How Long Will the Goal Zero Yeti 500X Run an Aquarium Heater (100W)?
Updated 2026-10-17 · Yes
The numbers
| Battery capacity | 505Wh (NMC) |
|---|---|
| Usable energy | 429Wh (85% via AC outlets) |
| Continuous AC output | 300W |
| Surge rating | 600W |
| Aquarium heater (100W) running watts | 100W |
| Startup watts | 100W |
| Average draw | 40W |
| Estimated runtime | 11 hours |
| Energy per day of typical use | 960Wh |
505Wh × 0.85 = 429Wh usable ÷ 40W average = 10.7 hours
Station specs: source, checked 2026-10-17. See how we calculate runtime.
Adjust the numbers
Check the label on your aquarium heater (100W) and enter its real wattage.
Recharging with solar
The Goal Zero Yeti 500X accepts up to 120W of solar input. In real conditions that harvests about 450Wh on a sunny day (5 peak-sun hours).
Solar can’t fully keep up. An aquarium heater (100W) uses about 960Wh a day at 24 hours of use, more than the Goal Zero Yeti 500X’s best-case solar harvest. Solar will stretch the runtime but not sustain it.
Tips
- Aquarium heaters cycle with their thermostat. Add an air pump (5–10W) to keep fish oxygenated during an outage.
- You’ll still have about 200W of AC capacity left for other devices at the same time, though they’ll share the same battery.
- The Goal Zero Yeti 500X uses NMC cells, which are lighter but rated for fewer cycles (typically 500–800) than newer LFP models.
Other power stations running an aquarium heater (100W)
| Power station | Capacity | Output | Runtime | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 300 Plus | 288Wh | 300W | 6.1 hours | Yes |
| EcoFlow River 2 Max | 512Wh | 500W | 11 hours | Yes |
| Anker 535 PowerHouse | 512Wh | 500W | 11 hours | Yes |
| DJI Power 500 | 512Wh | 1000W | 11 hours | Yes |
| Jackery Explorer 500 | 518Wh | 500W | 11 hours | Yes |
| EcoFlow River 2 Pro | 768Wh | 800W | 16 hours | Yes |
| Anker SOLIX C800 Plus | 768Wh | 1200W | 16 hours | Yes |
| Bluetti AC70 | 768Wh | 1000W | 16 hours | Yes |
FAQ
Will the Goal Zero Yeti 500X run an aquarium heater (100W) overnight?
Yes. Eight hours uses about 320Wh, roughly 75% of the Goal Zero Yeti 500X’s usable capacity.
How long does the Goal Zero Yeti 500X take to recharge with solar?
With its maximum 120W of solar input it refills in about 5.6 hours of strong sun. A single 200W panel is enough to max out its solar input.