EcoFlow Delta 2 for Overlanders | So Close to Perfect!

[@TinkerersAdventure]

[UPDATE for Car Charging] EcoFlow confirmed the reason my Toyota factory inverter didn't work was because the Delta 2 requires a pure sine wave with distortion rate 10% or less. They did not comment if this can be fixed by a firmware update. BUT! After quite a few of you suggested, I put together a pretty nice fast DC car charging setup. I have now fully replaced my secondary battery with the Delta 2. Check out the new video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZCQaqmgYs15Z68

[@tabangcora]

This is great! Now a legit game changer!

[@TinkerersAdventure]

@@davidglenn1 Hey man, like I said in your other comment. I did not delete you comment and it was likely KZbin content moderation. I have nothing to gain. Please feel free to repost your original comment.

[@Dieiamgi]

Sweet dude.

[@MatthewSeratti]

Any updates on this issue?

[@thedetroiters]

Awesome video - as usual. By the way, right now the Delta 2 is only 549 on amazon - they have a 250 dollar instant coupon. The lowest I've ever seen it. I am in no way affiliated with ecoflow or any other commercial enterprise - just a fan of a great deal.

[@RobertsAdventure]

I've probably spent 50+ hours watching reviews of different power stations trying to cover the evaluation you did in this video, and no one else actually does a good job of weighing the real world trade offs between electric, traditional power, form factor, charge rates including the Toyota inverter hack, all the things you take into account here, absolutely brilliant!

[@ekspatvos6264]

What a great comment. I agree. 🙌🏻

[@8xster8]

Just buy a rivian :)

[@RobertsAdventure]

@@8xster8 They are cool, but you can't really do a multi day backcountry trip in a Rivian... Yet.

[@jimartinez1234]

Iv been contemplating purchasing the Delta2 for $400 Black Friday sale and you’ve made the decision easier! I think for this price point it’s no brainer

[@Barracartel]

Especially now that they have the alternator charger

[@josephdonnaway5755]

You nailed this one and gained a subscriber. I dry camp our Airstream for weeks at a time, using a Ecoflow Delta Max with two extra Smart Batteries. We use all of the appliances in your video, as well as the built in furnace and large refrigerator. I do have 600W of solar on the roof, but I too was disappointed to discover that the 400W inverter in my truck was not pure sine wave to satisfy the Ecoflow charger. Glad that you highlighted this issue. I’ve spoken with Ecoflow about this, but received no optimism that it could be changed.

[@styledliving]

Use a 400W AC-DC charger and you'll be fine.

[@JeffTScott]

Is there a different brand/battery that does allow u to leverage the 400watt anytime mod? I did the mod thinking this would work. Glad I watched your video before buying delta 2.

[@TayeIm]

Hey, great, simple but very clear explanation on the features, benefits, and some limitation. Most KZbinrs are not very good story tellers, I watched yours all the way to the end. Thanks for posting a great vid!

[@stuartstuart866]

I’m not an overlander, but having a travel trailer, our electrical needs are similar. Very useful video, thanks

[@retnav92]

I'm not an over overlander, but do "camp" at national/state parks in a squaredrop camper. I take my Keurig coffee machine, and ran it as needed while also running my 48qt fridge/freezer, and charging cell phones, and grandkids tablets. Last two trips I ran all of that from my Jackery 1500, but did need to recharge the Jackery a bit using a inverter generator. Next time, I'll be taking my EcoFlow Delta Max 2000. The grandkids will have a EcoFlow River 2 to charge phones, etc. I prefer the EcoFlow gear a lot more than the Jackery.

[@SAMMIEJONESJUNIOR]

Buy a heat fan for your Mr buddy and it will spread the heat

[@retnav92]

@@SAMMIEJONESJUNIOR ?. I don't use a Mr. Buddy heater.

[@SAMMIEJONESJUNIOR]

@retnav92 I should have said and get a Mr. buddy heater. I apologize.

[@retnav92]

@@SAMMIEJONESJUNIOR No problem. I do have a Mr. Buddy heater, but haven't used it for camping. I recently bought a diesel heater to use for late Fall chilly nights , but have yet to get it set up and rigged. Will be running one length of heater hose to the squaredrop, and one topside to the roof top tent where the grandsons sleep.

[@SAMMIEJONESJUNIOR]

@retnav92 brother they definitely work and you can't go wrong with either option.

[@mr.miniaturesmodels8465]

First time viewer and very impressed! Very nice, clean and efficient presentation. I just got my first portable power station with the newly released EcoFlo River 2 as a car camping base source of power for my electronics. Now you have put this in my head. Very compelling video. I hope they do find a work around for the inverter problem but as I’ve watched other power station channels, the pure sign wave output is highly prized within that community.

[@zigzagluck]

This is the best camping/overlanding-centric assessment of not just a power station, but practical use of gear. I started with a 500Wh Bluetti, went to a 1200Wh CTECHi, and am now running a 1920Wh Pecron (which is so efficient, it's comparable to power stations larger than 2000Wh!). As we brought more modern conveniences with us to the outdoors, we needed more power. Roughing it by myself is one thing, but getting my family to "rough" it also didn't last long so I needed a way to keep the experience enjoyable for everyone. And no one should discount the convenience of a microwave! 😆 Fitting the larger power station was a challenge, but my rig is always overstuffed anyways. We still use propane stoves as it's nice to be able to roast marshmallows without a campfire.

