Product Manual

15
SOLAR 101: GOAL ZERO makes it easy to recharge your gear from the sun – we didn’t
invent solar power, we perfected it. Some things to keep in mind when recharging your
gear with solar power:
i. Solar panels don’t store power from the sun, they collect it.
We teach you to COLLECT – STORE – USE, which is the best way to utilize solar power
to recharge your gear. COLLECT the sun’s energy with a solar panel. STORE the power in
a Power Station. USE the Power Station to power your gear, day or night. If you’re really
a diehard, you can plug your gear directly into the junction box located on the back of our
NOMAD Solar Panels to recharge from the sun.
ii. Not all solar charge times are created equal.
Most solar panel manufacturers calculate their recharge times with the following equation:
Device Watt Hours/Solar Panel Watts = Solar Recharge Times. So theoretically, a 13 watt
solar panel would recharge a 50 watt-hour recharger in 3.84 hours (50/13 = 3.84) – and
this is the number you could find in marketing material for a solar panel. However, in order
to standardize results across all manufacturers, these tests are completed in laboratory
settings. The truth is, on a good, sunny day, you’ll receive about 50-75% of your solar panel’s
rated wattage, and this is how the engineers at GOAL ZERO calculate the solar recharge
times you see on our packaging.
iii. Solar works, even in overcast conditions.
Solar panels utilize IR, UV, and visible rays from the sun that can penetrate through clouds.
Although the efficiency of the solar panel will decrease in cloudy conditions, you’ll still be
collecting valuable power from the sun.
iv. Proper alignment works wonders.
Keeping your solar panel angled toward the sun can dramatically increase solar efficiency.
Set it up and let Mother Nature do the rest.