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Portable Mounting System |
| Lightweight tripod mount for your Boulder 30 Solar Panels. Folds small for the ability to transport with ease. |
1 x Solar Tripod Quick Clips |
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Solar TripodDownload User Guide (.pdf) |
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General |
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| Product Weight (no pkg) | 8.35 lbs | |
| Product dimensions (folded) | 38.5 x 4.5 x 4.5 (inch) | 97.8 x 11.4 x 12.7 (cm) |
| Warranty | Twelve months | |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 8 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
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Reviewed by 8 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-8
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Best Uses
Comments about Boulder 30 Solar Tripod:
The tripod I received works well but the mounting bracket that attaches the (4) Boulder 30 panels together has very poor manufacturing tollerances. I was not able to attach all of the clips because the mounting holes did not line up. I was able to insert enough clips to securely mount the panels and it is reasonably sturdy, however, I was disappointed in the lack of quality. With that said I would still recommend the tripod as there's no other practical way of using all of the panels.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Boulder 30 Solar Tripod:
I just got this one 3/2013. I read all of the reviews and took a chance. I'm glad I did. The other reviews were a couple years old. It looks like they've fixed all of the older issues. The picture on Goal Zero's website looks like an older model. The new one has a strapping system around the circumference of the base that helps with stability (note that when you extend the legs out, the strap ends up in the middle).
The only Con I can come up with at this point is the horizontal base doesn't swivel freely without loosening the base screw to turn the array to catch the sun. Otherwise it stays on tight. The same is true for the vertical base. (It's all manual but I'd imagine to get more, the product weight and price would increase substantially.)
It does come with 10 clips for the solar panels. You have to get them positioned just right and may have to use a rubber mallet to tap them in the first time you use them. But...NO WORRIES. I have four Boulder 30's that fit nice and snug, once they get clipped together, it does get heavy so if you set up the tripod, get the four panels clipped together on the outside circumference and lay them all flat on top of the tripod - like a table, you can get them clipped on to the tripod base without having to hold all of the weight yourself.
Even the feet have stake-like points at the end with holes for extra stakes/rope to keep it down on the ground if you're in a windy spot. I'm so glad I got it. Trying to raise the rating to reflect the updated product's quality. Good Stuff!!
-if you'll note one of my pictures are the panels on charge, (over-clipped so I don't lose them) they are sitting in a window bay inside my house, all the windows are clean to let through as much sunlight as possible. It does charge my Yeti. I recently had an 8-hour planned outage with my local power company, I was able to use and re-charge the Yeti completely inside the house to keep my refrigerator running (albeit being inside, doesn't maximize the power potential of the panels and it takes longer to charge, but, it's cold outside!) try that with a portable gas generator, ha!
Pros
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Comments about Boulder 30 Solar Tripod:
I received this as a gift from friends and when I opened the box it looked cool however I was a little skeptical about the build quality because it was so light.
I took it along on a camping trip in Oklahoma in October and hooked up 2 boulder 30 panels with the provided quick connect clips. One of the clips was a little loose but the others were just fine. The tripod is fairly durable and had holes drilled into the bottom of the legs to anchor it as well as pointed ends to push into soft ground.
I had no trouble at all setting it up, attaching the panels and making adjustments to track the sun. There was no problem when the wind kicked up (It always blows in Oklahoma) I have not tried it yet with a 4 panel array. I would imagine with 4 panels you might need an assistant to attach the array to the tripod head but with 2 panels it was easy.
