EcoFlow Delta Max Portable Power Station Review
(Camp Addict does NOT accept payment from any company to review or endorse their products.)
By Kelly Beasley
In our modern times, it's hard to do much without a power supply.
That's why the EcoFlow Delta Max portable power station is so convenient or even necessary, especially when camping or RVing.
We rely so much on power use to stay connected to the internet, to stay warm and cool, to keep in contact with one another, and even for life-sustaining electronics.
If you go off-grid, either camping or off-roading, or even dry camping in an RV, you may find your batteries (or lack of them) aren't adequate.
Enter the handy portable power station.
What's a power station? It's a portable battery that allows you to run what you need to be powered when AC or DC outlets aren't otherwise available or sufficient.
Sometimes called a solar powered RV generator, benefits include:
Among other solar generators, we tested an EcoFlow Delta Max 2000 to explore its capacity, reliability, ease of use, and performance.
Here is our EcoFlow Delta Max review.
Full Disclosure: EcoFlow sent us a Delta Max 2000 to test and evaluate. As with all products we agree to test, we are under no obligation to write a glowing review for a product because it was given to us. If we like a product and think it's a good fit for our audience, we will review it on Camp Addict. If we don't like the product, you will never hear about it from us.
What's In The Box?
Shipped to you is the EcoFlow Delta Max portable power station, which, essentially, is a big fancy lithium battery.
You also get an 120-volt AC charging cable, a solar charging cable, 12-volt car charging cable, and a 12-volt DC5521 to DC5525 cable.
You'll also find the warranty card and user manual, which are in English and easy to read.
We love having the ability to charge this unit in so many different ways without figuring out what kind of cables to get and where to get them.
The Ecoflow 2000 isn't the lightest or smallest of the power stations. It weighs a whopping 48 pounds and measures 19.6 inches x 9.5 inches x 12 inches.
There's minimal setup beyond downloading and connecting the app (more on the app below).
Simply plug the portable power station in and power up with whatever power outlets you choose. Solar panels are available for purchase to recharge the unit with free energy from the sun anywhere you park.
The battery chemistry is NCM, which is a type of lithium-ion battery.
Overall EcoFlow Delta Max Design
The EcoFlow Delta has a sleek, modern design that resembles something out of a sci-fi movie.
It's a rectangular shaped box with a deep grey color on top and a black lower section.
The plastic is thick and high quality, making it durable and long-lasting. It also has handles on the long ends for easy carrying.
However, the control panel and USB/USB-C slots are on one end, with the 120-volt plugs and DC outlets on the other.
This makes it a bit tricky to use, especially if you have limited space available on each side.
So the design isn't the best for smaller recreational vehicles or vehicles with limited space. A design that had everything on one side might be more convenient for some.
Display
The EcoFlow smart generator display is blue-hued and crisp. It displays:
The EcoFlow Delta has a handy display that shows you how many hours you have left to charge or power whatever is plugged in.
When the unit is fully charged and at rest, the display reads 99 hours.
This way, you can easily track how much power you have left and know when it's time to charge the unit again.
Display showing being charged
Display showing being discharged
The display also updates in real-time when using the solar charging input or charging using the AC charging cable.
However, the display is not dimmable, and you can't shut it off manually.
But it does have a built-in power conservation feature that automatically turns the display off after a certain amount of time (screen timeout adjustable within the app).
To turn the display back on, just press the power button or the IOT Reset button located below the display.
Having the screen off conserves battery life.
Mobile App
Yes, the Delta Max 2000 mobile power station has an app (iOS and Android) allowing you to view what is happening with the battery remotely.
iOS app showing charge (via solar)
iOS app showing 120-volt plugs in use
The EcoFlow App makes it easy to keep up with your energy use.
Just connect your Delta Max Wi-Fi, and you'll be able to view real-time stats and control your power station with your smartphone.
With it, you can monitor capacity levels and input power and set charging levels or speeds. Additionally, you'll have the ability to manage your energy usage on the go.
How cool is that?
The app is also used to update the power supply's firmware, keeping it up to date with the latest changes.
Power Ports
This unit has most of what you could ever want for output ports. It includes:
The EcoFlow Delta is designed for convenience, with all of its ports and inputs allowing for almost every possible power need you might have.
You'll find the 120-volt ports, DC 5221, and the cigarette lighter-style 12-volt power port on one side.
On the other side, you'll find the remaining ports and inputs.
USB ports and display
120-volt and 12-volt power ports
The charge inputs are located just above the 120-volt ports and are cleverly concealed and protected behind a little door.
Each section of ports is equipped with a power button, allowing you to turn each area on and off.
This common feature ensures that you can use only the ports you need, conserving power and increasing the efficiency of your unit.
It's an innovative and user-friendly design that makes it easy to stay in control of your energy usage.
