Unfortunately they are sold out now... @ 9:09 you say on DC output it used 1.8 lbs, but 32.2 lbs minus 31.4 lbs is only 0,8 lbs used. Does this mean it is 60 % more fuel efficient in DC output ? Your opinion please... Thanks for the video, now I really want one...😊
You're better off starting with propane. Way more capacity in a tank, cheaper than gas, and it's far more shelf stable. You can easily keep one or more propane cylinders around for emergencies, where gasoline goes bad pretty fast.
@@guspazfor stable gas you can use AvGas, easily available at any airport. I use drained fuel from our helicopters. It will foul the plugs a bit as 100LL has 4x the lead. I do agree that propane is a great standby.
I'm watching this video in September 2024, because I'm interested in setting up a power backup system, and looking into purchasing the Ecoflow2 Delta Max to pair up with this generator. I will probably get them to primarily use the propane option and only use the gas for emergencies. Thank you for sharing this review with us.
Just picked up the Delta 2 with the 220W solar panel. I recently came across that the generator exists. Seems like a great backup for being entirely off the grid. Thank you for your most excellent review.
Jason, as always you bring the data. The data you provided at the 14:53 mark of your presentation comparing cost of propane and gasoline to grid provided electricity was extremely informative. The feature of this generator outputting DC power to charge DC batteries I was not aware of as a thought it was a pure sign wave AC charging output only generator. Good for EcoFlow to make DC to DC charging the primary plan when charging batteries as converting energy always loses efficiency. People who prepare understand there are going to be bad weather days and this device offers a very good plan B to the bad weather days that must be anticipated. The storage and shelf life of propane vs. gasoline is a serious consideration. The data communication between the EcoFlow generator and EcoFlow batteries as well as the APP between these two devises is very well thought out. Going out in the rain or snow to start a generator or monitor a generator is a task the cell phone APP prevents. I'm going to listen to your presentation a second time as I would like to learn the length of the DC-to-DC charging data transferring cable. Thank you for providing this information.
The length of the DC cable is around 16 feet, I don't think I mentioned it in the video. I put that cost data in there to make sure people are aware grid power is always the most affordable option, BUT if the power is out and solar isn't around gasoline and propane are great options. I will tell you though, now that I have seen a propane generator first hand, I won't use gasoline unless I absolutely have to!
Excellent video and very detailed, you answered so many of my questions about this product! Thanks for taking the time to make this video, you put a lot of effort into it.
Great video as always! A couple questions though: How long did it take to charge up the power stations? And you're able to use this as a normal generator correct? (Using the the AC outlet to power anything under the Wattage limits)
It can put out 1500 to 1600 watts on propane, and about 1800 watts using gasoline. That will charge the Delta 2 in less than 1 hour and the Delta 2 Max in about 2 hours. The Delta Pro would take longer. You can also use the generator as a normal generator if you want by using the AC plugs on the front.
Obviously a standard inverter generator is going to be cheaper but honestly if this generator is dc to dc connected then having the ability to charge under bad conditions is a great option! I think your numbers were spot on and great comparisons. Also alot of people don't know that eceflow powerstaions should NOT be charged with non inverter generators. That dc and ac charging comparison is great to see!
@johnmachter40 a non inverter generator MAY have a THD (total harmonic distortion) of greater than 3% which is the hz of the power being made by the generator. Anything greater can damage the charger of a power station. Hope this helps.
Just had one delivered along with 2 delta pro power stations with the link cable for 240v! Your evaluation was excellent! Thanks! I did lots of research before I took the plunge! After seeing this video....I made the right choice! I also purchased 400w solar panels and 400w wind turbine! Wanted to cover all the bases! Just waiting on a couple of cables and I'm set! Working on purchasing 2 delta pro add on batteries! Thanks again for an extremely informative video! Happy New Year to all! 😊
For a home backup generator I have the Westinghouse WGen9500DF Dual Fuel Portable Generator and only run it on propane (100# vertical or horizontal capable propane tank) with the Generlink added to the electrical panel to charge the panel instead of running multiple extension cords. Great video as always, Thanks
I'm looking into dual fuel generators as hurricane season in Florida is upon us and I have to keep the house cool for my elderly parents. Would you recommend the Westinghouse? Has it been reliable on propane?
clear and concise explanation. You're a gifted teacher, Jason. Happy New Year! I have the Delta Pro and would like to add this generator to my lineup. Blessings.
Another thought: From a practical perspective, if you have the EcoFlow DP (100lbs) set up, it tends to be stationary. I would have to set it up in my basement. Then consider that the dual fuel generator needs to be set up outside or at least vented from an open garage to avoid CO poisoning. So here we go, roll the DP upstairs, etc. The cord is to short to traverse much of a distance so they need to be close. And, I don’t know if they have an outside to inside portal. That is why if I were to use this dual fuel I would get two Delta 2s, weighing less than 30 lbs each and charge one while the other is in use, as needed. At least I could easily carry one out to the garage. Similarly, at my home, which is deeply shaded by large and many trees, I could set up a portable solar panel on my vehicle, park the car and charge it. I am thinking of adding a rigid panel to the top of my Highlander, but it doesn’t seem suited for that. Lots of considerations in this relatively new world of prepping.
Good thought on 'hot swapping' the Delta 2 units for portability and convenience. You could charge one with the DC cable automatically (genny would turn on and off by itself) and then swap them out as needed. Would probably work well for a full sized fridge and a few other small electronics.
@@Jasonoid Thanks for the quick reply. I am actually planning on backing up my furnace and two refrigerators. I have the River 2 for my modem/router and River Pro for small electronics. The Delta 2 connected to the transfer switch will handle the inverter AC wattage, but the duration is limited. I could actually hook up two 12 v 100 ah batteries in series for faster charging or parallel for longer lasting charging. Or, I could alternate powering the two fridges on a 2-4 hour schedule via the manual transfer switch. (Hack for freezers: I keep cooler shocks in our freezer compartments, may be purchased via Amazon, to maintain coldness longer. Also, keeping more in freezer with only necessary openings really helps prolong cold temps).
Frustrating that the DC charge cable is so short. But a Delta Pro or any other unit could be charged on AC by plugging in almost any length heavy duty extension cord. I would use at least 12 gauge, maybe 10.
Jack….I’m shaded here too. I have a DP in my basement. I made a fake air conditioner to house my dual fuel genny. I ran the dc cord down through 1.5’ or 1.25’ ( I forget now) conduit on outside of house. I made all junctions inside conduit not catch on cord so it feeds through and out easy. I kept only the outside cage of the AC . I cut rubber mat to line for sound reduction. I The further away from the earline of those without power the better. I leave the propane tank inside the house but slide the genny in . I def have a couple co2 sensors right there too. I didn’t make a video of the build and wont show mine . Good luck
In the FWIW department... The generator that I use for my RV is also Dual Fuel. It has spent many hours running and keeping me cool in the summer, but it has never had unleaded gasoline in it. I refuse to mess with trying to keep a gasoline carburetor from gunking up when not in use. The ability to avoid that pain makes the slight loss in performance worth it. (to me) Plus, I can get propane at most/many grocery, hardware, and convenience stores which eliminates the need to go to a "gas station".
Absolutely. Tractor supply is a good place to get tanks filled too. If you get their app you can just pull up to the propane tank and they'll come out and take care of you without having to chase someone down.