[@OFFGRID_Trucker]

I'm a jeeper and an RV'er.. I first got the River Mini.. and didn't keep it long. Then months later I bought the Delta. More power and options, but no BT or wifi. :( still have it and also own a Delta 2 with 2 spare batteries. I use it at home almost daily lately. So.. it was time to try the 12v DC stuff.. So I got a few RoadPro 12v items.. Hot Plate, personal roaster, 12v and the beverage heater. Works great for them. Can't wait to use it when I go Jeep camping this summer.

[@ekspatvos6264]

Man, I enjoyed this review. Great all-round delivery. What’s truly exceptional is that you’re one of a few vloggers who realize that their audience watches from all corners of the world … thus, awesome thinking to share metric and imperial measures 👍 Safe and happy off-roading. New subscriber from Dubai 😜

[@AfricanSafariFilms]

Probably the best delta 2 video I have seen after watching about 20 of them

[@johntate5284]

Great review! The Delta 2 is a true game changer and has no real competition. Another game changer is the much smaller Bluetti EB3A with the 268 WH LiFePO4 battery and 600 watt inverter. I have both for different purposes. You can plug a 24 VDC 10 amp charger (cheap lead acid type is good) into the Toyota crappy wave inverter and charge the Delta 2 thru the solar charging input which allows you to charge the Delta 2 up from the alternator during a long drive

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Cool idea! Didn’t think of that. Although not the most efficient but it is 100% plug and play! Thanks

[@Cabernet2000]

Is this saying put a standard battery charger plugged into the bed inverter and use the XT 60 solar plug into delta products to faster charge?

[@johntate5284]

@@Cabernet2000Yes, so use a standard 24 VDC or 36 VDC charger (12 VDC won't get you any benefit) and use the output to connect to the XD60 connector. Those can be used to plug into the crappy wave inverter in your truck bed.

[@JimmyDevere]

If the delta 2 is rated for 1800w how do you run a coffee water boiler and induction cook top (3000w total) at the same time? Is it possible?

[@johntate5284]

@@JimmyDevere You cannot run them at the same time. Run one, and then the other. I run a full sized refrigerator and also full size microwave. The refrigerator runs most of the time, but if i need the microwave, i switch the refrigerator off while the microwave runs, and then turn the refrigerator back on.

[@gregyohngy]

Thank you for your video! I continue seeing camping videos and the person has a solar generator and it only charges their video equipment, no cooking, no heating, & no recharging. I scream watching them boil water with their gas stove. My small silicone folding kettle @ 750W to boil 12oz/330 ml of water just takes 3.25 minutes or approximately just 50 wHr of power. I also appreciate seeing usage rates for various electrical appliances. A heating pad is also helpful too. I happen to have a Delta 2, OUPES 600, and cheap $100 solar generator. I have a small 45W 28L 12V fridge and my Ebike needs about 500wHr to refill it.

[@tiny_the_200]

Thanks for sharing the silicone collapsible kettle idea. I hadn’t seen those 👍🏼

[@jisungrocks5871]

Wow, this, by far, is the best D2 video I've found. I bought the D2 with a bifacial 220W solar panel for 999 USD + another 50 buck off coupon. I live in Joshua Tree, and for 40 years, most of my camping is in the Mohave, so the solar panel works great. I can charge and use it at the same time. Most of my car camping trips are 2-3 days. I am thinking of getting a tear drop soon, and this will be fine. An extra battery would be nice. Great video, thank you!

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

I have the Delta Max, the form factor was one of the reasons I went with it. Everything is in the perfect place for where I have it in my vehicle. I currently have it set to only charge to 75% to protect the cycle count. In the future I will swap to something with Lifepo4.

[@TomtheDilettante]

Great Video Kai! Now I'm jealous I don't have one of these Delta 2's because I'm not one to judge using some electric creature comforts LOL. I caught a short screenshot from one of my videos at 7:28 ;). I'm honestly flattered that you've seen any of my stuff. Your content, scripting, production quality, presentation, and subtle humor is great and I'm sure you'll be wildly successful. Keep up the great work!

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks a lot Tom! Hope you saw the credit under your screen shot. Definitely, I watched a bunch of your videos. Learned a lot

[@tonycerruto5157]

Bro… Your videos are (as the the kids would say), FREAKIN FIRE! Seriously man, you’re on point!

[@b97209]

Nice job. Well written and delivered. We have an over landing group who does 11 trips a year, one is 10 days. Two years ago, we switched to all electric because fire seasons are getting longer, we had a couple of times when sudden gusts blew over our propane stoves, and none of us want explody propane vessels in or on our vehicles. The first year was rough. The second year was quite good. We cook for 8-12 people on a trip using a kettle like yours and a double burner induction cook top with extra large inductors. Don’t get the small or normal inductors or you will only cook in the middle of the pan. We also run Starlink. Our setup in a vehicle is 2x200amp batteries charged off the alternator with cables run from the engine to the back of our vehicles connected with a red Anderson connector. We also have two 100w solar panels for the days we don’t drive. Gray Anderson connectors connect to a 3000w inverter. We found that 2000w inverters work for a little while. But the overhead of 3000w gives the overhead for everything to work well. By standardizing, we can swap elements from one vehicle to another when something doesn’t work and for troubleshooting. It also helps when I choose a different vehicle of my own for a trip. I still prefer cooking over fire for sure. But I would rather go on more trips than miss out or potentially cause a fire.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thank you. The fire season is a good point. I'm on the East coast, so most of the time it was a struggle to even start a camp fire lol.