Charge Inputs
There are a few ways to power your solar power station. It offers these types of inputs:
Charge ports (access door opened) with solar panels plugged in
An even faster way to charge your unit is by using multiple inputs.
Price/Value
The EcoFlow Delta Max 2000 is not a budget-friendly option, but that's because it's packed with high-tech features and has a massive capacity.
It's a well-made, high-quality unit that weighs 48 pounds, so it's not the most portable option out there.
But it's perfect for home use, RVing, and camping trips when you need a lot of power. It offers 2016 watt-hours of battery capacity and has expandable capacity.
The current price listed on the EcoFlow website is $1,699, but it's also available for $1,599 at Sam's Club and on Amazon (all prices as of February 2023).
Remember that the price will fluctuate, so keep an eye out for sales or discounts.
If you're looking for a high-quality, reliable solar generator, the EcoFlow Delta is worth considering, even though it comes with a premium price tag.
Battery Capacity and Performance
With EcoFlow's X-Boost technology, DELTA Max can power heavy-duty devices up to 2400-watts total (5000-watt surge) with a 2016Wh (watt-hour) battery.
That means during a power outage or blackout, you can continue powering your fridge, phones, computers, portable speakers, power tools, and more.
They hold the industry gold standard for a portable power station of this size and capacity. The Max packs a 2kWh capacity, expandable to 6kWh (more info below).
Delta Max Smart Extra Battery
You can expand the capacity of your portable solar generator by connecting a Smart Extra Battery to your unit.
Smart Extra Batteries look much like a Delta Max unit without inputs and display.
You can connect up to two Smart Extra Batteries (2kWh each - or the capacity of the Delta Max 2000 by itself) to have an even longer time before you need a recharge.
Extra battery plug-in ports
Adding one battery expands the total capacity to 4kWh, and adding two raises it to 6kWh.
Connecting an extra battery is as simple as plugging them together with the provided power cable.
Purchase Extra Battery
How Long Can Devices Be Powered?
But what does 2kWh (expandable to up to 6kWh using the extra batteries) mean in layperson's terms regarding how many charges or hours it provides?
Well, these are ALL generalities, and there are always variables, so take these numbers with a grain of salt. These estimates come directly from the EcoFlow website.
You can likely power/charge:
These numbers give you an idea of 'how much' one full charge provides. We tested charging or powering using these products:
EcoFlow Delta Max charging Winnebago camper van
We generally had a hard time using up all the power in the unit. Over months of testing, the lowest we got it down to was 14% before needing to recharge.
Keep in mind that we didn't use much that pulled a lot of power (except the time we plugged Marshall's van into it), so the unit just kept giving and giving. It's a beast!
Charging The EcoFlow
Charging time on the EcoFlow Tech Delta Max 2000 is almost 3 times faster than similar batteries, making it one of the most efficient to top up.
The unit uses X-Stream technology, the world's fastest power station charging method.
With it, in one hour, you can go from 0 to 80% using a 120-volt AC outlet while other power stations only get to 16% in that time. It fully charges in about 1.8 hours.
Additionally, you can recharge it using dual charging (multiple power sources) for even more efficient powering.
The fast charge capability means spending less time attending to the chore.
Here are the recharge stats from their website:
Full Recharge Times
These charge times are per the EcoFlow website:
Note: The Delta Max's cooling fans will kick on under most (all?) charging scenarios, including charging with the 12-volt cigarette-style plug (the slowest charging method). It isn't a horribly loud fan, but just know that there will be some white noise as the unit charges.
EcoFlow Solar Panels
The EcoFlow DELTA Max portable power station is best charged using EcoFlow's unique solar panels, which are both high quality and lightweight.
EcoFlow 200-watt bifacial solar panel
We received a 220-watt bifacial solar panel for testing. (Bifacial means there are solar cells on either side of the panel.)
We've never seen panels quite like this.
By this, we mean that they used the cover as part of the stand.
It might be awkward to work with at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's nice that all parts always have a job.
Case is used as the stand
They each weigh just 15.4 pounds and can easily be stored and transported with the included carrying case that, as we mentioned, doubles as a stand.
The difficulty is that the parts that comprise the cover want to stay bent when you don't want them to bend.
After some time, they might straighten out, and it could become easier to set up the panel at an angle.
Setting up in warm climates also helps.
The case has a comfortable handle, and when the panel is deployed, you can adjust it for optimal charging.
Solar panel in case next to EcoFlow Delta Max
EcoFlow offers a variety of panels for charging the DELTA Max, including 110W, 160W, and 400W models. Each panel has a 1-year warranty and boasts an efficiency rate of approximately 22%.
These babies are built to last.
They are constructed with a rigid synthetic backing material, and the cells themselves have a transparent ETFE coating, which helps block infrared light, extends the cells' useful lives, and makes the panels more durable.
