Mobile power supply
Powerbox EcoFlow Delta 2 – unimagined power in this class
The Delta 2 follows the same design as the “big” Delta Pro. The box can be easily moved thanks to the integrated brackets.
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EcoFlow launches a new generation of power boxes. You can attach very powerful consumers and an additional battery to the “small” Delta 2. The new cells should last more than 10 years of operation with 3000 charging cycles.
Power boxes have been booming for several years. Basically, a power box is a battery like a power bank, only in XL to XXXL. As a rule, it supplies 12 volts direct current, USB outputs for charging and, above all, 230 volts. The capacities range from a small party box in the 500 watt class to chunks of 50 kilograms that work their way up to 4000 watts.
Boom from fear of black-out
They are popular for a variety of reasons. For craftsmen, the small gas-powered generators are replacing them, in huts and fincas they provide electricity together with solar panels without a grid and a basic fee. Then there is the vanlife boom. Especially in smaller campers you can save yourself the installation of a complex system by simply connecting a box with a few cables. And in 2022 there is also the fear of a black-out, the effects of which can at least be mitigated with a box.
On the back are the inputs (above), the connections for 230 volt alternating current and the 12 volt output with 30 amps.
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The growing and lucrative market is as competitive as the demand is great. EcoFlow has an extensive portfolio of boxes and complex solutions for smaller homes and large off-grid mobile homes. The offer is now with the delta 2 expanded or modernized. Compared to the predecessor and some competing products, even the layman can see the astonishing progress from one generation to the next.
New cells, new concept
The most important innovation concerns the storage battery cells. The capacity of the Delta 2 is initially around 1000 watt hours. But these are now stored in LiFePO4 cells. While the durability of the predecessor was still around 600 cycles, it is now 3000. That means the batteries can be fully charged and discharged 3000 times and still have over 80 percent of the initial capacity at the end. This corresponds to eight to nine years of full-load operation, and it will take most buyers 20 years to complete 3000 cycles. So far, it has also generally been shown that rechargeable batteries are usually more durable than assumed during manufacture.
That alone is a huge leap. There is also a central change in the design. The previous, small boxes were designed as individual solutions and mostly followed the concept that the number of watt hours stored also roughly corresponded to the power output in watts. With a box with 500 Wh, only weak consumers with around 500 watts of power could be plugged in, correspondingly in the 1000 and 2000 class. the delta 2 on the other hand, it was designed to support an additional battery – so the storage capacity can be doubled or even tripled. At the same time, the power output at 230 volts was raised to 1800 watts, roughly on the level of the 2000 class. With an output of 1800 watts – short-term peak load is 2700 watts – almost all devices with a plug can be operated without any problems, because devices that draw 2500 or even 3500 watts are quite rare. 1000 watts are simply not enough to serve as a mobile power source for craftsmen.
The control panel and the USB ports are located on the front. During operation, the front and rear must be accessible.
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upgrade possible
What is that good for? The customer can start with a cheap device and later, when he needs it, can order memory. And especially in mobile use, it can be advantageous to spread the system over two boxes. They are easier to accommodate in the camper than a large strand and, above all, the individual components are not so heavy and unwieldy. The Delta Pro from the same company weighs almost 50 kilograms and can only be described as mobile with good will.
The box offers a lot of connections for the small size. Four 230 volt sockets, two USB-C ports and much more. I like the fact that Solar-In works with a standard format (XT60) and not with a proprietary solution. The box takes up a maximum of 500 watts of solar power, panels from other companies can also be connected. The box can handle 11 to 60 volts. In practice, however, the specified fast charging times are put into perspective when the additional battery is connected and also needs to be filled.
Peace of mind guarantee
At 12 kilograms, the box is still acceptably light. She cannot set a record for the long-lived but heavy cells. The size of 400 x 211 x 281 millimeters is handy, especially since the box does not require an additional power supply. The integrated handles make it easy to carry and attach. The app for the box makes it much easier to use, especially when you go into the depths of the settings. Very nice for on the go that the app not only works with Wifi, but also with Bluetooth. For someone who only charges their box at home and plugs in a device on the go, the app is not absolutely necessary. EcoFlow comes with a five-year guarantee, so there are no surprises when you buy it.
Expect top dog EcoFlow to launch a wide range of supplements for this new generation of boxes. A small drop of bitterness for fans: advances in technology significantly limit the downward compatibility of boxes and memories. Regardless of the manufacturer, you have to reckon with the fact that many things only really harmonize with each other in the respective generations.
The recommended price for the box is 1199 euros. Even if 2022 is not the year of bargains, it is worth paying attention to discount and coupon campaigns and the well-known special sales weeks. As mentioned in the text above, the big providers are fighting for market share and sometimes offer significant discounts.
Conclusion
In terms of price, the box is on par with the competition from Bluetti and Jackery, for example. A direct comparison is always difficult because the big brands always equip their products a little differently and address a different target group. But one can say positively: The long-lasting cells, the powering up to the power output of 1800 watts of alternating current and the possibility to supplement the battery are not bought with a noticeable surcharge. However, it is of course to be expected that the predecessor device in its own portfolio will be sold at a significant discount in view of the more powerful successor. Basically, the sentence “The better is the enemy of the good” is true. The leap from one generation to the next is enormous. But that also means that you should keep your hands off previous generations.
Nobody can say what the “right box” and the “right dimension” is – it depends on the individual situation. If the use – as with the author – consists essentially of DIY and camping, one can say: With the delta 2 you hardly do anything wrong. I could confidently translate guarantee and long-lasting battery cells as lifetime. It is important to me that 230 volt devices can be operated up to around 2000 watts, whether it is a tool or hair dryer or even an induction plate. There she does delta 2 – pretty much the only one of this size. Here you can get started comparatively cheaply and later strengthen the battery. Other and larger boxes can handle more solar input. But who can really transport six 200 watt modules in a camper? 500 watts of solar are quite enough. In practice one would use a folding bag with 400 watts or two smaller ones with 200 watts each. Then you can – at least in the sunny half of the year – easily get by with the 1000 watt hour capacity of the battery. The box is refilled with solar power in about three hours. You can easily “fill up” with 2 to 3 kWh every day.
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