How To Double/Triple Goal Zero Yeti 400/1250 Battery Capacity

Double Or Triple The Battery Capacity Of Your Goal Zero Yeti 400/1250 Power Station

If you have a Goal Zero Yeti 400 or 1250 power station, you can easily double or even triple the battery capacity of it. This is done via the chaining ports found on the sides of the Yeti 400 or the back of the Yeti 1250.

Related Post: How To Replace The Battery In Yeti 150, 400 and 1250

Note that this is for the Yeti 400 and the Yeti 1250, not the lithium models. To increase the battery capacity of a Yeti Lithium, you must use the Yeti Link expansion module.

Yeti 400

It’s a very straightforward and easy process to double the battery capacity of a Yeti 400, let’s talk about what you need and how it’s done.

The battery

The Yeti 400 has a 33Ah battery, and even if you can connect another battery larger than 33Ah, it’s recommended to use a battery of the same size when chaining two together. It won’t hurt anything to use a larger one though.

Inside of the Yeti 400 is a Sealed Lead Acid AGM 12V battery, and that’s the kind of battery we need to use when we replace/chain another battery to it.

This ExpertPower 12V 33Ah battery (click to view on Amazon) is the correct kind of battery.

ExpertPower 12v 33ah Rechargeable Deep Cycle Battery [EXP1233 ]

Check Price at Amazon

This is the kind of battery you could also replace the Yeti 1250 battery with. You can read more about that in this post.

Connect the battery to the Yeti 400

To connect the battery to the Yeti 400 we need an Anderson Power Pole to ring terminal cable, this fused cable (click to view on Amazon) does exactly that. It has 3/8″ ring terminals, just like the battery.

iGreely Dual Positive/Negative ATC Style Fuse Holder 10AWG Wire with Ring Terminals and 45A Connectors for Automotive 2ft/60cm

Check Price at Amazon

You might have to change the orientation of the Anderson Power Pole adapter, which is very easy to do. Simply slide down the rubber protecting, slide the Anderson Power Pole connectors off each other, and turn the connector to the same orientation of the Yeti 400 chaining port, and slide the rubber back up.

How To Connect Them And What To Think About

Connect the red wire from the cable to the red terminal on the battery, and the black wire to the black terminal. The adapter should be on the bottom of the battery ring terminal, before any washer and screw/nut. Screws are included with the battery above.

Before connecting the battery to the Yeti 400, make sure both batteries are fully charged. I recommend using a battery charger like the LST battery charger.

When you’ve connected both wires to the battery and made sure both batteries are fully charged, connect the Anderson Power Pole to the side of the Yeti 400, and you’re done.

I recommend storing the battery in a Noco battery tray like this one (click to view on Amazon) to keep terminals and wires closed off.

Yeti 1250

The chaining port on the Yeti 1250 uses a different connector than the Yeti 400, so you can’t use the same parts as above.

The Battery

Inside of the Yeti 1250, Goal Zero has put a 100Ah battery, so we need another 12V 100Ah Sealed Lead-Acid AGM battery, like the Weize 12V 100Ah battery.

Weize Deep Cycle AGM 12 Volt 100Ah Battery, Maintenance-Free, 3% Self-Discharge Rate, 1150A Max Discharge Current, Perfect for RV, Solar, Trolling Motor, Wind, Marine, Camping and Off-Grid System

Check Price at Amazon

This is the kind of battery you could also replace the Yeti 1250 battery with. You can read more about that in this post.

Connect the battery to the Yeti 1250

On the back of the Yeti 1250 there is an Anderson connector, but not a power pole type like on the Yeti 400. It’s a multi-pole SB175 type. So what we need is an Anderson SB175 to ring terminals, like the BNE Engineering cable.

BNE Engineering Yeti 1250 Ring Terminal Connector Cable 4ga 3/8' - Various Length (3)

Check Price at Amazon

If you would rather use battery clamps, this cable by Phillip Cable is a good option (click to view on Amazon).

