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As an old car audio installer, scratch the paint off the chassis for the ground or use the cars ground to chassis if you don’t like sanding your factory paint
I hear you. It's a really nice product. I wonder if it has something to do with the higher wattage and optimization to ensure the power is delivered in a safe way that the BMS on the power station can't do by itself? But, being devil's advocate I suppose the opposite side could argue EcoFlow is doing it on purpose to restrict customers to their ecosystem.
You can make it yourself quite easily. Just use a dc/dc converter 12v to 48v if your solar input can handle 48v and connect it to your solar input. Use max 33% of your alternators output to make it last otherwise the lifespan of your alternator will degrees rapidly.
I believe it is about 4.5 hrs from empty to full with 800W alternator charger alone on the Delta Pro. So, the 400W solar...assuming full sun and they pull in 300W on average...probably would cut the total time down to under ~3 hrs potentially.
Why not just hook the negative to the negative of the battery instead of to the chassis? The chassis is already grounded to the battery, and that way you would have a better connection to the battery without having to go through the frame for your ground.
Great question. For safety it's best to ground to chassis. Technically daisy-chaining to existing negative terminal at battery leads to same path, but some assumptions are made in that case that may not apply to every vehicle. EcoFlow recommends chassis ground for negative unless installing in an RV. Here a link to manual: manuals.ecoflow.com/us/product/alternator-charger-800w?lang=en_US
Not the case here but on my EV it says to use frame because it better calculates load somehow so it knows when to use the big battery to charge the 12v. Doesnt make sense to me but that is what it said.
Great question! For vehicle installation EcoFlow recommens the chassis of vehicle, but for RVs it does indeed recommend the negative terminal of battery itself. Below is a helpful link for further details. See "Wire Up Your Charger > Wiring Steps": manuals.ecoflow.com/us/product/alternator-charger-800w?lang=en_US There are certainly a lot of opinions concerning chassis ground vs battery negative terminal. Oftentimes they are essentially the same in the end, but there are some subtle differences. Certainly consult an electrician for further clairification if needed for your unique install.
You have shown the process of charging the Ecoflow battery while stopped in the forest. I wonder if it is possible to organize the alternator in such a way that it helps to charge the ecoflow while the car is moving, i.e. while traveling, when the battery is, say, in the passenger seat? Thanks.
Great question! Indeed, it's best to first test it as demonstrated in this video just to make sure it is compatible with your vehicle's alternator and electrical system. Then, once confirmed it is designed to be permanently installed using the supplied 16 ft umbilical cord. You could do a front passenger location, but some might find it more convenient to locate in a rear trunk option, mounting the module and securing the power station.
Great question. This one requires an EcoFlow power station (sold separately, which has a pure sine wave inverter built-in) in order to provide power for applicances and such. Really it's main function is just to provide a faster means to charge an EcoFlow powerstation.
@@AdventureRocks yeah my question was more like what if you get a renogy inverter for about $150 and charge the power station with it? Wouldn’t it be a cheaper option than getting this at $600 and still do the job?
@@CharlieO77 My apologies. So I wonder if you mean a Renogy Inverter/Charger combo perhaps? Renogy sells some basic inverters in the $150 range, but inverters only do the reverse...take your 12V DC power and convert it to 120V AC for powering small appliances (output 120V AC, but not the reverse). Renogy also makes some Inverter/Charger combos in the 2000-3000W range and those are intended to work off standard lithium 12V batteries to both invert power for 120V AC and then charge the connected battery bank with an external power source...but they are designed for standalone battery banks and not for Power Stations like the EcoFlow Delta series. Whereas this EcoFlow 800W Alternator/Charger is designed exclusively to supercharge EcoFlow power stations. It has unique software on the power station that accepts the charge from the Alternator/Charger in a safe and manageable way that gives it the fast charging capability. Otherwise Victron makes some DC-DC chargers that might work as a 3rd party alternative. Hope that makes sense.
@@AdventureRocks yeah it does. I guess I was just thinking as an inverter to plug regular devices like phone chargers or charge little 10,000mah usb power banks and the power station with the 110 plug. Maybe there’s a benefit to use directly dc. I think I understand what you say like there’s no need to convert DC to AC to charge the power station (which is dc) just better to charge it with DC directly. Thanks!
Yes, best practice is to connect ground to chassis similar to jumping a car. Technically the negative battery terminal has other leads going from battery to chassis, but best to have a direct path.
