Do the Nomad 7/ Guide 10 work with iPhones and Smart phones and what are troubleshooting tips? Yes, the Guide 10 and Nomad 7 work with iPhones, although we've found that new generations of iPhone 4's can be fairly unruly. Some troubleshooting tips are:
Direct Sunlight: Make sure the panel is perpendicular to direct sunlight - clouds and windows dramatically affect the efficiency.
Warm-up: Place the open panel towards the sun and let it absorb some rays before plugging in your device, and try plugging and unplugging it a few times. Keep in mind that even a shadow or walking in front of the panel could cause the connection to be lost, so you have to work with it.
Unplug and reconnect
Patience: Sometimes the iPhone will say "device is not charging", but it really is and the battery meter is still going up, so by leaving it on for a substantial amount of time, you'll see an increase in the charge levels.
With the Guide 10, make sure the batteries are fully charged. We've found that sometimes AAA's or other brands of batteries that are lower in mAh often don't play well with the iPhone 4. The best idea though is to give the Guide 10 a fresh charge, then plug in your phone.
Why isn't my Escape 150 (Scout 150 or GoBe in previous lives) LCD screen scrolling when I plug it into a power source? If the power pack is already charged fully, the battery icon on the LCD screen will not scroll when it is plugged into a power source. The battery icon will show that it is fully charged. However, if the battery is plugged into a power source and it does not hold the charge and the battery icon on the LCD screen does not begin to scroll, there's a chance that your battery has died for lack of use. We recommend using and powering your Escape 150 power pack every 3-4 months so that it doesn't die.
Why isn't the battery indicator light on my Guide 10 going solid green? The blinking green and solid green indicators are actually very close in power capacity. It takes a longer time to top off a battery to the full capacity, kind of similar to filling the last few seats in a stadium. A stadium fills quickly until it reaches about 80% capacity. Then people have to start tiptoeing around each other, slowing finding two seats here, three seats there, and it takes a longer to fill the stadium to 100% capacity. We call this the stadium effect when it comes to charging the power packs.
Can the Nomad 7's charge up anything other than the Guide 10 Power Pack? Are the Nomad 7's chainable? You can always charge your small electronics that are powered by USB or 12-volt (car adapter) directly into the Nomad 7. It's designed to charge up the Guide 10 power pack quickly, however, if you have a larger power pack like the Sherpa 50, the Nomad 7 can charge it with an additional cable, although we don't recommend it since there are more efficient panels that can do the job faster. In order to do this, you'll need the 4.7mm extension cable. Simply plug the 4.7mm extension cable into the 12V port on the Nomad 7, then connect the cable into the input port of the power pack. (Secret: The Nomad 7 can even charge non-Goal Zero batteries using the 4.7mm-to-alligator-clips adapter cord.)
As far as being chainable, the answer is yes and no. It is possible to chain the Nomad 7 to other GOAL ZERO panels with the 4.7mm extension cord. However, the Nomad 7 doesn't have an input port, like our other panels, so it can only be the 'caboose' in a chain of other GOAL ZERO panels.
What is the life span of the batteries and panels? The Sherpa batteries have a life cycle of 2,000-3,000 cycles. The Escape 150 and the Extreme 350 both have 500-1000 cycles. The Nomad solar panels have a 5-8 year life span and the Boulders and Briefcase have a 20-year life span.
How long and how many watts can SUNRNR provide? This relates to your usage requirements. Please visit the What Can Sunrnr Run? page for various examples involving refrigerators, lights, etc..., the Energy Watts/Amps Guide and Appliance Watts/Amps Calculator pages for more technical information for your consideration. Inverter output on the SUNRNR is 3500W/7000W(surge Peak) so unit will run appliances whose combined wattage falls within these numbers.
As a backup emergency generator, how long a power outage will a fully-charged SUNRNR get me through? You can get more definite answers by visiting the pages listed in the answer above. Just like you can run out of gas, it is possible to run out of stored sunshine temporarily, so conservation and understanding consumption is key. As with any battery, its run time before recharging is dependent on its usage load. Being aware of what you want to run and how much power those items take will determine length of time. A SUNRNR inverter will certainly power a refrigerator, but opening the door frequently will adversely affect days available (it also helps to disable frost-free feature). 2500W/hrs is the equivalent of a traditional 60W light bulb turned on for approximately 41 hours (unrealistic, but relevant example), so using low-wattage LED lighting and EnergyStar devices will increase the number of days without grid power that a SUNRNR will support. And even though the grid might be down, you may have sun or wind adding watts as you use them.
At what voltage level
does the battery have to drop to before the power inverter can no longer
product AC current? When fully charged, battery voltage will read approx. 14
volts. When charge controller senses battery voltage at approx. 10 to
10.5V, generator will begin beeping, warning of low battery voltage. Run
time can be extended by reducing AC load and or connecting to charging
source. If not recharged, generator will continue running and beeping
until it shuts down at approx. 10V to protect AC loads from under
voltage, and battery from complete discharge. Inverter also has built-in
safeguards for overcharge protection.
