Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Op-test of Goal Zero Guide 10 solar kit and thinking of bloggers in the Florida panhandle

     Today I did some op testing of the new Goal Zero Guide 10 Solar kit I purchased from amazon. Well before I start, I want everybody to think of our blogger friends, Mamma and Papa Bear, and the Marine over in the panhandle. I know they aren't in Pensacola which has some major flooding, and I mean major flooding, but they are in the panhandle and I hope they are all good-to-go over there.

     So today, I finished up early this week and after the rain came through around 1100, the sun popped out and here I am with a new toy so I took my half charged goal zero AA batteries out to the patio and angled the panels at a 45 degree angle to the sun and let it go. I am amazed at this product. Took just a bit more than a hour to fully charge the batteries. When I purchased the kit, I also added the 10 LED USB light and use it while I did this post.

 
 
     Here are the panels as they were positioned on a plastic chair on the patio. I will note that they will absorb the heat as well so if you have sensitive fingers, well wear some gloves. Also, Goal Zero recommends placing the actual charger behind the panels and the charger does heat up while charging, that's what I did.


     One thing I am impressed with Goal Zero, they don't require that you buy their rechargeable batteries. All they say is to use the Nickel/Metal Hydride batteries which I have several sets of Energizer rechargeables and charged a set after the Goal Zero brand batteries with no issues. I don't know about you and your thoughts as a consumer, but I hate when I have to buy a companies products for exclusive use in their items. I think they added to their consumer value by thinking and marketing it this way.

 
 
     Well since this pretty much considered a controlled test as I am not on a trip in the woods or grunting the sounds of survivalism, when I do make a trip, I will take it with me and see how it performs in actual environments. Until next time, stay on course and clear minded, too many distractions in the world.
 
Senior

    

15 comments:

  1. I haven't had a chance to test my Goal Zero panels yet, but plan to do so this weekend. Good to hear that they work as advertised. Thanks!

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  2. Yeah Rev, I'm impressed with their product, just like the popper targets that Duke got and the torture testing we did on them. I still think we should have used Tannerite in them, LOL. You know you could do a good review on them with the varying sunlight you have in the tundra.

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  3. Thank you for thinking of us Senior. We are okay and did not have any damage to our home. A tornado touched down about 20 minutes away from us. It was in a remote area so there was no damage to anyone's property. The roads getting to our home are almost washed away. Pray that we have no emergency until they are repaired. We can't tell where our catfish pond begins and ends. I think our fish may be headed to the next town!

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    1. Glad to hear you all are ok. Sometimes I think. FLA will break off from the rest of the country and float away. There might be a good chance your fish may have moved on. Stay safe out there.

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  4. Senior, this and your last post on Goal Zero got me to thinking that I had seen a good video on a bigger Goal Zero a few months ago. This fellow lives in an apartment and has a nice system rigged up. Note that the big car size batteries are gel cells and not lead acid, so no off-gassing....

    He uses them mainly for communications, ie ham, scanner, and computer. I know you're a busy man but you might take note of his other videos using ham radios and Goal zero systems.... for you and your crew down at the BOL.

    http://youtu.be/wex1DVfm1_g

    Speaking of the BOL did it flood out again with this weeks rain?

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    1. Matt, I haven't researched much in solar power sources for computers or communication equipment, mainly researching for Aquaponics systems, but i will check out the you tube and see what they have set up. We haven't had a whole lot of rain her, compared to Pensacola, but i am sure the ground is saturated out there. Stephen would know more on the conditions out there.

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  5. Senior,

    Thank you for the informative info., regarding Goal Zero. I like the idea of not having to purchase batteries and charger from Goal Zero. I can use my existing batteries and charger on the panel system.

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    1. I would suggest the charger, the batteries, as long as they are nickel metal hydride they will work in it.

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  6. I need to add the little battery charger to my system. Nice little outfit, isn't it.

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    1. Yes it is, thinking of getting another one for JUGM.

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  7. I have a different one, but they DO work! And work well in the field too! You're right though, put what ever it being charged BEHIND the cells!!!

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    1. Shipmate, I know how hot that charger got with just plugging in to the USB port on the laptop, wasnt taking the chance outdoors in the sun.

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  8. Wonder how NAS Saufley and NAS Whiting made out. For all I know , they aren't even there anymore. Somebody told me Saufley was made into low income housing, but I don't know if that's so.

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  9. I think whiting is still there, dont know about other.

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  10. Nice start guys...I went through the website and I found that you made decent point for Keep up the topic that everyone can choose one of the best. Thanks. Redlands solar

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