Great question. So on a Jeep Wrangler like mine there is a lot of access thankfully. My preference is to go under to rear cargo area and penetrate there, but some may like it up front in passenger. If you start with the opposite end that connects to car battery that end is narrower, so smaller hole needed. Then just watching out for any heat sources like exhaust and I liked to use grommets if possible on the penetrations for sealing and keeping rubbing to a minimum. Other cars may be more difficult...just depends I guess.
In theory difference between chassis ground and battery negative is minimal, assuming the battery negative is properly grounded. Some may argue, especially for higher powered applications, that it is better to ground via chassis. Kinda similar how one might jump a car's battery...better to ground via chassis than borrow the negative. Again, in theory small difference, but just better practice to ground on chassis.
hehh i just bought the Anker Solix800 Plus. I liked the lights and anker has always been solid for me. is there anyway this works with it? or is the an adapter for the power cable if needed? or possibly an alternative to the ecoflow alternator?
Great question. Unfortunately this one is only EcoFlow compatible. It seems to have some kind of proprietary communication going on beyond just the charging.
@@jjdd519 Great point. Likely it would benefit indeed. I remember when I ordered my truck there was an option to get upgraded dual alternators, which I think is common for ambulances and other purpose-built vehicles that draw more power.
Where are you putting the cables when driving, or do you have to take them off when you are not using it and are you running it into the cab to charge while driving?
Great question. So in my video I was testing it out first to make sure it worked with my vehicle's alternator before permanently installing. Once confirmed, then I can route the bundle (about 16') into my vehicle, which for most people I think will be the rear trunk area. I could see it being especially easy for a truck/jeep owner as the cable is protected and can run under the vehicle along frame/chassis.
@@TheJakobLott I believe all the Delta series have 2x XT150 so physically it is possible to connect solar simultaneously. I haven't tried it myself, but I have heard of at least one other user that did it successfully.
@@AdventureRocks Thanks for the video. Not sure the name of the cable going into the Jeep, but are there longer ones or can you daisy chain multiple cables. Thinking about using this in a van. Thanks!
@@FrPeterTobias Great question! So the cable included is about 16.4 feet or 5 meters...the one that runs between the vehicle starting battery and the actual alternator/charger device. The challenge with extending it is that the guage of the wire is limited (or caclulated) to a set length given the high wattage that runs over it. So, really one may have to potentially redo the entire cable with larger gauge to make it longer, and even then I would imagine the manufacturer would discourage that. So it is possible technically with right planning, but could lead to adverse results if not done properly. All that to say it is probably best if possible to try and work with the supplied length just to ensure it works as expected. Hope this helps.
@@paulmeersa7162 I think you'll need a phone at very least to get it set up initially and download any firmware updates. And the power stations that you connect may need firmware updates as well. But once it's set up then you should be good to go. Again though if future updates are released you'd need to connect a phone again.
No voltage adjustment on mine that I can see, but in the EcoFlow app it allows me to pair down the charging watts (watts = voltage x amps) in the event my alternator doesn't support full 800W consistently. But typically battery voltage on lead acid such as on my Jeep will be in the 12-14V range.
So in the video your set to 14V in the app but your using a 12v battery. I know when running the jeep it might get up to 14 plus volts like my van does but I get way better charging with no issues on 12v setting. Have you tried setting to 12v?
Great observation! Yes, after the video and doing more testing I found the same. I thought it was idling initially that was causing charging to reset, but it was voltage setting essentially. It's nice EcoFlow gives that parameter to adjust. Thank you.
@@AdventureRocks how would this system be used in conjunction with a large house battery system along with the separate ecoflowdelta bank? Like? What would be the way to connect it all up such that the alternator charger can charge not only the ecoflow delta but also the larger house battery system
@@thepatternforms859 Great question...I am not entirely sure. EcoFlow could probably chime in more on that one, but I think they intended this unit more just for cars to speed up the charging on their portable stations. Maybe one could figure out a DIY way to capture that same output though via XT150 connector and feed it into house system? Might be better options overall though for that use case? Not as experienced personally on the residential house-battery world.
I was hoping you actually showed a full install into the vehicle (somewhere thru the firewall or something) and not just hooking it up external to the vehicle. Obviously, no one would have the vehicle idle for 2-4 hours to charge the EcoFlow. Because then it would be more cost effective to just bring along a gas generator, especially considering how much EcoFlow charges for the cost of that alternator charging add-on ($400-$500)!
