They definitely have stepped their game up over the years. My only complaint about the unit is the surge wattage duration being so short. Overall, if you're looking for a basic power station with a few charging options, and the ability to swap it at a store, it hits the mark.
A 100 Amp Hour LiFePO4 battery has 1280 WH ( Watt Hours ) You can purchase a 100 AMP Hour Lifpo4 for under 200 bucks.. This Power Supply has 294 WH.... Yes it has other functions but for the actual power it provides.. it's not going to last very long ... charge wise. My point is you can build a much better power station easily for about 300 bucks.. a hundred bucks more and you have a mush better set up... Unless you just want a backup for charging your phone or a flash light or running a laptop for a while.. Just a bit of info.. that may be helpful. I'm not knocking the product I am pointing out the cost per kwh seems high to me...
The cost per WH isn't amazing. Its in the 70 cents per WH ballpark. I recently purchased a Ecoflow delta 2 for $399 on Amazon. That equates to about 39 cents per WH which is a great value for a out the box option. I think the Predator will appeal to someone that is familiar with the HF store/brand and wants a retail store to go to for swapping/returns. While the build quality and performance good for what it is, the price isn't anything amazing.
I paid $159. It works for everything I need traveling. It's not intended for coffee pots or hair dryers. I can run a usb fan all night, charge low watt gadgets (phone, wifi, laptops) for 2 days. It's worth it while traveling or for emergencies.
Good review, I was curious of these. Having several small generators, deep cycle sla batteries and inverters with far more capacity just not enough bang for the buck (for me).
@ I’m torn between the new river 3 plus and bluetti ac3a, I originally bought this because of its warranty, I like the style of bluetti the best but eco flow looks to have the best reliability. Harbor freight I feel like was misleading about the charge time and inverter capabilities, not to mention the “pass through” charging doesn’t exist it just goes between 99% and charging at full speed and 100% no charger input, ends up not charging above 98% after charging a small power bank off it plugged into ac…
I am going to return the Predator 350 and just purchased a Ecoflow River 3 plus for review. The predator has 8wh more capacity, but the inverter on the river 3 is a 600 watt inverter and a expansion battery can be purchased to expand it to 858wh if more capacity is needed. It also has a 45 watt solar panel included with it as of 12/16. Also has a under 10ms UPS mode. I have a referral link if you want to get 5% off. If you use the link it helps the channel out. If you're trying to decide between the two, I'd pick the River 3 plus. www.ecoflow.com/us/referral-rewards?inviteCode=APTTSQ47GD
Way too long of a charge time, especially considering you need two chargers. The power stations are nice but I generally don't need that portable of a power if I don't need a generator. I've decided on a Dakota lithium drop in lipo for a car. Apparently no alternator changes needed, just occasionally plugging it in to top charge. If I need power remotely it's typically where my car is, I could wire in solar panels and I can plug in whatever inverter I want. And having multiple sized inverters allows you to increase your runtime when powering smaller things. Having 150 watt inverter for a small fan, and a 2000 for running saws/ power backup
I think the charge time is slow to preserve the battery since there is no software/app to limit the charge speed or charge limit. At least that is my assumption. What did that Dakota lithium battery run you? The ones I've seen are around $599 and are 720wh. I picked up a Delta 3 from Ecoflow with a 1024wh battery an an 1800 watt inverter for $399. The ecoflow is an all in one that is harder to repair if necessary, but the idea of wiring up inverters and solar panels to my car battery seems like a huge hassle. Having that modularity is nice and if it works for you, that is awesome.
