When I needed to get some work done and realised my laptop was flat, but I wanted to work by the campfire – Delta 2 to the rescue.
At bedtime, having forgotten about our phones all day, we realised we needed an alarm in the morning. Of course, the tent didn’t have power, but all I needed to do was grab the power station and the crisis (okay, minor inconvenience) was averted.
You get the idea. No matter how much you like to think you love roughing it, you’ll always find infinite uses for portable power.
EcoFlow’s Delta 2 portable power station has more juice than most people will ever use on a weekend away. Even if that was the maximum time we’d ever get away for (it isn’t), it’s just so handy not to be worried about running out.
The EcoFlow Delta 2: A rugged and lightweight Lithium portable power station
Established in 2017, EcoFlow has emerged as a notable contender in the portable power bank market. If you’re a camping gear junky type, you’ve likely heard of them and their distinguished Delta and River power station lines, or maybe their portable solar panels, fridges and air conditioners.
The Delta 2 is EcoFlow’s latest portable power offering on the Australian market. Its features and price place it in a bit of a sweet spot, where it’s a strong competitor for pretty much every other comparable portable power station.
Let’s take a quick look at EcoFlow’s claims about the Delta 2:
- 1 kWh capacity (expandable to 3 kWh)
- 1,800 W peak inverter output (up to 2,400 W with X-Boost)
- 0 – 80% charge in 50 minutes using X-Stream Fast Charge.
- 0 – 100% solar charge in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
- Power up to 13 devices simultaneously.
- 3,000 charge cycles – 6 times more than comparable non-LiFePO4 power stations.
- Control from anywhere via smartphone.
- Lightweight design – only 12 kg.
- 5-year warranty.
I’ve been testing this endlessly useful piece of off-grid tech for about a month now – at home, on the aforementioned glamping trip, and on a weekend camping trip. I obviously haven’t been able to test all of EcoFlow’s claims about the Delta 2, but I’ll do my best to delve deep enough to shed some light on its real-life performance and usability and help you weigh the pros and cons of choosing a Delta 2.
Design & Durability (Rating: 98%)
Delta 2: Where compact meets capability
Unboxing the EcoFlow Delta 2, its compact design was immediately appealing. Measuring 400 × 211 × 281mm (15.7 × 8.3 × 11.1 inches) and weighing only 12kg (27lbs), it isn’t a power station that demands a workout regimen before you can pack the car for your next adventure.
I was also happy to find that it comes with a 12V car charging cable in the box (as well as the AC cable and a DC5521 to DC5525 cable).
Visually, the design is pretty standard for a portable power station of this capacity. EcoFlow has moulded two handles into the plastic body design, making for a sturdier option than the flip-up handles on some models.
On each side, there are two round fan vents at the top and on one side, you’ll find an expansion port (for the expansion batteries) covered with a rubber plug.
The face features a small but handy LED screen, which displays the remaining charge as a percentage and estimated hours (when charging, it displays the time until charged), a real-time count of power input and output, and various indicators and alerts. It’s beneficial for managing your power use, especially when you’re getting low.
Below the screen are the 6 USB outlets:
- 2 x USB-A outlets (5V, 2.4A, 12W Max)
- 2 x USB-A fast charge outlets (5V, 2.4A / 9V, 2A / 12V, 1.5A, 18W Max)
- 2 x USB-C outlets (5 / 9 / 12 / 15 / 20V, 5A, 100W Max)
The Delta 2’s main power button is at the bottom, under the USB outlets. Note that, even with nothing plugged in, your battery will lose power if you leave the main power switched on. Take it from me, it’s frustrating when you’ve been trying to manage your power use and realise you’ve wasted a not-insignificant amount just by forgetting to hit the off button. There were expletives. I later discovered that could have been avoided – more about that below.
At the back end, you’ll find the inputs for charging the Delta 2 from AC power (1,200W), solar panel (11-60V, 15A, 500W max), and car outlet (12V/24V, 8A). They’re hidden under a plastic flap, which could be the Delta 2’s only design flaw – it just feels a little flimsy when it isn’t clipped in place. The device’s overload protection switch also lives under this flap.
Placed neatly below the inputs are the remaining outlets:
- 4 x AC outlets (1,800W total / 2,700W surge)
- 1 x 12.6 V car power outlet (10A, 126W Max)
- 2 x DC5521 outlet (12.6V, 3A, 38W Max)
The outlets on both sides are separated into three circuits – USB, AC, and 12V – each with its own power button.
So, putting aside my suspicions about the flap covering the inputs, this thing feels sturdy and built to last. It is an absolute unit, both in build quality and power.
The heartbeat of the Delta 2: LiFePO4 battery technology
Unlike some of EcoFlow’s previous portable power station models, they’ve built the Delta 2 around a LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery – a 1,024Wh (1kWh) one, no less. These seem to be the optimum battery for a portable power station, especially for Australian summers, since they are less sensitive to operating under load at high temperatures. They’re less likely to degrade and consequently have a shorter lifespan under these conditions, not to mention they don’t explode or catch fire when overloaded or overcharged (but the Delta 2’s in-built protections would prevent this anyway).
