EF ECOFLOWDELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station, 4096Wh LFP Battery, Expandable to 48kWh, 120/240V 4000W AC Output, Solar Generator for Home Use, Camping Accessories, Emergencies, Power Outages, RVs

When the original Delta Pro was announced, that BEAST of a battery surprised me with its design. This was coming from someone who had reviewed over a dozen battery brands, including Goal Zero, Jackery, BigBlue, Bluetti, Rockpals, Aimtom, and the like. Goal Zero and Jackery were two of my favorites, but the EcoFlow Delta Pro surprised me indeed and had skyrocketed the company to one of the top brands I had tested and used up to that point.Fast-forward two years later, and EcoFlow had since released the Delta Pro Ultra (with a radically different design) and then the newest family member, the Delta Pro 3. I wondered what happened to a Pro 2, but the company apparently decided to skip that number.ANALYSISThe EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 (DP3) continues to pack impressive features and updated technology over its predecessor, the Delta Pro (DP1), raising the battery capacity from 3,600Wh to 4,096Wh. It also increased its already-impressive AC inverter's output from 3,600W of continuous power to 4,000W, and the surge from 7,200W to 8,000W. Goal Zero's Yeti 4000 Pro only offers 3,600W and 7,200W, respectively. What do these numbers mean? How much energy a battery can store is measured in Wh (Watt-hours), and how much power is used or produced in W (Watts). That gives the DP3 enough battery and output strength to power practically anything in the house or work space. Couple that with the 240V AC Out port, and even a heat pump, central air conditioner, or water heater can run off it.OUTPUT POWERShould the DP3's 4,000W output capability not be enough, two more units can be linked in parallel to provide up to 12,000W. This would allow the three Delta Pro 3's to power multiple, high-energy appliances at the same time, such as the central air conditioner, a microwave, and a tankless water heater. Truly, that is IMPRESSIVE.Delta Pro 3's UPS feature allows devices to run off the AC wall outlet in pass-through mode, and as soon as a blackout occurs, it switches to the internal battery within 10 ms. I simulated this by unplugging the charging cable and watching my desktop computer not even reboot. Nicely done. Note: Using a battery as a UPS (charging and outputting at the same time) could shorten its lifetime.ENERGY STORAGEBattery capacity can be expanded from 4,096Wh to 12,288Wh by attaching 2 DP3 Extra Batteries (at 4,096Wh each) on top of the DP3, allowing it to store enough energy to power a whole house (via its EF Smart Home Panel 2 transfer switch) for several days. Goal Zero offers the same functionality via its Haven 10 system. EcoFlow, in its marketing material claims that capacity can be expanded to 48,000Wh by linking 3 DP3s (12,288Wh), 3 DP3 Extra Batteries (12,288Wh), and 3 EF Smart Generator 4000's (which generate power by burning gasoline). In a way, EF cheated here a bit with its marketing by including a hybrid gas generator into the mix. Going purely on the batteries alone, the maximum capacity is 12,288Wh x 2 = 24,576Wh. Goal Zero's Yeti Tank Pro system can go up to 20,000Wh. Either way, expanding to such capacity can become prohibitively expensive ($30,000+) and may be better-suited for businesses.Do note that should you stack DP3 Extra Batteries on top of the main unit, the design immobilizes the DP3: it cannot easily be removed for use on a road trip. Goal Zero, on the other hand, stacks its Yeti 4000 Pro on top of its Yeti Tank Pro expansion batteries. This allows the main unit to be transported to a camp or worksite. But, considering how heavy the DP3 is at 115 lbs -- the heftiest power station I have ever reviewed -- I can see why EF decided not to stack the main unit on top of the expansion batteries.BATTERY CHEMISTRYThere had been a lot of debate over whether Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) or Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) was better. Both are Lithium-ion batteries.Goal Zero debuted with Lead-Acid batteries that were bulky and heavy. Today's devices use Lithium-ion -- commonly NMC or LiFePO4 (LFP) chemistries -- for more power in a smaller, lighter package. NMC, however, is more volatile than LiFePO4 and becomes riskier as more cells are packed together. Goal Zero and Jackery used NMC for some time whereas EcoFlow and Bluetti use LiFePO4. Jackery launched its first LiFePO4 model in mid-June 2023 and Goal Zero in October that year.LiFePO4 batteries are less volatile (safer), more usable in extreme temperatures, and have a higher charge cycle count (battery lifetime) than NMC. But, they are also bigger and heavier.CAUTION: Lithium-ion (LiFePO4 and NMC) batteries do NOT like to remain discharged at 0% for prolonged periods of time. If you let your battery stay at 0% for too long, you may not be able to charge it again without specialized equipment. Keep them at between 20-80% while in storage to maximize their lifetime.CHARGINGThe DP3 can be charged from the AC wall outlet at 1,800W, but also from EV (Electric Vehicle) stations. The latter, however, I find rather impractical because you are likely NOT going to bring the DP3 along on a ride. Where the battery DOES shine is its ability to be charged from solar panels via two simultaneous inputs: 1,000W and 1,600W for a total of 2,600W. Goal Zero's Yeti Pro 4000 can charge at up to 3,000W, and the EF DP1 at 1,600W.Delta Pro 3 can be fast-charged from empty to 80% in about 50 minutes from the AC wall outlet at 1,800W, and about 3 hours to 100%. Goal Zero's Yeti Tank Pro 4000 can