Jason, extremely professional review and your easy free spreadsheet tracking the data test points is why I enjoy using your information when making my decisions. I sure hope people place warranty and customer support high in their evaluation because Eco Flow is delivering on that point. Then Eco Flow is also delivering on the introductory price point. Not sure what the price point will be in the future, probably competitive, but this "out of the gate" price point is great. The better in my opinion battery chemistry, LFP, is long awaited and expected. The phone APP is superior. You did a wonderful job in explaining the difference between EPS (Emergency Power Source) vs UPS (Uninterruptable Power Source). I agree with you, not having built in wireless phone charging is bad. I feel customers this model is pointing at will demand that feature. People don't like cables. But if the customer becomes aware of all the pros that this unit offers, they can use your spreadsheet to study the data, the consumer this product is marketing MIGHT look past not having wireless phone charging and be willing to carry a phone charging cable in their backpack. Might. I don't agree with you on this model needing the expandability option, I don't believe its competitors offer expandability for their models in this "tiny" portable package, but you fairly pointed that out and it's listed as such in your spreadsheet. Thank you for your fair and professional review.
Wow! Great Review Jason! You have summarized so many shiny features of RIVER 2: the output efficiency, convenient connectivity, lighter weight... Looking forward to your other testing! Plus we will take into account your suggestions and those of other users. Continue the excellent review!😉
a little feature on my river pro I was kinda surprised and pleased to discover is the DC power does not have to be turned on to charge devices through the USB ports. Should help with the efficiency in the small device charging arena. Maybe this has that feature also. Looking at the front of the device I would guess it does.
Okay power station. Agree with you about the lack of wireless charging. Would have also like to have a 100 watt USB-C port instead of 60 watt one. Nice they use the lithium iron phosphate batteries now. Great review.
I just got the river 2 this week. I did my own iceco go20 dc fridge vs test with this and the eb3a . 71 ambient temp Iceco set at 37 degrees filled First test with the river 2 was a complete disappointment . About 10 hours run time. Then I upgraded the FW. It had 2 versions to upgrade to. New test results river -22 hours Eb3a - 17 hours 30 mins I am impressed with the river 2. I was going to return it but glad I upgraded the FW and re-tested . Next test I'm going to daisy chain these 2 lol. Nerdy stuff right!?
I don't know if you've considered it or not but you can effectively create a battery extension by connecting any charger pack to the usb c. I'm running a dc fridge. I put a 20000mah pack on mine and went to bed. When I woke up the battery pack was dead and the River had gone up a few %. Depending on whatever bank you use and adapters you can go from 8w trickle charge to 60w pd. The 60w is just theory but I throw 45w at it no prob.
You show the iceco go20 in all of your solar generator reviews. I see it so much on your videos that I went ahead and bought one. Tested it on my bluetti eb3a and now testing on my river pro. Amazing refrigerator! I'm pretty stoked to see you test the next river pro!
@@Jasonoid the go20 is so efficient and so is the dc on the river pro. So far I set the go20 at 33 degrees 71 ambient temp. it's been 12 hours and the river pro is at 88 percent. So it looks like in these conditions it will power the go 20 for about 100 hours. That's amazing! And I have the extension battery
@@markjoyous3525 17 hours and 30 minutes with no pass through charging. Set at 37 degrees and 71 ambient temp. I was expecting 18 hours but that's close and I am very impressed. But if I used solar to top it off looks like it can run indefinitely. I will not be using this as a freezer. just testing it for the next time I go camping and good to know how long it can run during a power outage.
I’ve had a River 2 for about a month and had issues with it staying turned on or overheating, hopefully it’s an isolated issue but still working with tech support to get it resolved.
Thank you. Your reviews are helping me quite a bit in making some decisions, Also the spreadsheet replaced the one I had started for myself. A quick question as I am far from an electrical guy. If I have an inverter in my truck cab that runs from the cigarette lighter, can I then plug into its 110 outlet to quick charge the EcoFlow II or another solar generator without damaging something somewhere along the line between the truck battery and the Solar Charger? Thanks.