[@jmrdrgz]

Thank you for this deep review. This is a video that is needed that almost no one does. THANKS!

[@lorditsprobingtime6668]

Just a note about LP appliances, learnt from a few years living beside a river I was dredging for gold, then many years of going camping nearly every weekend even after that. Ones that screw straight onto a bottle usually rely on a tiny restrictive hole to control the maximum gas flow so in cold weather and the gas pressure reduces drastically in really cold conditions plus, even after a short run of one of those small cartridge type disposable bottles, the gas being released will soon have ice forming on the outside dropping pressure even further so your stove or heater, just when you want the most heat is generally when you'll get the LEAST! Summer time, no worries bit especially in extreme cold conditions when you need that nice strong flame you got when you tested it at home where it was nice and warm, goes WAYYYYY down to a tiny one. If you use things like the big 9Kg bottles and a regulator, that will solve that issue BUT, you're going to need gear designed to run off that. I have a great 2 burner stove I take, or rather 'took' when camping but now I'm going to take an induction cooker, my electric kettle, a fan heater and possibly even a microwave, pretty much any appliance I use at home I can just toss in and use with my new setup that can deliver 4,000 Watts continuous, IF I needed that much, possibly welding something WHILE boiling the kettle and cooking dinner at the same time. I'm even considering a refrigerative air conditioner, just so I can get some sleep during our stinking hot summer nights, maybe lol. Obviously I've invested a fair few dollars into LiFePO4 batteries and a heap of fold up sets of solar panels, around 1,200 Watts of them plus over 1,000 Amp hours worth of batteries and vehicle based alternative charging and 'may' possibly build a charging generator from a cheap Chinese made 5 to 7 hp engine spinning an ordinary alternator though it should hopefully take about a week of no sun weather before I even need to consider using something like it. I've only just got set up so pretty sure I've got much more power than I could need now, it's only later down the track IF I run anything like an air conditioner all nights I may need more ability to run even more power after the sun's gone down.

[@valdius85]

Thank you for your perspective. I was worrying it is just another commercial video, but the financial angle you’ve provided was variable.

[@Rick-pl5ey]

If you take the power wiring behind the toyota 400W inverter and wire it into a step up boost converter, you can take the full 400W on the DC solar port. You will have to boost it from 12V to at least 30ish volts as the DC charge port is limited by amperage (it cannot process higher than about 15A.. so 15A at 12V is about 180W, 15A at 24V=360w, 15 at 36V=540w) You also get the benefit that whenever charging through that solar port that power passes directly through the load. That is not the case when it is plugged into an AC outlet, as when AC is supplied, the inverter and battery will not supply the load. So for your fridge, plugged directly to a DC output port of the ecoflow, the 400w from your vehicle can feed whatever the fridge needs and the extra stored.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Great points. Thanks!

[@fpartidafpartida]

Thanks for making this video. Love it. Recently got a Rivian R1S and it essentially has a built in 130,000 Wh battery for all the uses you highlighted here. Heating water for coffee, running a cooler, running an inverter stove for a meal will hardly scratch into it’s capacity that would be used for range. It will also keep the climate running all night while car camping, so no separate heater (or AC) would be needed. Mostly use this to get to great mountain biking locations.

[@neoskater420]

Crazy to say I did see a Rivan on a offroad trail that I had to stop since I don't have a lift yet the Rivan just keep going. Only issue I have is I like to go out where there is no signal gas/jerry cans are a must to refuel. My question is what do you do to get out farther with out running out of battery? Can the Rivan be charged solar? Can a generator charge it? What would you do if you run out of power with no signal in the middle of a trail far from any paved road?

[@nobleharbor265]

Regarding the 1500 watt hot water kettle. You might want to look at Hotpot’s. Specify, I use a Zojirushi Model No. CV-JAC40 which uses 120 volts, and 930 watts! Combine that with a true vacuum storage container (4 Liters) and a setting to cut off the heating just before boil, with several settings for final water temperature, and a timer for overnight. You end up with very low power usage, long storage times & a solution to avoid condensation. Not to mention safe operation because the surface temperature of the pot is cool to the touch due to the vacuum bottle storage. In fact I’ve always used that hotpot as the standard when judging which power station solution I would consider. Looks like we have a match!

[@hmgxiongchico]

This has got to be the most helpful review on this product. Easy to follow bro. I dig it. Thanks for breaking it down for the average overlanding and camping folks like us who work five days a damn week.

[@BearClawAK47]

Great news! Amazon prime has these on sale for less than $400. Many of the battery pack companies are offering high output charging stations that wire directly to your car's battery. These are very easy to install and charge up to 7x faster than the cigarettes plug

[@SloMo2723]

Thank you so much for posting this video. I boat camp with my 24 foot sailboat and has wanted to get away from propane stoves. I believe this could last for a weekend of camping on the lakes I sail.Heating the cabin in the morning when it's flipping cold would be amazing! All the best

[@MyChannel-vm6dw]

Bought a delta 2 with their solar panel and love it. Works right out of the box as advertised. No BS , no hassles. Unlike my Bluetti products which had burning smells out of the box. My only gripes are the extended extra batteries. They're literally dumb with not even any USB connectors or wireless charger on top. They are literally just a slave battery. Cmon man, for $800 that's a terrible value. Better yet, just update the firmware so that, like the Delta 2s big bro, the Delta Pro, that you can connect two Delta 2s together to both extend battery capacity, but also do 240V split phase. NOW THAT would be killer value and people be lining up all day for that.

