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New Aim Zero Yeti 1500 is a portable power station that promises fast charging and rugged performance in harsh environments. It has a number of features that make it great in the outdoors, including an IPX4 splashproof rating, aluminum housing with rubber bumpers, and vibration protection for traveling on rough roads. My concern is that here in the Southeast, we have an unexpected storm-related potential Power Year-round outages. I tested Yeti to find out if it has what it takes to serve as an emergency backup for my home office.
There were many things to consider such as battery capacity, operating wattage, available outlets and fitting the unit into my space. I was also interested in its ability to charge while keeping my office online, for extended outages. The Yeti is equipped with a 1,505 watt hour (Wh) battery capacity, and is capable of producing up to 2,000 running watts and 3,600 surge watts. It has four AC 20-amp outlets, two USB-A and four USB-C ports, one DC HPP port, one car outlet and two proprietary DC ports.
- Reliable backup for power outages. The Goal Zero Yeti 1500 powers the home office for a full day with its 1,505 Wh capacity.
- Seamless transition with UPS feature. Automatically switches to battery mode in 15 milliseconds during an outage.
- Versatile and rugged design. Multiple outlets and durable build, ideal for harsh environments.
- Fast charging capability. Charges from 10% to 97% in about 1 hour 20 minutes when plugged into a wall outlet.
Bottom line: The Goal Zero Yeti 1500 is a robust, efficient solution for off-grid power, ensuring uninterrupted operation during outages.
Aim Zero Yeti 1500
Photo: Mark Wolff for BobVila.com
what we like
- The compact cube shape is easy to pack
- Built for rugged outdoor use
- Strong output for tools and devices
What we don’t like
- Proprietary ports only work with Goal Zero products
Product specs
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Parameters:
15.7 inches by 11.4 inches by 12.02 inches
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Weight:
52.75 pounds
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Capacity:
1,505 Wh
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Output:
2,000 W continuous/3,600 W surge
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Outlets:
4 AC 20-amp, 2 USB-A, 4 USB-C, HPP, car outlet and 2 proprietary ports
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Charging:
AC, Car, Solar
Output and daily usage
I tested the Yeti for 2 months before writing this review. First, I simulated an outage by plugging in all my equipment, operating as normal. It kicked in and ran everything without a hitch for a full 8-hour day. Then I tried to work on it more—boiling multiple quarts of water in a 2,000-watt electric kettle let it down quickly, but otherwise it kept the office running steadily.
My office is compact and not power hungry—I have a lamp, internet router, and printer plugged in, and I charge my laptop and phone every couple of days. I also have a mini fridge and an electric kettle, and the ability to power them is a bonus. Based on the electrical draw of these devices and my usage patterns, I calculated that less than 800 Wh would power my office equipment for a day. The Goal Zero Yeti 1500 had more than enough to cover that.
I also like that it is purpose built as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for backup power. When the Yeti is plugged into a wall outlet and has devices plugged into its AC outlets, it will automatically switch to battery mode within .015 seconds (15 milliseconds) if the power goes out. Because it uses lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry and is equipped with a smart battery management system, it is completely safe to keep it plugged in, and the UPS remains on standby.
I found the best usage pattern when I ran all my essentials plus the refrigerator. That setup worked for about 2 days without recharging the Yeti. Adding the kettle drains the battery faster than I’d prefer, as does the small microwave I tried. If I was able to charge solar at the same time it wouldn’t be a problem in limited use.
Charging, size and finishing considerations
I couldn’t test solar charging simultaneously while powering the equipment because the Yeti’s solar charging port wasn’t compatible with the panel I had with me during testing. The Yeti accepts up to 900 watts of solar charging, which is a big input if you have enough panels and sunlight to collect it. Just be aware that the battery can still be depleted while charging if the draw of the powered devices exceeds the incoming charge.
The Goal Zero Yeti 1500 proved to be as rugged and accommodating as advertised. Plugged into a wall outlet, it charged from 10 percent to 97 percent in about 1 hour 20 minutes. In UPS standby mode it silently stays at full charge, and automatically switches over in a split second when needed. The compact size and cubic dimensions fit perfectly in my work space, and it had plenty of power to keep me up and running all day in the event of a power failure. I couldn’t be happier.
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