Thx! I like the lithium phosphate and faster charging. Would like to see UPS and more efficiency. Keep up great testing. Plan to buy my first one next year, we'll see what's out there and what my needs are then.
Hi Jason! The battery chemistry is an awesome improvement. But I don’t know if I’m the only one that thinks the River Pro 2 looks less high end than the first version of River Pro. The elimination of the light is not a big issue, but why eliminate the fast charge usb and only have usb A (Hobotech call them dinosaurs 😬). Why ecoflow would prefer an old usb type? Any thoughts about it?
Wow, this was the big cons on the ecoflow side, 500 cycles against 3000 on Bluetti. Now they fixed it. But i would say the price is a bit crazy, 1400 versus 700. Literally double price than the Bluetti sister model.. Is it there a reason for this? Are not identical now with LFP in both? Just ecoflow charge way faster, and maybe inversor is better.. Also is more modular, i think you can add more energy (i dont know if in bluetti EB70 there is an easy way to trick and do). But double... OMG
I picked up a River Plus 360Wh for $250 four weeks ago and am very glad I did. It can do native 600W (1200 surge) and has the two 5.5mm DC jacks which I use on the regular, and 100W USB. You have to spend $470+ close to the same features now with the River 2 Max 512Wh. It's a shame they had to drop the River 1 almost overnight and cut all these features on the standard 2. I don't mind only 800 recharge cycles to 80 percent for what I purchased though. This battery still looks decent as long as you get it for the right price. Good review!
I can understand why some will miss that but given it's a pretty in efficient method of charging I personally would not miss it. It never get's used on the River Mini W I have now.
@@HikerDoc I docked a half point on the AC inverter output part of the test due to noise and inefficiency. No reason to dock a point for the same issue twice. I'm guessing with firmware updates that efficiency will get much better. Early review models are always hard to figure out.
I returned the River 2 due to some initial quality issues: incorrect watt usage displayed, lack of advertised capacity, and battery shut down after powering higher power device that per spec. it should be able to handle that.
Great review Jason, as always. Personally I am not impressed with this unit. Reminds me of a Jackery with the slow solar panel charging but does charge faster with a/c. I do not like that it is an EPS instead of UPS. With my Jackery I do not worry when we have thunderstorm warnings. I hook up my Bipap to it and if we have a power shortage I do not notice it with my Bipap or the older River products . Would also have preferred a 10 amp out put from the 12V plug. I do love that it has a bi-directional charging usb plug and the life cycle of the batteries. Also prefer my old river products like the mini and the pro as they are UPS and not EPS. With how I use them they will last me a very very long time. Thanks for the review.
I'm thinking of buying something for CPAP backup. Do you plug in the battery and then the Cpap to the unit, and the ac from your wall socket passes through the until to the cpap when the power is not out? So it never discharges the unit or uns off the battery except in a power outage? Also what does it matter if it's eps or ups (do they stand for emergency power supply and backup power supply?)
You forgot to mention it also has a true UPS mode! It a great competitor to this model for sure. Bluetti support is questionable though, some people have good experiences with them, some don't.
Great review, I only can't entirely agree with a couple points, 1)The ability to have extended battery capacity. Many LiPo and Lion stand-alone battery packs can be connected to the USB-c to give as much additional capacity as you want to depending on the battery packs you connect. The connection via USB-c will also recharge the additional connected battery packs when the Rive is in AC or DC mode, Also to make the lack of a pad charger is a bit moot as a pad charger can be purchased from Amazon for under $15. Maybe a mention of the quick fixes would be good. The AC converter power use is really bad for a feature many users consider primary..
@@Jasonoid Leaning to the Max or possibly even the smallest model right now. Probably wait until I can see some reviews of them all before pulling the trigger! Thanks for the review!
I liked your review. I still think a test using an external inverter would be worth while. Especially since this product is not efficient. If a person is operating a 30 watt tv, a small inverter could be possibly more efficient than a built in inverter. And it would be a test worthy of all power station.
@@Jasonoid Test an external 300 watt or smaller inverter and power a small appliance . I would like a small TV. Compare and see how long it can operate verses that of an internal inverter . Finding the most efficient external inverter would be your "baseline" for all future comparisons of solar generators' inverters.