Great question! So for this device I recommend testing it first just to ensure compatibility. It's not really designed for temporary exterior install although it could be used that way. Once compatibility is confirmed, the install will vary from vehicle to vehicle, but it basically just involves fishing the main wire (umbilical cord) to the desired destination. Some may choose to go through firewall directly, but another option is to to go along the frame tucked away and penetrate in the rear. Just depends on vehicle. If it helps to know the cord is 16.4 ft long (5m) and is very well shielded and protected.
Only caveat is, depending on your vehicle, your alternator may run at higher capacity when engine RPMs are higher supporting a higher charge rate. Just depends on your specific car. But, I was idling in video for reference.
@@je2338 Great question. Indeed, it will not draw from the starting battery when the vehicle is off without the alternator running. And the flip side is, which I did not demonstrate in the video, you can actually use your ecoflow power station to jump start the starting battery and vehicle if your starting battery were to go bad.
For me on the Jeep I found it easier to go under and then penetrate up in the back cargo area since that's where I use it. Every vehicle is different, but I try to look for an existing hole rather than start a new one either way.
I have a question about grounds, I plan on installing a anderson plug next to the 7 pin plug at my rear bumper, can the ground just be attached to the frame at the rear and not run to the front?
Very cool. I don't like that its proprietary but you can daisy chain another branded power station to the ecoflow power station. I saw that pecron and some other brand has their own version. But this ecoflow looks superior .
@ethanthormeyer4107 you'd still have to have an eco flow delta series power station to do it. To daisy chain it is just a matter of plugging in your Jackery into one of the ecoflow delta series ac outlet. All you're doing is charging one power station to another.
@@jamestribol1434 Great question. No, this is more intended to run while you're driving about, particularly useful if you hit trails during day or have road time to get to next destination. It'll work idling, but not ideal in my opinion.
I was attempting to AC charge it off the plug in the rear of the middle console of my gladiator. Unfortunately I’ve had no success. I think it’s too low amperage. I might have to pick one of these up
Great point. On my JK I think its only 150W, but yours may be more powerful...maybe 400W? I forget what it is on the Gladiator. If you go into the EcoFlow settings in app you can throttle down the AC charge rate to may be 350ish...and see if that'd work (assuming yours is 400W in gladiator)...still not 800W, but 350-400W isn't too bad.
Great question. I haven't attempted to calculate impact on MPG, but I'd estimate it is insignificant for most. I think if anything more wear and tear on vehicle 12v starting battery and alternator... Meaning it may take a year or two off their life...marginal in end. That's all speculation though.
Great question. There are different sizes of alternators on engines, some even have dual alternators. I think you could reach the limit of your engine's alternator and then need a larger or second one if running multiple appliances off it. The DC-DC charger you mentioned is very similar to the EcoFlow alternator/charger, so it could be too much depending on size of existing engine alternator.
Best of both worlds situation: - a LiFPo battery bank and an EcoFlow combo - The DC2DC charger installed with a switch to activate it or not, Now you can charge your EF or EF w/exBattery and then disconnect it and throw the switch to charge the Battery bank via the DC2DC charger! - but there are added benefits to this EF Charging device that need to be presented… (I have heard about them but I just ordered one, so cannot comment if the features are truly on the device) - My whole reason for getting one is fir when I travel to the store or a local adventure after parking the Cargo trailer camper, I can just pop in the EF to this device and RELOAD it with what ever I can for the small trips or longer side trips! - Slick Deals had it for $199 which was a real bargain, so I jumped on it, the regular pricing had me hoping one day there would be a sale, I would suggest watching slick deals for that sale again!
GREAT question. So I believe on all the River series they just have the XT60 port for input, but the alternator/charger uses the XT150 port more commonly found on the Delta series. I suppose in theory it's possible to get an adapter to convert XT60 to XT150, but then the challenge would be the EcoFlow firmware on the River series likely isn't setup to receive the charge from the 800W alternator. And, then the XT150 is a 150A (250A peak) rated, so it could potentially feed more current than is safe to run through the XT60 port given how powerful the 800W alternator/charger is. Hope that all makes sense. All that to say...not at this time, but maybe it could be a future feature with some mods/firmware?
How set it and forget it is? Anybody compare this the Victron Orion XS50 DC-DC 50a? Cables will reach back of a Promaster 118WB with starter battery under drivers feet.
