Solar Panels Compatible With Goal Zero Yeti 200X & 500X

Charge Your Goal Zero Yeti 200X Or 500X With Compatible Solar Panels

The Goal Zero Yeti 200X and 500X are two new power stations from Goal Zero. Both of them have an 8mm input, so even though the charge controllers are slightly different on the inside, you can use the same panels with both.

Related Post: 5 Ways To Charge A Goal Zero Yeti Faster

What you need to think about when connecting solar panels to these power stations is to not exceed 22V Vmp. Each of the panels I am recommending down below is below 22V and directly compatible.

The input on the Yeti 200X and 500X is an 8mm port. On the Yeti 200X, the 8mm port can input up to 7A (100W) and on the Yeti 500X it can handle up to 10A (120W).

This doesn’t mean that you can’t connect a 120W solar panel to the Yeti 200X, it just means that it will limit the input watts.

You can max out the input watts by using larger panels than what the port can handle at most. As long as you don’t exceed the voltage, you’ll be ok.

Some of the panels in the table below have MC4 connectors, so to connect it to the Yeti you’re going to need an adapter like this (click to view on Amazon).

Solar Panels Compatible With Yeti 200X And 500X Listed And Compared

Here are a couple of solar panels I recommend for the Yeti power stations. Note that the panels with a green checkmark next to “Requires Additional Adapter” will also require the purchase of the adapter I linked to above and will talk more about down below.

nrgGo 50 Watt Solar Panel Monocrystalline | All Black High Efficiency 50 W Solar Panel 12V | Lightweight Portable Solar Panels for RV, Homes, Boat | 12V Solar Panel 50W RV Solar Panels for Homes
ROCKPALS SP003 100W Portable Solar Panel for Solar Generator and USB Devices, Compatible with Jackery/EF/Bluetti/Anker/Goal Zero Power Station, Foldable Solar Panel Charger for Outdoor Camping Travel
Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel -- Black Frame Sleek New Design
Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Portable Solar Panel for Power Station, Foldable 100W Solar Panel Suitcase with Adjustable Kickstand, Solar Charger for RV Camping Off Grid System,Black
Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, 100 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel
SUAOKI Foldable 120W Solar Panel Charger Compatible Jackery/Goal Zero Yeti/Enkeeo/Webetop/Paxcess/ROCKPALS Power Station with Quick Charge 3.0, 60W Power Delivery USB C for Home Camping
Watts
50W
100W
100W
100W
100W
120W
Connectors
MC4
MC4, USB (DC adapters included)
MC4
MC4
8mm
DC, USB, Anderson
Voltage (Voc)
18-22V
16-18V
21.5V
21.6V
18-22V
18V
Requires Additional Adapter
Weight
9 lbs
5.1 lbs
14.3 lbs
26.6 lbs
25.9 lbs
10.9 lbs
Size
26.8 x 21 x 1.5 in
64.5 x 20.5 x 1.2 in
41.6 x 20.7 x 1.4 in
69.1 x 6.1 x 50.5 in
26.8 x 40 x 1.8 in
20.9 x 20.7 x 2.4 in
nrgGo 50 Watt Solar Panel Monocrystalline | All Black High Efficiency 50 W Solar Panel 12V | Lightweight Portable Solar Panels for RV, Homes, Boat | 12V Solar Panel 50W RV Solar Panels for Homes
Watts
50W
Connectors
MC4
Voltage (Voc)
18-22V
Requires Additional Adapter
Weight
9 lbs
Size
26.8 x 21 x 1.5 in
ROCKPALS SP003 100W Portable Solar Panel for Solar Generator and USB Devices, Compatible with Jackery/EF/Bluetti/Anker/Goal Zero Power Station, Foldable Solar Panel Charger for Outdoor Camping Travel
Watts
100W
Connectors
MC4, USB (DC adapters included)
Voltage (Voc)
16-18V
Requires Additional Adapter
Weight
5.1 lbs
Size
64.5 x 20.5 x 1.2 in
Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel -- Black Frame Sleek New Design
Watts
100W
Connectors
MC4
Voltage (Voc)
21.5V
Requires Additional Adapter
Weight
14.3 lbs
Size
41.6 x 20.7 x 1.4 in
Renogy 100 Watt 12 Volt Portable Solar Panel for Power Station, Foldable 100W Solar Panel Suitcase with Adjustable Kickstand, Solar Charger for RV Camping Off Grid System,Black
Watts
100W
Connectors
MC4
Voltage (Voc)
21.6V
Requires Additional Adapter
Weight
26.6 lbs
Size
69.1 x 6.1 x 50.5 in
Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase, 100 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Watts
100W
Connectors
8mm
Voltage (Voc)
18-22V
Requires Additional Adapter
Weight
25.9 lbs
Size
26.8 x 40 x 1.8 in
SUAOKI Foldable 120W Solar Panel Charger Compatible Jackery/Goal Zero Yeti/Enkeeo/Webetop/Paxcess/ROCKPALS Power Station with Quick Charge 3.0, 60W Power Delivery USB C for Home Camping
Watts
120W
Connectors
DC, USB, Anderson
Voltage (Voc)
18V
Requires Additional Adapter
Weight
10.9 lbs
Size
20.9 x 20.7 x 2.4 in

Note: Scroll left/right on small screens to view all products in the table.