@@tim1299 you’re limited to the 100w DC output on this so you could only run small appliances. I'm not sure those inverters are more efficient than the internal one.
@@tim1299 from my testing, my Bestek 300w pure sine inverter isn't quite as good as these 'power station' inverters. The smallest battery I could use would be a 50ah LiFePO4 battery which is much larger than the 256wh battery in a unit like this. It would be an interesting comparison to figure all the numbers to determine if the power station is worth it, or if running a standalone inverter from a large battery is better.
@@Jasonoid Plug in to the cigarette lighter of the solar generator a 200 watt inverter and see which inverter can operate the same appliance longer , i.e. internal verses external
I don't like the handle design. This unit would be great for camping, however with a handle on the backside the display will be facing the ground when transporting it from car to tent, to table, etc. This would also mean that someone could set it on the front panel when moving it from location to location. Better location for the handle would be on the side leaving the top available for stacking when packing it away. Also, allowing carry with the display outward away from the ground. And, since it is light (about 7 pounds), a shoulder strap for long hiking treks would be nice.
thanks for the review! one question about the compressor fridge: how many liters is it (20?)and did I understand you correctly that you ran it indoors for 12 hours and still had 36% left? reason I ask is that I'm trying to figure out if I could use a river 2 to run a dometic CFF20 for about 10 hours outdoors. seams there are alot of reviews and on this on YT but few ever mention or try runnings compressor fridges so I was happy when I saw you did, even if you kinda hurried throught it ;-)
I tested with my ICECO GO20 which is a 20 liter model. Runtimes are all based on ambient temps and fridge setpoint. If it's hot outside and you have the fridge temp set pretty low, expect a much shorter runtime. I usually recommend a 500wh sized battery at least to power a fridge, so the River 2 Max would be a better option for longer runtimes.
I'd probably go with the EB3A for the small options, it beats the River 2 hands down. If it were between the larger models ( EB70 / EB55 and the Max and Pro), I'd go with the River 2 Pro.
I have the 110 watt ecoflow portable solar panel. Can i connect this, plús my 28 watt usb solar panel in the usc-C to charge the batteries at the same time?
Hi Jason, Great review us usual Sir! I must admit, you got better results than Hobotech did, he couldn’t get the 300 watt inverter to run more than 285 watts without using the ‘uplift’ facility, plus the efficiency was very poor, about 73% from memory? I’m sure the DC output is only 8 amps as well? I have to say Jason, the Bluetti EB3A seems far superior, last week I plugged in my 2 Renogy 100 watt panels in parallel and I was getting a maximum of 177 watts input, it also has a true UPS, I get 106 watts input from my 12V socket as well, I am absolutely loving the EB3A at present……although I take on board your comment about customer care and after sales. Keep up the great work. Kind regards Tony
My inverter results were the same at 74% of the rated capacity. I was able to pull the full 300 watts for 15 minutes though. My DC output performed very good at 89% but his did not. I know of another TH-camr who had the River 2 Max and it didn't do well at all so he scrapped his review... So sounds like some QC issues on some early production models. I tried to ask Hobotech about his results and how they differ from mine but he blocked me from commenting on his channel a few weeks ago.
@@Jasonoid Strange. Seems petty. I've seen Will Prowse comment on his channel in the past but that was a long time ago. Also, Will is now primarily a DIY channel and doesn't do many power station reviews anymore.
What up Doe Dr J!? I think I will get a lot of use out of the River2... Thanks you much! Also! can they do a firmware update to improve AC efficiency somehow??
Just thinking. When doing inverter parasitic draw. Maybe look at it for total Wh used. After you do your capacity test then do parasitic and use that to get actual energy used. So on a small unit like River 2 it is a larger % but overall may not be less efficient than an inverter in a larger unit. Also may set a better baseline.
I did spend time looking at that, but since the 300 watt inverter matches the near 300wh battery, shouldn't it be the same as a 600watt inverter and a 600wh battery? Even the Bluetti EB3A also did better and that had a 300wh battery and 600 watt inverter. I think it just needs a firmware update to allow the inverter to use less power under no load.
