EcoFlow Alternator Charger - 8x Faster Charge!

[@Beekobah]

I recently got one for under 200 bucks, use it both both charge my ecoflow and recharge my multiple 12-volt batteries in parallel. I don't actually plan to put the alternator charger on a vehicle at all, I just use it in my home as a battery backup. I'm loving it so far

[@Thrillowatt]

Where did you find it so cheap?

[@Beekobah]

@Thrillowatt Ecoflow website. Search for alternator charger and it should have a $199 option.

[@vinceparker2888]

Interesting

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

I think a lot of folks are going to use it that way, that’s why many are confused that it’s named the alternator charger.

[@NorthernWhisper]

Insane value. A year ago, I was looking into making a camper and I was taken aback by the expense of a suitable battery capacity. Now I can buy a simple 1024wh battery and this device and use my car as a generator! That's great :D No need for solar and strictly speaking, no need for extra batteries for a simple trip. No need to stop by cafes or hotels to charge the batteries. Diesel will do it all, without additional expenses. Nice!

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

You get it! For people in that situation, it’s going to be impossible to beat.

[@neverwin2518]

9:46 literally LOL'd @ robbing Peter to pay Paul 🤣

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

lol 😂

[@mistygutierrez3761]

I just ordered a new Delta 2 and was very curious about this product. As usual, thanks for simplifying it for me!

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

EcoFlow makes great stuff, you’ll be happy!

[@bryanbryanmccoy7094]

This is brilliant! Next level use of a dc to dc

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Thanks Bryan!

[@colinbates2517]

Would be great if this was integrated into Home Assistant. Rules to switch charging direction based on events, or timing etc. Then would be less manual process, though its pretty simple to switch in the app.

[@fraliexb]

So in a Class C RV, would I hook this up to the starter battery or would it be better to attach it to the house batteries?

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Starter battery for best results

[@touringandtrails]

Amazing cabin in the background. Great tech, Brother B.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Thank you! They are a lot of maintenance but pretty awesome!

[@BadBillyJack]

This is fantastic, verifies what I had thought and planned to use it for. Thank you!

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

That’s great to hear, thank you for watching the video!

[@1markymark1]

Great review

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Thank you 👍

Can’t wait for the video. I’ve been wondering when someone would do this with Anderson plugs, so you can use in multiple vehicles. I always wondered if the power cord from the battery to the Ecoflo had more than just positive and negative. Thanks

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Sorry for the delay, I was doing some off grid living. I won’t be able to get to the video right away, but it should be very simple. As for the input side of this, it’s just a positive and negative wire.

[@williambingham2459]

Serious ideas for future camping events with ecoflow and other equipment. We are all chasing portable power for our outdoor lifestyles.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Anything that gets us out more and keeps us out longer!

[@jasonwar859]

You mentioned that it should be the Center of a wheel. It seems it can only be hooked up to one other source at a time. I have a motorhome so it has a chassis battery(2) and I also have 300AH of Lifepo4 for the house. It would be nice to take a charge from the alternator while driving but then be able to charge my lithium house batteries when boondocking for several days. The other issues I have are my MH is 50 amp and my Delta 2 Max does not have a 30amp plug outlet. Going from 50 down to 20 is quite the adapter mess. I would love a well rounded system that I could boondock for many days and even use 1 AC for a short time....but for now just be able to self sufficient for a many days(no AC) but with some microwave usuage

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

It can only be hooked up to one source at a time, you’ll have to move it from one application to the next. In the video, I talked about doing an Anderson power pole hack, in that video I will make an adapter so that you can move it from one connection to the next quickly. As far as powering a 50 amp motorhome, you’re only going to get limited results converting it to 20 amp 110v. Most people do quite a bit of modification or they just power the DC on their MH and use the power station inside when they want 110VAC. Lots of options but takes tweaking to get best results.

[@daniellopezd]

Bluetti also came out with a charger like this, would love to see how they compare. I have an AC200L and being able to charge at more than 100w from my truck will be a game changer

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

I’ve read about it, I’ll take another look.

[@toolman4816]

While the Ecoflow is 800w charging i believe the Bluetti's charger is 500w, which is still better than nothing at all.

[@Fingerprintguy]

So the downside of the Bluetti Charge1 is the lower wattage output. On the upside, the Bluetti can work with every single power station on the market because it outputs to MC4 cables and mimics a solar array. You just dial up the wattage you need or select a preset for any Bluetti power station.

[@felixjaquez4391]

Looking forward to that DYI project and see if i can replicate it.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

I’ll jump on that as soon as I can, it might be in the spring. It should make this a lot more versatile. Thanks for watching!