Great question. Once I set the parameters in settings via EcoFlow app it retains them indefinitely. I do not have experience with the Orion. But, maybe others can chime in comments here.
I don't believe so. The reason I say that is, when I first set it up, the EcoFlow Alternator/Charger made me update the firmware of my Delta power station before it would work. So, I believe there is some data in addition to the current going between the two and that makes me think it is proprietary to EcoFlow units with the XT150 connector.
After initial testing on your vehicle, it's designed to be permanently installed on the vehicle with the hardware in trunk or bed. The cables are shielded for install. Idea is to have a go-to charging source that will guarantee the rate 100% of time and make use of existing car engine/alternator compared to solar...slower and dependent on sun. It's a nice add-on for existing EcoFlow users with Delta series power stations.
@@timothyyoon8771 it's possible one could argue additional wear and tear on your car's alternator and battery using it, but I don't think it would be a significant amount to the point you would be excessively replacing either component.
It would need to be connected to a battery that has an alternator. Really the install is connecting to the alternator as one of the red leads in video goes directly to alternator.
Great question. I did not have a meter on the car side to check. My Jeep is very basic kinda old school so it doesn't show digital voltage on battery through EVIC.
My understanding is you can set a minimum voltage for the starter battery to have to be at for the charger to take electricity from it. You had it set at 14 it looks like. This means the charger will not take your battery below 14 volts. So it was slowing down with charging as your battery voltage dropped. Your alternator was not involved, only your battery, since your alternator was not running. If you lowered it to 13.5 or lower it would take even more power from your battery before slowly stopping. Once you start and your voltage is higher then the charger will take more if it is above what you have it set at for the battery. I ordered one I will keep the setting quite high so I don’t run down the battery very far and I rely on the alternator. I may also not charge at 800 but I have not decided. It seems like this is a lot to ask of my alternator.
My apologies! I see now what you are referring to on the "starting voltage" in settings...great point. Thank you for pointing that out. I'm glad EcoFlow incorporated that feature as it is important.
@@AdventureRocks no problem. I have watched a lot of reviews. Collectively I have learned a lot. I am glad to see this product come out. I am waiting on mine as we speak. I camp in north Georgia and western North Carolina. Places where solar is almost pointless most of the time. If you want to watch Casey 250 he did one of the better reviews, and explained the product very well. I think he had the best understanding for the product of anyone. I did also learn from other reviews however.
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I'd attach or tape the cable remover tool to the alternator transformer charger, so it's easily found and never lost.
Great tip! Yes, I can see it getting lost easily.
As an old car audio installer, scratch the paint off the chassis for the ground or use the cars ground to chassis if you don’t like sanding your factory paint
Great tip, thank you
Excellent video, I appreciate the information.
I just bought mine and saw an EcoFlow link on Reddit for $200.
Looking forward to the follow-up review
Great price!
I just ordered mine! can’t wait to get it, great video👌
Thank you. It's really a nifty time saver.
Wish this worked with other power stations, or even the Delta Pro Ultra lol. Hopefully they release an XT60 output option soon.
I hear you. It's a really nice product. I wonder if it has something to do with the higher wattage and optimization to ensure the power is delivered in a safe way that the BMS on the power station can't do by itself? But, being devil's advocate I suppose the opposite side could argue EcoFlow is doing it on purpose to restrict customers to their ecosystem.
You can make it yourself quite easily. Just use a dc/dc converter 12v to 48v if your solar input can handle 48v and connect it to your solar input. Use max 33% of your alternators output to make it last otherwise the lifespan of your alternator will degrees rapidly.
Talk about the other features while doing a follow-up video review!
How fast could I charge a Delta Pro with *both* my 400W solar panels *and* this 800W alternator charger connected? Can't wait to test.
I believe it is about 4.5 hrs from empty to full with 800W alternator charger alone on the Delta Pro. So, the 400W solar...assuming full sun and they pull in 300W on average...probably would cut the total time down to under ~3 hrs potentially.
Why not just hook the negative to the negative of the battery instead of to the chassis? The chassis is already grounded to the battery, and that way you would have a better connection to the battery without having to go through the frame for your ground.