I bought the pulsar and it only ran for 4 hours and died technical support and myself cannot get it started again I only ran it on propane. I have saved and collected things for 6 years for this time of my life to be fully independent and off-grid. My only income is disability, but I scraped and I saved everything. So then I went to the Eco Flow dual generator I only run it on propane and it is fantastic. I have the ecoflow : River 2 Delta 2 Delta Max Wave two 110 foldable solar panel 160 foldable solar panel And now the duel generator My favorite solar panel of all is the all powers 200 w I just get tired of trying to chase the Sun. I live full time in the mountains in Montana in my sprinter. The only negative I can find is that The cord from the batteries to the generator is way too short. As I have my generator outside of my sprinter and have to run the cords through the window to the battery. The cord from the generator to the propane tank is way too short. I would like the generator away from the propane a little farther. Out here in Montana wilderness I have no Wi-Fi
I think I heard one bottle of propane equals 20kw! Cool video, really enjoyed it as Ive wondered about the general efficiency of a dual fuel inverter generator I have
Great video!! Question: what is the DC output on the smart generator? I just saw the AC output. Is there an XT-60 outport on the smart generator? If you don't have solar panels maybe you can get 1800 watts out of the smart generator (via cut-60) to charge and use the ecoflow Battery at the same time?
Thank you for making the video! I appreciate the time and effort you put in!! Echoing comments from others… Generators are seldom in high demand when it’s bright and sunny out. I had to start my generator this weekend due power loss in a michigan snow storm ( 10 inches of snow and 5 degrees). How is the IP rating for this generator? Is there an add on to extend the exhaust port so this unit can run inside a garage or basement and vented outside? Is there a shroud or enclosure available to protect against wind, rain, snow? EcoFlow made a nice effort on this first generation generator for sunny days… hoping generation 2 is more rugged to address crappy weather conditions and convenience (running inside an environment).
Excellent test! You should do a follow up charge test on gas, you could charge 0% to 80% to make sure the battery is charging at full rate (charge current drops off above about 80%) and then see how many times overall % you can charge on a full tank of fuel. You can program the battery to stop the generator at 80% charge too, which is super convenient.
Pretty interesting idea for a home back would be: delta pro, the smart generator, smart home panel, and solar panels. Five independent sources of power if you include the grid in one ecosystem. Wonder how well it would all actually work together.
Thanks for the pro tip on the magnetic dipstick. It would have never occurred to me, especially with aluminum. But the rare earth magnet on the dipstick did pull out a fine grind of metal along with some noticeable flakes.
Great review! This is such an elegant solution, with this unit and two propane tanks you should be good to go for quite a while and have time to fill up the the spare tank when it's empty!
I agree! 20 charges with 2 propane tanks (on the Delta Max). If you only used 1 to 2 cycles per day to run your fridge and basic electronics you could last over a week without issues. Now supplement in some solar panels with the generator and you'd be golden!
It's crazy how an everyday consumer can buy a redundant plug and play power system now. If you want to use solar to charge the Delta pro, that takes a little more knowledge but redundant power system used to be a cool hospital, military, bunker thing only talked about in movies. Can't wait to see this in 10 years as this gets more popular.
Thanks for the video. I have a question. Can we connect the dc output of this generator to another device? For example, to the pv input of an inverter. Is there voltage on the + and - ends of the generator without connecting a cable when it is running? Or does it need to communicate with a device?
Wow, you must be a mind reader! This one is on my short list as a backup to solar (and grid) as i already have a 120 pound tank installed for a small space heater. I'm too far down the Bluetti rabbit hole to switch over to Eco Flow, but it would be nice to remotely start the generator over wifi since i have plenty of wifi spill over into the yard. I have seen a review from someone at 8000+ foot elevation and the output was significantly degraded and would not run in eco mode, but since i am at about 800 feet, no problem for me. Since you had the Eco Flow Delta Max, you were able to demonstrate the efficiency difference between DC and AC as the other review could not. Great review!
Thanks John! I agree, that extra 10% efficiency adds up over the life of the propane tank, you'll get 1 full charge cycle off the tank by using the DC charging cable over using the AC cable. I know there are other propane gennys on the market that have remote start functionality, but they don't offer DC output.
Great review again love the videos. To the question of the advantages of dual fuel or gas vs propane for me is , I have a Honda EU 2200 with the hutch mountain tri-fuel kit. Which does gas, propane, and natural gas. How I use it for when we ride side by side for 3-4 days is I power the camp sight for charging batteries, coffee maker tools, water pump etc and the portable a/c the reason why I installed the tri-fuel kit is for during the day I use gas because when it runs out of fuel I can just fill it up easily. But at night I use a 40lb tank of propane for the smell of fumes at night when were at camp but mostly because when it runs the portable a/c during the night I don’t have to worry about waking up in the middle of the night to add gasoline because it ran out gasoline vs with propane I don’t have that issue it runs constantly threw the night. I run it 6-7hrs per night for 3 nights with the 40lbs tank of propane but have never stayed more than 3 nights to see how far I can last with that 40lbs tank.
You provided a lot of good information in the video, thank you.The fuel usage and cost comparison is nice to see. I bought the Ecoflow gas generator from Costco before the dual fuel generator came out. I will get the dual fuel generator the next time it goes on sale. I prefer propane over gas for all the reasons you mention here and if the reason I'm using my Delta Pro to power tha house is due to a large power outage then gas may be hard or impossible to find. Also propane can provide several unattended charge cycles of the Delta Pro whereas gasoline would require refueling between Delta Pro charges.
The real question is whether it will hold up over time/hours. If you buy a Honda or Yamaha you know it will still be working in a decade if you take reasonable care of it. I wouldn't be as confident this will still be working after 1,000 hours of use. On the other hand, propane is a great idea because it can be stored relatively safely in a shed for years. Storing and maintaining gasoline for a gasoline generator is a hassle.
Are there are other compact inverter generators that have DC out, that could feed a harness to Anker F3800, so that pass through wouldn't need to go down to charge?
Great vid! I just bought the Eco dual fuel gennie and am deciding on which power station to pick up, the Max + extra battery or the Pro. Keep up the great vids!
Ecoflow will be coming out with a new Delta 2 Max soon, I'd wait to see that one first before buying. It will have LFP batteries so quite the upgrade over the original Delta Max.
@@JasonoidI know it's been a while but curious to see if you can use the more efficient DC to DC charging certain the dual fuel generator and the new Delta 2 Max? It's not clear on their site if you can, they only list the efficiency gains for the generator when used with the older Delta Max or Delta Pro models.
Great review. This is the 1st time I bump into one of your videos. If you have reviewed other comparable inverter generators like Yamaha, Ryobi, Honda, Firman, Predator, etc. Can you create a comparison table and do a video about your findings?
I like most about propane generators that when you run out of propane it just shuts off and there is nothing to leak. The EF Gen is expensive and the DC charging efficiency only works with EF products. Not on my BLUETTI AC200. Same for the communication. It’s a tough choice.
Thank you Jason for the review - I have the EcoFlow Dual generator system with 2 batteries linked together with the provided Hub - will the EcoSmart Generator charge both batteries at the same time, or will I have to do one at a time? Also, can the EcoFlow battery generator be in use pulling wattage while they are charging?
Great video Jason, as always. For me there really aren't any negatives I can think of for the generator if used to only charge the delta max and pro. Otherwise it falls short on my needs and how I use my two Honda's. During the freeze in Texas I had no power for the week so I was able to charge both my delta max and jackeries faster with two Honda generators hooked in parallel. Also my generator in my Class B would not start in one of the hottest seasons we had this year. Luckily both my Honda's in parallel Hooked up to my 30 amp RV plug had enough oomph to get the A/C going. A feature I do not care about the Ecoflow is that you have to use apps and wifi. Do you know how to operate them without wifi if you are off grid? Otherwise the eco flow generator is pretty spectacular in it self. Again great job on your presentations. Love the kids playing in the yard.
@Jasonoid , 1.If you have the gasoline tank full and propane connected, which one would run first? Is there a switch? Would it automatically switch if one fuel source is depletead? 2. If the generator is on stand-by, waiting to recharge a Delta Pro, how long would its battery last? Would it have to automatically turn on to recharge its battery, if not triggered by the Dekta Pro? Would you have to remotely start it with the app, if monitored through wifi? Thank you for your review, very informative.
