Solar Power
Having reliable electricity when being off-grid is a must while enjoying the conveniences we have become accustomed to. Today, there are many options at hand that were not available just a few years ago at reasonable prices to satisfy the basics required on a farm. In my research, the following decision was made to incorporate solar power on the farm for several reasons.
I decided to facilitate my power requirements with solar generators instead of using the more powerful gas/LP powered generators we have become used to using. With the price of gasoline fluctuating as well as the horrible noise they create, the one-time, up front cost of using solar was a determining factor. Add to it the solar collectors and you have a quiet and free supply of dependable energy to automatically replenish the amount you typically use on a daily basis.
What sold me on the EcoFlow Delta 2 solar generator was the fact that it uses the Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFe PO4) batteries for about 6 times the number of cycles (10 years of daily use) compared to the Lithium Ion. You can also expand the capability by adding another battery to double the source to 2,048 KWh or choose an optional larger battery and increase the capacity to a rated 3,072 KWh. Also, I love being able to see on the screen the actual percentages of load and input vs. another company I previously considered showing the results in 20 percentage blocks. For convenience, you can also connect this unit to the WiFi and receive firmware updates as they are released for additional and improved features and use Bluetooth to control it remotely without Internet access. Add the cell phone app to access the unit and this was a no brainer of which to choose for the same or in this case, less money.
The following is a chart I created for my personal use to determine which of these models best fit the requirements after sorting out the many options available. The information was gathered from several sources as listed below, including the company websites but also from a number of informative YouTube videos. Some of the information may not be accurate so take the data offered with a grain of salt until you verify with your own research. This is just a way of looking at what can be compared at a glance.
| EcoFlow Delta 2 |
EcoFlow Delta Pro |
Jackery Exp 1000 |
Bluetti EB70S |
Bluetti AC200P |
|
| Advertised Price |
$999 | $3,499 | $999 | $479 | $1,399 |
| Watt hrs available |
1,024 | 3,600 | 1,002 | 716 | 2,000 |
| Battery chemistry |
LiFe PO4 | LiFe PO4 | Lithium Ion |
LiFe PO4 | LiFe PO4 |
| Life Cycles to 80% |
3,000 | 3,500 | 500 | 2,500 | 3,500 |
| Cost per cycle |
$0.33 | $1.00 | $2.00 | $0.19 | $0.40 |
| Weight pounds |
27 | 99 | 22 | 21.4 | 61 |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 2 years | 2 + 2 years |
2 + 2 years |
| Inverter watts capable |
1,800 | 3,600 | 1,000 | 699 | 2,000 |
| Inverter watts surge |
2,700 | 7,200 | 2,000 | 1,400 | 4,800 |
| Inverter watts shut down |
2,300 | – | 1,600 | – | – |
| Charging time |
80 min @ 1,200 W |
2.7 hrs @ 1,800 watts |
7.5 hrs @ 145 watts |
2.9 hrs | 4 hrs @ 700 W |
| Solar input |
60 volts 500 watts |
240 volts 1,600 watts |
30 volts 163 watts |
– | 35-150v 700 W |
| Screen info |
% Input % output |
% Input % output |
% Input % output |
20% blocks |
% Input % output |
| Smart features |
WiFi Bluetooth phone app |
WiFi Bluetooth phone app |
Light | Light wireless charging |
wireless charging |
| Usable ports |
15 – 6 AC, 9 DC |
13 – 5 AC, 7 DC, 30 amp |
8 – 3 AC, 5 DC |
12 – 4 AC, 8 DC |
17 – 6 AC, 11 DC |
| MPPT charge controller |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UPS mode | Yes – EPS | Yes – EPS | None | Yes | Yes |
| Expansive battery |
Yes – 1kWh or 2kWh |
Yes – 3.6 to 25kWh |
None | Yes | Yes |
| Efficiency rating |
81% AC, 78% DC |
– | 90% AC, 90% DC |
– | – |
| Parasitic drain | 2% @ 3 hrs |
– | 1% @ 3 hrs |
– | 1% per hr |
| Pass through charging |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Advertised Price – I purchased my Ecoflow Delta 2 at a discount as a factory refurbished. Check the companies for specials.
EPS – Emergency Power Supply, hesitates for 30ms before activating. Does not work on most computers.
MPPT – stands for Maximum Power Point Tracking, a technique to regulate the charge of your battery bank.
Updated 14 January 2023
References
- Big Heavy. (14 Sep 2022). Ecoflow Delta 2 Solar Generator Full Review, PLUS Comparison with the Jackery and EcoFlow Delta Pro. Retrieved on 14 January 2023 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4F5BHgvHdo
- Bluetti. (2023). Bluetti. Retrieved on 13 January 2023 from https://www.bluettipower.com/ mmpt
- CityPrepping. (22 Sep 2022). EcoFlow Delta II Review: How Does it Stack Up Against Competition? Retrieved 11 January 2023 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n13nhaXNxU
- EcoFlow. (2023). EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station. Retrieved on 11 January 2023 from https://us.ecoflow.com/collections/delta-series/products/delta-2-portable-power-station
- HoboTech. (16 Sep 2022). EcoFlow Delta 2 1800w LiFePO4 UPS Power Station Solar Battery Generator Review. Retrieved 11 January 2023 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1USXidtNqQE
- Jackery. (2023). Jackery. Retrieved on 13 January 2023 from https://www.jackery.com/
- Jason. (14 Sep 2022). Ecoflow Delta 2 – Solar Generator LiFePO4 Battery Power Station Full Review. Retrieved on 13 January 2023 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz0znTSA5hY
- Nolan, C. (1 Nov 2022). Ecoflow Delta 2 Review. Wall Power without the Wall. Retrieved 11 January 2023 from https://www.androidpolice.com/ecoflow-delta-2-review/
- OBrien, K. (12 Dec 2022). EcoFlow DELTA 2 Review. Retrieved 11 January 2023 from https://www.storagereview.com/review/ecoflow-delta-2-review
- Prowse, W. (26 Dec 2019). Ecoflow Delta Review: Pros and Cons/ Capacity Test/ Technical Discussion and More (Sponsored Video). Retrieved 11 January 2023 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjl3s1CdYII
- Waters, B. (25 Sep 2022). Ecoflow DELTA 2 or a Jackery 1000?? No brainer choice on where to spend your $$$$$. Retrieved on 11 January 2023 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMlD89psJ_o