[@johntate5284]

You can get a PowerQueen 25.6V 100A LiFePO4 battery for less than the EcoFlow expansion battery for the Delta 2 (approximately $150 less US$) and use it thru the solar input. With that, you have a 3.5KWhr, 1800 watt system for only about $1450 US (when the Delta 2 goes on sale for $799). A little velcro and a couple of hole down straps and the Delta 2 is perfectly happy sitting atop the PowerQueen battery.

[@MyChannel-vm6dw]

@John Tate yeah but you can't charge the external lifepo4 battery EFFICIENTLY with just the Delta 2 but you can using ecoflow extra battery.

[@johntate5284]

@@MyChannel-vm6dw I have a Delta 2 that i use as a UPS for my network and server. For $799, no UPS system can touch it. I have 2 Bluetti EB3A's that i also use as UPS's for other smaller loads. For $209, no UPS in that price range can touch it. I also have the Bluetti AC200MAX with 2 batteries, and it is much better than the Delta 2 in pretty much every area, even price. I have cables so that my external B230 batteries can run directly to the Delta 2 solar input if need be. And unlike the Delta 2 extra battery (which is pretty much useless except for the Delta 2), the B230 can run12 volt, USB A and 100 watt USB C and can be recharged without being connected to the 200MAX.

[@jaggedtoothX]

@@johntate5284 ​ I have been really torn between the Bluetti AC200 Max (or even the AC200P) but the one thing that I keep seeing online between people that have both the Delta 2 and one of the larger Bluetti's, is that they tend to reach for the Delta 2 the most because of the weight. I can see the Bluetti being the best for a home system, but having to lug around a 63-pound cinder block at camp doesn't sound great to my aging back. Maybe I'm overthinking it though, I dunno.

[@gerald4nomads]

I have a delta 2, and it's the perfect battery for the weekend warriors, especially when it's compared to Goal Zero and the oversized Bluetti AC200P.

[@HaveYourADVENTURE]

Thank you so much for your video. You really talked about many of our electric needs while overlanding isn South America. Electric water cooker and heater are a big plus. I just wish i could order the Delta 2 in Colombia for a reasonable price. So far the shops that are selling it want double of what it can be bought in the US. If we find a reasonable priced way to get it, we are going to do an overlanding review with it too.

[@WeekendWanderersOverland]

I have been "overlanding" since 1998... and last year we added an air fryer with our honda generator. it was a game changer so much that many of my friends also got air fryers and 2000 watt inverters...( you can set your food in and walk away to chat at the campfire and not burn dinner!!) thank you for doing this video... and check out the air fryer... ours has a sauce pan style basket so I can do soups and noodles too!!

[@truestory923]

Unfortunately, most air cookers user Teflon, so you're essentially putting poison into your body each time you cook. Skeptical? DYOR

[@WeekendWanderersOverland]

@@truestory923 Teflon is the least of peoples worries… look at the ingredients in your food and the medicine in your body.. worry about something more important than a non-stick coating

[@fivefivesix-sevensixtwo4114]

We use the EcoFlow Delta to power up dead Teslas at work. I've seen what they can do so I just bought one for when I go camping. Thanks for the fast car charging info. Subscribed.

[@youdodat2]

My, Dude. I'm glad I came across your channel - I've learned a lot in a mere 2 videos and you make me chuckle uproariously.

[@TerryManitoba]

On both my rigs I run 100% electric - (with a Jet boil & cheap Butane stove for back up). You might want to consider an Instant Pot - that way you can easily be cooking a meal as you are driving (stew style dishes) - hence not eating into you battery for cooking when you hit your destination. (gold) In both rigs have 2 - 110 amp batteries & may not make the leap to a stand alone - Yet!!!

[@styledliving]

not gonna lie, but microwaving costco pack croissants for 15 seconds and then airfryer for 3 minutes (After it comes to temp) f***ing game changer bro.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

you guys living in year 3000

[@TrevorDyck]

This is great. The microwave jokes at 11:00 cracked me up, too 😂

[@LanceMace]

EcoFlow just released an alternator charging solution! 800 watts 🎉 Looks like a really slick solution.

[@mattheword]

Just pulled the trucked on this for my truck camper 🤘🏽

[@BoDiddly]

@LanceMace I just came here to say that!

[@yourunclefab]

Was on the fence about the Delta 2. But you just made the sale! Thanks.

[@janettecabauatan9292]

Thanks for the code!! I used it today.

[@johnowens8530]

It’s a great video. Very informative, and it has a lot of potential for simplifying camping. The obvious reality is you must produce enough electricity everyday for this to work. It can be done, but clearly it is necessary. If you spend the day not driving, and under a tree canopy, this setup will not work very well at all. I enjoyed it. Thanks

[@sirflappington2484]

Ecoflow has an "alternator charger" accessory that allows you to charge up to 800w by connecting it to the battery with settings to charge only when above a set voltage. The accessory also allows you to reverse direction and charge the car battery instead. A little expensive but works great as long as you have a beefy alternator in your car.