1) If you have the fuel switch turned on, it will run on gasoline. Propane doesn't need the fuel switch open. 2) It's quite a large battery inside in the generator so I'm guessing it would last a long time without running. It doesn't turn on automatically to charge the internal battery. You can start the generator multiple ways, the pull start, the wifi app, or automatic start settings from the Delta series.
I have the Ecoflow batteries in my storeroom at the rear of my house,would like to purchase this generator to top up batteries so doesn't have to be mobile,will be using LPG gas. So my two questions are. Is it possible to get an exhaust extension pipe to go through the wall,and can it run off Natural gas supply? Cheers for good review .
Thank you for this. I LOVE the integration but is it worth it? I have a Champion Dual Fuel 3400 Inverter that I want to use to charge my future EcoFlow Delta Pro :-) Hopefully soon when the newer model comes out.
Good Vid Dr.J I think it's a very good choice if you have either of the other mentioned EcoFlow solar generator set-up. But as far as using a Duel fuel generator, I like using the propane option on the two we have.
Great review as always. You do really good reviews. I would like to buy one but can't afford it right now. Will have to wait until I pay off the vigorpool i bought. And wait for another great price drop.
How would it work with the Delta Pro 3600 with two batteries? Is their a direct connection for the gen to connect to the pro 3600 with two batties staying connected?
That's why I'm buying this (mine arrives next week), I have 2x Delta Pros with the dual voltage hub. I need to charge DC-DC which this generator will do. Only downside is I will need to run it for a couple hours to charge one battery, then move the cable into the back of the other battery after. So, this will be for extended outages only anyway.
Just a comment on those exchange tanks. You are better to get them refilled and not exchange them. I have found that the exchange tanks are not as full as if you would go to a propane bulk place and have them refilled.
Thanks for the tip Kevin! I usually pick out the newest tank I can find, then I end up refilling it afterwards at a local Propane place. The exchange tanks are cheaper to buy up front than standard empty tanks.
I really appreciate your thoroughness, expository clarity and video work. I have a Delta 2 with a 100 ah LiFePO4 backup battery for my gas furnace with an EZ Generator Switch (works great, but needs to be set up on floating neutral) and I will be adding a Reliance 306A manual transfer switch for six additional circuits, using them judiciously-depending on priorities. I may add a 12-24 DC converter to better keep up with charging of the Delta 2 during a grid failure. Any thought here? Also, I am considering a backup propane generator, but have not yet decided on a product. This review is helpful in my decision making. I am curious how the EcoFlow would start if left sheltered outside in Wisconsin winters, and weather it could be hooked up to an input port on the outside of the house to the transfer switch. The sound level is not as quiet as the Champion dual fuel models (53 db at 23’) and I would like to be as stealth as possible with regard to emergency preparedness. Again, your reviews are great!
Hey Jack, you are putting together an awesome setup! I think you will really enjoy the 6 circuit transfer switch once you get that installed. The 12v to 24v booster will help you get power into the Delta 2 a little faster from that 100ah battery. Sounds like you are on the right path to being more power independent! Just FYI, the Delta 2 will support the this smart generator in the future, but it only has one expansion port so to DC charge you'd have to disconnect the extra battery if you had one. If you decide to go with any generator, I'd recommend sticking to propane as it's cleaner, cost effective, and much safer/longer to store than gasoline!
@@jacksherman7445 12v to 36volt will get you more power: check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/dTTneUtz4Jk/v-deo.html I have a 12v to 24v in the video description as well.
@@Jasonoid I did go with the ALP propane generator, works adequately. I purchased a D2 Max last month during the Black Friday sale and with two 12v 100 ah batteries I am able to input each via the EcoFlow XT60i connectors and get about 350 watts input. This really adds usable capacity. I have been using the D2s when camping and really like their size and capacity. The D2 Max will stay in the basement, unless there is SERIOUS reason to move it. I did set up the 6 circuit transfer switch with an inside connection to the Deltas and an outside one for the ALP or other generator as needed. Thanks for the great suggestions.
New Subscriber needing some advice Please! In June we are doing a two month trip sleeping in our Suburban in Canada’s backcountry. I just ordered a Vevor 12V, 53qt dual zone car fridge and a Acopower 100W 12V monocrystalline solar panel that will installed on top of our Suburban. That’s all the room for solar panels because of the two thule roof cargo boxes. The power unite I just ordered is a Bluetti EB55. Will this be enough solar for it keep up running that fridge?(nothing else). If not would you use a AC inverter plugged into my cigarette plug into the Bluetti (we do drive a lot on our trips) or should I also add a narrow flexible solar panel (say 50watt) on one my cargo boxes? Problem is I hear nothing but bad about those. Thank for any insight or ideas!
Can you charge the power bank with Solar and keep the generator plugged in, to auto start when there no sunlight and the power bank is low? Basically hands off back up power?
Yes, if you have the generator connected via the DC cable and the power station gets to a set low percentage, you can have the smart generator automatically turn on to charge the battery. Say you set it to 20%, if you weren't getting enough solar to charge it up and the battery dropped to 20% the smart genny would start up and start charging.
Forgot to ask about the dc to dc cable. Does it work with any power station or only Ecoflow units? I know I can use the ac to charge any of them. But wondering if the dc to dc cable is for ecoflow only units like the ecoflow pro. I am guessing it is due to the communication to automatically turn on at preset power levels.
1.6 kW is around the continuous needs of a standard American home I think. So the gas/prop generator would be running almost all the time. This is great for camp sites, tailgates, boats, work sights, etc. You could deploy the battery putting it in use and then chose to deploy the generator when you realize its running out. They need to make a larger generator on two wheels with auto turn-on support to keep filling the battery. 5 kW to 7 kW could get fill that battery while keeping up with the demands of a house and charge. Run 1/4 of the time.
It would not be smart to run your normal household 'load' during a power outage. You run critical loads and keep the power usage to a minimum, not host a party for the whole neighborhood. Keep some lights powered, run your fridges, keep the internet modem powered on for communication. Nothing fancy.
You need one of the ports to charge via DC Charging, so you'd only be able to have one expansion battery connected. You could have two batteries connected if you wanted to charge via AC.
How is the ecocredits? Do they help save big or is it all fluff? Like do you need 1million credits tonsave $5, or they expire in a week or some ridiculous.
The Pulsar 4000w is less money and still works great! I think the Pulsar is the way I'd go since I don't really care about the DC Charging cable for the Ecoflow models (the cord is way too short).
This is informative and helpful, but there seems to be a mistake in your captions when you weigh the propane after your DC to DC test. The caption that flashes on the screen shows the starting weight at 32.2 pounds instead of 33.2, which would make a difference of 0.8 pounds, not the 1.8 listed. This won't throw anyone off if they were paying close attention earlier and have a good memory for numbers, but did confuse me while I tried to decide whether to trust the voiceover or the numbers I was seeing on the screen.
Taking into account various losses during energy transfer, at high power on gas (мах 1600 watts), this generator will charge the Ecoflow Delta Max station in about two hours.
Thanks for your video. I feel there is not much value buying this dual fuel generator. Only 1800 w, kind of noisy and you have to change oil often, etc. I think the Westinghouse iGen 4500 DF seems a better choice, eventhough I already have the Delta Pro. Is the ecoflow dual fuel really the best choice? I would like to know what are your thoughts.Thanks.
This has a few cool features (the auto start and smart app). They might not be worth it, each person has a different use case. This genny is pretty large vs my other 2000w genny, it's also very expensive.
Use propane. Less engine wear and engines last longer. When you change the oil, the old oil looks almost as clean as the new oil, therefore less wear, and less carbon deposits left over in the engine, also less clogging up of the muffler/spark arrestor. I have a duel fuel generator and it is always ran on propane.
Do you have the length on the DC to DC cord. I have the Delta Pro for my RV and am looking at the placement possibilities for both if I go with the "smart gen". I can't find it listed anywhere. TY - Al
Natural Gas is also another fuel possibility. The key is that the orifice needs to be changed or the opening is drilled out, since Natural Gas is at a lower pressure.