Great question. For safety it's best to ground to chassis. Technically daisy-chaining to existing negative terminal at battery leads to same path, but some assumptions are made in that case that may not apply to every vehicle. EcoFlow recommends chassis ground for negative unless installing in an RV. Here a link to manual:
manuals.ecoflow.com/us/product/alternator-charger-800w?lang=en_US
Not the case here but on my EV it says to use frame because it better calculates load somehow so it knows when to use the big battery to charge the 12v. Doesnt make sense to me but that is what it said.
The black (ground) should be connected to the battery - NOT the chassis. This is per Ecoflow instructions.
Great question! For vehicle installation EcoFlow recommens the chassis of vehicle, but for RVs it does indeed recommend the negative terminal of battery itself. Below is a helpful link for further details. See "Wire Up Your Charger > Wiring Steps":
manuals.ecoflow.com/us/product/alternator-charger-800w?lang=en_US
There are certainly a lot of opinions concerning chassis ground vs battery negative terminal. Oftentimes they are essentially the same in the end, but there are some subtle differences. Certainly consult an electrician for further clairification if needed for your unique install.
You have shown the process of charging the Ecoflow battery while stopped in the forest. I wonder if it is possible to organize the alternator in such a way that it helps to charge the ecoflow while the car is moving, i.e. while traveling, when the battery is, say, in the passenger seat?
Thanks.
Great question! Indeed, it's best to first test it as demonstrated in this video just to make sure it is compatible with your vehicle's alternator and electrical system. Then, once confirmed it is designed to be permanently installed using the supplied 16 ft umbilical cord. You could do a front passenger location, but some might find it more convenient to locate in a rear trunk option, mounting the module and securing the power station.
Any reason powerful enough to go with this at $600 instead of a pure sine wave inverter at less than half the price?
Great question. This one requires an EcoFlow power station (sold separately, which has a pure sine wave inverter built-in) in order to provide power for applicances and such. Really it's main function is just to provide a faster means to charge an EcoFlow powerstation.
@@AdventureRocks yeah my question was more like what if you get a renogy inverter for about $150 and charge the power station with it? Wouldn’t it be a cheaper option than getting this at $600 and still do the job?
@@CharlieO77 My apologies. So I wonder if you mean a Renogy Inverter/Charger combo perhaps? Renogy sells some basic inverters in the $150 range, but inverters only do the reverse...take your 12V DC power and convert it to 120V AC for powering small appliances (output 120V AC, but not the reverse). Renogy also makes some Inverter/Charger combos in the 2000-3000W range and those are intended to work off standard lithium 12V batteries to both invert power for 120V AC and then charge the connected battery bank with an external power source...but they are designed for standalone battery banks and not for Power Stations like the EcoFlow Delta series. Whereas this EcoFlow 800W Alternator/Charger is designed exclusively to supercharge EcoFlow power stations. It has unique software on the power station that accepts the charge from the Alternator/Charger in a safe and manageable way that gives it the fast charging capability. Otherwise Victron makes some DC-DC chargers that might work as a 3rd party alternative. Hope that makes sense.
@@AdventureRocks yeah it does. I guess I was just thinking as an inverter to plug regular devices like phone chargers or charge little 10,000mah usb power banks and the power station with the 110 plug. Maybe there’s a benefit to use directly dc. I think I understand what you say like there’s no need to convert DC to AC to charge the power station (which is dc) just better to charge it with DC directly. Thanks!
Any reason why you connected the ground to the cars chassis vs the negative battery terminal?
Yes, best practice is to connect ground to chassis similar to jumping a car. Technically the negative battery terminal has other leads going from battery to chassis, but best to have a direct path.
Can you show how to hide the cable and run the cable through engine chamber into car?
Great question. So on a Jeep Wrangler like mine there is a lot of access thankfully. My preference is to go under to rear cargo area and penetrate there, but some may like it up front in passenger. If you start with the opposite end that connects to car battery that end is narrower, so smaller hole needed. Then just watching out for any heat sources like exhaust and I liked to use grommets if possible on the penetrations for sealing and keeping rubbing to a minimum. Other cars may be more difficult...just depends I guess.
@@AdventureRocksare we still talking about the cables installation?
Can’t you just use the negative on the battery for grounding?
In theory difference between chassis ground and battery negative is minimal, assuming the battery negative is properly grounded. Some may argue, especially for higher powered applications, that it is better to ground via chassis. Kinda similar how one might jump a car's battery...better to ground via chassis than borrow the negative. Again, in theory small difference, but just better practice to ground on chassis.
hehh i just bought the Anker Solix800 Plus. I liked the lights and anker has always been solid for me. is there anyway this works with it? or is the an adapter for the power cable if needed? or possibly an alternative to the ecoflow alternator?