Overall this tripod is solid and works well for what it was designed for.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Boulder 30 Solar Tripod:
The tripod is nice looking, lightweight and fairly easy to put together with the solar panels. I do not like that the angle of the legs aren't restricted and that there aren't built in supports for restricting them in an equidistant manner you know like a regular tripod with a pole down the middle and supports attaching the three legs to the pole. I hope goal zero comes out with an improved tripod with these enhancements. I guess I would recommend this to a friend as I am unaware of a better way to mount the panels on a tripod.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Boulder 30 Solar Tripod:
The tripod is nice looking, lightweight and fairly easy to put together with the solar panels. I do not like that the angle of the legs aren't restricted and that there aren't built in supports for restricting them in an equidistant manner you know like a regular tripod with a pole down the middle and supports attaching the three legs to the pole. I hope goal zero comes out with an improved tripod with these enhancements, maybe a motorized version as well. I guess I would recommend this to a friend as I am unaware of a better way to mount the panels on a tripod.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Boulder 30 Solar Tripod:
I received the tripod in May of 2012 and have had no issues mating the tripod "head" to the legs. If this was an issue, it seems to be resolved.
I was a little disappointed by how light weight the tripod legs felt when I received the tripod, but in vigorous field use, this has not been an issue. The tripod is perfect to quickly deploy your panels on a stable platform and easily adjust them to aim at the sun easily. The tripod "feet" include pegs that you can use to apply pressure with your foot to drive the tripod feet in to the ground. This was a very nice feature.
The product includes a "head" that is meant to mount on your panels, a set of legs, and a bag containing 10 quick clips to attach your panels together as well as to the head. The tripod can hold either two or four Boulder 30s. you begin by assembling your array on a flat surface, panel-side down. You then align the tripod "head" to the mating edges of all the panels. Position your tripod to where it will go and adjust the length of each leg to your requirement so that the top of the tripod is flat. Utilize the included nylon band to keep the legs from spreading out further.
Once you've secured the head to the array and your tripod legs positioned where you want them, you attach head to the top of the tripod. There is a large center support that can move around inside a large hole on the top of the tripod that makes it easier to line this up.
When attaching the head to the tripod, it is quite easy to do with two people, but it can be done with one if necessary. Two is best so that you have someone constantly focused on your investment in the panels.
PROTIP: When assembling your solar array, trap a thin "bread twist tie" or similar flexible stiff material in the middle where all panels meet up. Straighten this until it is perpendicular to the panel surface. This can be used as a solar aiming device. Adjust your array until there is no shadow to ensure that you are aimed perfectly at the sun.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by JK
120 Watt Boulder 30 array at dawn
(9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)
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Comments about Boulder 30 Solar Tripod:
The other reviewer is absolutely correct. We ordered a tripod with out extreme Basecamp unit. After reading his review I tried ours and the cross piece that connects to the panels is definitely not tooled properly. We just got another tripod with our yeti and so I tried it and it works fine. So, apparently, there was a problem at one point that goal zero has since corrected. Unfortunately, while trying to get the first tripod together I broke the knob so I seriously doubt I can get a replacement. :(
Comments about Boulder 30 Solar Tripod:
Ordered tripod to go with my Extream 350 kit. It arrived with no instructions but was easy enough to figure out. The Base that the panels are supposed to mount to has an oblong circle where it is supposed to attach to the base and WILL NOT attach. It appeared that the hole was machined incorrectly. I contacted GoalZero and had them swap out the part that not working. After shipping the item back to them I had to contact them after several weeks of hearing nothing back from them to get them to replace the part. Upon receiving the new part it was almost identical to the one that I sent in originally and did not work. The problem appears to be with production (assuming they did in fact send me a new part). I WOULD NOT but this again and I strongly suggest that others stay clear of this item. Not only does the part not work GoalZero has no real customer support and does not appear to be interested in fixing the problem.
Displaying reviews 1-8
Do you have questions about this product?
get answers from real customers and in-house experts with AnswerBox.