[@sbcplays]

Great explanation about the alternator charger. Thanks! Mine is still in the box and I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the best use scenario, which you clearly laid out at the end of your video. I don’t have the skills to cut off a cable and attach Anderson connectors. If only Ecoflow would sell the cable by itself, we wouldn’t need to do that. I asked them if they will sell just the cable, but right now it’s a hard “no’. I would encourage folk like you, with a little more influence, to give them a nudge. Hey, it’s another sale for Ecoflow. If you do make the Anderson cable video, can you show how to or suggest the kind of tradesperson one would go to have one made. Thanks again. Recently discovered your channel and have subscribed.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Thank you so much for subscribing! I will do that in the video. I will try to give you all the parts needed, demonstrate how to do it, and point in the right direction if you want someone else to do it for you. Thanks again!

[@kevinpark3603]

I am up in Canada so solar is not an option. I am planning a camper van and would like this set up with an alternator charger. Is this scenario possible? Permanent connection from car battery to EcoFlow Max but when EcoFlow is at max (100%) charged, dump excess power to multiple 12V batteries in parallel. This will make so much more sense for van life setup.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

That would be a great set up.

[@Patrick-vu1pn]

Will the aulternator charger automatically charge the extra battery in the day and at night after solar stops charging will it automatically switch to discharging the extra battery into the ecoflow?

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

There’s ways to do this manually, but because certain things need to be switched, there’s no way to automatically do this.

[@THEJOKER2224]

It would be nice if we can AC charge those Ecoflow extra batteries with out the main unit.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

I agree!

[@lioneldausa7836]

I own a ev a Ioniq 5 when I go camping I connect the eco to charge or used my car battery.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

That’s gonna be the future for a lot of people, really nice set up!

[@Thom1973]

thank you doing this video you have answered alot of question but just got 1 more what if you want to go with a setup that you are your tow rig and can not start it up and run it to get a charge

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

That’s what I’m doing with the Anderson plug, best of both worlds

[@Thom1973]

@@DIYOutdoorLife kool

[@xavierlumley7997]

How do I fast charge my 12 volt lithium iron phosphate battery does the ECO flow alternator charger hook up and make it charge faster or can I plug into the AC outlet on my battery and fast charge that way with a battery charger plugged in and then that attached to the 12 volt

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

You can fast charge with a dedicated lithium battery charger that plugs into the wall, or you can use the reverse charge feature on this device. Plug the alternator charger into your EcoFlow power station, plug the power station into the wall . Connect the alternator charger vehicle side to your battery and select reverse charge.

[@Genjonez-o763]

What is the benefit of pouring the power back and forth between the battery and the power station?

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

The battery is very cheap. You can get an enormous battery for a fraction of the price of a power station. The power station gives you four more options to use, and has built-in solar charging . If you get a power station with a huge capacity, it becomes very heavy. The advantage is having a lightweight, versatile portable power station that you can move around and use and charge where you need to . A large battery bank can stay in one place. Having a device that can quickly efficiently move capacity from one to another makes this possible.

[@Genjonez-o763]

Oh. Ok. I get it. I’m going to go back and watch this one again. I have a Bluetti power station so I bought their alternator charger as a Christmas present for myself. It should be here soon and I’m very excited. Maybe I will make a video!

[@mvemerson]

Great video and I am looking forward to the follow-up you mentioned. I am wondering if the device protects the alternator. This device will pull about 60 Amps, which may be too much for some alternators at idle. I wonder if it has some sort of algorithm built-in that will somehow limit the draw to avoid alternator damage.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

This is an extremely good point, I’m looking forward to talking about this in some follow up videos. It protects the alternator in its most important way, by avoiding transients from hard stops. As far as simple overloading with long duration, we’re going to have to know what we’re doing a little bit. Most vehicles with some higher towing capability will also have some higher alternator capability. In those cases, we’re gonna be fine. When towing with smaller vehicles, my jeep comes to mine… Subarus etc. will be fine charging while driving, but as you say, I would be mindful of stop and go traffic and long duration charging at idle. More to come

[@adamlivingston6659]

Hey bro, how big would a generator have to be to run the Houghton rooftop a/c on my Hiker Trailers 5x10 highway Deluxe?

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

I believe their max draw is under 1800 W. To leave some headroom, a 2500 W generator would do a good job. A unit like this would work fine amzn.to/3Ztu0rT

[@MarcMeltzer-e2c]

Love your channel. You are an excellent communicator. Curious if the Andersen power pole hack would work for the EcoFlow spare battery cable. I would want to charge both batteries (Delta Pro and it’s spare battery) but the cables available are too short. I am trying to spread out the considerable weight of the Pro and spare battery on my trailer. Would be great if I could add 4 more feet to the available 5 meter cable. I would appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Thank you for watching, I appreciate it! I believe EcoFlow just came out with a connector that allows you to connect multiple EB cables together.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

It’s called the extra battery cable connection us.ecoflow.com/?aff=496

[@MarcMeltzer-e2c]

@ Thank you! I will check it out.