I looked into the converting this to natural gas as well since that would be even more affordable. They have Trifuel kits that would probably work with this some some modification.
@@Jasonoid, I noticed the gasoline version costs $300 less than the dual fuel option. For me, getting the three fuel conversion kit would allow for much lower operating costs.
The generator puts out AC power and DC power (around 48volts). In order to charge your 12v 100ah batteries you'll need to connect a battery charger to the AC outlet. A charger like this would work well. amzn.to/3MuMnai
Great job.. I prefer gasoline, for its simplicity, but the dual fuel option is a game changer.. having either option is awesome.. my micro MH has 2 x 20 propanes, and having that option out of my grill output hose is nice.. I also wonder about having external gas tank of generator such as the external tanks we use on the Hondas.. Im sure it could be done. but the auto start, DC charging, and features of this generator look very attractive as a replacement for the Honda 2000, as well as the companion for the EPD.. nice work.. subscribed.. PS, I am not sure But I think there is a length limitation on the DC charge cord? I would like to see a longer option for that to let the Pro sit inside, and move the genny away.. thoughts?
The length of the DC cable is limited due to high amperage and voltage drop if it was longer. It's 15 feet long so it's not too short. I love having both fuel options, I have been converted over to Propane! Haha
Just an fyi. No big deal. But the “w” stands for winter not weight. So basically it’s a 10 weight in winter and 40 weight in the summer allowing it to be less viscous when it’s cold but more viscous when the temperature rises so it can still perform and not act like water
Take the watt hour rating of the battery, then divide it by the watts going into it while charging, that will give you the hours. For example, 2000 wh battery, charging at 1000 watts will take 2 hours to charge (2000 / 1000 = 2). You can do that simple equation for any battery or any charging speed.
I may have missed this, but how long did it take to recharge the unit using propane? Thanks for an excellent demo. I have two DP units and the HUB. Now looking at alternate ways to recharge the Pro. I like solar but the speed is questionable for me. May take the generator route.
it charged at 1400 to 1500 watts with propane, but I'm at high elevation (4500 ft above sea level). You'll see closer to 1600 watts if you live lower in altitude. The DeltaPro units have 3600 watt hours of capacity meaning the generator would have to run for 4.5 hours to fully charge them.
Well, I guess a heavy extension cord from the Anker in the dungeon out to the generator then. Thanks. Actually, I bought this Ryobi inverter (?) that I'd stated to give 1000W off jumper cables to the auto battery (300w from Ryobi 18v, 100W from a cigarette lighter)
Well, I have second thoughts about going Bluetti line.. Well.. I wonder if there is a way to use this (of course minus the smart option with their own solar generators) with Bluetti AC200Max or other brands.? Or perhaps there is an other alternative option for dual fuel with some smart features (app start, etc) with mains socket output..
Jason I bought a delta 2. Can you please suggest solar panels that will max out its solar input within its voltage and amp specs? (Prefer to link the panels in series) . Affiliate link preferred to help the channel.
I looked for awhile and FINALLY found another panel with a VOC under 20v. amzn.to/3OSaTC6 These panels have a VOC of 19v (really rare), so you should be able to purchase 6 of these panels and put them into a 3S2P configuration. Meaning you group them in pairs of parallel and then put those in series. It will give you right under the 60v limit and right around the 15amp input limit so you'd have 500watts in ideal conditions
@@Jasonoid sounds perfect. Can you recommend very reliable parallel connectors (I assume I need two) and some high quality inline parallel mc4 fuses. These will be in areas that see rain often so need really good ones that seal water tight and can survive summer heat to 115f. I really don't want to DIY panel mounts. Can u link one that can do 6 panels? Anything else you think I will need please affiliate link. I'll wait for the reply so I can order everything all at once. TY Jason!
Any of these power stations can charge by the AC output of a generator. You just connect the power stations AC charging cable to the generator. However, the benefit of the Ecoflow smart generator is the fact it puts out high DC power to charge more efficiently. It also connects to the Ecoflow units so it can communicate and turn on and off automatically. A regular generator doesn't have the DC output or smart capabilities.
You can purchase the Dual Fuel Smart Generator HERE: shrsl.com/3t2qx
SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE (8% OFF): JASONBF8 valid 11/11 to 11/28
Unfortunately they are sold out now...
@ 9:09 you say on DC output it used 1.8 lbs, but 32.2 lbs minus 31.4 lbs is only 0,8 lbs used. Does this mean it is 60 % more fuel efficient in DC output ? Your opinion please...
Thanks for the video, now I really want one...😊
Hi Jason, if running on propane you’d have to keep propane on and valve open for auto start correct? Thank you.
In the UK we have LPG cars at the garage ( gas station) where we fill up the LPG, We can also fill the LPG bottles using a special valve connector.
Our box trucks have lpg in the U.S.
This is a pretty good proposition by Ecoflow. This actually makes sense. If ever I run out of gasoline I can switch to propane and still have power.
You're better off starting with propane. Way more capacity in a tank, cheaper than gas, and it's far more shelf stable. You can easily keep one or more propane cylinders around for emergencies, where gasoline goes bad pretty fast.
@@guspaz Propane will also keep you from gumming up the carburetor and other engine parts.
@@guspazfor stable gas you can use AvGas, easily available at any airport. I use drained fuel from our helicopters. It will foul the plugs a bit as 100LL has 4x the lead. I do agree that propane is a great standby.
I'm watching this video in September 2024, because I'm interested in setting up a power backup system, and looking into purchasing the Ecoflow2 Delta Max to pair up with this generator. I will probably get them to primarily use the propane option and only use the gas for emergencies. Thank you for sharing this review with us.
Just picked up the Delta 2 with the 220W solar panel. I recently came across that the generator exists. Seems like a great backup for being entirely off the grid. Thank you for your most excellent review.
Jason, as always you bring the data. The data you provided at the 14:53 mark of your presentation comparing cost of propane and gasoline to grid provided electricity was extremely informative. The feature of this generator outputting DC power to charge DC batteries I was not aware of as a thought it was a pure sign wave AC charging output only generator. Good for EcoFlow to make DC to DC charging the primary plan when charging batteries as converting energy always loses efficiency. People who prepare understand there are going to be bad weather days and this device offers a very good plan B to the bad weather days that must be anticipated. The storage and shelf life of propane vs. gasoline is a serious consideration. The data communication between the EcoFlow generator and EcoFlow batteries as well as the APP between these two devises is very well thought out. Going out in the rain or snow to start a generator or monitor a generator is a task the cell phone APP prevents. I'm going to listen to your presentation a second time as I would like to learn the length of the DC-to-DC charging data transferring cable. Thank you for providing this information.
The length of the DC cable is around 16 feet, I don't think I mentioned it in the video. I put that cost data in there to make sure people are aware grid power is always the most affordable option, BUT if the power is out and solar isn't around gasoline and propane are great options. I will tell you though, now that I have seen a propane generator first hand, I won't use gasoline unless I absolutely have to!
But, that DC cable only works with Eco flow though, right?
@@Jasonoidis the bluetooth allways on so the phone can be always connected? How long will the starter battery last in the generator?
It's cool to that this Smart Generator can be integrated and used in tandem with my Delta Pro. I am pretty happy about it.
Great review as always Jason! It’s so interesting to see how elevation impacts the fuel use compared to sea level. This thing is really great
Yeah, you all at sea level get more wattage, lucky! Haha
Excellent video and very detailed, you answered so many of my questions about this product! Thanks for taking the time to make this video, you put a lot of effort into it.
I have a battery powered variable speed gas can pump that makes it easy to fill mine even while running.
That's cool!
Great video as always! A couple questions though:
How long did it take to charge up the power stations?