You might also be glad to hear that LiFePO4 batteries contain fewer environmentally harmful chemicals than other battery types. The one negative point about LiFePO4 batteries is their sensitivity to extreme cold, and operating at such temperatures will degrade them more quickly. Again, the in-built protections will handle things if the temperature does get too high or too low.
The overload protection switch will pop up when load limits are reached, cutting power to all of the device’s outputs. Once you’ve found the cause, press the switch back in to get things powered up again.
Since I’ve mentioned overload protection and extreme temperature protection, I should note that it also has overvoltage and low-voltage protection, short circuit protection, and overcurrent protection. Having these built-in protections makes keeping everything powered or charged up as worry-free as possible.
Functionality & Ease of Use (Rating: 98%)
Quick charging the EcoFlow Delta 2
The first thing I noticed when I plugged the EcoFlow Delta 2 into my home AC wall socket to charge was that the fans kicked in soon after, and they’re pretty loud.
Note: A ‘Quiet Charging’ mode can be turned on via the EcoFlow app (but it will obviously slow down charging significantly).
The fans are designed to start spinning when the device is either charging, operating at high ambient temperatures, or under heavy load.’ On our glamping trip, though we slept with it by the bed to charge up our phones, that wasn’t enough load (nor was it a warm enough night) to test if the noise would interrupt our sleep.
Having now slept with it charging up in my bedroom at home, I know the noise isn’t going to bother me at all, but it is something super light sleepers will need to consider. Having said that, it’s a bit like white noise, really, so maybe it’ll work in your favour.
Since the Delta 2 was at 20% charge out of the box (meaning my first charge wouldn’t test EcoFlow’s zero to 80% in 50 minutes claim), I decided to just charge it completely. It hit 100% at about the 1 hour mark.
If you’re wondering why they specify zero to 80% (instead of 100%) in the first place, that’s because the Delta 2 employs a charging curve. The fast charging is designed to work between zero and 80%, with charging slowing down as it reaches capacity to protect battery longevity.
Either way, that is seriously fast. Not to mention, you can charge from both AC and solar simultaneously if you want to speed things up even more.
Unfortunately, the Delta 2 doesn’t come with an MPPT to XT60 cable. It’s included if you buy a solar panel from EcoFlow, but otherwise, it comes at an additional cost. This meant I couldn’t test the Delta 2’s solar charging speed, but I guess it’s tricky to measure anyway, considering the sun’s energy is so variable. Other reviews online suggest that the solar charge time (0-80%) is anywhere from 3 to 6 hours.
Update from EcoFlow: “Recognizing the prevalent use of Anderson plugs in Australia, we’re introducing an Anderson adapter by month’s end. This will include three wires, enabling versatile solar panel connections.”
If you’re someone who goes camping for a week at a time (or even a long weekend), I recommend considering a solar panel (or solar panels) to go with your Delta 2. If there’s one thing more useful on a camping trip than an 1,800W portable power station, it’s a solar setup to keep its charge topped up.
For a wee top-up charge, being able to hook up the Delta 2 to my van’s 12V outlet (with the included cable) is convenient. While we were out during the day on our most recent adventure, an hour on the road saw the battery gain just under 10% (according to the LED display). I’ll guesstimate that you might be able to charge the Delta 2 from 20 – 100% given 10 hours or so on the road. I don’t see myself ever needing to do that, but you never know.
The Delta 2 in action
With the Delta 2 quickly gaining charge, the next thing I noticed was how many outlets there are. I mean, I already knew, but that didn’t dampen my excitement.
Not that I’ll ever have the need, but you can technically charge up to 13 devices on the Delta 2 simultaneously. You can do this while charging up the Delta 2 from both AC power and solar simultaneously – which, again, I’ll never need to do, but it’s impressive.
Okay, so I should point out that your 13 devices would still have to be below the peak inverter output of 1,800W. However, I’ve found it difficult to hit that 1,800W peak with devices I’d actually use on my adventures.
One related point I did notice is that once you have a few devices plugged in, the buttons to switch on each of the circuits can be tricky to reach. I’m really being picky here, though. I’m not sure it even reaches ‘minor inconvenience’ level, to be honest, because I tend to turn them on before I plug things in anyway.
A couple of other features worth noting at this point are the 2,700W surge power output – which means that if you plug something in that briefly draws more than 1,800W when you switch it on, the Delta 2 will still power on just fine – and the other is the X-Boost technology – which means devices rated at up to 2,400W can be continuously powered, but only at lower voltage. I recommend only having this feature switched on as needed –some devices can be fussy about their voltage requirements.
So we’ve mostly used the Delta 2 for running fairy lights and charging phones, laptops and camera batteries so far.
