Goal Zero Yeti (1400W Solar Generator): Definitive Review (2024)
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It’s time to present to you the very best of the best of the solar generators we tested.
This is the Ultimate TopNotch Goal Zero Yeti 1400 Review 2024….
In this comprehensive review we’ll cover:
- Power output
- Overall value
- Main features
- Lots more…
So if you want the best combination of power output and solid performance, you’ll love this guide.
Our Top Pick always goes to products that excel in a particular area, even if they don’t perform so well in others.
In this case, Goal Zero Yeti 1400 fits that bill, providing our most premium experience of all the other solar batteries in its class.
Let’s take a look to find out more about this great product.
- Dimensions: 13.00 x 18.00 x 13.00 in
- Weight: 43.7 lbs
- Load Run Time: 25h+
- Wattage: 1428 Watt
- Manufacturer: Goal Zero
Bottom Line : A smart, versatile, and powerful product that performs superbly
Pros
- Large power output
- Good portability
- High-quality lithium battery with a battery management system
- An advanced cooling system
- Wi-Fi capability
- A wide range of connectivity options
Cons
- Costly
- Not designed to be expandable
Our Verdict: Goal Zero Yeti 1400W Solar Generator
The Goal Zero Yeti 1400 is one device I was super eager to review for you.
Not only because it was a fantastic performer in our tests, but the fact is, Goal Zero has really pushed the limits in this category in terms of features.
For example, this is a WiFi Connected Power Station you can control from your smartphone.
The TopNotch lithium battery delivers a solid power output and there are 10 versatile ports to charge all your electronics.
And the best part is, even when the output is at the higher end, it’s incredibly quiet.
The overall versatility is amazing. It‘ll power everything from small electronics to larger home appliances.
As usual, you get an effective battery management system – meaning all-round safety.
It’s not exactly a lightweight device though.
However, it’s far lighter than any gas-powered generator of the same capacity
Now, we loved the fact that every aspect of the Yeti 1400 power station has been thoughtfully designed to ensure TopNotch user convenience.
It’s a complete package that the TopNotch team loved using.
The only thing that goes against it is the high price.
But let’s face it…
You get what you pay for.
Simple as that.
The Yeti 1400 is a great source of portable power that makes no compromises in terms of quality or performance.
In the end, we crowned it our TopNotch Top Pick. We didn’t think twice about it actually.
So without further delay, let’s get this show on the road.
Related: 10 Best Solar Generators
Analysis Comparisons and Test Results
We’ve always loved using Goal Zero solar generators. And this power station is the ultimate choice when it comes to a portable supply of solar power.
News Flash: Goal Zero has divided the Yeti series into various categories.
The Yeti 150, the Yeti 400, and Yeti 1000 models are for light users. For the medium to heavy users, there’s the Yeti 1400 and the Yeti 3000 battery pack.
One thing’s for sure.
With this model Goal Zero has solved a major drawback of solar-powered generators…
…the issue of them offering much lower power than fuel-powered units.
Remember you’ll need to buy a solar panel separately though.
In addition, you’ll need an adaptor to connect the Yeti with some third-party solar panels.
On our trip, we used the Rockpals Foldable 100W Solar Panel Charger – a compatible product.
Let’s discuss the Yeti 1400 in detail.
Value for Money
I have to say, this portable power station does come with a bit of a premium price tag.
So the obvious question is this…
Is it worth the price and the hype?
When you consider the features, it delivers a respectable output from a compact package.
Value for Money Rating
You can use it on a campsite for charging all your smaller electronics at the same time.
Alternatively, why not hook it up with the refrigerator and the TV in your RV?
Actually, that’s exactly what we did.
You also get the advantage of the Goal Zero Yeti App through WiFi.
It’s available in both Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Now all the features can easily be controlled from the palm of your hand.
In addition, there’s an inverter that delivers a pure sine wave in the output power.
Don’t have access to WiFi?
No worries.
The LCD panel will show you everything you need to know.
Like all other Goal Zero products, the Yeti 1400 lithium battery is also solidly built.
So durability isn’t a concern at all.
With multiple options for charging, you have a lot of flexibility.
This isn’t a device that will charge up quickly even from a wall outlet.
Actually, that’s one rare ‘con’ we noticed.
The overall performance during power delivery is simply TopNotch.
Moreover, it needs only very low maintenance and the battery can hold a charge for long periods.
So if you have the budget, this device is definitely a superb performer for a portable power station.
However, the high price did keep it at the lower end of the chart under this metric.
Output Power
The 1425Wh lithium battery delivered a solid performance in our tests.
And you know what?
The peak power capacity of the Goal Zero is almost double that figure. A whopping 300 watts!
Output Power Rating
On average, you can charge a standard smartphone around 70 times and a 50W laptop more than 20 times.
So, a perfect device for all your off-grid adventures.
We powered my small fridge in our RV with this device.
The Yeti 1400 kept it running for around 25 hours.
While solar charging through a 100 W panel, the lithium battery can take anywhere between 30 to 60 hours to achieve a full charge – depending on the solar intensity.
Obviously, heavy users will need to use multiple panels to charge it faster.
On the other hand, charging it fully through an AC wall outlet will take around 24 hours.
The Yeti 1400 has the power capacity to run the lights, television, and medical electronics in a small house.
However, it wouldn’t support power-hungry devices like an air conditioning unit.
To test it out, we used all the 10 ports of the device at once. The power delivery was smooth at all times.