And you're able to use this as a normal generator correct? (Using the the AC outlet to power anything under the Wattage limits)
It can put out 1500 to 1600 watts on propane, and about 1800 watts using gasoline. That will charge the Delta 2 in less than 1 hour and the Delta 2 Max in about 2 hours. The Delta Pro would take longer. You can also use the generator as a normal generator if you want by using the AC plugs on the front.
Obviously a standard inverter generator is going to be cheaper but honestly if this generator is dc to dc connected then having the ability to charge under bad conditions is a great option! I think your numbers were spot on and great comparisons. Also alot of people don't know that eceflow powerstaions should NOT be charged with non inverter generators. That dc and ac charging comparison is great to see!
im glad u said that , i didnt know that
Me too...
Not be charged by non inverter generators? What does that exactly mean?
@johnmachter40 a non inverter generator MAY have a THD (total harmonic distortion) of greater than 3% which is the hz of the power being made by the generator. Anything greater can damage the charger of a power station. Hope this helps.
Just had one delivered along with 2 delta pro power stations with the link cable for 240v! Your evaluation was excellent! Thanks! I did lots of research before I took the plunge! After seeing this video....I made the right choice! I also purchased 400w solar panels and 400w wind turbine! Wanted to cover all the bases! Just waiting on a couple of cables and I'm set! Working on purchasing 2 delta pro add on batteries! Thanks again for an extremely informative video! Happy New Year to all! 😊
Glad the video was helpful, I find the smart app integration one of the best features!
For a home backup generator I have the Westinghouse WGen9500DF Dual Fuel Portable Generator and only run it on propane (100# vertical or horizontal capable propane tank) with the Generlink added to the electrical panel to charge the panel instead of running multiple extension cords.
Great video as always, Thanks
Sounds like a great propane generator!
I'm looking into dual fuel generators as hurricane season in Florida is upon us and I have to keep the house cool for my elderly parents. Would you recommend the Westinghouse? Has it been reliable on propane?
clear and concise explanation. You're a gifted teacher, Jason. Happy New Year! I have the Delta Pro and would like to add this generator to my lineup. Blessings.
Another thought: From a practical perspective, if you have the EcoFlow DP (100lbs) set up, it tends to be stationary. I would have to set it up in my basement. Then consider that the dual fuel generator needs to be set up outside or at least vented from an open garage to avoid CO poisoning. So here we go, roll the DP upstairs, etc. The cord is to short to traverse much of a distance so they need to be close. And, I don’t know if they have an outside to inside portal. That is why if I were to use this dual fuel I would get two Delta 2s, weighing less than 30 lbs each and charge one while the other is in use, as needed. At least I could easily carry one out to the garage. Similarly, at my home, which is deeply shaded by large and many trees, I could set up a portable solar panel on my vehicle, park the car and charge it. I am thinking of adding a rigid panel to the top of my Highlander, but it doesn’t seem suited for that. Lots of considerations in this relatively new world of prepping.
Good thought on 'hot swapping' the Delta 2 units for portability and convenience. You could charge one with the DC cable automatically (genny would turn on and off by itself) and then swap them out as needed. Would probably work well for a full sized fridge and a few other small electronics.
@@Jasonoid Thanks for the quick reply. I am actually planning on backing up my furnace and two refrigerators. I have the River 2 for my modem/router and River Pro for small electronics. The Delta 2 connected to the transfer switch will handle the inverter AC wattage, but the duration is limited. I could actually hook up two 12 v 100 ah batteries in series for faster charging or parallel for longer lasting charging. Or, I could alternate powering the two fridges on a 2-4 hour schedule via the manual transfer switch. (Hack for freezers: I keep cooler shocks in our freezer compartments, may be purchased via Amazon, to maintain coldness longer. Also, keeping more in freezer with only necessary openings really helps prolong cold temps).
Frustrating that the DC charge cable is so short. But a Delta Pro or any other unit could be charged on AC by plugging in almost any length heavy duty extension cord. I would use at least 12 gauge, maybe 10.
@@jacksherman7445 Never heard of Cooler Shocks
Jack….I’m shaded here too. I have a DP in my basement. I made a fake air conditioner to house my dual fuel genny. I ran the dc cord down through 1.5’ or 1.25’ ( I forget now) conduit on outside of house. I made all junctions inside conduit not catch on cord so it feeds through and out easy.
I kept only the outside cage of the AC . I cut rubber mat to line for sound reduction. I
The further away from the earline of those without power the better. I leave the propane tank inside the house but slide the genny in . I def have a couple co2 sensors right there too. I didn’t make a video of the build and wont show mine . Good luck
In the FWIW department...
The generator that I use for my RV is also Dual Fuel. It has spent many hours running and keeping me cool in the summer, but it has never had unleaded gasoline in it.
I refuse to mess with trying to keep a gasoline carburetor from gunking up when not in use. The ability to avoid that pain makes the slight loss in performance worth it. (to me) Plus, I can get propane at most/many grocery, hardware, and convenience stores which eliminates the need to go to a "gas station".
Absolutely. Tractor supply is a good place to get tanks filled too. If you get their app you can just pull up to the propane tank and they'll come out and take care of you without having to chase someone down.
Excellent tip
It was actually smart of Ecoflow to do this. Kinda makes sense. If gas is not around I can use propane or both.
I bought the pulsar and it only ran for 4 hours and died technical support and myself cannot get it started again I only ran it on propane.
I have saved and collected things for 6 years for this time of my life to be fully independent and off-grid.
My only income is disability, but I scraped and I saved everything.
So then I went to the Eco Flow dual generator I only run it on propane and it is fantastic.
I have the ecoflow :
River 2
Delta 2
Delta Max
Wave two
110 foldable solar panel
160 foldable solar panel
And now the duel generator
My favorite solar panel of all is the all powers 200 w
I just get tired of trying to chase the Sun.
I live full time in the mountains in Montana in my sprinter.
The only negative I can find is that
The cord from the batteries to the generator is way too short.
As I have my generator outside of my sprinter and have to run the cords through the window to the battery.
The cord from the generator to the propane tank is way too short.
I would like the generator away from the propane a little farther.
Out here in Montana wilderness I have no Wi-Fi
You are lucky guys to have such products available in your country
I'm very glad you can adjust the start/stop % to elongate the battery life. It's a great system, and an awesome review, Thanks!
Fantastic video Jason. I will definitely be adding this to my ecoflo collection
I've been impressed!
Great job man! I'm new to your channel and loving your content.
I find this video electrifying. You definitely fuelled my interest. I generated a much better understanding.
HAHA
Happy 🦃 Thanksgiving Jason to you and your beautiful family 🙏🏻
You as well! Happy Thanksgiving!
I think I heard one bottle of propane equals 20kw! Cool video, really enjoyed it as Ive wondered about the general efficiency of a dual fuel inverter generator I have
Great video!! Question: what is the DC output on the smart generator? I just saw the AC output. Is there an XT-60 outport on the smart generator? If you don't have solar panels maybe you can get 1800 watts out of the smart generator (via cut-60) to charge and use the ecoflow Battery at the same time?
Great review & thanks. Before watching, I’d picked one up for $1099, which was hard to pass up.
How long did it take (in hours) to use the generator on gas and propane (each) to charge the solar powered generator?
Thank you for making the video! I appreciate the time and effort you put in!! Echoing comments from others… Generators are seldom in high demand when it’s bright and sunny out. I had to start my generator this weekend due power loss in a michigan snow storm ( 10 inches of snow and 5 degrees). How is the IP rating for this generator? Is there an add on to extend the exhaust port so this unit can run inside a garage or basement and vented outside? Is there a shroud or enclosure available to protect against wind, rain, snow? EcoFlow made a nice effort on this first generation generator for sunny days… hoping generation 2 is more rugged to address crappy weather conditions and convenience (running inside an environment).
Excellent test! You should do a follow up charge test on gas, you could charge 0% to 80% to make sure the battery is charging at full rate (charge current drops off above about 80%) and then see how many times overall % you can charge on a full tank of fuel. You can program the battery to stop the generator at 80% charge too, which is super convenient.
