Post by Jaeme on Nov 11, 2016 10:13:56 GMT -8
Hello all, Glad to find this forum, looking for a place to just ask 'stupid newbie' questions...
I am VERY far north-and-east. I have a Goal Zero Yeti 400 that previously I would recharge from the wall, and would last me about 5- days to a week for my laptop, iPad and cell phone. I also try to recharge them when I can in the car with an inverter or from a USB charger. I now have ONE 100W Renogy panel. I am looking at possibly adding a second at month's end.
Of course, I had to move in latest October, which brings two challenges--sun VERY low on the horizon in northernest-easternest US, *and* cold temps. I pretty much use two *full* charges of the laptop daily to do my work, and one full charge of the cell phone (which I use for internet *connection*) each day.) 9-+*
My questions: Charge the laptop, then unplug/drain, plug back in recharge/ lather-rinse-repeat? Or leave it plugged in during the day, when it sits at 100% while drawing from the panel & yeti??? I only use it for a couple hours at night after sunset... (do I change protocol after sunset? Unplug everything after charging stops?)
also-- charging varies SO WILDLY... from 'low' to 60w during the day... I'm guessing 60w is pretty damn good for Mid-November in eastern Maine... I tilt it and change position during the day...
I'm pretty worried that the Goal Zero is NEVER reaching a full charge and I'm destroying the battery 'memory.' I can bring it to an outlet for a couple hours at at time to help--but never that full 6-8 hours it needs to really top-it-off. Do I need to unplug everything until it is 100% and start again from scratch? Ug. I feel very stupid about this. I'm an Emergency Comm Specialist. Your house is on fire? I can help you. Baby not breathing? I can help you. Someone shooting at you? Bingo, you got the right person. THIS? This?? I can't really seem to find the right combo of answers to my questions... -_- Thanks for reading this far... and hoping someone can help...
I am VERY far north-and-east. I have a Goal Zero Yeti 400 that previously I would recharge from the wall, and would last me about 5- days to a week for my laptop, iPad and cell phone. I also try to recharge them when I can in the car with an inverter or from a USB charger. I now have ONE 100W Renogy panel. I am looking at possibly adding a second at month's end.
Of course, I had to move in latest October, which brings two challenges--sun VERY low on the horizon in northernest-easternest US, *and* cold temps. I pretty much use two *full* charges of the laptop daily to do my work, and one full charge of the cell phone (which I use for internet *connection*) each day.) 9-+*
My questions: Charge the laptop, then unplug/drain, plug back in recharge/ lather-rinse-repeat? Or leave it plugged in during the day, when it sits at 100% while drawing from the panel & yeti??? I only use it for a couple hours at night after sunset... (do I change protocol after sunset? Unplug everything after charging stops?)
also-- charging varies SO WILDLY... from 'low' to 60w during the day... I'm guessing 60w is pretty damn good for Mid-November in eastern Maine... I tilt it and change position during the day...
I'm pretty worried that the Goal Zero is NEVER reaching a full charge and I'm destroying the battery 'memory.' I can bring it to an outlet for a couple hours at at time to help--but never that full 6-8 hours it needs to really top-it-off. Do I need to unplug everything until it is 100% and start again from scratch? Ug. I feel very stupid about this. I'm an Emergency Comm Specialist. Your house is on fire? I can help you. Baby not breathing? I can help you. Someone shooting at you? Bingo, you got the right person. THIS? This?? I can't really seem to find the right combo of answers to my questions... -_- Thanks for reading this far... and hoping someone can help...
