Disclaimer: This product was sent to us for free, in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views and experiences.
Should The New EcoFlow Delta 2 Be Your Next Power Station?
EcoFlow is a company that makes both portable power stations and solar panels.
As a company, EcoFlow has grown exponentially in the past couple of years as they have been one of the manufacturers that has pushed the power station market forward with innovative and modern features.
COUPON: Get 5% off at EcoFlow’s website with code: EFSD5OFF
One thing I like a lot about EcoFlow is that they’re not sitting on their hands.
They understand that you have to keep up to not quickly fall behind in this market. I believe the product I am reviewing today is yet another proof of that.
The new Delta 2 is an upgraded version of EcoFlow’s most popular solar generator, the original Delta released years ago. In this post I’ll be comparing it to the Delta 1260Wh model.
In this review, I am going share the most important features and what I think about it overall.
I am also working on a review for EcoFlow’s largest solar panel, the 400W(!) model. That is going to be posted next week, so be on the lookout for that!
Table of Contents show
EcoFlow Delta 2 Features And Specifications
On the outside, not a lot has changed when compared to the original Delta. But there are a couple of new features that are going to make a big difference.
Specifications
Before I go over the new features, here are the important specifications:
- Battery capacity – 1024Wh. This is how many watt-hours the battery can store at most.
- Inverter – 1800W total (surge 2700W). X-Boost output up to 2200W. This makes the AC outlets as powerful as a regular household AC outlet.
- Ports– 15 total outputs. Six AC outlets (four on the EU version), two 100W USB C ports, four USB A ports, one cigarette 12V port, and two DC5521 ports.
- MPPT Solar Charge Controller – Supports panels rated between 11-60V, up to 15A/500W max. An XT60 input is used for all ways to charge.
- Display– The display shows the battery percentage/bars, input/output watts, active ports, remaining charge/discharge time, and warnings.
- In the box – AC charger, car charger, DC5521 to DC5525 cable.
- Size and weight – 27 lbs (12 kg), 15.7 x 8.3 x 11.1 in (40 x 21 x 28 cm)
New features
You probably didn’t notice a ton of upgrades in the specifications above, so let’s focus on the upgrades over the old Delta model.
- LiFePO4 batteries– LiFePO4, short for Lithium Iron Phosphate is a battery chemistry that has several advantages over the Li-iOn used in most power stations and the old Delta. While not as dense as Li-Ion batteries, they’re safer in terms of overheating, more efficient, and lasts longer. While a Li-Ion battery can reach 80% capacity after 5-800 cycles, a LiFePO4 battery can often go through 3000+ cycles before losing as much total capacity.
- Faster charging*– With the X-Stream tech, the Delta 2 can be charged from empty to full in 80 minutes. That’s faster than the old Delta which takes 96 minutes. *The battery in the old Delta I am comparing it to has a larger battery which equal longer charging times, both the new and old maxes out at 1200W AC input.
- Higher solar input– The old Delta maxed out at 400W solar input and/or 10A, the MPPT solar charge controller in the Delta 2 can handle up to 500W and/or 15A. Takes solar panels rated between 11-60V. A small but welcome improvement.
- WiFi/Bluetooth App support– With the phone app available for both Apple iOS and Google Android, you’re able to control and monitor the Delta with either WiFi or Bluetooth. It connects to an existing WiFi network and makes it possible to have full control of the solar generator even if you’re on the other side of the planet.
- Expandable– Double or triple the battery capacity by purchasing extra batteries for the Delta 2. Perfect for RVers, preppers, home or cabin owners that want to have a couple of extra batteries ready for when the power goes out or the power needs increases.
- More powerful 12V and USB C ports – The 12V cigarette port can output a full 10A, 120W, instead of 108.8W. The USB C ports have also gotten more powerful and can output up to 100W, versus 60W on the old models.
Review Of The Delta 2
What I Like
- LiFePO4 batteries – There are several reasons as to why LiFePO4 batteries are better than Li-Ion batteries. I mentioned them earlier, but the major ones are the durability, the safety, and the efficiency. They’re slightly heavier, but it’s worth the extra weight.
- WiFi/Bluetooth support – I’ve gotten used to using the EcoFlow app to control and monitor my other EcoFlow batteries, and I am happy that the Delta 2 has the same functionality.
- A lot of ports – There have always been a lot of ports on EcoFlow’s power stations, and the Delta 2 is as good as the Delta with this. Six AC outlets and six USB ports, that’s more than you get on most competitors’ products.