To have your fan kick on during charging means that you're overheating the battery. And if this takes a lithium battery that is very bad. And it becomes a fire hazard when the battery gets hot. Because once the battery is damaged inside, it becomes a continual short until the whole unit is burned up. This is why electric cars get into accidents and insurance companies want nothing to do with fixing it because if the battery was damaged and shorts out later from that damage. All the fixing of that car goes down the toilet because the car will burn out once that battery catches on fire. So the insurance company would end paying twice on one accident. Also a slow charge with one hookup increases the life that lithium batteries instead of always doing quick charges. It also makes the charge last longer just like it does in a car battery when you trickle charge it instead of normally charging it. Because unless the instructions say that you can hook up as many inputs as you like and charge it as fast as you like because there's a safety feature for charging it too fast, you are asking for trouble. And lithium fires don't generally go out completely in the fire department is often called out three or four times on electric vehicles to put out the same fire. Also if the unit catches on fire the lithium batteries put out such toxic fumes that if you don't get out of the room it can overtake you and kill you, no joke. Firemen have to wear special suits with breathers so they can fight an electric car battery fire. Because if the wind changes Direction while they're fighting the fire and then golf the firefighters you can kill them. I know from personal experience how lithium batteries can catch on fire. I have an electric wheelchair and I was converting it over to using lithium batteries. My charger charged up the batteries too quick, the wheelchair caught on fire, and about burnt my house down. So this is not a joke you have to treat lithium batteries with correctly or you're asking for a fire.
This power station is designed to be charged via AC and USB-C PD simultaneously. It is in the manual and on the box as safe. The fan kicks on when there is a high draw to keep the battery from overheating, not because it is. It has a thermal shut off when temps get too high and stops all output. I have a side business repairing power tool lithium batteries and have my fair share of experience with modern lithium battery technology.
I love mine. Definitely a must for shtf
Nice series of test's. Looks like it is made good. I tell you Harbor Freight has been making better stuff. Thanks for the testing.
They definitely have stepped their game up over the years. My only complaint about the unit is the surge wattage duration being so short. Overall, if you're looking for a basic power station with a few charging options, and the ability to swap it at a store, it hits the mark.
Do you know if you can use it and solar charge at the same time?
You can, It offers passthrough charging!
You can use all three input sources all at once per the instruction manual provided I charged via the 110 and the USB-C and was getting 98 W input
A 100 Amp Hour LiFePO4 battery has 1280 WH ( Watt Hours ) You can purchase a 100 AMP Hour Lifpo4 for under 200 bucks.. This Power Supply has 294 WH.... Yes it has other functions but for the actual power it provides.. it's not going to last very long ... charge wise. My point is you can build a much better power station easily for about 300 bucks.. a hundred bucks more and you have a mush better set up... Unless you just want a backup for charging your phone or a flash light or running a laptop for a while.. Just a bit of info.. that may be helpful. I'm not knocking the product I am pointing out the cost per kwh seems high to me...
Where is can find good build more safe?
The cost per WH isn't amazing. Its in the 70 cents per WH ballpark. I recently purchased a Ecoflow delta 2 for $399 on Amazon. That equates to about 39 cents per WH which is a great value for a out the box option. I think the Predator will appeal to someone that is familiar with the HF store/brand and wants a retail store to go to for swapping/returns. While the build quality and performance good for what it is, the price isn't anything amazing.
I paid $159. It works for everything I need traveling. It's not intended for coffee pots or hair dryers. I can run a usb fan all night, charge low watt gadgets (phone, wifi, laptops) for 2 days. It's worth it while traveling or for emergencies.
Watching this while charging my phone on my predator 350 lmao
Y E S! LOL
Good review, I was curious of these.
Having several small generators, deep cycle sla batteries and inverters with far more capacity just not enough bang for the buck (for me).
Looks good. I just dont like how the display kept going out.
the display has an override, press and hold the display button for 3 seconds per the manual.
Dam mine says I’m using 350 watts and shuts down on a 200 watt load tested with the same meter :// guess I’m returning tomorrow…
The one good thing about Harbor Freight, that return policy lol. I'd recommend the Ecoflow River 2. Doing my next video on that one.
