About this deal
Taking a power consumption inventory of the electronics you need to operate will prevent you from wasting time and money on a portable power station that won’t meet your requirements. Portability For example, you can connect it to an EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel since the solar Input of RIVER 2 is 8A Max,11-30V 110W, and the Open Circuit Voltage of EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel is 21.8V, which falls within that range. However, any extra electricity produced over 110W gives you no additional benefit.
EcoFlow RIVER Portable Power Station — EcoFlow UK - EcoFlow UK EcoFlow RIVER Portable Power Station — EcoFlow UK - EcoFlow UK
Sure, you can now get portable projectors with built-in batteries that last up to two hours — like the Halo+— but if you’re looking to use a full-fledged projector while outdoors, you’ll need a beefy power station. The RIVER 2 Pro is also ideal for powering essential devices and small appliances in a van or RV. You can run 80% of high-wattage appliances, such as an RV refrigerator, along with charging all your personal electronic devices. But a maximum operating AC output of 300W severely limits the kind of appliances you can run with RIVER 2. Essentially, anything with an operating wattage above 300W — or a starting wattage requirement of 600W+ — simply won’t work. It’s an ideal device for an off-grid trip because you can carry it anywhere, set it up on a table or desk, and plug in what you need. No need to give up your tech or luxuries on a remote cabin or RV trip — with portable power for your smartphone, laptop, or television, you’re ready to go. To figure this out, you’ll need to divide the storage capacity of the RIVER 2, which is 256Wh, by the wattage of the appliances you want to charge.Battery capacity, measured in kilowatt-hours, is the number of watts the power station can deliver multiplied by the number of hours. For example, running a device that requires 200 Wh of electricity consumption for ten hours requires 2 kWh — the same capacity as operating a device that requires 2000 watts for one hour of use. The 220W PV panel comes at a higher price, and some of the energy it captures will likely go to waste… It’s small and lightweight enough to carry in one hand if you want power at a campfire or to relax and power your electronics outside the confines of the vehicle. Many appliances list their power requirements in volts or amps. You can easily calculate the watts by multiplying the volts and amps together:
EcoFlow River 2 Max review: High capacity, off-the-grid power
Breaking down your requirements will help you choose which portable power station is right for you. Your Purpose Capacity (Wh) / DC input rate (W) = Charge time (h). How Long Does RIVER 2 Take to Fully Charge Using the USB-C Input?For permanent off-grid solutions for RVs and tiny houses, EcoFlow’s modular Power Kits are also worth a look. Electrical Power Output Since 60W is the maximum USB-C input, and the actual charge may be lower, you can round up to account for the potential extra time to charge fully. As a general rule, with portable power stations, the larger and heavier the unit, the more electricity it can store and output — balance portability concerns against capacity. The smaller power stations won’t cut it if you need to power a high-energy appliance like an air conditioner or a large fridge. Recharging the RIVER 2 is easy. You can charge using your vehicle’s DC output or AC electricity from a standard wall plug at home before you go. Temperature affects solar panel efficiency, while factors like the peak sun hours your solar panel receives and its positioning impact how much electricity you generate in real-world conditions.
Portable Power Stations in 2023 Reviewed - EcoFlow UK Blog 6 Best Portable Power Stations in 2023 Reviewed - EcoFlow UK Blog
The other crucial determining factor in what appliances a portable power station can run is its AC Output. RIVER 2 offers 300W (running wattage) and surge power of 600W (starting watts) thanks to X-Boost. The additional starting wattage gives you the flexibility to run up to 99% of consumer electronics. Can the RIVER 2 Be Used as an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)? Because it can power 80% of high-wattage home appliances, the RIVER 2 Pro isn’t just for camping or off-grid adventures. With a 30ms switchover speed during a power outage, you can ensure virtually uninterruptible power for essential appliances in your home — anything from a laptop to a fish tank. Pros However, you can use two RIVER 2s simultaneously but separately. For example, use one to power your lighting while the other powers your box fan.Thanks to its high capacity and expandability, the DELTA Pro is the most potent, versatile portable power station on the market today. You might even be eligible for tax credits and incentives — including a 30% federal solar tax credit to help defray your upfront costs. Financing options are also typically available. Pros The 512Wh battery is ideally suited for camping activities, and there's enough power on offer to charge phones, notebooks, and other tech accessories in addition to projectors. The fact that the batteries are based on LiFePO4 tech means they should be much more durable than standard Lithium-ion batteries, and the long-term warranty alleviates any worries in this area.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station
However, a laptop (for example) will be unaffected by the 30ms switchover as it has its own battery. Can the RIVER 2 Handle High-Wattage Appliances? Like all EcoFlow portable power stations, RIVER 2 also offers solar charging with compatible solar panels. You can recharge off-grid with solar energy in approximately three hours. Pros If the ambient temperature increases beyond this range during storage, the battery discharge rate will also increase. Is RIVER 2 a True Sine Wave Output Device? The rated power of the 110W portable solar panel is perfectly matched to the solar input capacity of the RIVER 2. But, due to the factors outlined above, you won’t achieve 110W of electricity generation consistently. However, you also won’t pay for electricity generation capacity that doesn’t get used.The amount of time that the RIVER 2 PPS can power your appliances between charges depends entirely on your appliances’ starting and running wattages and how many devices you run simultaneously. It would take about four to five hours to reach total electricity storage capacity when charging using a USB-C input. The USB-C input/output is 5/9/12/15/20V, 3A, and 60W Max.