[@Gael_AG]

Note that you could also use insulated blankets for your kettle and pan to boil faster

[@alleightcylinders1295]

Thank you, good to see someone finally did this review. I’ve been looking for a way to use electricity to boil water, throwing in the space heater was an added bonus for me. This will be my elk camp set up next year.

[@fishwhisperer101]

I have the Delta 2 with the extra max battery. Starting with a fully charged Delta2, I was able to camp overnight with the using the RV heater and keep my truck battery charged while using WIFI to watch movies, etc with just enough leftover to make 2 pots of coffee in the morning before connecting to my Honda 2200i generator in the morning to recharge and provide power throughout the day wrapping up with a fully charged Delta2 to run overnight. My camping area had a quiet time between 9pm and 8 am. I have even tested running my air conditioner on just the Delta2 and it started and ran just fine, albeit for short time.

[@1ENDUSER]

All you have to do is buy two 36V scooter packs with xt60 connection that can also be charged via arc or cigarette charger. Works well in a pinch. I carry them when I go camping.

[@retiredtothesuncoastofflor9451]

F150 power boost with the 7.2 kw generator. Field electric power solved. I ran mine in generator mode after hurricane Ian running two full sized refrigerators ten hours a day, charging people’s devices, coffee pot and hot plate for six days and only used one quarter tank of gas. (I have since added the 240v external plug to my electrical panel so now I can run the whole house except the AC.)

[@psahadi]

You need to try a 12v truckers bunk heater mat. Way less power usage than a electric blanket and the heat rises up and stays within the blankets. I use this in my pop up camper bunks. I have it set to the lowest setting all night. Best sleep ever. You put the mat above your mattress pad and cover it with a blanket or sheet. They also have smaller water boilers that will boil enough water for two cups of coffee and or cup of noodles. Less energy again. Glad you see the advantage.

[@joeglennaz]

Hello from Phoenix, Arizona! I don’t do any kind of camping at all but I think this video is great and amazing. I’ve been following Ecoflo for many years and I’m about ready to buy one just in case I have a power outage at home. I’d like to be able to keep my fridge running. I’m thinking I’m waiting until they come out with a third edition . I’m definitely glad I waited so when I get one, it will have the new Lipo 4 batteries. Thanks again for the great video and covering the electric blanket in the kennel and all that stuff. I have a kettle just like that I get a Costco it’s amazing.

[@robjames2000]

Excellent video - so is it’s follow up

[@MichaelEricMenk]

A tip for faster DC charging, and you already have a DC2DC converter: Set the DC2DC converter to power supply mode, and turn up the voltage. The limit is amperage based, so if you can bump it up to 28V, it will charge twice as fast. An other option is to keep the dual battery,and charge slowly from the second battery....

[@TinkerersAdventure]

I'm thinking trying a dumb 24V 15amp voltage converter. The redarc has the smart profiles to charge a dumb battery. But the Delta 2 has MPPT built in, so by dumbing down the redarc to power supply mode is a little wasteful. I can still give the redarc to someone who can use it.

[@MichaelEricMenk]

@@TinkerersAdventure Power supply mode is what you want. Power supply mode and a two stage CC/CV battery charger is basically the same. But if you have a more advanced charger, it may not charge because it do not detect a voltage, and after a while a advanced charger will go into float mode. The reduced voltage in float mode will reduce power going into the Delta. The MPPT charge controller in the Delta will do the regulation, so there is no need for this logic outside the Delta. Regarding efficiency: this is a more efficient way than going via AC.

[@normansimonsen1203]

This is mostly what I want to do for my Camp. I want my camp to have Electricity. Without writing a book here. This is my problem. The vehicle controls the Alternator. (Honda). I see voltages, all over the place. From 12.2 to 14.2 VDC. (The vehicle is trying desperately to be fuel efficient). It raises heck with Power Stations that don't want to Change at such low (bare maintenance voltages). It also makes it nearly impossible to charge my isolated auxiliary batteries. If the vehicle sits at Park, I get a constant 14.1 volts. But, if I do that I am afraid the altenator will over heat and burn out. Does anyone make a dc to dc charge device that will accept constantly changing voltages on the input, and provide a steady output suitable for charging Lipo4 and AGM auxiliary batteries ?

[@MichaelEricMenk]

@@normansimonsen1203 A LiFePO4 needs a CC/CV charge profile with CV being between 14.2V and 14.6V. While AMG can be used with a CC/CV with CV being 14.4V. Since a good DC2DC converter only runs when the engine is running, you do not need to bother with a float stage. I have installed in a sail boat the Victron DC2DC smart convert. You get it in 18 and 30A. This solved his charging problem, but he regrets getting the 18A (and not the 30A) for a 100Ah battery. You can set the CV voltage and set a LVD on the source battery. The converter automatically detects when the engine is running. Regarding the size, a rule of thumb is max 50% of the alternator capacity. And most LiFePO4 also want a max ½ C charge rate.

[@normansimonsen1203]

@MichaelEricMenk thanks for your reply. I Sailed all over Long Island Sound as a young boy in my Grandfathers 26' wooden Sloop. I have a 2-o cable running Directly from the positive battery terminal of the vehicle under hood battery. It goes under the vehicle into the trunk. It first goes through a big red on/off Switch (I manually isolate the vehicle every time I get out of the vehicle.) Then I go to a victron 100 Amp, 3 battery isolator. I'm using the diodes inside the thing to separate the AGM battery attached to output 1, from the Lipo4 battery attached to output 3. I figured. Doing it this way, the Electrons could figure out for themselves, where they were most needed. Worst case = the battery management inside the Lipo4 automatically stops charging when full. And then, the AGM can have more charge current, if needed. Little to no loads are on the auxiliary batteries while Driving. But. When the vehicle is putting out such Low maintenance voltages wile driving. Its not enough.

