that can run basic power tools, but it's nice to have something small that will ride in a backpack. Also got the usb Luna LED light which I know will come in handy for camping. May go pick up a couple tomorrow since they are only $7

thanks for the reply.. when they were at kapolei costco he didnt have it yet, and hawaii kai is a little to far. but anyways i have a bigger system with inverter, battery pack,  panels and light a lifes. I use it mostly for camping at the beach or spending the day at the beach. it sure beats buying "D" size batteries for the radio just plug into the inverter and good to go...

FYI- The Goal Zero road show is at Hawaii Kai Costco till Thursday. Then he will be at Kapolei Costco for the next 2 weeks. I just picked up the Escape 150 Adventure kit ($250), even comes with a light-a-life light. If power goes out I'll (at least) be able to charge laptop/cell phones. Here's the link (without light):

http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/60/Escape-150-Adventure-Kit/1:2/

I got the same system today as well plus an extra life-a-light. They guy said they might have the Yeti in January.

I got the same system today as well plus an extra life-a-light. They guy said they might have the Yeti in January.

I also got 2 extra light-a-life too. They were cheap compared to online pricing. 

I told the rep if he had the Yeti in stock I would have bought it. He recommended that I email the company to let them know that I was interested in purchasing a Yeti, and if enough people emailed, Goal Zero would be more apt to stock some at Costco.

"If I had a solar generator that could run a rice cooker they would have no problems selling out here."

Truer words were never spoken. Kinda fifty fifty on the Yeti concept because I'd rather have a true sine wave inverter to run power tools, plus the ability to chain together batteries and swap out parts that a home-made system provides but for ease-of-use the prices he was describing would have been worth it to just go with Goal Zero for now. At least get something in place until I can pro-ject a home made solar generator of my own.