similarly be recharged to full in about 3 hours at 1,800W (AC Wall) or 2 hours by 3,000W solar.The DP3 thankfully continues to offer one feature that highly impressed me about the original: the ability to combine AC wall charging, solar panels, and the EF Smart Generator 4000 for an impressive fast-charging of up to 7,000W! The DP1 could only go to 6,500W, and Goal Zero's best, the Yeti Pro 4000, only to 3,000W. I cannot imagine someone needing to charge THAT fast, however. EcoFlow Marketing at play here, folks.Li-ion LiFePO4 can be charged an estimated 4,000 cycles before the battery capacity drops to 80% of its original. What that means is that after about 10 years, the DP3 can no longer store 4,096Wh, but just 3,277Wh. It then drops another 80% to 2,621Wh after another 4,000 cycles. That still makes it last considerably longer than Li-ion NMC batteries commonly found in cellphones.Tip: AC charging is prioritized over DC when both are connected simultaneously. Never use an extension cord to charge the DP3 with unless it's a heavy-duty one.PHYSICAL DESIGNEcoFlow did a great job with the look of the power station. It continued its more luxurious design on the heels of its EF Glacier car freezer that I previously tested but have not yet published a review for. Sleek, modern, and expensive-looking. It certainly looks and feels more premium than the original DP1, although I do prefer the tough, curvier style of the Goal Zero Yeti Tank Pro 4000. Unlike its predecessor, however, the DP3 now has its side port covers slide into the body instead of popping or flipping out. The latter made the DP1 sometimes frustrating to put away.UV coating was applied to the DP3's exterior, but what benefit that provides, I do not know. Prevent the power station from having a sunburn?EcoFlow rates the power station's weather protection to IP65: the higher the digits, the better. First number refers to protection against solids, and the second against liquid ingress. Thus, the DP3 is dust-tight (6 is the highest level) and can withstand water jets (ie. rain) with the "5" rating. The highest liquid protection is level 9.I really liked the original DP1's telescoping, retractable handle: extend it to one of two lengths to tilt the battery backwards, then pull and roll the power station across the house — at least, that's the theory. Dragging the heavy battery on uneven grounds (like gravel) or traversing stairs was a huge challenge with the Delta Pro's small wheels. Luckily, the DP3's bigger wheels now make it easier to be transported around across rougher terrain.Physically, the DP3 is longer, slightly wider, and heavier than the original Delta Pro. I am not a fan of this. Did you notice the weight I had mentioned? One hundred and fifteen (115) pounds is no joke for the average person to carry up a flight of stairs! It managed to be even heavier than the original's 99 lbs!The EcoFlow tries to shed some of its LiFePO4 battery weight and cost by using a mostly plastic exterior. Although the Delta Pro 3 still looks quite nice, Goal Zero's Yeti Pro 4000 series is housed in a mostly metallic enclosure that helps dissipate heat and is more durable. Metal withstands impact force better than plastic, no doubt about that, but also adds weight. Two distinctive, exterior design philosophies each with their own pros and cons. Delta Pro 3 is physically larger than the same-capacity Yeti Pro 4000, for some reason.ADDITIONAL FEATURESThe Delta Pro 3 can be remote-controlled via the EcoFlow smartphone app or a physical display unit that is ideal for homes or RVs. EF's app contains a great amount of data, insight, and configurable options.EcoFlow's Oasis is a new feature that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize charging and discharging by learning usage patterns and taking energy cost and weather into consideration. It can also interact with other IoT (Internet-of-Things) devices throughout the home, enabling automation for things like turning on the house's fans when the thermostat reaches 75F degrees. However, IoT devices are prone to hacks. My security reocmmendation is to put the DP3 and other IoT's onto a separate WiFi network from your main one.PRICINGEcoFlow generally prices its products lower than the market leader, Goal Zero, but for some reason, the DP3 actually costs more than what the GZ Yeti Pro 4000 goes for at the time of this writing. Or, GZ lowered its price in response to the DP3's release ;) The joy of competition and consumer choice!GRIPESNot everything is to like about the Delta Pro 3. It is the largest, heaviest power station I have ever come across. Picking up its 115 lbs and onto the vehicle is back-breaking! Unlike its predecessor, it also came with fewer accessories (cables, specifically), has no built-in 12V cigarette output port (a dongle is required, but not included), and its display -- though in color but not as colorful as the DP1 -- is much more difficult to read at most angles than the Goal Zero Yeti Pro 4000.FINAL THOUGHTSOverall, it both pains and delights me to see the Delta Pro 3 continuing to offer some impressive, modern features, but in some ways it also took a few steps back from what the original DP1 offered. Its large size and weight makes it more suitable as a permanent fixture inside the garage than be a portable powerhouse. It also did not surprise nor impress me as much as the DP1 did when it turned Goal Zero's Yeti X series upside down -- probably because GZ's Yeti Tank Pro 4000 made great strides to catch up and even regain leadership in some aspects. Nonetheless, the DP3's battery capacity, expansion and interconnectivity options, and power input/output capacities make the DP3 an excellent choice.