Pretty interesting idea for a home back would be: delta pro, the smart generator, smart home panel, and solar panels. Five independent sources of power if you include the grid in one ecosystem. Wonder how well it would all actually work together.
Thanks for the pro tip on the magnetic dipstick. It would have never occurred to me, especially with aluminum. But the rare earth magnet on the dipstick did pull out a fine grind of metal along with some noticeable flakes.
I'm glad that helped! While the engine is aluminum, there are still steel components inside that can be caught by the magnet.
they make magnetic oil drain plugs for cars..
Great review! This is such an elegant solution, with this unit and two propane tanks you should be good to go for quite a while and have time to fill up the the spare tank when it's empty!
I agree! 20 charges with 2 propane tanks (on the Delta Max). If you only used 1 to 2 cycles per day to run your fridge and basic electronics you could last over a week without issues. Now supplement in some solar panels with the generator and you'd be golden!
It's crazy how an everyday consumer can buy a redundant plug and play power system now. If you want to use solar to charge the Delta pro, that takes a little more knowledge but redundant power system used to be a cool hospital, military, bunker thing only talked about in movies. Can't wait to see this in 10 years as this gets more popular.
Thanks for the video. I have a question. Can we connect the dc output of this generator to another device? For example, to the pv input of an inverter. Is there voltage on the + and - ends of the generator without connecting a cable when it is running? Or does it need to communicate with a device?
Wow, you must be a mind reader! This one is on my short list as a backup to solar (and grid) as i already have a 120 pound tank installed for a small space heater. I'm too far down the Bluetti rabbit hole to switch over to Eco Flow, but it would be nice to remotely start the generator over wifi since i have plenty of wifi spill over into the yard. I have seen a review from someone at 8000+ foot elevation and the output was significantly degraded and would not run in eco mode, but since i am at about 800 feet, no problem for me. Since you had the Eco Flow Delta Max, you were able to demonstrate the efficiency difference between DC and AC as the other review could not. Great review!
Thanks John! I agree, that extra 10% efficiency adds up over the life of the propane tank, you'll get 1 full charge cycle off the tank by using the DC charging cable over using the AC cable. I know there are other propane gennys on the market that have remote start functionality, but they don't offer DC output.
How long did it take to charge from zero to 100%
Great review again love the videos. To the question of the advantages of dual fuel or gas vs propane for me is , I have a Honda EU 2200 with the hutch mountain tri-fuel kit. Which does gas, propane, and natural gas. How I use it for when we ride side by side for 3-4 days is I power the camp sight for charging batteries, coffee maker tools, water pump etc and the portable a/c the reason why I installed the tri-fuel kit is for during the day I use gas because when it runs out of fuel I can just fill it up easily. But at night I use a 40lb tank of propane for the smell of fumes at night when were at camp but mostly because when it runs the portable a/c during the night I don’t have to worry about waking up in the middle of the night to add gasoline because it ran out gasoline vs with propane I don’t have that issue it runs constantly threw the night. I run it 6-7hrs per night for 3 nights with the 40lbs tank of propane but have never stayed more than 3 nights to see how far I can last with that 40lbs tank.
Thanks Lexus! Great feedback on different fuel types and how you use them! That makes tons of sense 👍
What was the time to charge from 0-100% for each test?
Excellent presentation. Job well done. Very informative. Thank you.
Jason, What are thoughts on the EcoFlow 5kWh Power Kit?
Jason what are thoughts about the EcoFlow 5kH power kit?
Great review… is there a need to firmware updates like the other unit?
I recommend checking for updates frequently. Ecoflow adds them every now and then.
@@Jasonoid I did it. Thanks
You provided a lot of good information in the video, thank you.The fuel usage and cost comparison is nice to see. I bought the Ecoflow gas generator from Costco before the dual fuel generator came out. I will get the dual fuel generator the next time it goes on sale. I prefer propane over gas for all the reasons you mention here and if the reason I'm using my Delta Pro to power tha house is due to a large power outage then gas may be hard or impossible to find. Also propane can provide several unattended charge cycles of the Delta Pro whereas gasoline would require refueling between Delta Pro charges.
You make great points! I just powered mine up off propane to make sure everything was good still after winter. Worked great! Love the propane setup
Can you use the extra battery with this one ? Is this expelled best or is there a better one ?
did you say how long hour take the charge from 0% to 100% ? its to measure the efficence of the both delta 2 1Khw and generator
The real question is whether it will hold up over time/hours. If you buy a Honda or Yamaha you know it will still be working in a decade if you take reasonable care of it. I wouldn't be as confident this will still be working after 1,000 hours of use. On the other hand, propane is a great idea because it can be stored relatively safely in a shed for years. Storing and maintaining gasoline for a gasoline generator is a hassle.
Are there are other compact inverter generators that have DC out, that could feed a harness to Anker F3800, so that pass through wouldn't need to go down to charge?
Great vid! I just bought the Eco dual fuel gennie and am deciding on which power station to pick up, the Max + extra battery or the Pro. Keep up the great vids!
Ecoflow will be coming out with a new Delta 2 Max soon, I'd wait to see that one first before buying. It will have LFP batteries so quite the upgrade over the original Delta Max.
@@JasonoidI know it's been a while but curious to see if you can use the more efficient DC to DC charging certain the dual fuel generator and the new Delta 2 Max?
It's not clear on their site if you can, they only list the efficiency gains for the generator when used with the older Delta Max or Delta Pro models.
Great review. This is the 1st time I bump into one of your videos. If you have reviewed other comparable inverter generators like Yamaha, Ryobi, Honda, Firman, Predator, etc. Can you create a comparison table and do a video about your findings?
Check out the channel "Johnny's weekends" on youtube. He is the gas generator king! I met up with him last year at CES 2023, he's a really cool guy!
I like most about propane generators that when you run out of propane it just shuts off and there is nothing to leak.
The EF Gen is expensive and the DC charging efficiency only works with EF products. Not on my BLUETTI AC200. Same for the communication.
It’s a tough choice.
Great work. Needed to see this. Maybe explore storing this generator outside on real world emergency or to save on grid energy at peak hours.
Thank you Jason for the review - I have the EcoFlow Dual generator system with 2 batteries linked together with the provided Hub - will the EcoSmart Generator charge both batteries at the same time, or will I have to do one at a time? Also, can the EcoFlow battery generator be in use pulling wattage while they are charging?
Great video Jason, as always. For me there really aren't any negatives I can think of for the generator if used to only charge the delta max and pro. Otherwise it falls short on my needs and how I use my two Honda's. During the freeze in Texas I had no power for the week so I was able to charge both my delta max and jackeries faster with two Honda generators hooked in parallel. Also my generator in my Class B would not start in one of the hottest seasons we had this year. Luckily both my Honda's in parallel Hooked up to my 30 amp RV plug had enough oomph to get the A/C going. A feature I do not care about the Ecoflow is that you have to use apps and wifi. Do you know how to operate them without wifi if you are off grid? Otherwise the eco flow generator is pretty spectacular in it self. Again great job on your presentations. Love the kids playing in the yard.
They also operate with Bluetooth.
@Jasonoid ,
1.If you have the gasoline tank full and propane connected, which one would run first? Is there a switch?
Would it automatically switch if one fuel source is depletead?
2. If the generator is on stand-by, waiting to recharge a Delta Pro, how long would its battery last? Would it have to automatically turn on to recharge its battery, if not triggered by the Dekta Pro? Would you have to remotely start it with the app, if monitored through wifi?
Thank you for your review, very informative.
1) If you have the fuel switch turned on, it will run on gasoline. Propane doesn't need the fuel switch open.
2) It's quite a large battery inside in the generator so I'm guessing it would last a long time without running. It doesn't turn on automatically to charge the internal battery. You can start the generator multiple ways, the pull start, the wifi app, or automatic start settings from the Delta series.
