ARB fridge. Goal Zero Extreme 350 Power Pack

[spikemd]

So, the Extreme350 will last for about 1.5 days in my experience on a full charge.

I have purchased an Escape30 briefcase panel and a Nomad27 foldable panel. Really like the Nomad27 and its protability. The Escape30 will be sold as it is too heavy and big. I will be testing these out in hopes of running the fridge off the solar panels. My goal is to have the solar panels keep up with the discharge from the fridge and keep the battery topped off so that at night the fridge will run off the Extreme alone. I am planning a week-long trip to Baja next month and hope to remain stationary for a few days.

In addition, I have not been happy with the accessory plugs coming loose for the ARB and the 12v GZ charger. So I installed Anderson plugs in the rear of the rover for each. In addition, I spliced in Anderson PowerPole plugs in the cords for easy connections. The ARB plug with Anderson plugs also connects directly to the Extreme350 now without going through the inverter or accessory plug adapter. They make a more solid contact and hopefully will stay connected bouncing around on the trail.

 

[spikemd]

Got back from Baja last week with good news. The GZ solar panels I bought worked great and charged the Extreme350 while it was being drained by the ARB. I was charging faster than discharging so I can now basecamp indefinitely.

My set-up:
Extreme350 with UI
Modified ARB connector with Anderson plugs that connect directly to the Extreme350 (I need to add an inline fuse for additional safety)
GZ Nomad 27W foldable panel
GZ Nomad 13.5W foldable panel
GZ Escape 30w briefcase panel

I bought the 27W and 30W panels on Ebay to test them out and figure out which works better.

Nomad 27W - pros - foldable, compact; cons - can scratch, less wattage, less efficient, shorter lifespan (according to GZ site)
Escape 30W - pros - included stand, easy to set-up anywhere, more efficient, durable; cons - heavy, closing latches can break

I bought the Nomad 13.5W on sale at Sierra Trading Post. It is essentially half the Nomad27W and I wanted just a bit more wattage to be sure the battery would charge while hooked up to the ARB.

I was able to open the Escape30 on top of the roofrack and then hang the Nomads from the side of the roofrack. Later in the day, I would switch from the side of the truck to the rear for optimal sun exposure. I am very pleased with the power output and am deciding which panels I want to stick with. I talked to GZ directly and a 60w foldable panel is in the works. I may hold out for that...

 

[lysol]

Got back from Baja last week with good news. The GZ solar panels I bought worked great and charged the Extreme350 while it was being drained by the ARB. I was charging faster than discharging so I can now basecamp indefinitely.

My set-up:
Extreme350 with UI
Modified ARB connector with Anderson plugs that connect directly to the Extreme350 (I need to add an inline fuse for additional safety)
GZ Nomad 27W foldable panel
GZ Nomad 13.5W foldable panel
GZ Escape 30w briefcase panel

I bought the 27W and 30W panels on Ebay to test them out and figure out which works better.

Nomad 27W - pros - foldable, compact; cons - can scratch, less wattage, less efficient, shorter lifespan (according to GZ site)
Escape 30W - pros - included stand, easy to set-up anywhere, more efficient, durable; cons - heavy, closing latches can break

I bought the Nomad 13.5W on sale at Sierra Trading Post. It is essentially half the Nomad27W and I wanted just a bit more wattage to be sure the battery would charge while hooked up to the ARB.

I was able to open the Escape30 on top of the roofrack and then hang the Nomads from the side of the roofrack. Later in the day, I would switch from the side of the truck to the rear for optimal sun exposure. I am very pleased with the power output and am deciding which panels I want to stick with. I talked to GZ directly and a 60w foldable panel is in the works. I may hold out for that...

ARB size?

 

[spikemd]

It is the 50qt size. I have had it for 3 years and it has been running everyday since I bought it. Inside my house as extra space for beers or in the truck on 12v for trips.

I highly recommend the ARB. I have two friends who have bought Edgestars and both have been nothing but trouble... a dead fridge on the trail will ruin your trip. Its worth the investment and the best upgrade for camping you will make.

 

[cactusjk]

Goal Zero is selling the 350 for $225. Torn between that and the new Yeti 400. Open for suggestions.

 

[REMOTEPLACES]

I have a cooler that keeps ice for 5 days. No batteries. Freeze water in a large Tupperware container drop block in cooler and load. Low maintenance and I can repurpose the ice water.

