Goal Zero 400 thoughts/opinions?

Looking to implement a goal zero 400 and a dometic 14 (small lil fridge), ill power the goal zero on drives and fridge will be powered by saved energy off foal zero and ima chain another battery to it and ima buy the briefcase solar panel, anyone got any experience with this set up? Thx

 

Running similar set up now with bigger cooler... just received my Dometic CFX3 55 IM, currently testing run time for the yeti 400 outside (84F in Portland today) with the cooler set to 5 degrees. Probably won't take the battery all the way down, but to 20-40%. Will then be testing battery charge performance off the Boulder 100 briefcase while powering the fridge. Will report back in a day or two when I have some numbers.

 

I think i should be good then im getting the smallest fridge cus it just me tbh, thx

 

If you are buying a goal zero, I’d highly recommend getting one of the x series (200x, 500x, 1500x). They have a regulated 12v port specifically for running fridges. The older ones did not and most fridges did not place nice with it. They eventually came out with an adapter that you could buy. Now that’s integrated into the unit.

I don’t know why you’d need a second battery, just get a 50 or 100 watt solar panel and you should be fine.

 

I did the math and the goal zero saved battery can run my fridge for 6-8hrs, and if its dark outside when I get to the campsite (5pm) I would need another battery, cus itll only hold charge for up to 1am and the secondary battert will hold it till I wake up amd put solar panel up or head out

 

Also look into the Jackery!

 

Is it better than the goal zero, been researching and the yeti seems to be the best

 

Thinking about this setup. Subbbbbd

 

I'm not sure, Just putting out another option! I"m also trying to run a fridge in the future too HAHAHA

 

Currently have a Yeti Roadie 24 its a cooler but that just lasts about a day and a half if Im lucky

 

which fridge? Nearly any 12v fridge on the market should run longer than 6-8 hours.

my dometic averages <1 ah which would put a yeti 500x at 24-48 hours or more depending on temp settings and ambient temp.

when the compressor runs, it’ll pull 4-6 amps. Otherwise the draw is next to nothing when it’s not running. If the compressor had to run 100%, then that probably gets you to the 6-8 hours you figured.

I run my dometic cfx35 off a x2power 27f agm I installed as the main battery in my truck. I’ve let it run for well over 24 hours and itll still be going. I’ve yet to actually hit the low voltage shut off since I don’t sit for days.

if all you need is overnight, you’ll have plenty of capacity with a 500x (assuming you use 12v and not the 120 inverter). You wouldn’t need one of the 1000x or bigger unless you are staying for multiple days and aren’t getting any solar input.

 

6-8 hours you say..
Curious inquiry: Does it run continuously? I.e. most fridges run down to the temp and then kick off. Sorry if this considered. Would this be the same if you chilled the fridge before trip?
Edit: basically stated more intelligently above.

 

Can't comment on the goal zero, but I would recommend you get as big a battery as you can afford for greater flexibility. If I had to do it all over again, I would have bought one of those 1200ah lifepo4 batteries that Costco was selling for $700-750.

 

god damn! HAHAHA

 

One day....
Watching thread

 

I went with the Goal Zero 500x. I also got the $40 car charger so I could recharge from the 12v outlet in the cab. The car charger has a switch for 5 amp and 10 amps. In my initial test, I had it on 10 amps but the display had jumped from 60 watts to 135 and then back down to 60 when I stopped at a stop light. I switched it over to 5amps and it stayed at 55-60 watts the for the rest of the 2 hour drive. On the 5 amp setting, I estimate I could recharge the 500x from dead to full in about 8 hours. Longer if I'm also charging up batteries or have usb devices charging while the unit itself is being recharged.

I called Goal Zero's customer support and they confirmed that they have seen the "jump up" behavior in some car charging cables. They recommended keeping it on the 5 amp setting. I'll do some more tests in the coming week when I drive from Baltimore to Montana to pick up a new Go Fast Camper. Once the camper is installed, I'm probably just use the 400 watt inverter in the bed. I'm also thinking about putting a 120v outlet in the rear of the console for a future refrigerator.

So far, I'm really liking the GZ. I could have picked up a Rock Pal or a Jackery, for a lot cheaper but I like that the GZ has USB C fast charging ports and that the 12 v outlet can run a fridge without needing an adapter. The only real disappointment is that there is no bluetooth app to check the device. That's only on the higher end units. I expect a 1000x or 1200x will be coming out soon, but the 500x and perhaps a solar panel should be able to run a fridge without any problems.

 

I think the one issue you will have is with the fridge - if you are talking about the Dometic TC14 - not familiar with all of their products, I have an ARB 50qt, the problem is the TC14 model is thermoelectric to cool and heat and has a constant draw. That will quickly eat up your goal zero battery, they are not efficient compared with the more expensive compressor models. Thermoelectric is fine if you are on a long road trip when you want to keep beverages cold, but not good for camping when the vehicle is not running.

 

Running the CFX3 55 IM at 5F with the Yeti 400 on an 85F day I went down to 20% battery in about 8 hours. Next day I was able to recharge the battery fully using the Boulder 100 briefcase and still running the cooler in about 9 hours with full sun most of the day. For my use I'm really only worried about powering the cooler with the battery from sun down to sun up, so with lower ambient temps over night + a higher cooler temp setting I'm pretty confident the 400 can handle it.

 

Thx for letting me know, I cose the smallest one cus its only me and i like using the most out of my space, so which fridge would you recommend i need something compact, thx

 

Depends on your use - our ARB 50qt lets us go out for about a week without having to restock. We used it a lot in the desert - Anza Borrego - all that winter sun allows us to charge the GZ 400 without issue, we also have a dual battery set-up in the Tacoma. But, as others have said, get a bigger battery - at least the 500x, GZ doesn't make the 400 anymore, but I imagine they are available at a discount.

The smallest compressor fridges that I know about are all 37Q, and they are not cheap. So the question is "how are you going to use the fridge?"