@@Jasonoid , thank you, appreciate the response.
Do you think it would automatically switch to propane if gasoline run out?
@@GardenPadawan I don't think so, the app will let you know when the fuel is running close to empty, it's nice to have that on the app.
Great review and learned a lot, thank you!
Hi, how long did it take to charge the max from the generator. Was there a difference in the time using propane versus using gasoline. Thank you.
so for 1st start, did you need gasoline to start it, and then switch to propane?
I dont think so.
I have the Ecoflow batteries in my storeroom at the rear of my house,would like to purchase this generator to top up batteries so doesn't have to be mobile,will be using LPG gas.
So my two questions are.
Is it possible to get an exhaust extension pipe to go through the wall,and can it run off Natural gas supply?
Cheers for good review .
You could weight the generator with a full tank, make it charge the battery and then weight it again to see how much gasoline it used.
I wonder if you Can use the generator or the Delta pro battery to power equipment at the same time you are charging the Delta pro battery
Yes, it accepts charging and discharging at the same time, even while using the gas generator.
@@Jasonoid can't wait till mine gets here
Good test. Next time you could weigh the generator before and after you run it to tell you exactly how much gas you used
Good feedback, I'll have to do that measurement next time I do a test like this.
The Smart Generator is pretty good since I can auto start it and monitor it by using the Ecoflow App.
I agree, pretty unique feature set!
You need to run a test while the delta max is on a load. Example. Have it running a fridge and fill up the delta and see how long can everything run.
Thank you for this. I LOVE the integration but is it worth it? I have a Champion Dual Fuel 3400 Inverter that I want to use to charge my future EcoFlow Delta Pro :-) Hopefully soon when the newer model comes out.
I dont see that dual fuel model listed on ecoflow’s website anymore.
It does make the Smart Generator more capable and practical.
Good Vid Dr.J
I think it's a very good choice if you have either of the other mentioned EcoFlow solar generator set-up. But as far as using a Duel fuel generator, I like using the propane option on the two we have.
Propane doesn't put out the same power as gas...BUT it beats gas on everything else! I've been converted haha
Great review as always. You do really good reviews. I would like to buy one but can't afford it right now. Will have to wait until I pay off the vigorpool i bought. And wait for another great price drop.
The Vigorpool 1200 is excellent! How are you enjoying it?
Can you use one generator to recharge two Delta Pros?
If you set the custom AC charging speed in the app to be under 1800 watts peak, you should be able to charge each Ecoflow DP at 800 watts or so.
How would it work with the Delta Pro 3600 with two batteries? Is their a direct connection for the gen to connect to the pro 3600 with two batties staying connected?
That's why I'm buying this (mine arrives next week), I have 2x Delta Pros with the dual voltage hub. I need to charge DC-DC which this generator will do. Only downside is I will need to run it for a couple hours to charge one battery, then move the cable into the back of the other battery after. So, this will be for extended outages only anyway.
Just a comment on those exchange tanks. You are better to get them refilled and not exchange them. I have found that the exchange tanks are not as full as if you would go to a propane bulk place and have them refilled.
Thanks for the tip Kevin! I usually pick out the newest tank I can find, then I end up refilling it afterwards at a local Propane place. The exchange tanks are cheaper to buy up front than standard empty tanks.
would be cool to have a 20 gallon aux gas fuel tank in the RV as backup.
I really appreciate your thoroughness, expository clarity and video work. I have a Delta 2 with a 100 ah LiFePO4 backup battery for my gas furnace with an EZ Generator Switch (works great, but needs to be set up on floating neutral) and I will be adding a Reliance 306A manual transfer switch for six additional circuits, using them judiciously-depending on priorities. I may add a 12-24 DC converter to better keep up with charging of the Delta 2 during a grid failure. Any thought here? Also, I am considering a backup propane generator, but have not yet decided on a product. This review is helpful in my decision making. I am curious how the EcoFlow would start if left sheltered outside in Wisconsin winters, and weather it could be hooked up to an input port on the outside of the house to the transfer switch. The sound level is not as quiet as the Champion dual fuel models (53 db at 23’) and I would like to be as stealth as possible with regard to emergency preparedness. Again, your reviews are great!
Hey Jack, you are putting together an awesome setup! I think you will really enjoy the 6 circuit transfer switch once you get that installed. The 12v to 24v booster will help you get power into the Delta 2 a little faster from that 100ah battery. Sounds like you are on the right path to being more power independent! Just FYI, the Delta 2 will support the this smart generator in the future, but it only has one expansion port so to DC charge you'd have to disconnect the extra battery if you had one. If you decide to go with any generator, I'd recommend sticking to propane as it's cleaner, cost effective, and much safer/longer to store than gasoline!
@@Jasonoid Thank you Jason. I believe you have used DC to DC converters in your videos, can you readily provide a preferred product recommendation?
@@jacksherman7445 12v to 36volt will get you more power: check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/dTTneUtz4Jk/v-deo.html
I have a 12v to 24v in the video description as well.
@@Jasonoid I did go with the ALP propane generator, works adequately. I purchased a D2 Max last month during the Black Friday sale and with two 12v 100 ah batteries I am able to input each via the EcoFlow XT60i connectors and get about 350 watts input. This really adds usable capacity. I have been using the D2s when camping and really like their size and capacity. The D2 Max will stay in the basement, unless there is SERIOUS reason to move it. I did set up the 6 circuit transfer switch with an inside connection to the Deltas and an outside one for the ALP or other generator as needed. Thanks for the great suggestions.
New Subscriber needing some advice Please! In June we are doing a two month trip sleeping in our Suburban in Canada’s backcountry. I just ordered a Vevor 12V, 53qt dual zone car fridge and a Acopower 100W 12V monocrystalline solar panel that will installed on top of our Suburban. That’s all the room for solar panels because of the two thule roof cargo boxes. The power unite I just ordered is a Bluetti EB55. Will this be enough solar for it keep up running that fridge?(nothing else). If not would you use a AC inverter plugged into my cigarette plug into the Bluetti (we do drive a lot on our trips) or should I also add a narrow flexible solar panel (say 50watt) on one my cargo boxes? Problem is I hear nothing but bad about those. Thank for any insight or ideas!
Can you charge the power bank with Solar and keep the generator plugged in, to auto start when there no sunlight and the power bank is low? Basically hands off back up power?
Yes, if you have the generator connected via the DC cable and the power station gets to a set low percentage, you can have the smart generator automatically turn on to charge the battery. Say you set it to 20%, if you weren't getting enough solar to charge it up and the battery dropped to 20% the smart genny would start up and start charging.
Is there a way to run natural gas?
You'd have to bypass the internal regulator for it to work with NG. You can do something like this: ua-cam.com/video/9GMMBxrkGeo/v-deo.html
Forgot to ask about the dc to dc cable. Does it work with any power station or only Ecoflow units? I know I can use the ac to charge any of them. But wondering if the dc to dc cable is for ecoflow only units like the ecoflow pro. I am guessing it is due to the communication to automatically turn on at preset power levels.
rewatched the video and found out you answered it at the beginning of the video.
Yeah, it's a proprietary cable for Ecoflow power stations.
1.6 kW is around the continuous needs of a standard American home I think. So the gas/prop generator would be running almost all the time.
This is great for camp sites, tailgates, boats, work sights, etc. You could deploy the battery putting it in use and then chose to deploy the generator when you realize its running out.
They need to make a larger generator on two wheels with auto turn-on support to keep filling the battery. 5 kW to 7 kW could get fill that battery while keeping up with the demands of a house and charge. Run 1/4 of the time.
It would not be smart to run your normal household 'load' during a power outage. You run critical loads and keep the power usage to a minimum, not host a party for the whole neighborhood. Keep some lights powered, run your fridges, keep the internet modem powered on for communication. Nothing fancy.
Will this charge the delta max and the two extra batteries when connected together?
