Goal Zero Yeti 1500X & Yeti 3000X – First Impressions And Specs

Goal Zero Yeti 1500X & Yeti 3000X – First Impressions And Thoughts

So, it finally happened. Goal Zero has finally released a couple of new Yeti power station models.

Earlier this year, we saw the new Yeti 200X and Yeti 500X. I have seen mixed reviews of the new models, mostly toward the negative side with charging and port issues.

Goal Zero says that it has fixed those issues with the latest 200X and 500X models, so I sure hope that the 1500X and 3000X won’t have any of those issues.

Related Post: Use Any Solar Panel With Goal Zero Yeti Power Stations

In this post, I want to give my first impressions of the newer models. Have they fixed the biggest complaints about the older Yeti 1000, 1400, and 3000?

Note that I don’t have hands-on experience with them, yet, so my thoughts will be based on the specifications and ratings.

Goal Zero Yeti 1500X/3000X, What’s New?

So what has Goal Zero done with the Yeti 1500X and 3000X? Well, I like lists, so let’s make one.

  • A More Powerful Inverter – The 1500X/3000X can output 500 more watts continuously compared to the old 1000/1400/3000. The surge watts have also been increased by another 500W, to 3500W. This makes it more powerful than a regular 15A household outlet, and it will be easier to power not only bigger microwaves and kitchen appliances, but bigger power-tools.
  • A Regulated 12V Outlet – This one was a must, and one of the biggest issues with the older units. If you plan on powering a 12V fridge/freezer with a 12V outlet, you want that outlet to be regulated so it will stay on until the battery runs out of juice, not when it reaches a certain voltage. Goal Zero has finally put a regulated 12V port on the Yeti power stations.
  • A Faster, More Powerful Charge Controller – While you could buy an MPPT charge controller module to the Yeti 1000 and Yeti 1400, it took up the expansion module spot so you couldn’t use a Yeti Link at the same time. That was a flaw. Now every Yeti X power station has an MPPT charge controller built-in, so no more additional purchases to get the more efficient charge controller! And not only is it an MPPT charge controller, but it can also handle solar panels rated at up to 50V. So you could wire two 12V 100W panels in series, or use a single larger panel. Last but not least, the max solar input has been increased to 50A (previously 30A). The 8mm port can still only handle 120W though.
  • WiFi – While the Yeti 1400 and 3000 had WiFi functionalities, the app has been updated with a couple of new features like charging profiles so you can decide how fast you want the Yeti to charge and how much.

Here are the full specs of the new Yeti models:

Yeti 1500X/3000X:

  • 1516Wh/3032Wh Lithium battery capacity
  • 2000W/3500W Surge, Pure sine wave inverter
  • MPPT Charge Controller, 14-50V input
  • 780W max input (8mm: 120W, APP: 600W, USB C PD: 60W)
  • Two AC outlets (2000W 16.5A), one USB C (18W), one USB C PD (60W in/out), four USB A (12W)
  • Regulated 12V output (13A, 160W max)
  • 12V Power Pole Port (30A, 360W max)
  • Two 6mm ports (10A, 120W max)
  • 500 Cycles to 80% capacity
  • 45.6 lbs/69.8 lbs
  • 120W/230W wall charger included
  • WiFi (monitoring, remote control, power consumption info, charging profiles)

Yeti 1500X Vs 3000X, How Do They Differ?

Just like with the older Yeti 1400 and 3000, the differences between the two aren’t many. The difference is the battery capacity and weight/dimensions.

The 1500X has a 1516Wh battery capacity, while the 3000X can store 3032Wh.

The 1500X weighs 45.6 pounds, versus the 69.8 pounds of the 3000X.

Another thing that is different between the two is the wall chargers included with the power stations. The 1500X has a 120W charger, while the Yeti 3000X has a 230W charger.

What’s Still Missing

While the upgrades to the Yeti are great, here are a couple of things I would like to see in the next upgrade.