The echoflow Delta Pro 3 is a well engineered and attractive product that allows you to have 120/240 volt AC split phase power from lithium batteries. Anker makes a good competitive product that sells in the same price range as the Echoflow Delta Pro 3. Before you buy the Echoflow you do a product search by looking at the available selection of Lithium battery devices on Amazon. Then you should look at YouTube to see people's comments on those products. You also need to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of using Lithium batteries as opposed to other types of batteries. That is quite a bit of research work that you should do if you want to get the best product for your needs. I chose the Ecoflow because it is an established manufacturer, has a good track record, and has the specific features that I need.1) I have a couple of gas generators that provide adequate power but they use an alarming amount of gasoline. I can quickly recharge my Echoflow using the (provided) 120 volt AC power cord that plugs into the Echoflow. The 7000 watt generator handles that load with ease and can simultaneously run the rest of the house's power needs. I can run the gas generator for a couple of hours per day and fully recharge the Echoflow. Running the generator for this limited time period is really quite fuel efficient. 2) The Echoflow has a 30amp self locking outlet which is the same as on my gas generator. I remove the power cord from the gas generator and plug it into the Echoflow and am able to operate the house using the Echoflow for the remainder of the day. I can even run my 240VAC well pump!3) I can extend the runtime of the Echoflow by plugging in a few portable solar panels. more runtime in the future I can double my battery storage by buying another battery pack. If I want to double my maximum wattage I can buy another Delta Pro 3 and use a cross connect kit so I wind up with needing a 50 amp plug & cable rather than a 30 amp cable. A recent one day power outage showed me that this whole system works quite well and I don't expect that I will need to buy an additional battery or an additional Delta Pro 3 unit.Finally, I should mention a few problems:1) The on-line user manual needs to provide much more detail about the unit.2) The various plugs and switches need to be labeled right there on the machine.3) Right below the AC power input cord there is a slide switch. As you face the rear of the unit moving the switch to the left causes the AC outlet to charge at its maximum rate of about 1800 watts. This is great if you have a 20 amp 120 volt outlet. If you are plugging into a small generator or a 15amp house outlet you need to slide the switch to the right (in the manual this is called the "adjust" position.) You also need to use the cell phone app so you can adjust the maximum charge rate.4) The cell phone app is exceedingly useful and you should not buy this Echoflow unit unless you are willing to download the app to your cell phone.5) Lithium-ion battery devices all suffer from have a quite limited temperature operating range. The ideal operating temperature is between about 40 degrees F. and 88 degrees F. The unit should never be exposed to less than 30 degrees F. or more than 115 degrees F.6) The manual cautions you to never allow the unit to get wet. All that being said, I found that the Delta Pro 3 is an excellent match for my needs.

Extremely high quality charging unit with excellent app controls. I have it in my basement powering all of my basement appliances while being charged by the external solar panels so that I am not paying anything for my basement appliances (full-size refrigerator/freezer, second stand-alone freezer, and two dehumidifiers which run 24/7). The two 400 watt solar charging panels that I also purchased from EcoFlow work really well and even with only March sun in the New York area, i get enough solar input to keep the unit charged enough to run my basement appliances without plugging into my household grid. I should be able to power some of my upstairs appliances too as the Northeast day lengthens and we get more sun. I also love the app which allows me to check and control my unit over wifi from anywhere, just in case of the rare instances where it might run low on solar power and I would have to plug it in to charge. I put an external surge protector between the unit and my appliances to prevent what others have said can be damaging surges, so so far i have had no problems. Overall, I have to say that it is working great and has exceeded my expectation.