How is a SUNRNR different from the ever-increasing number of solar options available? A few other products seem similar at first glance, but the difference is in the SPECIFICATIONS, the performance of our generator, and the comparative information provided under What Can SUNRNR Run? SUNRNR's are not meant to compete with permanent residential grid-tie or backup emergency power system installations, megawatt trailer-stowed (transported) systems, or hand held, limited-capacity, real-time sunshine supplies. The SUNRNR is different in that it is uniquely designed to house all the necessary components of an industrial-grade power system within a rugged, easy-to-operate, safety-minded, self-contained and aesthetically pleasing enclosure. It is an excellent source of supplemental power, designed to decrease your reliance on the grid and thereby reduce your utility bill, supply power to remote locations and furnish electricity where you want, when you want. It is plug and play, requiring placement of the panels for maximum solar gain and connection of the supplied 20' charging cord. A grid-tie model is under development
Must the unit be placed outside, when running, like gas generators? No!! The SUNRNR can be operated safely in a room, anywhere inside your home, cabin, RV, trailer, boat, tent, truck bed, or any location that is free of excessive moisture, since it requires no liquid fuel nor emit fumes. The solar panel needs to be placed outside and wiped down, with a dry soft towel, at least once a month. Minimal airflow is suggested for base unit cooling. And remember - a SUNRNR makes ABSOLUTELY NO NOISE and EXPELS ZERO FUMES!! The sealed Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery is non-spillable and classified by the DOT as non-hazardous, so, it is transportable by most carriers virtually anywhere.
How far can the unit be from the solar panels when connected? The SUNRNR includes a 30' solar panel-to-unit charging cord.
How far can my electrical devices be from the unit? You may use extension cords, but as always, nominal power is lost with distance.
If it is cloudy or dark, are there other ways to charge a SUNRNR? Charging is possible through clouds or any light source, although at a lower rate than bright sunlight. It is advisable that panel be moved periodically for maximum exposure to direct sunlight. The unit may also be charged by other 12V/30amp max. DC devises such as an optional wind turbine, micro-hydro, kinetic energy or a conventional AC battery charger (maximum of 30 amps).
AC(Alternating Current)? DC(Direct Current)? The rechargeable battery in a SUNRNR accepts, recharges by, and provides 12V DC electricity. DC is then converted by the inverter to AC. Most of the electrical devices in the US are 110V AC and these can be plugged right into the inverter as you would a wall socket in your home. A 12V DC socket is available for powering various devices that use "cigarette lighter" plugs.
I live in the US, what model SUNRNR should I buy? Model 8D-110V AC supplies the same current and voltage cycle for most appliances in households and businesses in the US, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. For some industrial and agricultural applications in the US, and households in the UK, Africa, Asia and elsewhere overseas, Model 8D-220V AC is available. As always, be sure of your particular situation and application in ordering the right model.
How long in bright sunshine would it take to charge a fully-discharged SUNRNR? The included panel charges at 135 W/hr and can be supplemented by an extra solar panel to double the charge rate, therefore charging in under 12 hours. With 5 hours of sunlight, and 1 solar panel, approximately 675W is regenerated. We recommend charging the battery while in use and at least once every 2 months if generator is used infrequently. Also, the Department of Energy provides a solar and wind output estimator for your specific geographic location. Check out www.nrel.gov/eis/imby/
Can I connect 2 solar panels and a wind turbine to the SUNRNR? Yes. The SUNRNR will hold a maximum of 2 panels and 1 wind turbine. This hybrid option will ensure a quicker battery recharge. Also, the Power Module can be similarly configured and this setup is linked in parallel to the SUNRNR thereby enabling user to increase available amp/hr, double battery capacity and regenerated power.
Can I use a SUNRNR in any weather? The solar panel is weatherproof, but the SUNRNR itself should only be operated when it is protected from the elements and kept dry. In addition, unlike gas generators, it is safe to use inside.
Can a SUNRNR run 220V AC devices common outside the US? Yes, we produce a model with a 220 V AC/50 Hz inverter. Please visit the SPECIFICATIONS page for details.
What is the expected rechargeable battery life? The AGM battery manufacturer quotes a five-year life. It is replaceable by an authorized SUNRNR dealer. Opening the unit voids the warranty and risks personal injury. An AGM battery is a deep-cycle battery with no charging memory, which allows for longer battery life and the ability to recharge at any state of discharge. If battery is subject to abuse however, it will not perform at its optimum level. Also, a Lithium-Ion battery model is available- it costs a lot more at $2,000/KW, weighs a lot less, but has a rechargeable life of 20+ years!
Is there a warranty? Each SUNRNR comes with a limited one year warranty which covers parts and labor and applies to material defects and workmanship. Owner/buyer is responsible for shipping equipment back to the dealer.The Solar panel comes with a 20 year manufacturers warranty. For our overseas clients we will work with you to address problems you experience with any product you purchase from us.