As I’ve mentioned before, I also have a standalone production and performance instrument called the Maschine+ and (as much as I love the peace and quiet) I’m partial to some campsite beats when there are no campsite neighbours around to disturb. With the Delta 2 fully charged, its LED screen estimates that I’ll get 30 or 40 hours of playing with the Maschine+, which gives me far more time than I need to get into the flow.
Beyond that, I could do what others have done and plug in hairdryers, coffee machines and heaters to really push the Delta 2 to its limits, but since everyone’s power needs will be different, this all seems a bit pointless. Many have tested and found that, yes, it can run all kinds of home appliances. This would be particularly useful at home when you have a blackout, but this is an outdoor adventure travel website, so I don’t feel like any of that’s very relevant here. Besides, a quick Google search will probably bring up a bunch of calculators you could use to determine which power banks will meet your needs.
Oh, and if you think your power needs might increase at some point in the future, EcoFlow is way ahead of you. The Delta 2 is compatible with two different expansion batteries – the Delta 2 Extra Battery, which increases capacity to about 2kWh, and the Delta Max Extra Battery, which sets you up with a massive total 3kWh capacity. Aside from future-proofing the Delta 2 for your potential future power needs, these expansion batteries also make for easy transportation and storage.
Smart control with the EcoFlow app
With the Delta 2 quickly gaining charge, the next thing I noticed was how many outlets there are. I mean, I already knew, but that didn’t dampen my excitement.
Not that I’ll ever have the need, but you can technically charge up to 13 devices on the Delta 2 simultaneously. You can do this while charging up the Delta 2 from both AC power and solar simultaneously – which, again, I’ll never need to do, but it’s impressive.
Okay, so I should point out that your 13 devices would still have to be below the peak inverter output of 1,800W. However, I’ve found it difficult to hit that 1,800W peak with devices I’d actually use on my adventures.
One related point I did notice is that once you have a few devices plugged in, the buttons to switch on each of the circuits can be tricky to reach. I’m really being picky here, though. I’m not sure it even reaches ‘minor inconvenience’ level, to be honest, because I tend to turn them on before I plug things in anyway.
A couple of other features worth noting at this point are the 2,700W surge power output – which means that if you plug something in that briefly draws more than 1,800W when you switch it on, the Delta 2 will still power on just fine – and the other is the X-Boost technology – which means devices rated at up to 2,400W can be continuously powered, but only at lower voltage. I recommend only having this feature switched on as needed –some devices can be fussy about their voltage requirements.
So we’ve mostly used the Delta 2 for running fairy lights and charging phones, laptops and camera batteries so far.
As I’ve mentioned before, I also have a standalone production and performance instrument called the Maschine+ and (as much as I love the peace and quiet) I’m partial to some campsite beats when there are no campsite neighbours around to disturb. With the Delta 2 fully charged, its LED screen estimates that I’ll get 30 or 40 hours of playing with the Maschine+, which gives me far more time than I need to get into the flow.
Beyond that, I could do what others have done and plug in hairdryers, coffee machines and heaters to really push the Delta 2 to its limits, but since everyone’s power needs will be different, this all seems a bit pointless. Many have tested and found that, yes, it can run all kinds of home appliances. This would be particularly useful at home when you have a blackout, but this is an outdoor adventure travel website, so I don’t feel like any of that’s very relevant here. Besides, a quick Google search will probably bring up a bunch of calculators you could use to determine which power banks will meet your needs.
Oh, and if you think your power needs might increase at some point in the future, EcoFlow is way ahead of you. The Delta 2 is compatible with two different expansion batteries – the Delta 2 Extra Battery, which increases capacity to about 2kWh, and the Delta Max Extra Battery, which sets you up with a massive total 3kWh capacity. Aside from future-proofing the Delta 2 for your potential future power needs, these expansion batteries also make for easy transportation and storage.
What I Like
- Incredibly fast charging from AC wall socket.
- Lightweight (12 kg) for such a hefty battery.
- Simultaneously charge up to 13 devices.
- Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery.
- Huge lifespan.
- 5-year warranty.
- Additional battery expansion available up to 3 kWh.
- Handy LED display.
- Smartphone app with useful features.
What I Don’t Like
- I’m a little worried about low-temperature performance and degradation.
- Although I don’t have a problem with it, some may be bothered by the fan noise.
No included MPPT to XT60 cable (unless you buy an EcoFlow solar panel, too).From the end of November, EcoFlow will be including a solar panel adaptor with 3 different connector types.- Power buttons (for separate circuits) are difficult to reach when outlets are in use (but it’s a minor inconvenience at worst).
Get One
The EcoFlow Delta 2 is available online, directly from EcoFlow.
Disclaimer: EcoFlow provided me with a Delta 2 for review. This has no influence on the opinions presented above.
Have you tried the EcoFlow Delta 2 Portable Power Station? Got any questions or comments? Let us know by commenting below.