[@roy326]

You nailed it again !!! Also many people don’t realize the DC to DC is way better than solar setup. After 480 watts of unreliable solar power.. dc to dc is the way to go !

[@IowaLR4]

after putting in my 4,200 watt hours of LiFePO4.. i removed my solar panels. Really no need when my alternator+redarc can charge at 50 amps.

[@perpelle]

If you drive a lot, sure. It's no good if you are standing still (and idling is a no-go).

[@gregsmith146]

With the size and weight of the Delta 2. It is perfect for overlanding. I can take it out when I need it or just keep it in the vehicle.

[@styledliving]

It’s the perfect size for someone to take out my vehicle.. through the window. 😢

[@billyhendoe4170]

Thanks for the link to the heated blanket. Score!

[@ddoghunt3471]

So close.... Exactly what I have been looking for, use my Tacoma to charge. Not yet I guess. You are ALWAYS looking out for us, thanks so much for your great content and evaluation. Many blessings may come your way 🙏

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks! Check out my pinned comment for latest update. Fast car charging is now achieved!

[@chipper7711]

I consistently feel that overlanding is so much more about what you OWN than where you GO. I’ll stick with what works vs. maximizing comfort in every possible way. Read the bestselling book “The Comfort Crisis,” and learn how the relentless quest for comfort is killing our sense of aliveness.

[@livableincome]

While I agree with the thrust of your arguement, the older I get the more comfort I need. And, with the world "going to hell in a hand basket" I need nature more than ever. I am not a big consumerist and all my stuff is old. But it would be nice to camp in the spring without running out of charge on our first night out.

[@Lordoftheflatbush]

I agree many overlanders overspend and take too many stuff with them. Overweight is a big issue. I like to travel light and keep it simple/basic. I do use a goalzero 3000x though as I don’t have to buy/install a complicated dual battery system. I also ls use this thing as a backup battery in my home.

[@spacecruisers]

While I agree with the sentiment, I like to go with my young kids and prefer going in the shoulder seasons and even winter. These tools unlock whole new experiences for me and my family. They simply wouldn’t go no matter how much I try to convince them that they need to rough it like I used to back in my day lol

[@sherryh7485]

Thank you! Practical applications always help individuals new to solar setups.

[@LiquidTurbo]

Great video and solid points! Having an 1800W inverter is game changer. You can even run an instant pot!

[@styledliving]

Same issue with an APC UPS on modified sine inverters.

[@EliasDelvasto]

This was an awesome video. Super detailed while still being easy to understand. Well done

[@rickgrant5844]

Your always very informative thank you so happy I ran into you. Just started getting into over landing

[@IowaLR4]

Great video. Agree with you on pretty much every very well thought out point. I went nuts and built my own LiFePO4 setup under my drawer system (removed the 3rd row seats). I ended up with 4,200 watt hours of power with two 170 ah renogy lifepo4 batts and victron/redarc/wagantech gear. It was time consuming, expensive but it fits perfectly. I don't think I would recommend my system to anyone unless they were a bit nutty like me and had the skillset to do it. The all in one units like you review are a better option for most people. If they can crack the charging speed issue they will be even more of an obvious choice. My setup could charge at 200 amps if I had the chargers for it, but I just use the redarc 50 amp DCDC and its plenty fast. No float charging means it just pumps in 50 amps till full and done. I also have a 25 amp victron shore power charger for the garage built in. Electric 12v blanket is amazing for in-cab sleeping. I even have a little 200 watt 110v "office desk" space heater that I use. I haven't felt the need to do electric cooking because I like gas, but if you have the power why not.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Impressive setup! I was heading towards that route, adding more batteries, ports, inverters and building boxes to mount things. I just never had time to complete those projects.

[@livableincome]

Thanks for being so smart. I wish my electrician dad was still alive. We need to make adjustments to our truck camper and I am sure he would have fixed us right up. A lot of these discussions are over my head.

[@TimRoyalPastortim]

$1000 a year ago... Black Friday deal this year... $399, insane! Love my D2

[@ColinRobertson_LLAP]

We have the River Pro and ran into the same issue with the inverter built into my 4Runner not being able to charge it... Seems to work well enough on the cigarette lighter but I haven't done extensive testing. Great idea to use a kettle instead of a jet boil-I wish my Ecoflow could power one!

[@nautidad]

It is a game changer. I can run Dometic 55l for like a week plugged into the 12v, and charge to full with Victron dc/dc converter in like 3-4 hrs of driving.

[@daviddecker100]

Thanks!

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks David!

[@marleymason5479]

Great power station bought a delta 2 3 weeks ago can run my fridge freezer up 40 to 72 hrs.

[@damonried1720]

Have you considered using a 400 watt DC-DC converter to boost the 12vDC from your car battery to 24vDC for your solar generator? The higher DC voltage plugged into your solar panel input on the sogen allows it to charge at a higher rate, 200 plus watts or more.

[@ErnestoFriesUrioste]

You can use a DC DC 12v to 24v 10A and you double the watt for charging the ecoflow per DC

[@CaptainClutchCameron]

After the joke about cold sandwiches, I laughed out loud and immediately subscribed haha

[@MC...]