Great question. Unfortunately this one is only EcoFlow compatible. It seems to have some kind of proprietary communication going on beyond just the charging.
Would it make sense to upgrade the car battery or the car generator to get more benefit from this charger?
@@jjdd519 Great point. Likely it would benefit indeed. I remember when I ordered my truck there was an option to get upgraded dual alternators, which I think is common for ambulances and other purpose-built vehicles that draw more power.
Can also 12V car socket charger be connected to increase total charge to 920 watts?
Great question. I haven't tested that yet. It will work with solar charging simultaneously, so seems feasible.
Where are you putting the cables when driving, or do you have to take them off when you are not using it and are you running it into the cab to charge while driving?
Great question. So in my video I was testing it out first to make sure it worked with my vehicle's alternator before permanently installing. Once confirmed, then I can route the bundle (about 16') into my vehicle, which for most people I think will be the rear trunk area. I could see it being especially easy for a truck/jeep owner as the cable is protected and can run under the vehicle along frame/chassis.
Can you have solar charging as well without making any changes ?
@@TheJakobLott I believe all the Delta series have 2x XT150 so physically it is possible to connect solar simultaneously. I haven't tried it myself, but I have heard of at least one other user that did it successfully.
@@AdventureRocks Thanks for the video. Not sure the name of the cable going into the Jeep, but are there longer ones or can you daisy chain multiple cables. Thinking about using this in a van. Thanks!
@@FrPeterTobias Great question! So the cable included is about 16.4 feet or 5 meters...the one that runs between the vehicle starting battery and the actual alternator/charger device. The challenge with extending it is that the guage of the wire is limited (or caclulated) to a set length given the high wattage that runs over it. So, really one may have to potentially redo the entire cable with larger gauge to make it longer, and even then I would imagine the manufacturer would discourage that. So it is possible technically with right planning, but could lead to adverse results if not done properly. All that to say it is probably best if possible to try and work with the supplied length just to ensure it works as expected. Hope this helps.
Will it run without a phone, i.e. can you install it and run it if you have no telephone at all...?
@@paulmeersa7162 I think you'll need a phone at very least to get it set up initially and download any firmware updates. And the power stations that you connect may need firmware updates as well. But once it's set up then you should be good to go. Again though if future updates are released you'd need to connect a phone again.
What was your voltage setting you set it to on the app to achieve the 800 watts
No voltage adjustment on mine that I can see, but in the EcoFlow app it allows me to pair down the charging watts (watts = voltage x amps) in the event my alternator doesn't support full 800W consistently. But typically battery voltage on lead acid such as on my Jeep will be in the 12-14V range.
So in the video your set to 14V in the app but your using a 12v battery. I know when running the jeep it might get up to 14 plus volts like my van does but I get way better charging with no issues on 12v setting. Have you tried setting to 12v?
Great observation! Yes, after the video and doing more testing I found the same. I thought it was idling initially that was causing charging to reset, but it was voltage setting essentially. It's nice EcoFlow gives that parameter to adjust. Thank you.
@@AdventureRocks yes!
@@AdventureRocks how would this system be used in conjunction with a large house battery system along with the separate ecoflowdelta bank? Like? What would be the way to connect it all up such that the alternator charger can charge not only the ecoflow delta but also the larger house battery system
@@thepatternforms859 Great question...I am not entirely sure. EcoFlow could probably chime in more on that one, but I think they intended this unit more just for cars to speed up the charging on their portable stations. Maybe one could figure out a DIY way to capture that same output though via XT150 connector and feed it into house system? Might be better options overall though for that use case? Not as experienced personally on the residential house-battery world.
How much extra fuel does this use on your vehicle,
I'd estimate it's similar, or perhaps slightly higher, compared to running AC full blast vs no AC.
I wonder if you could charge the Delta with the alternator AND solar at the same time.
Yes you can, I believe with the Delta 2 and Delta 2 Max
Can this ecoflow go to a Bluetti powerbank with the right plug
@@michaelleys2982 Negative. It is only for EcoFlow with XT120 connectors.
I was hoping you actually showed a full install into the vehicle (somewhere thru the firewall or something) and not just hooking it up external to the vehicle. Obviously, no one would have the vehicle idle for 2-4 hours to charge the EcoFlow. Because then it would be more cost effective to just bring along a gas generator, especially considering how much EcoFlow charges for the cost of that alternator charging add-on ($400-$500)!
