Eco flow or similar power station question

[Okta]

Something which was interesting (to me, anyway ) was how it interacted with the Victron Multiplus when plugged into the EHU Input ... The Multiplus would not 'see' the Power Station until I made some changes to the configuation to tell it there was "weak AC" input (plus a couple of other tweaks).

OK, BUT the incorrect polarity warning light comes ??? On

It comes on because there is no earth wire.

Most of these units output 115V down both wires but they are out of phase so when they meet at the device the potential between the 2 wires is 230V. This is not unusual with inverter outputs. It will inevitably upset a polarity tester and possibly explains the Multiplus seeing it as a weak input.

 

[wildebus]

This Power Station looks like good value - https://amzn.to/3s3nona

The key features are:

• A 2000W (4000W peak) PS Inverter
• A 1500Wh Battery (=117Ah at 12.8V)

Along with the usual features of 240V, 12V, USB and PD outlets and pretty fast recharging, it looks good for under £800 including a £100 discount voucher (£800 for Amazon Business, £900 Amazon Retail).

NOTE: This product or seller is nothing to do with me. Just posting what I think looks a nice bit of kit at a good price.

 

[Okta]

If it doesn’t have a LiFePO4 battery it won’t be going on my shopping list.

 

[trevskoda]

I am the same as you Trev no Sargent sys and all individually fused simple and easy to sort.

Best way.

 

[guerdeval]

Best way.View attachment 122172

Simple and easy to sort ! That would be my worst nightmare , I could manage to throw the switch but after that, no chance

 

[Moped]

This one is LiFePO4 at £899 on Amazon with a 2000wh battery and all the features mentioned above. I respect the opinions of the techies here so what do you think about this?

I was almost tempted when it was on offer at £750 in the recent Amazon Prime event but Mrs Moped said I have a power station already so why do I need another one?

Maybe I have “more power! more power!” syndrome.

 

[Boris7]

I think the issue with power stations is most likely that they haven’t been around long enough for any one to be able to say how good they are.

My 2 EcoFlows were paid for by customers so I can’t really loose out long term, but I think I’d be slow to buy one using my own money right now.

 

[Okta]

We just had a brief power cut. I am using an Ecoflow River 2 as a UPS for my router, the router stayed live with no interruptions. The switch over from mains to inverter at 30ms is not considered fast enough to make it a true UPS but it is quick enough to keep the router live. This means we have continuous service for phones and pads and the mains devices can immediately reconnect when the power returns. Two of my mains devices get upset if they try to reconnect before the router has fully rebooted and then need manual rebooting themselves so I am pleased that everything reconnected or stayed connected without any hassle.

 

[Moped]

I think the issue with power stations is most likely that they haven’t been around long enough for any one to be able to say how good they are.

My 2 EcoFlows were paid for by customers so I can’t really loose out long term, but I think I’d be slow to buy one using my own money right now.

The technology is constantly evolving and prices are dropping. It’s only in the last year or so that LiFePO4 has been introduced into these products. Same battery tech as in electric cars. Now many are promoting 3500 cycles at 100% discharge/recharge which is daily for 10 years with 1 to 2 hour recharge times and they are offering 5 year warranties. How many users are going to fully discharge these daily so you might even get 20 years use or more.

Going forward surely the only battery improvements possible are denser cells providing even more capacity for the same weight. The AC and DC and USB output technology is now proven over decades and unlikely to change going forward.

Knowing this at what point do you dive in if you are considering one?

As for solar panel technology is this likely to advance further? As long as you have a 400w panel you are sorted now!

400w solar might be over the top in summer but what about for all the year round use? I have 2x 200w panels so can use one 200w panel or connect both in serial to make up a 400w panel.

There is always the petrol geny for £500 or so but for off grid use where you are in close proximity to others???

And do you want the “Just Stop Oil” eco protesters circling around your van as your geny is running?

 

[molly 2]

Power stations have a use in the home especially in a power cut as many domestic appliances can be used ,if connected to a solar panel could cut energy bills .

 

[wildebus]

The technology is constantly evolving and prices are dropping. It’s only in the last year or so that LiFePO4 has been introduced into these products. Same battery tech as in electric cars. Now many are promoting 3500 cycles at 100% discharge/recharge which is daily for 10 years with 1 to 2 hour recharge times and they are offering 5 year warranties. How many users are going to fully discharge these daily so you might even get 20 years use or more.

Going forward surely the only battery improvements possible are denser cells providing even more capacity for the same weight. The AC and DC and USB output technology is now proven over decades and unlikely to change going forward.

Knowing this at what point do you dive in if you are considering one?

As for solar panel technology is this likely to advance further? As long as you have a 400w panel you are sorted now!

400w solar might be over the top in summer but what about for all the year round use? I have 2x 200w panels so can use one 200w panel or connect both in serial to make up a 400w panel.

There is always the petrol geny for £500 or so but for off grid use where you are in close proximity to others???

And do you want the “Just Stop Oil” eco protesters circling around your van as your geny is running?

I think the cell charge cycle count on these Power Stations is an irrelevance. Ok, so you think they could last possibly 20 years or at least 10? Maybe the BATTERY CELLS will do, but what about everything else within the box, made generally from components selected from a price-point not a quality perspective.