@@Jasonoid Agree with what you are saying about different size output, but just thinking along the lines of just parasitic draw. So a bigger unit with a smaller inverter vs small unit with big inverter. wH usage may just help with determining quality. Along with your noise and efficiently test.
I do think it would be worthwhile to represent these losses in watts to your best ability instead of percentage simply because these batteries vary so much in size from unit to unit. One could easily get confused, to no fault of your own. For example, the DC efficiency % on this unit and my AC300 is almost the same. One might be lead to believe the losses are similar. That is far from the truth as one loses 20watts a day and the other well over 200watts. It's an extreme example but you get the point.
Having used wireless charging on the Bluetti AC200P, I don't think it's that big of a deal that it's not on this unit. It's just not great, especially with a case. I would much rather plug in via USB C. The new units are about what I expected in terms of updates, and I'm happy I pulled the trigger on a Delta 2 a few weeks ago. My only complaint with it is the fan is stupid loud and it doesn't slowly step up the RPMs. Massive fail. Ecoflow, along with a few other manufacturers, are really missing the boat when it comes to the handle designs. They should make them integrated into the box itself, not stick out like they do today.
Good feedback on the wireless charging. Someone else mentioned charging via USBc is much more efficient as well. I hope they can slow down the fan noise on the Delta 2. Setting the charging level below 600 watts helps with that.
@@Jasonoid Thanks for the tip. It definitely helps, but the annoying step up in RPMs is still there at times, especially with discharging where wattage can vary much more. It seems to me that the RPM is based on charging speed, not battery temp, which is a bit strange. I do hope they're able to fix it with firmware. Again, overall a great unit and it's good to see that they're standing behind their products with long warranties, good service, and regular firmware and app updates. Thanks for the video and looking forward to many more!
The battery has the x-boost mode, so it should be able to run higher power devices. However, mine failed even when it was just barely exceeding the 300W.
Xboost only works for resistive loads. Basically a small heat lamp or electric heater is all that it will run. It has a small inverter for very small loads. If you need more wattage, you'll want a bigger inverter. Xboost isn't a very useful feature and that's why I don't talk about it much in my videos. (same with 'power lift' from Bluetti)
@@Jasonoid Yep, I was using a resistive load of just a little over 300W and my River 2 kept shutting down. Also, tested it with a small 300W rice cooker and it kept shutting down. So, I concluded the battery is likely a defective as I had other batteries with similar capacity running these devices fine.
Wow that parasitic drain is not so great. Hoping they can fix that with firmware. Thinking about a Pro for a little workbench/hang out area in my new shed.
I'm sure it's a firmware bug, other reviews have showed some similar issues. They will work out the bugs, the launch seemed a little rushed... for the holidays maybe?
@@Jasonoid Same as the EB3AI already sent back to Bluetti. After some time plugged into the wall it will have an overload error and discharge the battery over time. What's the use of the thing if it can't remain plugged in and charged for an emergency power back up?
Expansion Battery - The original Extra Battery for River Pro was inelegant in the connection & shape and could not be independently charged. One River 2 can be connected to another River 2 unit, for extending usage. What I am doing is connecting a River 2 Max (slave) to River Pro (master). This was approved by EcoFlow.
Are you connecting the power stations via the AC inverter, USBc, or the 12v? I have a video about daisy chaining power stations and it does seem to work okay.
@@Jasonoid AC - although I hadn't really thought about doing it otherwise. I just commented because you say in this video that EcoFlow is not offering an expansion battery as they did with the River Pro. I did not like the River Pro extra battery, so I purchased a River 2 Max to do the same trick (with a bit less capacity). Would you please provide a direct link to that 'daisy chaining' video? p.s. Your reviews are the BEST! Thank you!!!!
Video idea: A lot of people seem to complain about the noisy nature of the Ecoflow River 2 fan's - turns out there's a NOCTUA computer fan mod that really makes it whisper quiet. Just a suggestion for a cool video idea!
I have noctua fans in my desktop build, you have a size of fans that are in the Ecoflow River 2? Just curious if you've seen the mod or done it yourself?