- The 100W USB C port – Since I am a heavy user of USB C, I have to give the two 100W USB C ports extra attention. I can charge my phone, drone, tablet, and phone with this port, all at the fastest speeds. The only thing I wish it could do is to also support input so I could use a USB C PD charger or solar panel to charge the battery.
What I Dislike
- No solar charging cable included– EcoFlow has been one of the companies that have included MC4 to XT60 adapters with its solar generators, but the Delta 2 doesn’t and now you have to spend an additional $24.99 to get one. Is it because EcoFlow thinks most people never used it, or is it simply a way to make more money?
- No dual charging – You can’t use solar and the wall/car charger at the same time. For some travelers, this is a must and it could’ve been solved with a second XT60 input.
- Can’t charge via USB C– The USB C ports are powerful at 100W, but you can’t charge the batteries with this port. That’s unfortunate since it could’ve been a way to use a solar panel and a USB C PD charger at the same time, but it isn’t.
What Can The Delta 2 Power And For How Long?
It can power any device that doesn’t require more than 1800W. If it can be powered by an outlet in a house, it can be powered by the Delta 2.
The pure sine wave inverter is about 85% efficient, so if you’re calculating how long the 1024Wh battery will last when powering a certain device, remember to multiply by 0.85 to get the most accurate estimate.
For example, if a TV requires 110W, the calculation would be 1024Wh/110W*0.85=7.91 hours
The picture below is from Ecoflow.com.
Here are the results of some tests I did:
PS5 + 75″ TV (~280W) = 3 hours
900W microwave (~1100W) = 45 minutes
Box fan (~55W) = 16 hours
15-cubic-foot chest freezer (~350W on and off) = 32 hours
Electric water boiler (~1750W) = 28 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it support UPS?
No, not true UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply).
EcoFlow says it supports EPS (Emergency Power Supply), which should not be used for electronics like data servers and desktop computers that require 0 ms switching.
If the inverter is on while the AC charger is plugged in, the power will come from the grid instead of the battery.
The reason it shouldn’t be used as an UPS for things like a desktop computer is that it has a 30 ms delay, which is long enough for the computer to shut down.
How do I connect a solar panel with MC4 connectors?
To do that, you’re going to need an MC4 to XT60 adapter. EcoFlow sells them on its website, click here to view it.
Note that the adapter is made for panels with a positive MC4 male connector and a negative MC4 female connector.
Can I combine several panels and connect them to the Delta 2?
Yes, the solar charge controller can handle voltages between 11-60V and up to 15A, so you can combine panels either in parallel or series as long as you stay within the supported range.
To combine two panels in parallel, use an EcoFlow parallel adapter. This is used to connect two panels with the same ratings, like the EcoFlow 110W solar panel for example.
In a parallel connection, the voltage stays the same while the amps add up.
If you don’t want to buy the parallel adapter, you can also do a series connection.
To do this, take the positive MC4 male connector from the first panel and connect it to the negative MC4 female connector on the second panel.
What you end up with is one cable from each panel, and now you can connect the MC4 to XT60 adapter I link to above.
In a series circuit, the voltages add up while the amps stay the same.
It’s especially important to know the total voltage when combining panels in series, since the charge controller will not accept a voltage higher than 60V in this case but it can handle going over on the amperage limit.
Check the open circuit voltage in the specifications of your panels and add them together if you’re making a series circuit.
Can you use the Delta 2 while it’s charging?
Yes, all ports can be used while the battery is being charged.
Can I charge with solar and the car/wall charger at the same time?
No, there is only one XT60 input.
Can you plug an RV camper into the Delta 2?
Yes, with the right adapter you can. I have written an article over on thesolaraddict.com about how this is done that you can find here.
Remember that even though you might use a 30A or 50A adapter the inverter sets the limit (15A/1800W in this case) and you cannot exceed the max output of the inverter.
How long does it take to charge with solar panels?
With a single 100W panel, it’s going to take around 13-16 hours.
With the EcoFlow 400W solar panelit takes around 3-6 hours.
How do I update the firmware?
Download the iPhone or Android app, connect to the Delta 2, choose “Firmware” in the app, then update.
Can you charge it with USB C PD?
No, the USB C port is only an output.
Which external batteries can I connect?
To double or triple the battery capacity of the Delta 2, connect either a Delta 2 Extra battery or a Delta Max Smart Extra Battery.