The Adapter You Need To Connect MC4 Solar Panels To Goal Zero Yeti

Each of the solar panels above that requires the additional adapter is wired the same way. They have a positive male connector and a negative female connector. That makes them compatible with the specific adapter below.

MC4 to 8mm Adapter

SolarEnz MC4 to 8mm

SolarEnz Solar Connector to DC8mm Adapter Cable Perfectly Solar Connector Solar Generator Portable Power Station and Solar Panel 12AWG+14AWG Heavy Duty Wire

Check Price at Amazon

If you’re buying a similar adapter from a different listing, make sure that the female connector on the adapter is positive. Unless your solar panel has a negative male connector, then you need an adapter that looks the opposite way.

Connect Two Solar Panels In Parallel For More Amps

To connect two panels to the Yeti 200X or 500X, we need to do a parallel connection. This means that you connect the positive wires together, then the negative wires together separately. We want a parallel connection since that will double the amperage but keep the voltage the same.

Do not connect two or more panels in series.

To do a parallel connection, we use MC4 Y branch adapters.

MC4 Y branch adapters

Signstek Y Branch MC4 Parallel Connector Adapter M/FF and F/MM (1)

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Remember that the max input of the Yeti 200X is 100W, and the 500X is 120W. So it would be a waste to connect more than what is required to max out the input on either of them.

If I wanted to use two solar panels with the Yeti 200X, I would go for two Newpowa 70W solar panels that would max out the input wattage during peak sun hours of the day.

If I had the Yeti 500X, I would go with two Renogy 80W solar panels.

Extension Cables

I use MC4 extension cables, the WindyNation extension cables. These are sold in pair and come in different lengths and wire gauges. I recommend 10 AWG when using 20 feet or more. The lower the gauge the better.

WindyNation MC4 Extension cables

WindyNation 10 Gauge 10 AWG Pair 20 Feet Black + 20 Feet Red Solar Panel Extension Cable Wire Solar Connectors

Check Price at Amazon

If you would rather use an 8mm extension cable, Goal Zero sells a 15ft 8mm extension cable. There is also a 30ft option available, but I don’t recommend it due to the power loss.

Goal Zero 15ft 8mm Extension Cable

Goal Zero 15ft 8mm Extension Cable for Yeti, Boulder and Nomad Products

Check Price at Amazon

It’s easier to use the 8mm extension cable since it’s a single cable instead of two like the WindyNation that has two separate wires for positive and negative currents.

I have taped my WindyNation cables together with electrical tape every 10 inches or so to keep the wires together.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Maximum Number Of Solar Panels I Can Connect?

The Yeti 200X can handle 100W input and the 500X can handle 120W input, so I wouldn’t connect more than 200W of solar panels to either of them.

Can I Charge Other Power Stations With These Panels?

There are other power stations that use the 8mm port, but not all of them do. If you’re wondering about a specific power station, please leave a comment and let me know which one you have.

Can I Connect A Solar Panel That Has A Charge Controller?

No, since the Goal Zero Yeti power stations have charge controllers built-in, you shouldn’t use a solar panel with an additional charge controller.

How Long Will It Take To Charge The Yeti With Solar Panels?

A 100W panel generates about 70-80W, so here is how long it would take with a single 100W panel.

Yeti 200X – 3 hours

Yeti 500X – 8 hours

Can I Combine Two Boulder 100 Solar Panels?

No, since there is only a single 8mm port on the Yeti 200X and 500X, you can’t combine two Boulder 100.

Please leave a comment down below if you have any questions that haven’t been answered.

6 thoughts on “Solar Panels Compatible With Goal Zero Yeti 200X & 500X”

  1. Good luck if you need any customer support. I spent $3 000.00 with GoalZero and they don’t even have the decency to respond to any of my four requests starting back in June 5th. Worst Customer Service than anyone. Very sad

    Reply
  2. I have a YETI 200 X and a THUNDERBOLT SOLAR 100 Watt Solar Panel Briefcase. So far the solar panel does not seem to have charged the YETI at all. Am I doing something wrong or are these two units just not compatable?l

    Lee

    Reply
    • Hi,
      It is technically compatible but the SAE to 8mm adapter included with the panel might not work because not all 8mm connectors are compatible with each other.
      What you can do is buy a different SAE to 8mm adapter (click to view on Amazon). According to some reviews, it works with Goal Zero 8mm inputs.
      But before you do that, if you happen to have a multimeter, you should test the solar panel wires to make sure the problem isn’t the panel itself.

      Reply
  3. Hi Jesse,

    Do you know if the Jackery 100W panels are compatible with the 500x? I read a review on Amazon from 2021 that said it was if you modified the plug on the solar panel slightly. Just wondering if that is still the case or if there is a converter plug maybe? You seem to know more than the rest of the internet. 😉

    Thanks!
    Paul

    Reply
    • Hi,
      It’s technically compatible but yes, it will likely require some modifications to the 8mm adapter. I think all you have to do is slice off part of the case/cover on the connector.

      Reply

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