Q:
How durable is this tripod with 4 panels installed, is there a wind speed that it is rated for?1 answer
A:
This product can handle a very high wind speed. Consumers in areas like Oklahoma with tremendous wind speeds report the product holds up very well with no problem when the wind kicks up. Since the product was released its also created more stable strapping systems. So this product should handle or rate very high in wind speed.Q:
Will this work with the boulder 151 answer
A:
No, it will not work with the boulder 15. The dimensions, clips and bolt connections are designed specifically to fit the Boulder 30.Q:
I have three of the 15 Watt Solar Panels with the pins to attach and hold them together. Is there a way that this tripod would work with these panels?0 answers
Q:
Can I hang nomad 27 solar pads on and to the boulder 30 solar tripod? If yes how and how many? Thank You.2 answers
A:
The Solar Tripod is designed for the Boulder 30's to insure a proper stabilization and our quick clips are designed specifically for the Boulder 30 panels. The Tripod can support up to 4 Boulder 30 panels.A:
You could certainly hang at least one set of Nomad 27's (maybe two) using skinny carabiners/rope/strap to hang from the tripod base. But the clips that come with the tripod won't be of any use to you as they are designed for the boulder 30 panel holes. The tripod base is shaped like a cross. So if the sun is overhead, unless you fix the Nomad 27's to a piece of plywood to lay them flat, you won't maximize your panel use. But it certainly will help if you need to hang them from something while traveling, although its a big hanging post for a compact set of pads, it may be a little overboard for you but it depends on what you want to do.Q:
Can I hook four solar panels to the yeti at once? What is the longest extension you make from the solar panel to the yeti?2 answers
A:
You can actually have up to 8 Bolder 30 solar panels on the Yeti 1250. The longest extension cord we sell is a 30 foot extension.A:
Yes, according to the user manual you can hook four solar panels to the Yeti at one time. You can only do two or four panels with this setup.Q:
By any chance, does the tripod "screw" into the mounting bracket using specs that conform to the camera/video standards? I have an industrial strength tripod that would only need the mounting bracket and clips if the mount hole conforms to industry standards.1 answer
A:
Unfortunately we do not sell the bracket separately.Q:
How many clips come with the tripod? How many clips are required to hold 4 panels?1 answer
A:
You will get 10 Clips with the Tripod. If you go with the minimal amount you can get away with using just 4.Q:
I have read the answer that the tripod includes 10 of the connect clips for two and four panel setups. Is the mounting bracket for the two/four panel setup also included in the purchase of the tripod?1 answer
A:
Yes the mounting Bracket is included.Q:
How many clips do I need to connect all 4 panels?1 answer
A:
Great question! You will need at least 4 quick clips to connect the panels to the tripod, though i would recommend 8 clips for a more secure connection.Q:
Can I use the head that mounts to the panels on a standard tripod or other mounting system?1 answer
A:
The head of this tripod is designed specifically for this unit and isn't detachable.Q:
Will the tripod work with the Boulder 15 Panels? I would like to set 4 of the Boulder 15 panels on it.1 answer
A:
No, the tripod stand is designed for the dimensions of the Boulder 30's. The clips will not line up with the Boulder 15 units.Q:
Can I install Boulder 15 Solar Panel to this tripod?1 answer
A:
No, the tripod is specifically set up as a stand for the Boulder 30. All the bolt connections align with the Boulder 30 panels, not the Boulder 15 panels.Q:
Are the Boulder clips included ?2 answers
A:
Yes, the Boulder Quick Clips are included when purchasing a Tripod.A:
The tripod includes a bag with 10 of the Quick Clips to attach your panels together and to the tripod.Q:
Can I attach one or two solar panels or do I have to attach four all together1 answer
A:
You can either do two or four solar panels.Q:
Can you attach less than 4 panels to this tripod?2 answers
A:
I spoke recently with a Customer Service Rep at Goal Zero with the question "Can I use the tripod with only two solar panels?" The answer is yes. And reading the reviews, one person using two panels says it is much easier to manipulate with only two panels. You will just have half the solar panel frame exposed but that should not be a problem.A:
You can either do two or four panels but not any other combinations.
Merchant response: That is a great picture. Thanks for sharing.