Thank you for the review vids on the Delta 2. You reinforced my purchase after watching many other vids. Your vid was way more informative. Thank you brother. (For 05 Toy Sequioa, and my house)

[@pennmikael]

I have the bluetti ac200max but haven’t brought it out since it’s huge and heavy. This seems like a very good option

[@JoshuaReigns]

In response to your problem of condensation in your tent, I'd recommend switching to a hybrid vehicle that can efficiently be left running overnight to power the Ecoflow Delta 2 and subsequently your electric heater inside your tent.

[@osiviper]

The problem with the car inverters is not so much the modified sine wave. My Delta 2 will run just fine with another MSW inverter I have. But a lot of the inverters that cars/trucks have built in are very poor for voltage regulation. A lot that are supposed to put out 120v are lucky to hit 110v unloaded but can quickly drop down to very low voltages (usually 80 volts or lower) under load. The lower voltages don't cause any problems for simple equipment that is just designed to run. But the EcoFlow has a cutoff where it will switch from line power to battery if using it as a UPS. If you have a multimeter, it would be interesting to see how low the voltage is going.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Interesting. Good info!

[@hauk3839]

Dash has allot of cool cooking stuff like mini toaster oven that uses only 500 watts.

[@Annon89]

Probably already answered this by someone else. But you could just get a 12v cig to 110 pure sine wave inverter around 300w for 30-40 bucks and be done with it. Or find the Toyota modified sine wave inverter and replace it with a pure sine wave. Just a few potential options. Or hardwire a larger amp 12v plug. I think you can get close to 200w out of those with a 20amp fuse. Especially if you ran large cables straight from the battery. I really applaud you for these ideas I like them a lot I always thought those higher watt appliances would be too big for portable battery packs but you are right about the trade off for fuel vs electricity on almost all of it. I will probably build my own portable pack but the eco flows are really starting to shine and if the prices come down soon I imagine they will run away with the market.

[@eugenedarvell8470]

Hi, great video. I just bought myself a delta two and I deal with too smart extra battery . I save my self a lot of money by getting a refurbished units DIRCT from Ecoflow also I am getting a 220w solar panel also refurbished from Ecoflow in all this have save me around £800 . So far the both. Units have worked without any problems. Just a little tip for your viewer to consider if they want to buy a Ecoflow delta 2 and smart battery

[@jeremiahostrosky3448]

Just git my Delta 2 (finally) that I got for $499 on Prime Day. Granted it took 6 weeks to get here, I am happy to replace my aging original Delta 1000, which is showing it's age (aka battery degredation) more every day. I totally agree the Delta 2 is a game changer, and with the change to LFP chemistry (and increased solar charging) theyve fixed what I considered to be the original Delta's biggest shortcomings. Imagine how those of us feel that dropped $1,200 on the Delta, only to realize that after 500 (yes, HUNDRED) cycles the battery will be degraded to 60% (yes, 60%, not 80% like the rest of the industry). I now own a 35lb power station that might provide 500Wh of power on a good day.

[@mas921]

12v to 24v dc dc charger like a victron 12/24-15 into the solar input on the delta 2 and voila 360w dc charging from the alternator. no losses from going dc to ac back to dc with the pure sine wave inverter method.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks for the input! A few other people also recommended the victron 12/24. Any reason you use a "smart" charger like victron? The Delta 2 solar input has built in MPPT. So any issue just using a $30 "dumb" 12 to 24V, 15amp voltage converter?

[@reacher80]

@@TinkerersAdventure When you shut off the car, MPPT will keep drawing current from the battery, which can drain it and cause the car not to start. A "smart" charger will cut off the current when it detects the engine is turned off. Also a smart charger will automatically cut off the power transfer to your powerstation if it detects a voltage drop below 12V from the car battery. However, this probably wouldn't happen in your FJ if it can already enough current to support a built in inverter. I'm trying to solve the same problem to charge the EcoFlow River Pro from a Honda Element so really curious if you guys have other ideas!

[@whmitty1]

Informative while also punctuated with humor. Thank you.

[@ramoneortiz]

Great video. Very informative. I stumbled across your channel because I am also an FJ and LC 200 owner. Love the idea of going electric for winter camping. I didn’t like having an open flame inside my iKamper. This indeed is a game changer. Greetings from Las Vegas, NV.

[@user-tc5rv5fb1d]

I just bought an f150 with pro power on board. It has a 7.2kw gen that can charge a delta two at the full 1200w without a sweat. Solving the whole issue.

[@TheSenorChavez]

excellent review. I do a lot of camping and have a diesel heater and portable fridge to charge, it manages both for a couple days.

[@jeepncj7]

For car charging via AC, maybe look at replacing your oem with something like a Morningstar pure sine wave inverter. In reality though, at 400 watts it starts getting loud with the fans running so it may not be worth it anyways. I'm going to stick with the car charger for now and see if it would make sense.

[@scottoconnor3484]

I bought an Ecoflow River 2 Pro, thinking it would make for a decent overlanding power source. But, a nice electric kettle uses 1500 watts. The Nuwave induction cookers I already had require 1300 watts for the high setting, and the manual says they cannot be operated from batteries. To get ample wattage, the Ecoflow Delta 2 with 2400 watts output weighs a whopping 50 lbs, is 20x10x12” and costs $1600. Not a bargain, too big and heavy for a fully loaded overlander. I didn’t think all this through very well.