  • Chainability(?) – If I could chain two Yeti 1500X together and create a 4000W pure sine wave inverter, I would be able to run my RV AC among other things. This would be incredible, but you can’t do that with these power stations.
  • More Ports – A 3000Wh power station with only two AC outlets? They could do better than this. I know you can use a power strip and get access to more outlets, but we see other companies put 6 AC outlets on a 1260Wh power station (see Ecoflow Delta).
  • 30A Plug – To add to the previous point, I’d also like to see a 30A RV plug. Or at least a 20A plug.
  • 100W USB C PD – The USB A, C, and PD ports have the same specs as on the Yeti 1400 and 3000 and I think Goal Zero could’ve taken it a step further with a more powerful USB C PD port. Another 100W in/out PD port would’ve been great.
  • Higher Quality Lithium Batteries – I would like to see a Yeti with lithium-iron-phosphate batteries. The Yeti models on the market right now are rated at 500 cycles to 80% capacity. With phosphate batteries, that number would be around 2000 cycles to 80%. It would be a heavier, more expensive power station, but I would like to have the option to buy something that won’t be obsolete within just a couple of years with heavy use.
  • Replacement Batteries – The older lead-acid Yeti power stations have user-replaceable batteries, and that’s something I would like to see with the Yeti Lithium batteries as well.
  • A faster wall charger – I’d like to see a 1000W wall charger that will charge these power stations within a couple of hours.

Do I Recommend These Power Stations?

I do recommend the new Goal Zero Yeti power stations based on their specifications, but I haven’t tested one myself yet so take my recommendation with a grain of salt.

As always, they come at a price, and if you had the time, knowledge, and skill, you could build something much better on your own. But the Yeti is the complete package and I am planning on buying one of the newer Yeti X’s later this year.

What’s Next?

Goal Zero is about to release the new Yeti 1000X and Yeti 6000X as well, so that’s what’s up next. I also have hopes that we’re going to see a Yeti Expansion battery soon that uses lithium batteries instead of lead-acid, but that might not happen for a while.

What do you think about the new Yeti 1500X and 3000X? Let me know down in the comments.

6 thoughts on “Goal Zero Yeti 1500X & Yeti 3000X – First Impressions And Specs”

  1. I am a very dissatisfied customer at this point. Every product I have purchased except one I have had to return or get replaced. I still am holding onto some recalled cables that I was supposed to use on my Yeti Link that never worked and about burned up my vehicle. I currently have a Yeti 1500X that I can’t even use a Yeti Link on because no matter what I try I can’t get it connected to update the firmware. I am currently dealing with my second broken Nomad 200. I live in my vehicle and decided to use Goal Zero as my solar power supply but have had nothing but a nightmare with your products. I had to return 2 Yeti 1400’s because there was some sort of bearing issue and the fan’s went crazy and they would reset from 75% to 0% when they wanted. My Yeti 15oox does the same thing, I can be using it and it will reset to 0% then quick charge somewhat back to 100% when I start charging it again. I just want to say that my entire experience with Goal Zero products has been terrible. I would like to return everything I currently have and get a full refund so that I can try another vendor. This has cost me a lot of money plus the time trouble and stress of dealing with getting the products supported. I feel I should warn others about your products before they experience the awful mess I have gone through.

    Reply
  2. Two Questions…….

    1. Do you know if there is also a way to connect a Wind Turbine to a Goal Zero?

    2. Do you know if there is also a way to connect a Water Turbine to a Goal Zero?

    Reply
  3. Hi Jesse, really like your blog!

    I purchased a Goal Zero 1500 with the 200 watt Boulder, my question is about more capacity.

    Is there a way to use the 1500 to link to other batteries, or is the only option, or the smartest option, using the Goal Zero expansion tanks?

    Reply
    • Hi Mike, thank you for your comment.

      Unfortunately, the only way to expand the newer Yeti batteries is with the expansion tanks. The older lead acid Yetis could connect to other type of batteries, but the Lithium products are not that versatile.

      Reply

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