 

[Honu]

use water jugs that way you can drink the water out

with my Arb I can make ice stay out longer than 5 days without having to go to a store as I say once you have a fridge its a great item both are even better never understood the have only one kinda thing

 

[cactusjk]

How much are the replacement 350 batteries? I have also heard the 350 and 400 use essentially the same battery?

 

[cactusjk]

Still looking for a little advice on the 350. I would mainly use it to keep my ARB 50 running overnight. I can charge it with solar during the days. Also, if the 350 battery is replaceable I can replace it if needed. I do not want a large deep cycle battery to carry around in the back of my FJ.

There are a lot of threads that tend to say the 350 is a bad way to go. Not sure for $169 how you can go wrong?

 

[Groove222]

Cactusjk - I've used the 350 to power an ARB 35 with cover during multiple trips over the last two years in outside temperatures between 25 to 30 celsius in the Alps. I am not satisfied and will switch to ArkPak this year. The ARB 35 was always connected to the 350 without inverter. The 350 charged 12v while driving and using a boulder 30 while stationary. As long as I drove (and charged) each day I could keep the 350 charged enough to power the fridge each afternoon to mid morning. If I was stationary for more than a day, I had trouble keeping the 350 charged enough. This is especially true if the fridge (heat) and boulder panel (no solar) was secured in the vehicle while I was hiking, climbing, or in the canoe. (The inverter, because of the cooling fan drains even more) I understand I could go for more solar panels or try a permanent secure outside mount for the panels, but I've decided to go for an ArkPak to ensure I have power to the fridge and because I do not have a back up for jump starting. The 350 will be the "camp" power for lighting, photography equip and battery charging.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cactusjk]

Thanks for the reply. I do have a Optima Yellow Top second battery but have also had problems with it maybe due to being pretty old. Normally, the ARB runs off the Yellow Top. I was thinking the 350 might be just good enough backup for my setup.

I like the ArkPak but I am really volume constrained in the FJ.

 

[Corey]

I had problems with my 350, so I went with the ArkPak in my FJ.

This will be recharged via 100 watt solar panel when camping.

 

[spikemd]

The 350 works great for me. Much smaller, plug n play with solar, charge off 110 or 12v while driving and is portable between vehicles unlike dual batteries. The only issue I had was that once the LCD screen went out. A simple 'reset' which involved removing the two fuses fixed it. You don't actually need the UI if you are using only 12v but I bring it along as it has USB and 12v connections if needed.

For me, it is a better system than dual batteries and much cheaper and more versatile. I drank the GZ koolaid.

In good sunlight, I was able to run the fridge and recharge the 350 during the day with an Escape 30, Nomad 27 and Nomad 13.5. It charges faster on solar with enough wattage than 12v while the truck is running but you need to have enough panels. 30 watts won't do much.

The price right now is crazy low. With the 400 you get a smaller footprint and a few extra plug in as the UI is integrated better but you will pay twice as much. The 350 works. I built a little 'box' for it so it doesn't bounce around in back. 2x2s covered in carpet and it works great.

The ARC pack is cool, but very large. It will have tons of capacity though. If you are going to go that big, then I would just install a dual battery system.

 

[Honu]

I own two of the 350 no issues yet ?
sorry no idea on battery replacing ? I would think take it apart find the battery type and replace ? or so I hope when it comes time

I wold go for best price for sure

you can read my early thoughts not enough to run my fridge ? i just went cheap battery box and large 105 trolling battery and simple plug and good to go want a fancy larger box one day but I use my 350 for camera gear computer stuff and lights etc..

yeti 400 seem cool though but if its much more ? its all just looks more so it seems

Goal Zero is selling the 350 for $225. Torn between that and the new Yeti 400. Open for suggestions.

 

[cactusjk]

Thanks for the feedback. For my needs it is hard to beat at that price with the Yeti 400 going for $460 retail. Hopefully, someone soon with figure out a way to reduce the cost of high density Lithium batteries for expedition applications.

I own two of the 350 no issues yet ?
sorry no idea on battery replacing ? I would think take it apart find the battery type and replace ? or so I hope when it comes time

I wold go for best price for sure

you can read my early thoughts not enough to run my fridge ? i just went cheap battery box and large 105 trolling battery and simple plug and good to go want a fancy larger box one day but I use my 350 for camera gear computer stuff and lights etc..

yeti 400 seem cool though but if its much more ? its all just looks more so it seems