Hi Jason! I love your reviews, and I'm living by your spreadsheet. I have a question that I can't seem to find an answer to: I have a 2000W inverter in my car (Prius) connected to the 12v battery, and I certainly don't want to overload the circuit in the car. If I connect an EcoFlow Delta 2 to the inverter and run something that draws 1500 watts or so, can I limit the amount the passthrough charging will draw from my inverter to protect the car fuse? If, for example, I limit the charging on the EcoFlow to 600 watts (through the app), will it honor that 600-watt limit even while using a cook plate or other implement?
For what it's worth, my testing seems to indicate that what the EcoFlow does is limits the charging to the amount dialed in by the app PLUS whatever the draw is by the device it's currently running, up to about 950 watts. My testing is being done on the iRiver, however, so it may be a little different on the Delta.
@@VidMeBahb I think you're playing with fire. If you're connected directly to the battery, you created a separate circuit aside from what the car uses and whatever fuse you're talking about would be the one you put inline. You're not in danger of overloading the car's circuitry. You created your own tap right from the source and you're asking 100 amps to be delivered. It might work for awhile but stuff's going to get real hot real quick. You better have a quality inverter and a fire extinguisher.
@@rizipt Yikes. That's interesting. I'm seeing a *lot* of videos on TH-cam showing how to connect directly to the Prius' (starter) battery. (I probably should have noted the vehicle type before.) I'll note that they advocate a 100 amp fuse inline to prevent overdrawing on the battery. FWIW, it's a pure sine wave inverter, and I'm gonna do some more research now that you've properly scared me. ;) Thanks for the comment!
@@VidMeBahb I think the idea is pretty cool and definitely can be done. Sometimes we do stuff that isn't ideal when we need stuff done. It will stress the charging system but if you use it sparingly and have the wiring to support it you should be fine. Don't skip the extinguisher.
Starter batteries are meant for short bursts of large current and don't have a lot of capacity. That's why a lot of people have chosen to have a dedicated deep cycle battery also tied into their system and use that for longer discharges (SLA or LFP would work). I wouldn't suggest the full 2000w load for a long period of time on the stock starter battery as it's quite the load (over 160 amps @12v). If you're thinking only 600w, that's more reasonable, it's around 50 amps at 12.5v so your battery would be able to handle that much better. Just make sure you have the proper wiring gauge and fuse size for the task and it should be safe.
Hi Jason, I’m considering this over the AC2A for the simple fact that it can be charged via usb c albeit at 60w. I would reconsider the AC2A if there was a way to use an adapter that drew from a usb c cable but I am definitely not an expert…. What would be required if it were possible, for the Ac2a to be charged that way?
The AC2A is really small. This one has a little more capacity but just keep in mind these are just for charging phones and running very small loads. What are you wanting to use it for?
@@Jasonoid Honestly just that, I spend a lot of time out when working so besides the phones and tablets, to avoid eating out, the biggest loads would be my electric Lunchboxes, one is 200w the other is more just for reheating and draws 80w. I also have a 210w egg cooker and a 300w rice cooker but the rice cooker is too bulky anyway since I get around by bike.
@@Jasonoid I did actually end up ordering the River 2 in the end because I felt like there was a bit more research I had to do before diving into adapters that could have made charging the ac2a via usb c possible, besides I live in Italy and there was a better deal on the River 2 which still offered a built in handle despite it protruding a bit.
At end of 23'/near 2024... would you recommend the EcoFlow River 2 or the Bluetti AC2a, assuming pricing is the same? Use case is CarCamping to run heated blankets & fans, charging iPhone and iPad.
Both of those units have SUPER small batteries inside and a heated blanket would only run about 3 hours (depending on the model). For charging phones and fans, these would both work well. I haven't tested the AC2A yet but I should get my hands on it soon. The AC2A is newer so it might offer some newer features.
@@Jasonoid - YUPP, just got the Ecoflow River 2 and it reads 2 hours when fully charged and two 50w heating "PADS" (ones used for pain relief, not a blanket) connected. Found that cycling the heating PADS for 30 mins a pop inside of sleeping bag was plenty toasty on a breezy 28 degree night, so who knows.