In addition, the overall discharge efficiency was around 95% as per our tests.
What makes that so special?
It proves the TopNotch quality of the battery.
One last thing…
We wish it had the Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) module that optimizes the charging speed. Note, the module is actually pre-installed in the Yeti 3000.
In the end, the superb power delivery put the Yeti 1400 firmly at the top of the list under for Output Power.
Durability & Workmanship
This was another metric where we gave the Yeti 1400 top marks.
As per the specs, the lithium battery will last for 500 lifecycles.
In other words, it can be discharged and charged 500 times before its efficiency decreases to 80%.
Durability & Workmanship Rating
That’s a big plus when compared with standard lead acid batteries.
Now consider it this way.
While using solar power stations, we hardly discharge it fully at all.
So in reality, it will take more than a decade to reach the stage when the efficiency finally reduces.
Let’s talk about the ports on this device.
And yes, there’s a whole lot of them.
Firstly, there’s the 60W USB C port, a 15W USB-C port, two other USB Type-A ports.
Next, there are two 120V AC power outlets and three 12V power outlets.
And one of them is a car outlet.
The good thing is, even with so many ports, the overall layout is simple and easy to use.
The 3-inch LCD panel gives you all the necessary information on performance including power output and time to empty.
What about the app?
We found it super easy to use.
There are multiple tabs to provide details like power input power output, time to full, and the battery temperature.
You can also change the units however you prefer.
Another important point – you can simultaneously charge and discharge the battery – making it a more practical choice.
The outer case is made from plastic. But it’s so solid we had trouble ‘accidentally’ damaging it in our tests.
Frankly, it won’t win any awards for good looks.
In the end, the TopNotch view was clear. This was top of the chart for durability and workmanship.
Dependability & Reliability
One thing we love about Goal Zero products is they are incredibly reliable.
The Yeti 1400 is no exception.
Let’s start with the lithium battery.
The super-quality lithium cells are designed for high efficiency levels and it’s much lighter than lead acid batteries of the same capacity.
Dependability & Reliability Rating
That brings us to the weight factor.
At 45 pounds it’s not what I’d call ‘easy to carry’.
However, the compact size and the well-designed carrying handles enhance the portability to a large extent.
You can easily store it at a corner of your RV or stash it in the basement.
Bonus feature – it will easily hold its charge for three to six months.
Also, there’s the battery management system that protects against over-charging, voltage surges, and short-circuiting.
In addition, you’ll get a cooling system that controls the temperature even under high loads.
We didn’t have any overheating issues even when we put its capacity to the test with some high loads.
Finally the inverter technology and the pure sine wave output makes it perfectly safe for all your electronics.
We tested the WiFi connectivity and the app took no more than twenty seconds to connect.
One more thing…
It doesn’t have an IP rating.
But Goal Zero does claim the battery casing is completely watertight.
However, keep in mind that lithium batteries aren’t best-suited for extreme temperatures.
Last but not least, Goal Zero gives a 24-month warranty.
One thing we missed was the 30amp RV plug.
But considering the overall TopNotch performance, we could loverlook that.
On the whole, we gave the Yeti 1400 a huge thumbs up for its superb reliability.
Noise
Here’s something interesting.
Even with a much higher power capacity, the Yeti 1400 was quieter than some of its rivals with lower power output.
Quite simply, it’s one of those ultra-quiet devices we loved using.
Noise Rating
Even the fan was mostly silent under high power outputs.
Only once did we hear the fan kicking in during the Goal Zero Yeti 1400 testing phase. That was on an extremely hot day when it was in the sun for quite some time.
In line with our standards, we connected it with multiple electronics to try to stretch the overall capacity as much as we could.
At the same time, we connected it with a solar panel for charging.
The Goal Zero Yeti 1400 lithium battery delivered a noise-free performance.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a silent performer, the Yeti Goal Zero 1400 is one of the best choices.
Undoubtedly, another TopNotch performance that landed it at the top of the list for Noise.
Just in case this is outside your budget range, try the Jackery 240, it’s our TopNotch Best Value choice.
That’s another ultra-silent generator we loved.
Our Final Verdict:
Goal Zero Yeti 1400W Solar Generator
Our Final Verdict Rating
Conclusion: Goal Zero Yeti 1400W Solar Generator
Time to sum up this Goal Zero Yeti 1400 review.
The fact is – in terms of features and overall performance – it easily outclasses its competitors.
Quite simply, Goal Zero has hit the ball way out of the park with this superb performer.
In terms of build quality, it’s TopNotch.
The battery efficiency is top-grade and the all-round safety features make it a superb choice for all types of applications.
Another advanced feature – it comes with WiFi connectivity. A great addition for those who want easy control of the portable battery pack.
You get ten different ports including USB C connectivity – perfect for all your gadgets and even for larger equipment.
Even with all these features, Goal Zero has managed to keep it simple enough for everyone.
Kudos from the TopNotch team for the excellent design.
In the end, it’s equally good for anyone with moderate power needs for home, the RV, or even at a remote worksite.
Now hang on, we’re not done yet.
The high price to power ratio doesn’t make the device ideal for everyone. If your needs are on the lower end, there are plenty of cheaper options out there.
However, what it offers at this price is outstanding at every level.
This is our Top Pick in this category, hands down.
So – you know everything there is to know about this TopNotch generator.
It’s over to you now to make your choice.