[@joeglennaz]

I don’t know if I missed it or you forgot to mention it but if you take a portable solar panel with you and you use that during the day to recharge your Delta that might get you where you need to be without stopping at the gas station or maybe stopping at a gas station and using the portable solar panel I just wanted to bring that up. You probably covered it and I just missed it. Thanks again for the video.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

That’s true. It is just a little weather dependent compared to high power car charging. But it should be plenty for most people

[@jailbreakoverlander]

Well done as always, great info.

[@jgm113]

Check out the jettle.. perfect amount of water for 2 cup noodles, or coffee, way smaller than a jet boil.

[@cristianp3000]

Dude!! This was dope! As someone who camps, I appreciated the examples.

[@stephenwancowicz1715]

Thanks for this video and your other Ecoflow vid. I'm not much into rock crawling and real overlanding as I just have an AWD 14 year old Honda Element, but I think the Ecoflow Delta 2 is right for me. I like that I can upsize this with the external battery once I can afford to buy a van that won't break down immediately once I get into the mountains😬. Based on your advice and a couple other sources, I bought it. (through your link). Hope you get the credit! I saw the advantage in electric blankets and electric water kettles (even tiny microwaves, gasp) when I lived on a boat, and I think this will allow me to so something similar when out on the road and away from shore power.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

I appreciate the support! Nice, I have an 07 AWD EX. I pretty much drive it exclusively in the winter going to various ski resorts in the northeast. Love my Element.

[@joeerau]

I am very impressed with your channel. I find information that is clear, concise, with the best available solution given the current technological options. Best regards from New Mexico.

[@danielgjb]

I have observed more off roaders going to power stations and if the power is available it is way easier, cleaner safer and less items to load. Even a super small generator that could be run just an hour top off the power station would be more convenient than carrying all the extra items to cook, keep warm and run small appliances.

[@david-iam]

Crazy that the video has the Delta 2 at $999. And less than 6mo later, you can get the Delta 2 + Extra battery for $1050. Love how the cost is coming down.

[@thetree1994]

It is possible to do fast DC to DC charging (up to 500 watts) using the XT60 solar port, so long as the voltage is kept within about 12-60 volts. It would probably require some custom cable but it is certainly possible.

[@kevin_fine]

Another great video Kai! I ran into similar issues with my Ecoflow sweet of battery banks as well. I suspect it is more to do with the feature of being able to use these as back-UPS for your computer or sump pump (my case), so it can detect if something is wrong with the signal and switch to battery mode. It would be nice if you could disable this feature in the app and turn it on or off though!

[@ccwstraightshooter9761]

My ETaker M2000 has the same narrow form factor as your Ecoflow but the ETaker is smaller than the Delta 2 and only weighs 36 lbs. Your stacked ecoflows take up tons of space and weigh almost 50 lbs combined. My ETaker has over 2,000 Watt Hours and 2,400 continuous watt inverter. It’s also 1/3 the size as the two stacked ecoflows.

[@jc10907Sealy]

This is genius. I’m a total electric ⚡️ home backup, camping ⛺️ person user.

[@live4mac]

I picked up an Ecoflow river 2 max to run my dometic fridge, and now you're making me wish I had gone bigger with the Delta 2!I. I think all electric is the way things will go in the future. 4Xoverland's latest troop build did just that. I too had the idea of charging my ecoflow from my OEM AC inverter in my grand Cherokee and I ran into the exact same issue you saw, the modified sine wave explanation makes a lot of sense. It may be easier to install an inexpensive 500w pure sine wive inverter than mess with a bunch of solar panels or fancy DC-DC charger.

[@styledliving]

imagine the ecoflow wave AC with the Delta2. 😂

[@no.9516]

He makes some pretty good points.

[@herbertnavarrete6788]

The best thing about that Delta 2 is that it only needs 80 minutes for a full charge.

[@patriciadavis7444]

NO WAY MY DEAR , FIRST IT DEPENDS ON THE SUN,,, NO SUN NO CHARGE.. AND IF YOU PLUG IT UP TO CHARGE YOU NEED ABOUT TWO HOURS TO FULLY CHARGE IT ....

[@brianbrown9700]

​@@patriciadavis7444 🤦‍♂️

[@brianbrown9700]

​@@patriciadavis7444 it plugs up to a wall . Watch the video. Karen

[@Jhovan33]

Another option would be to replace the house batteries with a honda eu2000 generator. Takes up about the same space as a large battery and you have recharge capability on demand and reliability.

[@GavinEarnshaw]

As usual you have done some real testing rather than spec comparisons. The side cable for expansion seems a bit of an afterthought. Shame on the lack of dc-dc but then it is pretty good.

[@styledliving]

Technically, the solar charger is a DC input, 11-60VDC at 15A max and MPPT so it can handle a swing in terms of voltage. DC DC charging is possible being directly run to the alternator/starter battery (180Watt max), but you'd either: a) want to use an ignition coupled relay to shutoff the circuit after the engine's off and/or add a timer so it starts charging after the vehicle has been running for at least 30 minutes (to give preferential charging to the starter battery) or b) use a DC-DC charger like the Victron Orion 12/24 (12v input, output 24v at 15A [360Watt max]) DC-DC Charging gives the added benefit of being able to use any load that the EcoFlow Delta 2 is capable of handling w/o the worry about tripping the circuit feeding the AC side.