[@Mxslots]

How do you change the settings in the app if your car has a smart alternator

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Same settings for smart alternator, nothing different in the app. Some folks have found that there is a different place to attach the negative in vehicles with smart alternators. Instead of connecting to the battery negative, there is a connection point before a shunt in the vehicle that gives them better results. Essentially, the smart alternator can monitor its loads, so you want to attach the negative to that connection point rather than the battery. Since every vehicle is different, it’s a little challenging for me to demonstrate, but it’s a very simple job. In fact, some people just install it on their battery and experience normal charging results.

[@Mxslots]

@ thanks for the reply , much appreciated, subscribed 👌

[@vinceparker2888]

Is there a voltage limit for taking from a 12 volt source? Say you have an oversized 12 volt lifepo4 and want to power a Delta Max 2 overnight and then recharge it with solar during the day

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

It will draw from any 12 V battery, and can handle the whole voltage range, it will up the voltage and deliver 800 W to your power station. if you have a large 12 V battery, it will draw off the majority of its capacity and stop itself before the battery is dead

[@curronhill2744]

Brian, isn’t that a lot to pull from my alternator?

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

What kind of tow vehicle do you have? I’m gonna do a follow up video on this, there’s certain things that aren’t a big deal at all, others I would avoid

[@mynameis4294]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO! 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Thank you for watching the channel. 👍

[@cherylbarrett3443]

Yes, I would like to be less dependent on solar, please. There is not much real estate on my camper roof for that, and in my part of the country, camping spots tend to be in the shade. Something I would like to know more about: people talk about low temperature and its impact on lithium batteries all the time, but no one talks about high temperatures. Do you have something about that?

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Not as big of a deal with lifepo as with other lithium batteries. They have higher heat tolerance and all have high temp sensors. Where I live, and even traveling, I’ve never had high temp issues. I have met some folks that have had issues in black tongue boxes when they’re in the sun. I’ll put it in the notes for future videos.

[@cherylbarrett3443]

@@DIYOutdoorLife I have a black tongue box that holds my battery, so I worry about it.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

@@cherylbarrett3443 Tongue Box Cover - Reflective Overheat Protection for Tiny Campers kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnnWdayjp5eKgJo

[@brentjfountain]

I don’t know if I can wait for the Anderson hack. I am ready to try it now. What type of Anderson plugs do you use? Is 120Amp sufficient with 6 AWG? I’d like to set up a pair of jumper cables to quick connect to my battery and avoid permanent/semi-permanent mounting of the alternator. Thanks!

[@brentjfountain]

Another option would be to use an Anderson SB175 and ring terminals and connect to the battery. It would seem that with a rubber cover and out of the way, I could have that attached to the Jeep's battery and just connect it which would be better than alligator clips on the battery posts. Do you see any problem with going that rout?

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

I would much rather see this option. For higher, sustained current draw, I don’t like alligator clamps. The ring terminals will be the way to go.

[@dta97392]

Did I miss something? did you address the alternator issues if any this may have ? I never got this answered on previous reviews on youtube. Recommended alternator?

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

I will do a video about this coming up. Since it is an appropriate DC to DC charge controller, it addresses the biggest concerns related to abrupt stops and transient. As far as where and tear on the alternator, it’s a definite concern, but won’t be that big a deal for some. it’s going to come down to whether you’re using it with a Subaru or a pick up truck right? We’ll have to look at what size alternators are on our vehicles and talk about the bestuse cases..

[@dta97392]

@ very well let me know when you do such a video/ I won’t purchase till I know more facts/ thx David

[@jorgepineda7200]

Hey guys. anyone know where factory inverters tend to be placed in most midsize trucks?

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Most midsize trucks do not have noteworthy inverters. A lot of times they have a very cheap modified sign wave one in the cab, good for about 200 W.. I wouldn’t use it for anything. Are you talking about an alternator or do you mean inverter?

[@chrislincoln489]

My concern is will this shorten the life of my alternator. Will the extra power drag drop my gas millage.

[@richarddonovan4350]

Yes, I’m with you regarding the additional load on my alternator. If this is an 800 watt charger that means it is nearly an additional 70 amps load on the alternator for an extended period. I have a Delta 2 Max station and the only thing that keeps me from buying this device is the concern of placing my alternator and tow vehicle at risk with such a big load. EcoFlow tries to address this concern but I need more info before putting it in my shopping cart. P.S. I really like your idea of taking an additional battery vs buying an expensive EcoFlow battery bank.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

It is definitely a consideration. They address the most serious concern by eliminating transience by not doing hard stops. This is by far the biggest concern with alternator damage. It’s certainly something to pay attention to, especially when idling, much better to be driving when charging for longer periods (higher rpm and more passive cooling)

[@dta97392]

