I recently received a Goal Zero “Guide 10 Plus” solar charger and battery kit as a gift for my birthday. These units combine a ruggedized solar panel with an elegant electrical distribution package, intended for outdoor use in harsh environments. Normally I don’t write about non-microscopy/imaging products, but seeing as so many people in research are outdoor enthusiasts, and how I find that when backpacking I need to keep my camera and other electronics goodies charged, I figured some readers might benefit from my experience. So, I had a chance to play with the system, and due to receiving what was likely a well-repackaged return, I also had a chance to work with Goal Zero’s customer service group. First, the unit:

 Construction

It’s rare these days to find something that is built to last. I didn’t do any research into this product as the buyer was a family member, so they found something they thought I’d like and use, and boy were they right. My primary concern with the unit after receiving it was how the solar cells would hold up to everyday use. I have already used the system to charge my iPhone while in flight, and I was worried that a combination of carrying it around all day in a backpack, having it bumped in turbulence, and other general chaos would result in a cracked panel. Once I started using it, I realized that some key design decisions really keep this thing from breaking. From what I can tell, there is a very rigid plastic shell around the sides and corners of the solar cells. This shell keeps the cells from twisting and the corners from breaking, but does so without reducing the capacity of photoconversion in any significant value. The loss of charge may be something like 5-10%, but considering the strength increase, this is a small price to pay for keeping the cells happy. Goal Zero answers this question of ruggedness in an unusually funny and honest way…

So with this concern put to rest my next point of interest was how effectively this unit would charge something like an iPhone. Seeing as that I hack up USB cables all day for work, I happened to have a USB cable handy with the data lines clipped, and the Ground and +5v leads ready for a multimeter. Armed with the Nomad, my multimeter and a hacked cable, I went out into the sunlight to see what would happen.

Performance

I was able to test the Nomad 7 in direct sunlight during optimal conditions. The results were quite impressive. With the unit positioned directly at the sun, I measured a maximal power output of 700mA @ 5V. This is an impressive amount of juice. Consider that a typical AA battery running at standard draw will give off ~ 50mAh (milli Amp Hours). So, this panel is providing the equivalent of 14 AA batteries of energy per hour. This is an amazing amount of power. Under typical conditions (say where the panel is moving or can’t be perfectly aligned in direct sunlight) the system will still produce about 500mA, or 10AA battery equivalent power.

Applications

The system comes with two different components of interest. One is the panel array. The other is a battery module which can charge, or distribute from, either 4 AA batteries, or 4 AAA batteries. This allows for numerous charging scenarios:

• Charge from the solar array – you can simply plug in a device and charge up that device’s on board battery
• Charge up AA or AAA batteries – A great example of why one would want this is photography. I bought an inexpensive battery doubler for my Nikon D80 that accepts 4 AA batteries. So, I could use the power pack to charge up a whole host of AA batteries, allowing me to shoot until all my memory cards are filled up on a backpacking trip.
•  Use the power pack for inverse output – the battery charging pack can also take the stored power in your rechargeable AA or AAA batteries, and output it into other devices. For example one could store up energy into some AA batteries, and then plug an iPhone or Kindle into the pack at night, either to charge the device or to use it.

Customer Support

What could have been a negative aspect of working with this system was that the unit I received was damaged and missing a part. I contacted Goal Zero customer service directly. I was expecting the usual run around, or the “put it in a box, ship it to us and wait a month and we’ll see about getting a refurb to you.” type of thing. To my surprise, here’s what they sent:

Austin,

We are sending you a replacement Guide 10.  They are on back order just so you know, but keep an eye out for it in the mail.  Thanks for supporting Goal Zero!  Have a great day!

Kirsten W.

Customer Support

This is the best customer service experience I’ve had in the last decade. It’s great to see a company stand behind it’s product and support it’s customers. I only wish manufacturers in our industry would take this approach. I’m of the belief that good products build a customer base, but good customer service builds a loyal customer base. Goal Zero obviously knows this, and I’ll make sure I spend some money with them once my budget allows.

Conclusions

Receiving this gift has allowed me to consider a new host of outdoor activities. I can take more video with my phone while on hikes, and leave my phone on GPS record mode during an entire trip, all without worrying about killing the battery. I can snap more pictures with my SLR without rationing use. I can rely more on battery power at night, instead of a propane fueled or chemiluminescent light, again without fear that I’ll be in the dark with dead batteries the next night. In a larger sense, this panel array has caused me to re evaluate the idea of home solar. Seeing how much energy this thing harvests makes me think I could put a big dent in my net energy consumption.

As a company, Goal Zero has a lot going for them. They are making a high quality product which puts disruptive technology into a new market, all while supporting the product they make. I can’t wait to see how this capacity evolves outdoor activities in the years to come.

-Austin