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HomePower, Light & SolarGoal Zero 19003 Silver/Black Small Sherpa 120 Explorer Kit |
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|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review: ( 2 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Goal Zero Elite Sherpa 120 Explorer kit Aug 24, 2011
By D. Taylor
"Tech Gadget User"
This review is for the Goal Zero Sherpa 120 Explorer Kit New Goal 0 ELITE Sherpa 120 Explorer Kit Delivers Power To Charge AC And Handheld Devices Portable, which includes the Sherpa 120 battery Goal0 11102 Sherpa 120 Battery the Nomad 27 solar panels Goal0 12201 Nomad 27M Solar Panel, and the Sherpa Universal Inverter Goal0 13002 Sherpa Universal Inverter.
I bought this system to use on an extended backwoods trip to run a CPAP machine while I sleep. Since this would be running a medical device, I felt it was important to know I could trust the system.
I carefully measured (using a Kill-a-Watt) P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor the power my CPAP was consuming and knew that in good conditions the battery alone should last nearly 3 nights, so the solar panels wouldn't need to fully charge the system in a single day. I have also measured the CPAP using (using a Watts-Up) "Watt's Up" RC Watt Meter & Power Analyzer WU100 Version 2 --- SALE! when running directly from 12v and it consumes about 30 watts a night (vs 37watts a night on 120v).
In field testing and subsequent follow up this is how I would rate the system and some important suggestions for using it to maximize your results.
The battery holds as much power as advertised, I've measured it several times and it continues to perform well. The solar panels likewise perform as expected and charge the battery well. When solar charging the battery it takes longer than it does to charge it from Grid power. To get the most from your soloar panels, you'll need to adjust the panels to face the sun 2-3 times in a day. This was especially important for me when we were in a forest and the sun moving through the day changes where you need to be to get them in the sunlight. I was able to nearly fully charge the system in a full day of Arizona sun using the solar panels.
The system connects and works well. The only plug that seems slightly loose is the output plug on the battery. The other connectors are nice and sufficient. The output one should snap to give you extra security that your device will remain powered. The cables on the solar setup are nice and give you length to move things around. If a wind is possible where you set it up, use a stake through the grommet holes to keep the solar panels from blowing over.
Clearly the weak link in the system is the inverter. The Inverter is inefficient on smaller loads. My CPAP averages only ~5 watts to run at night but consumed nearly 8 watts of power through the inverter. This really consumed my battery capacity. I was shocked to measure and realize that 30% of my consumed power was due to inverter inefficiencies. By running the CPAP directly from 12v, I was able to not only remove the inverter load, but also eliminate the need of the unit to transform from 120v to 12v, providing additional savings. Running the CPAP through the inverter at 120v, it won't quite make 2 nights without a small bump. Running the CPAP directly at 12v, I am able to squeak out 4 nights from a single charge. Of course this will all depend on your CPAP and pressure settings; I use a lower pressure of 6 and an efficient Resmed Elite system.
The system is nicely rugged and in my case even blew over and down some rocks with no damage. I bought the available silicone sleeve for the battery which is a nice way to protect your investment.
Focus on using 12v loads directly and make sure you are running your necessary equipment as efficiently as possible to maximize your run times. Hopefully Goal Zero can tweak the inverter to improve its performance since it's the weak link in an otherwise impressive system.
One thing to note, if you leave the battery unattended for a long time (a few weeks) it goes into a deep sleep even shutting down the display (to conserve power). When you turn it back on it'll appear discharged but it really is holding the charge well. If you plug it into the solar or wall charger for a bit (~20 min) it'll snap back and realize that it's actually fully charged. It appears that after a deep sleep it takes time to realize it's fully charged.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
light and robust Jul 16, 2011
By Marcelo Mena
"marcelo-mena"
I liked this setup, very versatile that's even saved me from a recent power outtage. This is a great way to explore solar and at the same time get extra power for your equipment. I like the robust and rugged design, and the non toxic aspects of the battery .Overall well made.
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