GOAL ZERO Yeti 150 Solar Generator Manual

Congrats on your new Goal Zero YETI 150 Solar Generator, a plug-and-play generator for emergencies, camping, or wherever you need power. With 150 watt-hours of power, you can keep laptops, smartphones, lights and more going for hours longer. Make sure you go online and register your product to activate your warranty. You'll also be able to sign up to receive notifications and alerts regarding the YETI. www.GoalZero.com/warranty

CHARGE ME NOW: Before reading through the rest of the manual, plug your YETI into the wall. You should store your YETI plugged in, so the battery is always healthy and full.

Get To Know Your Gear

INPUT

• Charging Port
• Charging Indicator Light
• LCD Battery Display
• Individual Port Power Buttons

OUTPUT AC

• Outlets (modified-sine wave)
• USB Outputs
• 12V 6mm Port
• 12V Car Port

Unpacking your YETI

1. AC Wall Charger (2 pieces)
   
2. Goal Zero Yeti 150 Solar Generator
   
3. Legacy-Nomad Adapter (4.7 to 8mm)
   

What it Powers

Charging Your YETI

CHARGE ME NOW:

Before using or storing, plug your YETI into the wall until it is fully charged. If at any point you hear a beeping from your YETI, plug it into a power source, like an AC outlet or a solar panel, as soon as possible. This built-in warning indicator is to help prevent battery damage when the charge gets low. For more tips and tricks on keeping your battery healthy, see the BATTERY 101 section.

LCD Battery Display:

The LCD Battery Display indicates the charge level of your YETI. There are 5 segments to the battery, approximating 20% - 40% - 60% - 80% -100% capacity. As you use your YETI, segments will disappear from the display, indicating the remaining charge. When charging your YETI you will notice a battery segment blinking at a 1 second interval. This indicates the current charge status. Once your YETI is fully charged, all battery segments will be lit and remain solid.

Charging from Solar

1. Place your solar panel where it will get as much direct sunlight as possible. See the graphic in the SOLAR 101 section for help.
2. Insert the blue-ringed plug into the INPUT port on the front of the YETI. You will know the YETI is charging when the blue LED light next to the INPUT port lights up, and the battery segments in the LCD BATTERY DISPLAY are blinking. The YETI is fully charged when all battery segments stop blinking and remain solid.
3. Your YETI is capable of taking in up to 60W of solar power. Some GOAL ZERO panels are chainable to provide more power to your YETI and reduce solar charge times.

When connecting older versions of the NOMAD and BOULDER Solar Panels, use the Legacy-Nomad Adapter Cable to connect to the YETI.

Charging from the Wall

Using the included AC Wall Charger, plug your YETI into any wall outlet. You will know the Yeti is charging when the blue LED light next to the INPUT port turns on, and battery segments in the BATTERY DISPLAY are blinking. The YETI is fully charged when all battery segments stop blinking and remain solid. The YETI should recharge from the wall in about 6 hours.

The AC wall charger comes in two pieces. Connect the two pieces by plugging the cable into the box

Charging from your Car

Although not recommended because of slow charge times, you can charge your YETI from any 12V source, like your car. To charge your YETI from a car or 12V source, you will need to purchase an 8.0 mm to 12V charger from GOALZERO.com. Call our Customer Solutions Center at 1-888-794-6250 for help identifying the charger.

Using your YETI

What to power from your YETI

USB: Smartphones, MP3 Players, Digital Cameras, E-readers, Tablets, etc.
12V: Goal Zero Lights, Car adapters, etc.
AC: Laptops, Cameras, CPAP, Display Monitors, etc.

How to use your YETI

1. Press the power button located above each port you will be using.
2. You'll know the port is turned on when the green LED light on the button is illuminated.
3. Plug in your gear for power anywhere life takes you.
4. Keep your YETI plugged into a power source when not in use.

Best-Use Strategy

When recharging gear with your YETI, take note of the LCD Battery Display. If you plug in devices that have a high power requirement (a state-of-the-art gaming laptop), the charge level of your YETI can drop very quickly and you may not get exactly 150Wh of power. On the flipside, if you're recharging devices that draw power more slowly (a tablet), you will get closer to 150Wh from your YETI. If you're experiencing shorter runtimes, you may want to check the device's power requirements, see TROUBLESHOOTING section for help.

Cold Weather Usage

Cold temperatures (below freezing) can impact the YETI's battery capacity. If you'll be living off-grid in sub-zero conditions, we recommend keeping your YETI in an insulated cooler, and connected to a power source (solar panels). The natural heat generated by the YETI contained in an insulated cooler will keep battery capacity at its highest.

Storage and Downtime Maintenance

Having your YETI connected to a power source, like a solar panel or wall outlet, between adventures or while in storage keeps its battery healthy and topped off. This prolongs battery life and will ensure your YETI is charged and ready to go all day, every day.

If you can't keep your YETI plugged into a power source during storage, fullycharge your YETI every 3 months and store it in a cool, dry place. Failure to maintain your YETI by following these steps can result in battery damage which will void the product warranty.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of battery is in my YETI?

