Power Station vs Dual Battery System - will the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max work for overlanding and 4x4?

In this video I'll compare an EcoFlow Power Station to a traditional Victron Dual Battery System. My use case is overlanding and 4x4, but most of this video will also apply to motorhomes, RVs and campers.
First I'll give a quick overview of both systems and then go over the pros and cons of each to help you decide which best fits your own use case. I'll also provide some tips for faster charging of an #EcoFlow Delta Power Station from the vehicle's alternator, discuss how to wire up an EcoFlow #PowerStation in an #overland vehicle, talk about the new EcoFlow Alternator Charger, and compare the cost of the 2 systems.
Buy the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max with Alternator Charger: t.ly/LgYV-
Ecoflow Solar to XT60i Charging Cable: t.ly/EmU46
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @movingpicturesafrica
00:00 Intro
00:46 Power Station vs Dual Battery System
01:40 The Systems
03:03 Pros and Cons
05:41 Charging
06:58 Elephant Interlude
07:46 D.I.Y. Fast Vehicle Charging
11:07 Ecoflow Alternator Charger
13:09 Cost Comparison
13:44 Conclusion

[@IamN3O]

When I get the notification that Moving Pictures Africa has dropped a video, I drop everything & I watch!

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@IamN3O 😂 thanks Neo. The next one will have more wildlife.

[@NeoPholushe]

You sound like a Professional Electrician/Technician who does Wildlife filmmaking as a side gig. Amazing amount of knowledge! 😂

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

😂 thanks Neo. I did actually do first year electrical engineering though UNISA a few years back, but I've forgotten most of what I learned, so now I rely on KZbin videos.

[@WynandVanDerMerwe]

EcoFlow has a alternator charger now available in South Africa as well. Received mine last week, can’t wait to fit it in my Cruiser

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@WynandVanDerMerwegreat. I'm getting one soon and I will test it on my next trip 👍

[@CraigG21]

Great info! I too have a Delta 2 Max setup in my small teardrop trailer and like it, but I always enjoy hearing opinions from people with dual battery systems.

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

Thanks Craig. Yeah I think with the Alternator Charger it is a great solution

[@heinzmodricky6410]

Great video, thank you - super informative with no hype. I have personal experience of your technical and mechanical solutions as well. You're quite a pro!

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@heinzmodricky6410 thanks Heinz! That's really good to hear.

[@Heinrichhattingh]

Thanks for the video, I'm in the process of designing and installing a Victron system in my Cruiser but after seeing this I'm not so sure anymore, the 800W alternator charger is the deciding factor I think, and the 170ah battery capacity of the delta 2 max is sufficient to run a 90w fridge, charge camera gear and make some nice coffee. (also keeping it charged with a solar when camped for a couple of days.) Don't know man, this is seriously looking like the way to go.

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

It is a hard call. I've just arrived in Zambia with the Alternator Charger. My plan is to install it and disconnect my dual battery system and test it for a few days. I'll make a video showing the process.

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

To make your decision harder, Victron now has a smaller, more efficient DC-DC charger called the Orion XS, that puts out 50A.

[@Heinrichhattingh]

@@MovingPicturesAfrica Yes, I played around with it in the week, it's significantly smaller and lighter than the old Orion and allot smaller and lighter than the Ecoflow. Would really appreciate the honest practical feedback of you using it in Africa while your big system is disconnected. Thanks for the content, your channel is top notch!

[@b.davis.wildlife]

Incredible video, thanks!

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@b.davis.wildlife no prob. Glad you enjoyed it

[@willemhutten6585]

Fantastic video and review! Love your work!

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@willemhutten6585 thanks Willem!

[@smetlenn6480]

Great info! sounds like you have a big amount of knowledge👍😃

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@smetlenn6480 🙂 thanks Smet. It just sounds like that. In between takes I look things up online.

[@eenvoet]

Thank you and it sounds great, just one correction. You can't use a transformer in a dc system to up the voltage, only on a ac system, this is due to Faraday's law of induction

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@eenvoet ah, thanks for the correction. You are absolutely correct. I think I should have said 'boost converter'

[@Fritz_P]

Excellent video thanks! 👌

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@Fritz_P thank you very much

[@jacobusvanderlaarse2942]

I was always a fan of the dual battery system and still love my blue power but these days the power stations gets more attractive Great video👍🏻

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

Thanks Jacobus. Yes, with the new Ecoflow Alternator Charger they really are a viable alternative. On our next trip, I will hopefully have an Alternator Charger, and my plan is to disconnect the dual battery system in the vehicle and only use the Ecoflow.