It is a bit like the original Japanese cars that came into the UK.... The powerplant side (i.e. Engine, but imagine that as the battery cells in a Power Station) was typically brilliant, but that became irrelevant when the metalwork housing it (the car!) crumbled away to flakes in a few years and the car was scrapped with a still perfectly sound engine.
A product is only as good as it's weakest link, so anyone assuming a lifespan based on a specific component may well be disappointed further down the line. (This is one of the reasons why doing things like only charging Lithium batteries to 80% and never dropping below 20% is both pointless and a false economy).

 

[guerdeval]

Thanks for all the replies, I only considered one because a few weeks back my starter battery failed and I had a small ‘hand sized’ jump starter which didn’t fill me with confidence but I gave it a try and boy was I surprised, it turned over the engine immediately and it cost just a few pounds, so I’m more confident in lithium now .

 

[trevskoda]

Thanks for all the replies, I only considered one because a few weeks back my starter battery failed and I had a small ‘hand sized’ jump starter which didn’t fill me with confidence but I gave it a try and boy was I surprised, it turned over the engine immediately and it cost just a few pounds, so I’m more confident in lithium now .

I have a switch and relay which connects my les batts to the starter bat for the avoe problem should i have left the lights on etc.

 

[Boris7]

I have a switch and relay which connects my les batts to the starter bat for the avoe problem should i have left the lights on etc.

As in the lights are on and nowones in you mean

 

[merl]

I think the cell charge cycle count on these Power Stations is an irrelevance. Ok, so you think they could last possibly 20 years or at least 10? Maybe the BATTERY CELLS will do, but what about everything else within the box, made generally from components selected from a price-point not a quality perspective.


It is a bit like the original Japanese cars that came into the UK.... The powerplant side (i.e. Engine, but imagine that as the battery cells in a Power Station) was typically brilliant, but that became irrelevant when the metalwork housing it (the car!) crumbled away to flakes in a few years and the car was scrapped with a still perfectly sound engine.
A product is only as good as it's weakest link, so anyone assuming a lifespan based on a specific component may well be disappointed further down the line. (This is one of the reasons why doing things like only charging Lithium batteries to 80% and never dropping below 20% is both pointless and a false economy).

Totally agree David, you see a lot of stuff on the net geared to getting the maximum cycles and life out of Lifepo4 such as compressing the cells and limiting the charge/discharge levels etc but consider the actual lifespan of the cells as opposed to the ancillary electrics BMS etc the benefits dont really stack up. Maybe if you were using them for a powerwall application where you were charging and then discharging them fully every day it may be a consideration but the fact is that Lifpo4 CELLS are so so robust and long lived that they become 'abuseable' so to speak it's not really worth it for the average user because something else will fail (probably the BMS) or we'll get a better battery tech before the cells become knackered. I read recently that if they can get ammonium tech working properly it'll potentially increase the energy density by ten fold over Lifepo4, now that WILL be an awesome cell and would be a true game changer for the planet.

 

[Veloman]

Power stations have a use in the home especially in a power cut as many domestic appliances can be used ,if connected to a solar panel could cut energy bills .

I use mine in the van for remoska and kettle plus I have solar at home and when exporting surplus to the grid I recharge the power station with "free" electric. Then use the power station with remoska etc for evening meal. A bit more effort but cuts the bills a bit.

 

[Moped]

I use mine in the van for remoska and kettle plus I have solar at home and when exporting surplus to the grid I recharge the power station with "free" electric. Then use the power station with remoska etc for evening meal. A bit more effort but cuts the bills a bit.

Remoska?

Having googled it this deserves its own topic. Looks interesting. I’ll start a thread.

 

[Okta]

Remoska?

Having googled it this deserves its own topic. Looks interesting. I’ll start a thread.

We use one at home, heating pies, jacket potatoes and quiches. Uses less electricity than an oven.

 

[Boris7]

We’ll some EcoFlow news,

I bought my River Max on 30th July 2022, it failed on Friday, screen says overload, but only had a iPad charging and Rivers battery at 71%.

At the time of purchase I registered the unit via the app on the 2 August 2022. It failed on 11 August 2023 so 9 days out of warranty, but when I registered the unit it gave me an extra 12 months warranty.

But EcoFlow Europe now tell me that extra 12 months doesn’t apply to Europe only the U.S.

 

[runnach]

We’ll some EcoFlow news,

I bought my River Max on 30th July 2022, it failed on Friday, screen says overload, but only had a iPad charging and Rivers battery at 71%.

At the time of purchase I registered the unit via the app on the 2 August 2022. It failed on 11 August 2023 so 9 days out of warranty, but when I registered the unit it gave me an extra 12 months warranty.

But EcoFlow Europe now tell me that extra 12 months doesn’t apply to Europe only the U.S.

Not good, one for trading standards for further advice. I’m also shocked of company treatment to you, I mean, nine day out of two year warranty, and basically they are saying tough luck on you.

I’m sure if company do not do the right thing for you, you can post on various sites of how poor their equipment is, and their customer care.

I hope you get a positive result