Did anyone use this before Goal Zero discontinued it?

[Waltzing Matilda]

I have one, still haven't used it. I currently have a GZ 30 watt panel to attach it to.

Has anyone attached this to their rig to keep a 12V battery charged up?
How did it work for you? Recommend it or not worthwhile?

Thank you!

 

[cruisertoy]

I work across the street form Goal Zero headquarters and actually walked over there today to pick up a Guardian change controller they found for me. They still have a couple of the boulder 15 kits kicking around in their store. I haven't plugged the controller in yet but they discontinued them because of some issues and will be launching a new controller in June.

 

[TiFJ]

I've had one for a few weeks now, seems to work fine. Any idea what the issues were cruisertoy?

 

[vladig]

Im currently using a Guardian 12 connected to 4 Boulder15's as a test run to keep my ArkPak charged with my ARB fridge pulling power from the ArkPak. So far its been running fine for 6 days with the panels just propped on the window of my living room. the one thing to keep in mind when using the Guardian12 is that it has a max input of 90W so 6 Builder15's is max for it. Ohh also its a PWD ( i think thats what it was called ) not a MTTP controller not sure how much that matters for a smaller setup up to 90W

 

[snowblind]

I have one, still haven't used it. I currently have a GZ 30 watt panel to attach it to.

Has anyone attached this to their rig to keep a 12V battery charged up?
How did it work for you? Recommend it or not worthwhile?

Thank you!

View attachment 274220

I couldn't find specs for the Gaurdian but it looks like GZ has replaced it with this http://www.goalzero.com/p/250/maintainer-10-trickle-charger

The key to proper battery maintenance via solar is "Built in PWM Lead-Acid controller with 3 charging stages: bulk, absorb, float" The new GZ panel has this. Not sure on the Guardian.


Matt

 

[Chazz Layne]

I grabbed literally the last one from OX14, and have been using it ever since. It's a great no-frills, set-it-and-forget-it option if you have no interest in monitoring battery status and simply want to charge safely. If I'm in the same camp for more than a night I set it up with a Boulder 30 to keep the lights and fridge going.

 

[green73brc]

I did some research on the output voltage vs my battery max voltage for charging and found it to be incompatible. For the occasional charge it might not have made a difference but I decided to ditch the older Guardian since it was not compatible. Which was a bummer because I liked being portable and not having the unit tied to a vehicle. Great to lend it out to friends.

 

[psykokid]

Im currently using a Guardian 12 connected to 4 Boulder15's as a test run to keep my ArkPak charged with my ARB fridge pulling power from the ArkPak. So far its been running fine for 6 days with the panels just propped on the window of my living room. the one thing to keep in mind when using the Guardian12 is that it has a max input of 90W so 6 Builder15's is max for it. Ohh also its a PWD ( i think thats what it was called ) not a MTTP controller not sure how much that matters for a smaller setup up to 90W

I've got the exact same setup except I've only got two Boulder 15's. I've got my panels on the roof of my truck hooked up to the Guardian then connected to my Arkpak while my Dometic CF-50 runs off it it keeping my drinks cold @ 32 degrees in the truck.

I picked up the boulders on Black Friday when they were selling them for 35 each. In hindsight I wish would have gotten two more but oh well, didn't have the extra to buy more toys for myself around the holidays..

 

[Waltzing Matilda]

thanks for the feedback.

 

[vladig]

I've got the exact same setup except I've only got two Boulder 15's. I've got my panels on the roof of my truck hooked up to the Guardian then connected to my Arkpak while my Dometic CF-50 runs off it it keeping my drinks cold @ 32 degrees in the truck.

I picked up the boulders on Black Friday when they were selling them for 35 each. In hindsight I wish would have gotten two more but oh well, didn't have the extra to buy more toys for myself around the holidays..

HA HA i picked up my panels at the Black Friday sale as well , and yes i wish i had bought two more LOL

 

[billy2]

I have been using one for over a year with no problems.

 

[meental]

I did some research on the output voltage vs my battery max voltage for charging and found it to be incompatible. For the occasional charge it might not have made a difference but I decided to ditch the older Guardian since it was not compatible. Which was a bummer because I liked being portable and not having the unit tied to a vehicle. Great to lend it out to friends.

Curious about what info you found out. Where did you find output voltage specs on the guardian?

Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk

 

[OCD Overland]

Looks like they're back...

http://www.goalzero.com/p/340/guard...289303033&mc_cid=207489147b&mc_eid=349e720550

 

[John Shaffer]

I've got the exact same setup except I've only got two Boulder 15's. I've got my panels on the roof of my truck hooked up to the Guardian then connected to my Arkpak while my Dometic CF-50 runs off it it keeping my drinks cold @ 32 degrees in the truck.

I picked up the boulders on Black Friday when they were selling them for 35 each. In hindsight I wish would have gotten two more but oh well, didn't have the extra to buy more toys for myself around the holidays..

Dang. Great price. My boulders are 4 yrs+ and the last pair was newer but not so cheap. Got first pair at opticsplanet for $69-75 or so. Last ones at $89-99 I think.

Anyone require them for better guage wire and mc4? Gonna use a Renogy CC in my future plans.

J