You need one of the ports to charge via DC Charging, so you'd only be able to have one expansion battery connected. You could have two batteries connected if you wanted to charge via AC.
@@Jasonoid thanks
How is the ecocredits? Do they help save big or is it all fluff? Like do you need 1million credits tonsave $5, or they expire in a week or some ridiculous.
How many kilowatts is your delta pro ?
what is this compared with explorer bear 4000W, if i want to buy one to them for a house what do you recommend. Thanks
The Pulsar 4000w is less money and still works great! I think the Pulsar is the way I'd go since I don't really care about the DC Charging cable for the Ecoflow models (the cord is way too short).
@@Jasonoid many thanks for your comment it is really appreciated because i have no idea about this type of equipment. tks again!!!
This is informative and helpful, but there seems to be a mistake in your captions when you weigh the propane after your DC to DC test. The caption that flashes on the screen shows the starting weight at 32.2 pounds instead of 33.2, which would make a difference of 0.8 pounds, not the 1.8 listed. This won't throw anyone off if they were paying close attention earlier and have a good memory for numbers, but did confuse me while I tried to decide whether to trust the voiceover or the numbers I was seeing on the screen.
How long took to fuel the Delta max with propane?
Taking into account various losses during energy transfer, at high power on gas (мах 1600 watts), this generator will charge the Ecoflow Delta Max station in about two hours.
Thanks for your video.
I feel there is not much value buying this dual fuel generator. Only 1800 w, kind of noisy and you have to change oil often, etc. I think the Westinghouse iGen 4500 DF seems a better choice, eventhough I already have the Delta Pro. Is the ecoflow dual fuel really the best choice? I would like to know what are your thoughts.Thanks.
This has a few cool features (the auto start and smart app). They might not be worth it, each person has a different use case. This genny is pretty large vs my other 2000w genny, it's also very expensive.
Use propane. Less engine wear and engines last longer. When you change the oil, the old oil looks almost as clean as the new oil, therefore less wear, and less carbon deposits left over in the engine, also less clogging up of the muffler/spark arrestor. I have a duel fuel generator and it is always ran on propane.
Can it be used as a strictly propane machine without ever putting gasoline in it? Or does it need a gasoline cycle at some stage?
No gasoline needed, you can run it off propane only and that's what I plan to do. Propane is much better IMO.
I notice no one uses the earthing / ground wire while operation of the generators ? Why not ?
Do you have the length on the DC to DC cord. I have the Delta Pro for my RV and am looking at the placement possibilities for both if I go with the "smart gen". I can't find it listed anywhere. TY - Al
Natural Gas is also another fuel possibility. The key is that the orifice needs to be changed or the opening is drilled out, since Natural Gas is at a lower pressure.
I looked into the converting this to natural gas as well since that would be even more affordable. They have Trifuel kits that would probably work with this some some modification.
@@Jasonoid, I noticed the gasoline version costs $300 less than the dual fuel option.
For me, getting the three fuel conversion kit would allow for much lower operating costs.
@@gregyohngy if you think you can do the mod successfully, go with the cheaper version for sure!
This fella did a Tri-Fuel conversion on the gasoline model
ua-cam.com/video/Gxgq0s2QZzI/v-deo.html
Can I charge two Litime 100mah batteries on this unit or would have to purchase another ECOFLOW like the River Pro2 gen to connect batteries?
The generator puts out AC power and DC power (around 48volts). In order to charge your 12v 100ah batteries you'll need to connect a battery charger to the AC outlet. A charger like this would work well. amzn.to/3MuMnai
Great job.. I prefer gasoline, for its simplicity, but the dual fuel option is a game changer.. having either option is awesome.. my micro MH has 2 x 20 propanes, and having that option out of my grill output hose is nice.. I also wonder about having external gas tank of generator such as the external tanks we use on the Hondas.. Im sure it could be done. but the auto start, DC charging, and features of this generator look very attractive as a replacement for the Honda 2000, as well as the companion for the EPD.. nice work.. subscribed.. PS, I am not sure But I think there is a length limitation on the DC charge cord? I would like to see a longer option for that to let the Pro sit inside, and move the genny away.. thoughts?
The length of the DC cable is limited due to high amperage and voltage drop if it was longer. It's 15 feet long so it's not too short. I love having both fuel options, I have been converted over to Propane! Haha
@@Jasonoid thank you! makes sense.. Im heading this way..
Just an fyi. No big deal. But the “w” stands for winter not weight. So basically it’s a 10 weight in winter and 40 weight in the summer allowing it to be less viscous when it’s cold but more viscous when the temperature rises so it can still perform and not act like water
Time to fully charge different battery sizes?
Take the watt hour rating of the battery, then divide it by the watts going into it while charging, that will give you the hours. For example, 2000 wh battery, charging at 1000 watts will take 2 hours to charge (2000 / 1000 = 2). You can do that simple equation for any battery or any charging speed.
I may have missed this, but how long did it take to recharge the unit using propane? Thanks for an excellent demo. I have two DP units and the HUB. Now looking at alternate ways to recharge the Pro. I like solar but the speed is questionable for me. May take the generator route.
it charged at 1400 to 1500 watts with propane, but I'm at high elevation (4500 ft above sea level). You'll see closer to 1600 watts if you live lower in altitude. The DeltaPro units have 3600 watt hours of capacity meaning the generator would have to run for 4.5 hours to fully charge them.
Any way these coild be used well with Amker F3800? Hos long is the DC charging cable, what connectir is on the end? Thanks
The DC cable has communication pins that only work with Ecoflow products.
Well, I guess a heavy extension cord from the Anker in the dungeon out to the generator then. Thanks. Actually, I bought this Ryobi inverter (?) that I'd stated to give 1000W off jumper cables to the auto battery (300w from Ryobi 18v, 100W from a cigarette lighter)
Thanks for getting back, I value your videos
@@SEaudiofan happy to help! I have a pretty recent video on the channel testing the 220w version.
Spread word of the channel when you can, thanks! 👍😁
@@Jasonoid I passed it on to relatives, thanks
Which models does the dc to dc charging work with? Is it just certain models or is it any model that is expandable?
Ecoflow Delta and Pro models
Well, I have second thoughts about going Bluetti line.. Well.. I wonder if there is a way to use this (of course minus the smart option with their own solar generators) with Bluetti AC200Max or other brands.? Or perhaps there is an other alternative option for dual fuel with some smart features (app start, etc) with mains socket output..
This will charge the Bluetti just fine, just plug it into the AC plug. You can still start and stop the generator from the smart app too.
Jason I bought a delta 2. Can you please suggest solar panels that will max out its solar input within its voltage and amp specs? (Prefer to link the panels in series) . Affiliate link preferred to help the channel.
I looked for awhile and FINALLY found another panel with a VOC under 20v.
amzn.to/3OSaTC6
These panels have a VOC of 19v (really rare), so you should be able to purchase 6 of these panels and put them into a 3S2P configuration. Meaning you group them in pairs of parallel and then put those in series. It will give you right under the 60v limit and right around the 15amp input limit so you'd have 500watts in ideal conditions
@@Jasonoid sounds perfect. Can you recommend very reliable parallel connectors (I assume I need two) and some high quality inline parallel mc4 fuses. These will be in areas that see rain often so need really good ones that seal water tight and can survive summer heat to 115f. I really don't want to DIY panel mounts. Can u link one that can do 6 panels? Anything else you think I will need please affiliate link. I'll wait for the reply so I can order everything all at once. TY Jason!
Ecoflow can only operate with Ecoflow products right? The Delta can be charged by the Smart Generator, but not by a Honda generator, right?
Any of these power stations can charge by the AC output of a generator. You just connect the power stations AC charging cable to the generator. However, the benefit of the Ecoflow smart generator is the fact it puts out high DC power to charge more efficiently. It also connects to the Ecoflow units so it can communicate and turn on and off automatically. A regular generator doesn't have the DC output or smart capabilities.