[@jacobusvanderlaarse2942]

@@MovingPicturesAfrica ​ lol im actually just bought the new Victron Orion XS 50Amp to uprade my 30amp.. together with a bigger MPPT and more blue power monitor goodies, but now after I watched your video im thinking maybe the power station was a better option.. All started coz I wanted to fit a espresso coffee machine :) Looking forward to your feedback video

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@jacobusvanderlaarse2942 Coffee is the problem 😂. I'm definitely bringing a little Nespresso on the next trip. BTW been using an OutIn Nano in the vehicle and so far it has been great. If you pre heat the water you can make a lot of coffees before you need to recharge

[@jacobusvanderlaarse2942]

@@MovingPicturesAfrica lol convinced myself that I dont need a espresso and that a JetBoil would do the trick, lol naaa was not to long then I went and got the stuff for the espresso.. think the Overlanding hobby is a disease 😂

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@jacobusvanderlaarse2942 an expensive disease!

[@TheOuboet]

I've been playing with the idea of using an Ecoflow Delta as the "shore power" for my offroad caravan, and hooking up a solar panel to the Ecoflow. So I'd plug the caravan's blue plug into the Ecoflow for AC out, and charge it with my own panels. My caravan already has a 100Ah AGM battery for 12V, so the Ecoflow would handle the Caravan's battery charging, as well as the AC power.

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@TheOuboet not a bad idea. If you get the Ecoflow Alternator Charger and connect that to the caravan battery you could charge the caravan battery without going via AC and also charge the Ecoflow while driving.

[@TheOuboet]

@@MovingPicturesAfrica Great tip! Thanks!

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@TheOuboet no prob.

[@namibiasaf]

Can also get the alternator charger unit from ecoflow to charge at 800W

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@namibiasaf yes, I talk about that in the video, including how to wire it up to power your 12v accessories. I have now recently the Alternator Charger and we will be testing it on our next trip 👍

[@IamN3O]

00:31 Great to know your vehicle's name - Barry. Curious who it is named after 😁

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

Full name is Big Bad Barry. I'm not sure, my kids named him. I think maybe he is named after a cartoon character

[@IamN3O]

​@@MovingPicturesAfrica​ Nice to meet Barry & congratulations on his new upgrades. I've been referring to him as "Robert's Wildlife Batmobile" whenever I talk to my wife about you & your content. 😂

[@4x4OutFar]

I bought the ecoflow Jan last year. Wasn't impressed to be honest. Massive power input from the wall but for a company that advertises remote use charguing from 240W solar panel and cigarette lighter is pointless because it's governed at 10Amps. It was late Jan in Eretshe so kak hot as well.

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

Which model power station and solar panel? The solar input should handle 240w. Yes, vehicle charging is a weak point for all power stations. In the video above I suggest a cheap way to increase the vehicle charging current to 30A on the Delta 2 Max or even up it to 500W if you add a boost converter. I also chat about the new Alternator Charger that will enable 800W charging in the vehicle.

[@4x4OutFar]

@@MovingPicturesAfrica i got the Delta, it can handle the 240W but still governed at 10amps which is pointless. I made my own XC60 - anderson plug as the cigarette lighters are known to heat and switch off (another pointless issue). I'm steering far away from having to keep making alternate arrangements to make something else do better in my rigs. charging direct from the alternator would work but then you have to go through the inverter which again isnt first prize as there's other items running like fridges etc etc

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@4x4OutFar if you are hitting the 10a limit when using your solar panel, you can increase the voltage using a boost converter.

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@4x4OutFar I was not referring to charging via an inverter, I was talking about the new Alternator Charger. However, I think you need a Delta pro or max for this to work.

[@namibiasaf]

Im going Ecoflow way. Also stay in the bush in Caprivi

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

There are good reasons to go this route 👍

[@ZARRugby]

Please no more tech stuff. When are you going to show more wildlife and travel videos. I used to look forward to your videos.

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

So sorry. We have a new series starting soon. Hopefully I'll post the first episode next Sunday. If not then it will be the following weekend 👍. It has been a bit tough to do wildlife videos because I've been working under an NDA and have not been allowed to post anything about the commercial work I am doing.

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

I did manage to include some elephants 🐘

[@ZARRugby]

Sorry I don't mean to be negative. I know it must be hard to make $ and do utube. You certainly make traveling with you fun. Look forward to next video.

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@ZARRugby no worries 👍

[@nicobothma2245]

Great content, thanks!

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@nicobothma2245 thanks 🙏