I tested a compact power station with a solar power generator – it’s my new travel essential

For a limited time, you can pick up the EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus<!–> at a $200 discount on Amazon.

Power stations come in all shapes and sizes, but I find that the units on the extreme ends get most of the attention: either the massive ones that can power a home for days or the tiny, ultraportables that fit into your pocket.

But the middle ground gets overlooked, which is a shame because there are some great units in that space. 

Also: The best portable power stations you can buy

One that I’ve been testing recently is the EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus–>. This is the smallest in EcoFlow’s Delta 3 line, but it has a lot of potential for those looking for a powerful unit that’s still on the small side. I’ve used a number of units from EcoFlow’s earlier Delta 2 line<!–>, so I was eager to see what improvements have been made. 

Well, let me tell you: there’s a lot I like about the Delta 3 Plus. First, it’s small. It measures a petite 16 x 8 x 11 inches, so it’s perfect for chucking into a trunk or footwell of a car, or even a backpack to lugging it to camp – just remember that it’s quite hefty, weighing 27.6 pounds. 

Luckily, the ammo crate style handles on the unit make lifting and moving that weight around as easy as it can be, as they’re comfortable and well balanced. 

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Also, when it comes to outdoor use, I was pleased to find out that the Delta 3 Plus features a 1,024Wh battery pack that’s IP65 rated for dust and water-resistance. This increases the life of the unit and dramatically decreases the risk of fires and short circuits. 

But it’s also important to know that while the battery pack is built to resist water and dust, the rest of the unit isn’t, so you’ll still need to be careful outdoors and employ a waterproof cover or box. For me, anything that helps the unit last longer when used outdoors gets my vote.

The unit can push a very respectable 1,800W via the AC outlets (and handle short surges up to 3,600W), 140W through the USB-C ports, and 36W out of the USB-A ports. It can accept up to 1,500W for charging via AC, taking the unit from zero to 100% in under an hour. It also accepts charging from solar, car (EcoFlow makes an optional 800W car charger<!–>), and generator, and can also be charged using a combination of AC and solar. 

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The batteries in the unit are lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cells that are good for up to 4,000 recharge/discharge cycles. That’s a decade of daily charging and recharging before the cells fall blow that 80% capacity point and are considered spent.

I’ve also noticed that the cooling fans are much quieter than those on the Delta 2. If you gave that power station any load over 500W, the fans kick in and it sounds like a helicopter taking off.

The Delta 3 Plus, on the other hand, is virtually silent at whatever load. The new design also moved the air inlet and outlet from the side of the power station to the front and back, which makes it a lot harder to inadvertently block the airflow.

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Another great touch here is that the Delta 3 Plus has the option to be connected to external battery packs such as the Delta Pro 3 4,096Wh<!–> or Delta 3 1,024Wh–> batteries, up to 5kWh. It’s rare that you can connect a small power station to an external battery pack, with this feature being reserved for bigger, more expensive units. Kudos to EcoFlow for this, because it means people can upgrade without having to get rid of their old hardware.

Also: The best portable power stations you can buy

There are a couple of things about the Delta 3 Plus I dislike. Bear in mind that they’re mostly personal preference rather than any shortcoming with the power station, however. 

First, the silver finish on the unit doesn’t hide scratches and marks as well as the black finish on the earlier units. In fact, this finish feels like it bangs up easily. If this lived in at home or in a garage, it probably wouldn’t get roughed up, but in a car or truck, it’s definitely going to pick up some scratches.

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I’m not concerned about how it looks, so it’s not a worry to me, and not a deal-breaker, it’s just the older finish seemed more robust. And it’s just the finish I’m referring to here. The unit is just as robust and durable as earlier models.

The unit also relies heavily on a smartphone app to activate advanced features rather than a physical button. Again, not a deal-breaker, but for me, I prefer to do everything through the power station itself.

ZDNET’s buying advice

All in all, the EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus–>

is a worthy upgrade, and a great addition to the EcoFlow power station line up. With an $899 price tag, it’s not a cheap unit, but you’re paying for a unit that will last for years, and that can be built on with expansion batteries<!–> should you find that your power demands have grown.

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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com