@@DIYOutdoorLifeI am not willing to try this yet/ and ruin a alternator

[@59sixstring94]

@@DIYOutdoorLifeYou can reduce the charge watts to say 400 or 500 and not tax the vehicle alternator as much with the app

[@travelingfool9096]

Hello, Been following your channel for a couple years, and other camping/Rv ones as well. I been planning for a decade that in retirement I would buy a small 'Bed on wheels' clamshell ( read small really small) camper. The bushwacher and T@G are at the top of my list. I want to buy used. Can you put together a video about the buying process, especially where to find them. I find it hard to believe there are only 10 used ones for sale at one time in the USA . I went to a RV business, and they treated my like a bum, the salesperson, wouldn't even come out to speak directly with me. It kinda bullshit, I guess they don't want my money cause I am looking for the cheap solutions at this time. I am looking for a used one and only seem to see the 1000 miles away? Even a list of dealers to deal with ( who are not total assholes). Thanks!

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Will do. Join the Facebook groups, that’s where I see the best buying options. Have you looked into Hiker?

[@CC_Marauder]

#3👍🏻

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Nice 👍

[@nyrubin]

You know what's cheaper even though it isn't as efficient, a 1000w inverter

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Since it goes, DC AC DC - it can be as much as 40% less efficient. The battery capacity cost more than the charger so it’s a losing proposition. It works great in a pinch, but this is a far better solution .

[@nyrubin]

@DIYOutdoorLife hmmmm I figured the initial lost wouldn't be a factor since the inverter will be outputting 1,000w. So only a 20% on efficency lost and the battery will still charge at 800w with a cheap inverter. Also what really interests me is charging the cells directly from hybrid cars since the car itself has the fancy chip that regulates a constant needed voltage to charge the battery 😁🤣

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

@@nyrubin It tries 1200 W from the battery in order to deliver 1000 W to the inverter output. Then, from the thousand watts, it delivers 800 to the PPS. On top of that, there’s a standby consumption that eats at the battery. It works, it’s useful in a pinch . But when you factor in the price of the battery, it’s not the long-term way to go, kind of just an emergency fix.

[@nyrubin]

@DIYOutdoorLife ohhhhh got ya didn't think about that, that's why the YT gods blessed us with ur channel 🤣💪. The trade off wouldn't be enough for me to pay the extra money to buy the alternator chargers, I think they're nice no doubt but they need to come down in price, the bluetti 560w alternator charger was on sale for 200usd during black friday and I think that should be the original price. Ecoflows 800w should be no more 250usd 😮🤣🤣🤣 (broke person like me would still buy the regular 1000w inverter and cry when something breaks in the car 💀)

[@michaelgeldert3638]

Ahhh, nah, still don't get it.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Haha… thanks Mike

[@ran6110]

So, have you actually purchased any of this expensive stuff are are you just a salesperson? Seriously, if you haven't bought all of what you push then you have the trustability of a used car salesman...

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

lol… there’s always one person 🙄 I purchased the vast majority of what you see on the channel, when I get something free or discounted for testing, I’m clear about that and never just “sling” stuff for companies.

[@funkmon]

While it's cheaper now it's still outrageously expensive for what it is

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

330? That amount of wiring and fuses costs a 3rd of that. Everything’s pricey these days.

[@funkmon]

@DIYOutdoorLife but, you can get a 1000 watt inverter for $100 which will charge it at the same rate, with a bit more loss.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

@@funkmon It’s about 40% more loss. Remember it has to be converted to DC after the inverter makes AC. It wastes on both sides . You would also need an addition battery charger (66 amps) to charge the stand alone battery. There’s certainly different strokes for different folks , but this is not some overpriced piece of junk. You can do a lot more with it faster and more efficiently for less - if and only if you need these features.

[@twloughlin]

I think Sam's solution of using the $180 Sportsman 800W generator from TSC is far better than this. KISS.

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Hard to beat if you don’t mind the noise, gas storage, smell, carburetors… lol. I hate generators…. 🤣

[@twloughlin]

@@DIYOutdoorLife Watch Sam's video on the topic. None of the listed objections apply, or are fairly minimal. 55db @ 50% load. The thing only holds .50 gallons; 2 one litre backpacking gas bottles will refill it. Your car burns gas to run the charger anyway. I'll take the trade-off from additional strain on my alternator, wiring and installation, and proprietary hardware so I can charge whatever PPS I want to. Curmudgeonly old cuss, ain't I? 😉

[@DIYOutdoorLife]

Haha- of course I’ve seen his vid, he’s even run his sportsman at my house before. They’re both great options to get the job done. The stand alone battery charger is the winner for me. I’d need a 66 amp charger (slightly bigger generator as well) to charge the battery at campsite. The ability to “move” capacity around is the bees knees! 😂 you’re not a curmudgeon, I like that there’s different strokes for different folks!