@ I’m torn between the new river 3 plus and bluetti ac3a, I originally bought this because of its warranty, I like the style of bluetti the best but eco flow looks to have the best reliability. Harbor freight I feel like was misleading about the charge time and inverter capabilities, not to mention the “pass through” charging doesn’t exist it just goes between 99% and charging at full speed and 100% no charger input, ends up not charging above 98% after charging a small power bank off it plugged into ac…
I am going to return the Predator 350 and just purchased a Ecoflow River 3 plus for review. The predator has 8wh more capacity, but the inverter on the river 3 is a 600 watt inverter and a expansion battery can be purchased to expand it to 858wh if more capacity is needed. It also has a 45 watt solar panel included with it as of 12/16. Also has a under 10ms UPS mode. I have a referral link if you want to get 5% off. If you use the link it helps the channel out. If you're trying to decide between the two, I'd pick the River 3 plus. www.ecoflow.com/us/referral-rewards?inviteCode=APTTSQ47GD
Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. 🙂
One of my favorite movies.
I still have my VHS copy. I watched Bruce for 2 years straight every. Single. Day.
Way too long of a charge time, especially considering you need two chargers. The power stations are nice but I generally don't need that portable of a power if I don't need a generator. I've decided on a Dakota lithium drop in lipo for a car. Apparently no alternator changes needed, just occasionally plugging it in to top charge. If I need power remotely it's typically where my car is, I could wire in solar panels and I can plug in whatever inverter I want. And having multiple sized inverters allows you to increase your runtime when powering smaller things. Having 150 watt inverter for a small fan, and a 2000 for running saws/ power backup
I think the charge time is slow to preserve the battery since there is no software/app to limit the charge speed or charge limit. At least that is my assumption.
What did that Dakota lithium battery run you? The ones I've seen are around $599 and are 720wh. I picked up a Delta 3 from Ecoflow with a 1024wh battery an an 1800 watt inverter for $399. The ecoflow is an all in one that is harder to repair if necessary, but the idea of wiring up inverters and solar panels to my car battery seems like a huge hassle. Having that modularity is nice and if it works for you, that is awesome.
To have your fan kick on during charging means that you're overheating the battery. And if this takes a lithium battery that is very bad. And it becomes a fire hazard when the battery gets hot. Because once the battery is damaged inside, it becomes a continual short until the whole unit is burned up. This is why electric cars get into accidents and insurance companies want nothing to do with fixing it because if the battery was damaged and shorts out later from that damage. All the fixing of that car goes down the toilet because the car will burn out once that battery catches on fire. So the insurance company would end paying twice on one accident.
Also a slow charge with one hookup increases the life that lithium batteries instead of always doing quick charges. It also makes the charge last longer just like it does in a car battery when you trickle charge it instead of normally charging it. Because unless the instructions say that you can hook up as many inputs as you like and charge it as fast as you like because there's a safety feature for charging it too fast, you are asking for trouble. And lithium fires don't generally go out completely in the fire department is often called out three or four times on electric vehicles to put out the same fire. Also if the unit catches on fire the lithium batteries put out such toxic fumes that if you don't get out of the room it can overtake you and kill you, no joke. Firemen have to wear special suits with breathers so they can fight an electric car battery fire. Because if the wind changes Direction while they're fighting the fire and then golf the firefighters you can kill them.
I know from personal experience how lithium batteries can catch on fire. I have an electric wheelchair and I was converting it over to using lithium batteries. My charger charged up the batteries too quick, the wheelchair caught on fire, and about burnt my house down. So this is not a joke you have to treat lithium batteries with correctly or you're asking for a fire.
This power station is designed to be charged via AC and USB-C PD simultaneously. It is in the manual and on the box as safe. The fan kicks on when there is a high draw to keep the battery from overheating, not because it is. It has a thermal shut off when temps get too high and stops all output. I have a side business repairing power tool lithium batteries and have my fair share of experience with modern lithium battery technology.
It uses lithium iron phosphate batteries.