Plus, these panels are rated IP67, which means they are entirely dust-tight and can even be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes without getting damaged.
So, you can trust that these panels can handle whatever the weather throws at them.
Solar charging speeds vary and are listed above.
EcoFlow Solar Panels
EcoFlow Delta Max 2000 Specifications:
- Battery capacity: 2016Wh (50.4 volts)
- Battery type: NCM (Lithium-ion)
- Battery life: 500 cycles to 80%+ capacity
- Dimensions: 19.6" Long x 9.5" Wide x 12" Tall
- Weight: 48 pounds
- Warranty: 3 years
- AC output (6 outlets): 120VAC, 60Hz, 2400W Continuous (5000W Peak utilizing X-Boost technology)
- USB output: 2 USB-C 100W,21 USB-A 5V, 2.4A, 2 USB-A Quickcharge 18W
- 12-volt outlet (cigarette-style): 10 amp
- DC5521 (2) 12.6-volt DC, 3A
- Operating temperature: -4 ºF to 113 ºF
- Charging temperature: 32 ºF to 113 ºF
- Battery management system with under/over voltage protection, short circuit protection, over/low temperature protection, overload protection
EcoFlow Delta Max Review Conclusion
Having backup power is a great way to stay connected during disasters or when RVing or camping.
You can charge home devices and electronics you need while on the road.
The Ecoflow is a powerful portable power station with which you can do many things.
It charges or powers a wide range of products and can be charged back up in various ways.
The unit is of excellent quality, has a smartphone app, and is one of the fastest rechargeable solar generators around.
Our EcoFlow power station review was enjoyable; it had unmistakable quality and impressive performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Battery Life Expectancy Of The Delta Max?
A single Delta Max unit boasts an impressive NCM cycle life of 800 cycles, allowing it to maintain a robust 80% capacity even after multiple uses.
How Many Watts Is The EcoFlow Delta Max?
With its impressive 2016Wh capacity, the EcoFlow Delta Max portable power station ensures that your home essentials or RVing devices stay powered on or charged, even in the face of power outages or emergencies. It can supply 2400 watts of continuous AC power via its pure sine wave inverter, with a surge capability of 5000 watts.
Can You Use The Delta Max While It's Charging?
Yes, you can use the EcoFlow Delta Max while it is plugged into 120-volt AC power. You can also keep the power station plugged into AC power and it will function as an emergency power supply (EPS). This means that any device plugged into an AC outlet on the EcoFlow will receive power from the grid until there is an electrical failure. Within 30ms the EcoFlow will kick in after a grid power failure and continue to power the AC device plugged into it.
What Appliances Can You Use With The EcoFlow Max 2000?
The EcoFlow Max 2000 can be used to charge a variety of appliances. It has several AC outlets, USB ports, and 12V DC outlets that charge devices such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, cameras, lights, portable fans, mini-fridges, and other small appliances. It can also power larger devices such as electric drills, power tools, and other things that require a high power output. Additionally, it can charge electric cars, power tools, and other power-hungry tools through its two pure sine wave inverter outlets.
Is It Safe To Use The Delta Max Indoors?
Yes, the unit is safe to use indoors. Just follow the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines. The Delta Max is equipped with multiple safety features, such as over-voltage, over-current, and short-circuit protection, which helps to ensure safe operation. It also has an in-built cooling fan, which helps to prevent overheating. It is recommended to use the unit in a well-ventilated area and avoid blocking the air vents.
How Long Does It Take The EcoFlow Delta Max To Charge?
The charging time for the EcoFlow Delta Max portable power station depends on the charging method used. That said, it charges from 0 to 80% in one hour of charging with an AC source utilizing X-Stream technolgy. Solar charging takes much longer and depends on the wattage of the panels you use.
How Much Does The Delta Max 2000 Cost?
As of February 2023, the unit retails on the EcoFlow website for $1,699. The lowest online listings are Sam's Club and Amazon at $1,599.
Does The EcoFlow Delta Max Have A Warranty?
Yes, the EcoFlow Delta Max portable power station has a 24-month limited warranty, and you may get 12 extra months of warranty if you register your unit.
Author: Kelly Beasley
As a seasoned and passionate RVing expert, I have dedicated myself to living the full-time RV life for over 5.5 years, immersing myself in the unique quirks and joys of the boondocking lifestyle and gaining a wealth of knowledge and experience along the way. In December 2020, my business partner and I made the transition to part-time RVing, but in January 2023, we hit the road once again, this time in our trusty vans. My mission is to help others embrace the RVing lifestyle with confidence and excitement, armed with the knowledge and resources needed to make the most of their adventures. I believe that the more you know, the more you can truly appreciate and enjoy the freedom and flexibility of the open road. Join me on this journey and let's make some unforgettable memories.