How To Connect Them And What To Think About

Connect the red wire to the positive (red) terminal on the battery, and the black wire to the negative (black) terminal.

Before you connect the second battery to the Yeti chaining port, make sure both batteries are fully charged. I recommend using a LST battery charger to charge the second battery.

When both are charged, you’re ready to plug the Anderson SB175 connector into the back of the Yeti 1250, and then you’re done.

Yeti Tank Expansion Battery

The Yeti 1250 battery capacity can also be increased by using the new Yeti Tank expansion battery (click to view on Amazon). It’s connected to the Yeti 1250 with a 1250 Ring Terminal Connector Cable.

You’re going to have to remove six screws on top of the Tank battery to connect the ring terminal adapter.

Goal Zero released the new expansion battery last year, and it’s a 12V 100Ah AGM lead-acid battery that holds 1200 watt-hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What About The Yeti 150?

The Yeti 150 doesn’t have a chaining port and doesn’t support it.

What Kind Of Battery Can I Chain To A Yeti 400/1250?

Goal Zero recommends using a 12V deep cycle AGM sealed lead acid marine style battery since that is the kind of battery used in these power stations.

Can You Expand The Battery Capacity Of A Yeti Lithium Power Station?

Yes, you can, by using the Yeti Link Expansion Module (click to view on Amazon) and a Yeti Expansion Tank battery. This is compatible with the Yeti 1000 Lithium, 1400 Lithium, and 3000 Lithium. The Expansion Tank adds another 1200 watt-hours to the Lithium power stations.

Unfortunately, you can’t use it together with the MPPT Expansion Module since they go in the same expansion slot on the power station.

Will I Be Able To Monitor Input/Output Watts Of The Chained Battery?

No, if you connect solar panels or draw electricity directly from the second battery, the Yeti won’t show any input/output. The Yeti only responds to what is plugged into the Yeti outputs.

How Do I Replace The Battery Already Inside Of A Yeti 150, 400, 1250?

I have written a post that goes through this process, click here to read it.

Can I Chain The 100Ah Battery Recommended For The Yeti 1250 With The Yeti 400?

Yes, you can, but it will take a long time to charge the battery unless you connect a battery charger or solar panels to that 100Ah battery directly. The Yeti 400 can only handle 120W input through its single 8mm port. Again, make sure both batteries are fully charged before chaining them.

How Many Batteries Can I Chain?

Goal Zero recommends a maximum of 4 chained batteries. Remember that chaining batteries won’t increase the maximum input the Yeti can handle, so it will take much longer to charge the batteries the more you chain.

Can I Charge A Chained Battery With A Battery Charger/Solar Panels?

Yes, you can, and this will charge both the chained battery and the battery inside of the Yeti.

If you’re going to use solar panels to charge only the external battery, you need to use a charge controller to prevent overcharging.

If you plug panels into the Yeti to charge both the internal and external battery, you do not need an extra charge controller since the Yeti has one built-in.

Can I Chain A Yeti 400 To A Yeti 400/Yeti 1250 To Yeti 1250?

Yes, you can chain two Yeti 400 together with an Anderen to Anderson cable. You can change the orientation of the Anderson connectors to fit the Yeti chaining port.

You can also chain two Yeti 1250 together with an Andersen SB175 to Andersen SB175.

What this does is cause the batteries to act as one, which will charge/discharge them simultaneously.

Can I Chain A Yeti 400 And 1250 Together?

No, Goal Zero doesn’t recommend chaining a Yeti 400 to 1250 due to the large difference in battery size. What you can do is use an Anderson to Anderson cable to charge the Yeti 400 with the Yeti 1250 Anderson output.

Please leave a comment down below if you have any questions.

16 thoughts on “How To Double/Triple Goal Zero Yeti 400/1250 Battery Capacity”

  1. Can you please let me know how to extend my Goal Zero Yeti 1400 battery capacity using an extra Lead Acid battery.

    Thank You,
    Sam

    Reply
    • Hello Sam,

      Unfortunately, as far as I know, the only way to extend the battery capacity of a Yeti 1400 is via the Yeti Link expansion module.