Great question! So for this device I recommend testing it first just to ensure compatibility. It's not really designed for temporary exterior install although it could be used that way. Once compatibility is confirmed, the install will vary from vehicle to vehicle, but it basically just involves fishing the main wire (umbilical cord) to the desired destination. Some may choose to go through firewall directly, but another option is to to go along the frame tucked away and penetrate in the rear. Just depends on vehicle. If it helps to know the cord is 16.4 ft long (5m) and is very well shielded and protected.
How to charge eco flow delta one old battery, fast charge
it can charges while idle? dont need to be in motion?
If the vehicle is running the alternator is running.
Only caveat is, depending on your vehicle, your alternator may run at higher capacity when engine RPMs are higher supporting a higher charge rate. Just depends on your specific car. But, I was idling in video for reference.
Inverter + battery tender $150 Ecoflo alternator charger $400
Doesn’t work with batteries that don’t have posts!!
Good point. You'd need a post adapter like this one:
amzn.to/4bPqpJK
You may have mentioned this, but does it disconnect itself when the vehicle is off to prevent the main battery from going flat?
@@je2338 Great question. Indeed, it will not draw from the starting battery when the vehicle is off without the alternator running. And the flip side is, which I did not demonstrate in the video, you can actually use your ecoflow power station to jump start the starting battery and vehicle if your starting battery were to go bad.
How did you run the supply wire from the battery to the alternator through your firewall?
For me on the Jeep I found it easier to go under and then penetrate up in the back cargo area since that's where I use it. Every vehicle is different, but I try to look for an existing hole rather than start a new one either way.
@@AdventureRocks Thank you! I have a 2015 JKU. Did you use the drain plug hole in the back cargo area?
@@markpagejr7548 I believe it was that one or one nearby... It was a while ago so my memory is a little foggy.
I have a question about grounds, I plan on installing a anderson plug next to the 7 pin plug at my rear bumper, can the ground just be attached to the frame at the rear and not run to the front?
Should be fine as long as frame is continuous and no obstacles like paint or rust in the way.
Very cool. I don't like that its proprietary but you can daisy chain another branded power station to the ecoflow power station. I saw that pecron and some other brand has their own version. But this ecoflow looks superior .
Great point
How can you daisy chain. I have a jackery 1500 id love to put inline.
@ethanthormeyer4107 you'd still have to have an eco flow delta series power station to do it. To daisy chain it is just a matter of plugging in your Jackery into one of the ecoflow delta series ac outlet. All you're doing is charging one power station to another.
yet when at camp, will you keep your truck running? solar might be abit slower, but you are not wasting gas charging your ecoflow
@@jamestribol1434 Great question. No, this is more intended to run while you're driving about, particularly useful if you hit trails during day or have road time to get to next destination. It'll work idling, but not ideal in my opinion.
I was attempting to AC charge it off the plug in the rear of the middle console of my gladiator. Unfortunately I’ve had no success. I think it’s too low amperage. I might have to pick one of these up
Great point. On my JK I think its only 150W, but yours may be more powerful...maybe 400W? I forget what it is on the Gladiator. If you go into the EcoFlow settings in app you can throttle down the AC charge rate to may be 350ish...and see if that'd work (assuming yours is 400W in gladiator)...still not 800W, but 350-400W isn't too bad.
Must be a “Pure sine wave inverter” is your vehicle PSWave? - most vehicles have a Modified sine wave inverter installed, so it will not work.
How did you route that big cable and fitting from the engine compartment into the Jeep?
Great question. Do the opposite side of cable with the eye-terminals/leads...they are much smaller and easier to snake.
@@AdventureRocks
How much gas and what toll on your engine??????????????????????
Great question. I haven't attempted to calculate impact on MPG, but I'd estimate it is insignificant for most. I think if anything more wear and tear on vehicle 12v starting battery and alternator... Meaning it may take a year or two off their life...marginal in end. That's all speculation though.
So if you have a dc-dc charger that charges your house batteries p, can you also use this or is that too ouch pulling from one alternator?
Great question. There are different sizes of alternators on engines, some even have dual alternators. I think you could reach the limit of your engine's alternator and then need a larger or second one if running multiple appliances off it. The DC-DC charger you mentioned is very similar to the EcoFlow alternator/charger, so it could be too much depending on size of existing engine alternator.
