Goal Zeros new Guide AA charger. Guide 12
Вставка
- Опубліковано 4 чер 2021
- Goal Zero finally got into more modern power performance with their Guide AA/AAA charger. Making Guide 12. With USB-C port at 1amp, and 2amp output with a AA powered bank vs the classic 1amp output system that most AA power banks have used.
Though right now this comes as a kit at 95$ with a resin covered 5watt panel and the Guide 12 pack with 4 2500mah AA's and a AAA cartiage adapter. Hopefully soon Goal Zero will likely sell this as it's own unit for better buy. Possibly around 35-40$ price range i see.
Thanks for your great vids
I love this!
Since the 12 now has a push button switch that is always sensing; won't the batteries drain if left in the charger? My Guide 10 has held batteries in my backpack for 2, if not 3, years and still have charge enough to be useable. Do you think the Guide 12 will be able to compete with that?
I think it has micro power flow still, But no much. But as consistant flow, I think after a short while it disables power flow to the USB A port. Since i notice sometimes when i plug in a device, it won't power straight away. I gotta click the power button to activate it.
Haven't left my batteries in the charger for that long.
Is it possible to use this with off the shelf alkalines? Not to charge them but to be able to buy aa or aaa and put them in this to charge the phone?
I would not recommend that. This is mainly for NIMH batteries.
If you want a portable charger to use NIMH or Alkaline. You can get one of these. They have a version with batteries (ether in AA or AAA's that come with the unit. or a version without batteries in general for cheaper.).
www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BQ-CC87ABBA-Advanced-Individual-Technology/dp/B07WVVXQX7/ref=sr_1_3?crid=S9SKQ5N3RWNZ&keywords=eneloop+usb+charger&qid=1676880791&sprefix=enaloop+usb+charger%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-3 / www.amazon.com/K-KJ87MCA4BA-Individual-Technology-Eneloop-Rechargeable/dp/B07WTRGRCV/ref=sr_1_2?crid=S9SKQ5N3RWNZ&keywords=eneloop+usb+charger&qid=1676880827&sprefix=enaloop+usb+charger%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-2
But this one only outputs 1amp.
I mean if you wanna experiment like i done on the older guide 10plus. You could. I wouldn't say it doesn't work, Since i tried it with Lithium 1.5volt Rechargeable AA's and NIZi 1.6volt batteries and it does work fine. But over longterm i don't know if it'll damage the internals from the higher voltage that each 0.3/0.4volt cells give compared to the standard 4.8volts 4x aa the pack uses normally. Because you're jumping up to 6v with alkaline 4x 1.5volt and 6.4 with 4x 1.6volt NIZi batteries (NIZI = Nickel Zinc cells.)
Though i don't recommend ever using Rechargeable Lithium AA's of the 1.5volt versions or higher. The market of Lithium Rechargeables like Amptorret, Tenavolts, etc All have poor outputs of 0.5amps and will overheat/likely explode if you use them on a high output USB system like this. Which i have tested and they get to the point of melting hot.
Plus you are also paying over 90$ for the kit to get the Guide 12 (AA pack charger is not sold on it's own. Goal Zero only and will only sell it as a kit with the Nomad 5 panel.) So if you wanna go screw it up with 1.5volts 4x that's up to you. But it's recommended Only to be used with 1.2volt rechargeable AA's and not common AA's you can buy from the gas station, or a box store with cheap 5$ 8AA alkaline batteries.
If you wanna do that. I recommend you fork over for the Eneloop one in the link above. They say it can run alkaline and it does. (CANNOT CHARGE ALKALINE.) But it only outputs HALF the power the Guide 12 does (1amp output vs 2amp output.)
Also phones Will charge at 1amp. But will be much slower. 4hours or 6hours depending on the battery size inside. (Though you'll probably flip 2 sets of 4x AA's = 8AA's to fully charge a 5000mah phone.) Even with the Guide 12 you'll still need to swipe a fresh set to fully charge a phone due to the Guide 12 come with generic 2500mah cells = 3000mah in total power. So that'll put it over 50% of recharge of a phone with 5000mah. Or just slightly under a Iphone's 3700mah.
Can you use the guide 12 to partially charge an iphone using common namebrand AA batteries, in an emergency?
Common namebrand AA's? Long as they are NIMH And not alkaline or lithium or NIZI, or Nicad/NiCd batteries. Then yes. But if you're thinking of shopping for alkaline to snag into the charger. I would say no. (As much as i have tested the thresh hold on the Guide 10 plus with those asortments. I wouldn't do so if you wish to keep the charger in prime shape. I marely did so on mine because i didn't care if it destroyed it or not.).
But depending on the NIMH's you % of charge will very based on the amount of mah from the cells. The ones that come with the Guide 12 (which you can only get as the kit version with the Nomad 5 and Guide 12.). The 2500mah cells = 3000mah at 5volts. So you won't charge a iphone completely. But atleast around 75% or 80% from dead.
@@KillerRaptorr Oh. I meant like standard Duracell or energizer batteries that you can pick up in any gas station or convenience store.
@@adammathers4879 I know exaxtly what you were talking about. Which is why i told you specifics on battery types. I knew you were thinking "I'll just go to a gas station and pick up a pack of 12AA's off the rack for like 10$."
But you can't. Because the ones you think you can grab and leave in the pack till needed are ALKALINE. Alkaline batteries use 1.5volts in EACH cell. While NIMH have 1.2volts in EACH cell. And NIMH are Rechargeable. Alkaline are 1 use only.
The charger is really for only NIMH RECHARGEABLE batteries.
So the best option i'd say to do. Is buy 2-3 packs of Duracell NIMH rechargeables 2500mah and have them in alittle fanny pack with the charger. So you can keep some extras and then recharge them from the panel for later use.
Good thing is the Duracell and Goal Zero batteries are same Mah, Voltage, And they charge to the same specifics. So you'll get long life out of both cells. Duracell also has more stable Mah retain then most batteries so you'll recharge them at peek mah specs.
Hot swap