Your YETI uses a 12V sealed lead-acid battery (AGM), similar to what is found in your car. Here are some basic facts about AGM batteries:

1. AGM batteries should be kept full at all times.
   This means you should leave your YETI plugged into a power sources at all times, especially during storage.\
2. AGM batteries last longer if you do not drain them completely.
   This sistems from the "battery memory myth" in old rechargeable batteries.

How do I know if my YETI is charged?

To check the charge level of your YETI, refer to the LCD Battery Display. When lit up, you'll see a battery outline with 5 segments, indicating the current charge level. You can turn on the Battery Display by pushing one of the power buttons above each output port. It is OK to use your YETI even when it's not fully charged.

My YETI is beeping... what does that mean?

Plug your YETI into a power source, like a solar panel or outlet, as soon as possible. This chirping is to alert you that your YETI's battery is low and needs to be charged.

Can I take my YETI on a plane?

You sure can. The YETI contains an advanced, sealed lead-acid battery that is completely safe to bring along on your flight. Bring along your user manual to show the type of battery inside.

Is the battery inside my YETI replaceable?

Your YETI depends on an advanced lead-acid battery to power your gear, and like all other batteries, one day it will make the journey to the battery graveyard. Lucky for you, the YETI's battery is replaceable. Follow these steps for replacing your YETI's battery:

1. Disconnect all cables and cords from the YETI.
2. Unscrew the four bolts attaching the top of the YETI to its body and lift off.
3. Locate the RED and BLACK battery connections.
4. Pull back lightly in each connector.
5. Install the new battery by carefully setting it inside the YETI.
6. Reattach RED and BLACK battery connections.
7. Reattach the top of the YETI to its base.

Once you have replaced your battery, you will need to find a local battery recycling center to dispose of it properly.

For more help replacing your YETI's battery, contact our Customer Solutions Center at 1-888-794-6250 or at support@goalzero.com

One of the green LED lights on the Output Port buttons turned red... what does that mean?

You have tripped the over current protection inside the YETI, which usually means your device has pulled too much power. Reset the breaker by pushing the Output Port button twice. If this continues to happen, check and make sure your device is suitable for use with the YETI, then give our Customer Solutions center a call.

How do I know if my device will work with the YETI?

First, you'll need to determine the amount of power your device requires. This may require some research on your end, a good online search or reading the user guide for your device should suffice.

Second, you will need to check the capacity for the individual output ports. For example, the AC port is monitored by an inverter that allows for 80W of continuous power. This means if your device is a pulling more than 80W for an extended period of time, the YETI's inverter will shut off. The YETI's 12V ports allow for 120W of power and might be a better solution if your device is pulling more power than the AC inverter can handle.

Once you know your device is compatible, you'll want to determine how long you'll be able to power your gear from the YETI.

How long will the YETI run my device?

Here's a quick and dirty lesson in power:

All GOAL ZERO rechargers have a number in their name, ex. GUIDE 10 Plus Recharger, GOAL ZERO YETI 150 Solar Generator. These numbers refer to the Watt Hours (Wh), or the amount of energy that can be stored in each battery, and how you'll know if your gear is compatible with each recharger. For example, a 200Wh battery should run a 100W light for 2 hours (200/100=2). If your gear falls within the 150Wh capacity of the YETI, you'll want to check the restrictions on each of the output ports.

Here are some common devices and their watt-hour requirements:

So when you're deciding on what to power from your new GOAL ZERO recharger, do some research into your device's wattage consumption. For more quick tips and learning tools, check out www.GOALZERO.com/learn.html

Disclaimer for modified-sine wave inverter used in the Goal Zero YETI 150 Solar Generator:

Modified-sine wave inverters, like those used in the YETI 150, are the most common inverters on the market. They work great with small electronic equipment, usually anything that includes an AC power cable with the box, like what your laptop comes with.

Products that are suitable to use with your YETI 150 include:

Electronic devices such as laptops, phone chargers, cameras, etc
Electrical equipment including lights, TVs, CPAP, etc

Avoid these devices with your YETI 150.

Some or all of the following devices are not suitable for use with a modified sine wave inverter and should not be used with the YETI 150. Any such use is entirely at the owner's risk and GOAL ZERO does not accept any responsibility for damage or injury resulting from such use:

• Fluorescent lights with dimming function
• Power tools employing "solid state" power or variable speed control
• Digital clocks with radios
• Sewing machines with speed control

Troubleshooting

If your devices are not charging from your YETI, follow these steps:

1. Ensure the Output Port has been turned on. The green LED light on the power button should be lit up.
2. Check the Battery Display. If it is at 20% or below, recharge your YETI.
3. Verify your device is suitable for use with the YETI:
   1. All of the YETI output ports have their own max power capacity. Check the YETI's Tech Specs to ensure your device is compatible.
   2. Some devices, like laptops and tablets, with rechargeable batteries may pull more watts when in use. In these cases, power down your device and recharge it.
4. Try resetting theYETI:
   **Do not charge the YETI or attempt to recharge devices while resetting the YETI battery.

1. Disconnect all cables and cords from the YETI.
2. Unscrew the 4 bolts attaching the top of the YETI to its body and lift off.
3. Locate the RED and BLACK battery connections.
4. Slide one of the connectors back by pulling lightly on the cable.
5. Wait 5 seconds and reconnect the cables. It's normal to see a small spark when reconnecting.
6. Reattach the top of the YETI to its base.