Does this have the typical super loud jet engine fan noise? You should let people know because many users would think to use this with a CPAP machine but it's way too loud.
Not good for an uninterrupted power supply for your computer. Even though it has pass through the switch over takes too long to keep your computer up and running when the grid fails. This is an important shortcoming. For me it's a no-go.
The spreadsheet lists the most efficient rating. AC output was 74%, DC output was much better at 89% and that's why it's listed there. If you look at the second page of the spreadsheet it breaks down the performance much further.
The EB55 is a bit dated now. I was hoping Bluetti would release a newer version. The River 2 Max is lined up really good with the EB55 but it's newer and offers quite a bit of good features. Now I haven't tested the River 2 Max but I think I'd like that one a little more than the EB55.
What does the little blinking light mean when it is off? Also, it seems to lose its charge quickly. I plan on calling customer service ptomorrow. The app seems to do little, unlike yours. Very confusing. It may go back.
You have an output turned on if the white light is blinking. That means you have the AC inverter or DC ouput on. Those both use background power. In order to turn off the unit completely you need to click and hold down the power button until the screen shows 'off". That will keep the battery percentage at 100%.
Good to know. However, I must solve the other issues. I can’t find instructions other than the quick-start guide. The app does nothing. I am considering buying an electrical instrument/gauge to better figure it out. Thank you.
@@stephenpowstinger733 you need to be on the same wifi network as the device. The River 2 only supports 2.4ghz wifi. So if your phone is connected to a 2.4ghz wifi network, you should be able to program the power station in the app.
Eco Flow has always been the trend setter for solar generators, and now that they are finally ditching 20 year old batteries and going with LiFePO4. If only EV car makers would follow this trend:( I think the biggest selling point is how lite it is, literally 25% lighter than the EB3A! Great to see you getting these videos of new products out before everyone else, great job! Thanks
@@larryc1616 no matter what the specs are on these small units, the inverter surge is basically non existent. I'd just stick with the 300w and the 600w ratings. The EB3A is pretty much better in most categories. I'd say the only thing that's better with the Ecoflow is that it's lighter weight and Ecoflow has a much better support team.
The EB3A basically beats the River 2 (256wh) on most specs and performance. However, if you want an updated lifepo4 model that's larger... like 500wh or 700wh, the River 2 Max and River 2 Pro beat the EB55 and EB70.
@@Jasonoid EB70s is 800W and 1600W surge for about $500(w/$60 coupon) at Amazon. i haven't looked at all the specs and prices for the river2 max and river 2 pro, but you say it beats the EB70s? for me, i'm more concerned about Wattage to power things then battery capacity. i'm going to buy the eb3a with 600W, i'll want something double that wattage for my next buy. eb70s is only 800w sometimes not enough to power induction stove, blender, microwave, hair dryer, mini washer/dryer, etc.... what do you suggest for my needs for under 1K if possible.
@@larryc1616 the EB3A is a good buy and I think you'll like it. As for my EB70, it doesn't surge over 800 watts. Even for less than 1 second. For example, it won't start my full size fridge compressor (but neither would the old River Pro). It's meant for 800 watts or less. If you want a device to handle over 1000 watts continuously id recommend the Vigorpool 1200 or the Ecoflow Delta 2 at this point. Both are excellent! Bluetti doesn't offer a newer LFP 1000 - 1200 watt device right now.
River 2 Max also has higher solar input voltage limit (50 V) compared to EB3A and River 2, which is very useful if you plan to run regular, rigid solar panels
So bummed. Just got my River 2 and went to test it with my Iceco VL45 pro and all I get is E1 error once compressor tries to start. I tried some other stuff and might be the cooler which I just bought too. But have you tried on the VL45 you have?
@@Jasonoid I’m using the low voltage and set to Eco but as soon as I turn on fan will spin for split second. Then E1. The River 2 will stay on and after about a minute the fridge tries to start again before going back to E1. My Oupes 1200w died and I have an AC to Dc adapter rated for 12.5 volt at 10 amp and it didn’t get it going. So thinking something with fridge but Iceco magnetic battery is rated 13.3V at 10amp. So might just have that much in rush?