Best of both worlds situation:
- a LiFPo battery bank and an EcoFlow combo
- The DC2DC charger installed with a switch to activate it or not, Now you can charge your EF or EF w/exBattery and then disconnect it and throw the switch to charge the Battery bank via the DC2DC charger!
- but there are added benefits to this EF Charging device that need to be presented… (I have heard about them but I just ordered one, so cannot comment if the features are truly on the device)
- My whole reason for getting one is fir when I travel to the store or a local adventure after parking the Cargo trailer camper, I can just pop in the EF to this device and RELOAD it with what ever I can for the small trips or longer side trips!
- Slick Deals had it for $199 which was a real bargain, so I jumped on it, the regular pricing had me hoping one day there would be a sale, I would suggest watching slick deals for that sale again!
Have you tried/or will this charge your River Pro 2?
GREAT question. So I believe on all the River series they just have the XT60 port for input, but the alternator/charger uses the XT150 port more commonly found on the Delta series. I suppose in theory it's possible to get an adapter to convert XT60 to XT150, but then the challenge would be the EcoFlow firmware on the River series likely isn't setup to receive the charge from the 800W alternator. And, then the XT150 is a 150A (250A peak) rated, so it could potentially feed more current than is safe to run through the XT60 port given how powerful the 800W alternator/charger is. Hope that all makes sense. All that to say...not at this time, but maybe it could be a future feature with some mods/firmware?
How set it and forget it is? Anybody compare this the Victron Orion XS50 DC-DC 50a? Cables will reach back of a Promaster 118WB with starter battery under drivers feet.
Great question. Once I set the parameters in settings via EcoFlow app it retains them indefinitely. I do not have experience with the Orion. But, maybe others can chime in comments here.
will it charge other power stations than EcoFlow?
I don't believe so. The reason I say that is, when I first set it up, the EcoFlow Alternator/Charger made me update the firmware of my Delta power station before it would work. So, I believe there is some data in addition to the current going between the two and that makes me think it is proprietary to EcoFlow units with the XT150 connector.
SUPER!!!
Are you going to want to set this up in the rain though?
After initial testing on your vehicle, it's designed to be permanently installed on the vehicle with the hardware in trunk or bed. The cables are shielded for install. Idea is to have a go-to charging source that will guarantee the rate 100% of time and make use of existing car engine/alternator compared to solar...slower and dependent on sun. It's a nice add-on for existing EcoFlow users with Delta series power stations.
@@AdventureRocks would it make me replace my car battery more frequently?
@@timothyyoon8771 it's possible one could argue additional wear and tear on your car's alternator and battery using it, but I don't think it would be a significant amount to the point you would be excessively replacing either component.
@@timothyyoon8771 Great question!
Could it be connected to the leisure batteries that supply the 12v power to the motorhome?
It would need to be connected to a battery that has an alternator. Really the install is connecting to the alternator as one of the red leads in video goes directly to alternator.
will it work with other power stations namely jackery?
No, it only works on EcoFlow
How much power does it pull
Great question. I did not have a meter on the car side to check. My Jeep is very basic kinda old school so it doesn't show digital voltage on battery through EVIC.
My understanding is you can set a minimum voltage for the starter battery to have to be at for the charger to take electricity from it. You had it set at 14 it looks like. This means the charger will not take your battery below 14 volts. So it was slowing down with charging as your battery voltage dropped. Your alternator was not involved, only your battery, since your alternator was not running. If you lowered it to 13.5 or lower it would take even more power from your battery before slowly stopping.
Once you start and your voltage is higher then the charger will take more if it is above what you have it set at for the battery.
I ordered one I will keep the setting quite high so I don’t run down the battery very far and I rely on the alternator. I may also not charge at 800 but I have not decided. It seems like this is a lot to ask of my alternator.
My apologies! I see now what you are referring to on the "starting voltage" in settings...great point. Thank you for pointing that out. I'm glad EcoFlow incorporated that feature as it is important.
@@AdventureRocks no problem. I have watched a lot of reviews. Collectively I have learned a lot. I am glad to see this product come out. I am waiting on mine as we speak. I camp in north Georgia and western North Carolina. Places where solar is almost pointless most of the time.
If you want to watch Casey 250 he did one of the better reviews, and explained the product very well. I think he had the best understanding for the product of anyone. I did also learn from other reviews however.