Goal Zero Boulder 30 Solar Panel

For Christmas, I bought myself the Boulder Solar Tripod. Apparently, they're still having problems with the heads not fitting the bases. The bolt threads are too large for the hole threads. It was just a phone call, and they sent me a label to ship it back. Then, my replacement got lost. -_- Eventually, it showed up at my PO Box, two months late, but a functioning tripod at last! Well, mostly. Did I mention that it came with broken clips? Both times? Yeah. I'm still waiting on my replacement stands' replacement clips. Would I recommend this product? Depends on how handy you are, (I couldn't make it myself.) or how much time you have to kill.

I own a Yeti 1250 and 3 Boulder 30 panels. During an 11,000 mile cross country camping trip we were able to dry camp for 6-7 days at time, keep our trailer batteries charged, and I was able to power my wife's AC medical equipment twice a day w/o ever hooking up to the grid. We also used it to power an Engel 42 qt AC/DC electric cooler/freezer. We no longer did we have to buy 20 lb bags of ice every 3 days, and our wine, beer and water stayed nice and cold. When at home the panels are set up outside the garage, and with an extension cable the Yeti and Engel sit inside keeping our beer at 40º all summer long without any grid power. From hot sun we get cold beer to share with our friends.

I had to wait a long time for the tripod supply to catch up with demand but am happy I waited. It provides a convenient and stable platform for my solar panels, which I can now move from storage to optimal solar collection locations across my property in relatively short order. I like the web restraints for the tripod legs, too, affording me a range of height adjustments. The panel support structure using a combination of quick-setting clips and a rigid detachable "backbone" support is ingenious.

Last weekend, I was setting up solar panels in my backyard. The weather forecast is calling for sun for the entire week. I have been looking forward for the weather to clear up so I can run the Yeti 400 to check its capabilities. While I was setting up a couple boulder 30 solar panels a large metal flashlight that was left on a shelf above the solar panels rolled out and fell. I herd the flashlight hit the front of one of the panels. It made a loud noise, I thought the glass panel had broken for sure. I still cannot find even a mark where it hit. It is the middle of the week and the boulder 30 solar panels are still supplying the Yeti 400 with plenty of wattage to top it off as Texas keeps it supplied with sun shine. I have three Yeti 400's, and one Yeti 1250 keeping any consumption satisfied. I will invest in more boulder 30 solar panels. Oh by the way it is time to get rid of the old flash light and get some torch 250's.

I bought this solar panel to allow me to charge my Sherpa 50 indoors. I put the solar panel in the window and it collects all the power I need to charge up my Sherpa 50 so I can charge my cell phone and iPad in the afternoon. Eventually I want to purchase a larger battery like the Yetti 1250, but that will be down the road a bit. Overall the construction on the solar panel seems to be very good and the carrying case seems to be a wise investment to take care of the panel in travel.