      Reply
    • Hello Algregg,
      Yeah, you should be able to connect a second charge controller and a second panel directly to the external battery, I don’t see any issues with that.
      Jesse

      Reply
  2. Hi Jesse,
    Thanks so much for all of this info. Question for you: In the FAQs above, you mentioned “If you’re going to use solar panels, you need to use a charge controller to prevent overcharging.” But if your solar panel is connected to the 8mm input on the Yeti 400 (the AGM one, not the Lithium one), isn’t the Yeti acting as a charge controller? Here’s some info I got from Goal Zero support: “The yeti 400 will regulate the incoming wattage and we do not recommend that you exceed 200w.”
    Thanks,
    Miles

    Reply
    • Hi,
      Yes, so what I mean is that if you’re going to connect a solar panel directly to the external battery, you’re going to have to use a solar charge controller even if it’s connected to the Yeti.

      If you connect a solar panel to the Yeti to charge both the internal and external battery, you do not need a charge controller. I’m going to make it more clear, thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  3. Can you charge the Yeti 400 through the external battery port?
    Because we have connected a bigger (around 100Ah) battery there, and my idea is to shorten charge times by charging the bigger battery directly, thus circumventing the 120w limitation of the Yeti input (or rather, avoiding the slow 80w charger we have for it).

    Reply
    • Hi,
      I wish I had the answer, I am not sure. It is a direct connection to the battery so it would make sense that it did, but I’d ask Goal Zero.

      Reply
  4. Two questions:
    I have a extra110ah battery chained to my Yeti 1250, the display presently shows a 80% charge; Does that indicate that each battery is at 40%?

    Also, why do you emphasize to fully charge additional batteries before chaining them? Is not the Yeti a battery charger?

    Reply
    • Hi,
      1. No, I believe that means that the chained batteries are at 80% together. That can happen if the Yeti is fully charged but you connect a battery that isn’t.
      2. It’s not an absolute must, since yes you’re correct the Yeti will charge both the internal and external batteries. I recommend doing it because if they’re both fully charged when they’re chained, it will discharge evenly and show the most accurate percentage on the screen.

      Reply
  5. Thanks for the answer, but not sure I understand.. Just to clarify your answer… Are you saying if I have an additional battery chained to a Yeti 1250, and the display indicates 80%, that means that both individual batteries are at an 80% charge?

    Another question: In my current configuration I replaced the internal Yeti battery with a 110ah (Mighty Max brand) battery, and chained an identical 110ah battery to the Yeti. Would it be alright to chain a third battery which is only rated at 100ah?

    Reply
    • (This is the way I have understood it, someone else might correct or add to this)

      Yes, basically.

      When you chain two batteries, they are going to try to equalize (i.e. try to sit at the same voltage) but some power will be wasted doing this due to heat if there is a big difference between the two in terms of state of charge.

      This is why I recommend chaining two batteries that are fully charged since there won’t be a big difference in voltage, so the Yeti will have an easier time calculating an accurate percentage.

      Chaining a third battery that has a different Ah rating will work but it’s not recommended, since it’s going to drop in voltage quicker and cause the three batteries to discharge unevenly. This will then force the other two batteries to charge the third and cause wear and tear for no reason.

      Reply
  6. Hi, I’d like to expand my Yeti 400 lead battery to include the max of 4 additional batteries. Is it OK to use a 12V 100mah AGM battery, even though the 12V 33mah is the recommeded battery for this extension?

    Reply
    • Hi,
      As far as I know, yes it’s OK but the battery percentage shown on the Yeti will not be very accurate. You’d get a more accurate reading by using a battery monitor connected directly to the external battery.

      Reply
  7. Has anyone connected the chaining port from the yeti 400 to a 12v (blue sea type) fuse block? I like the anderson connectors vs 6mm/cigarette plug

    Reply

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