@@thomasbyers9153 I'll test it on my River 2 right now, but it ran my GO20 just fine and that fridge actually pulls more power than the VL45. It might be your fridge compressor. Does it start up with the with AC power? Iceco has a support number on their website. They just helped me get my JP50 Pro fixed, I had a good support experience with them.
@@Jasonoid thanks for checking. I’ve sent video and info to Iceco. I’m not too happy with Iceco. I had ordered the magnetic battery, but something was rattling loose on inside. So I returned but when doing so I pulled off old shipping label to see it had already been returned. Then this issue with fridge. It will run on AC and it will run on DC but only on 20 amp car output which is excessive draw it seems.
Xboost is a gimmick. Its not super useful since you can only power resistive loads ( electric heaters). It won't work for electronics or motors, or appliances 👍
Sounds like his device was garbage compared to this one. I got 89% on the DC output capacity test. Hard to tell why they differed, early production models can perform pretty differently? I hope they get the small bugs worked out.
I just watched hobotechs video on this. his efficiency findings were a little different, dc was around 74 or 76 percent, around the same ac efficiency as your test showed. his ups test showed it better than the delta 2 he had. I am wondering why the lifepo4 battery units seem to be less efficient than the nmc or lithium versions. Great review as always. keep up the good work. I did order one off his coupon code since it made it 209, $225 after tax.
It was interesting to see the difference in his video. Unfortunately Hobotech blocked me from commenting on his videos, too much competition to his channel? Not sure.
@@dfgatorfan It's all good. I appreciate my viewers and how they contribute to my channel. My channel is growing at it's steady pace and it's been great so far!
@@Jasonoid I mentioned it as well. He's not interested in a discussion. He only defended his testing methods. I'm not challenging, just trying to understand the huge gap in results. You threw 50watts at yours. His was 100watts. That was the only difference I could see. If the unit is more efficient the smaller the load, that's information I'd like to be aware of.
You need to do a capacity test. AC and DC capacity is garbage, as both only pull about 73%. The previous version was like 92% for DC, but still only 73% for AC.
@@Jasonoid I missed it, I was scimming reading the captions. Hobotech did a capacity test and got 73% on both AC/DC tests. Interesting that you got 89%. However, that sounds far mor reasonable. I'm interested in the pro, but it's not released yet.
Regarding the capacity difference, Hobo always tests lower because he runs the test at much higher discharge rate. Looked at his River 2 test and it was discharging at 0.67C. He's also not consistent at his discharge rate from unit to unit. Jason tests at 0.2C, which is a standard test condition for most any battery test. The higher the discharge current, the more heat and thus loss, so Hobo will get lower capacity as more energy is being wasted as heat. Jason's tests are more inline with industry standards and he does it consistently.
Laurels; lots of laurels, on which Ecoflow is resting. I see too much wasted potential; this could have been SO much better than it is, but is arguably almost toy-like with some of its omissions. No dust cover on the 12V output? No solar charging cable? This is an intro device only, and a buyer is going to want more. I'm sure it's MUCH better than any cheap 240WH-280WH prior-generation Li-ion device out there, but this one simply doesn't lead, which doesn't seem consistent with the Ecoflow brand. The inverter isn't as good as the first generation River's either. I REALLY want to see your reviews of the new Max and Pro models, and I hope they are a whole lot better.
Glad to hear your opinion on it, Joe. I thought it could have been improved as well. I might be reviewing the Pro version later, I don't have it yet so it's hard to say 'if and when'.
Great review but eco flow are poor value for money. The Ctechi 240wh and 320wh are both much cheaper and do the same thing. Ctechi had lithium phosphate batteries before eco flow
I like the Ctechi units, I've had good luck with them. They do charge very slow and do not have app connectivity (that would have been very helpful for the solar charging bug fix that was needed on the 240wh).
I'm just going to go ahead and say it because I think no one else wants to admit it to themselves. Probably because this is literally everything we wanted the River 2 series to be, spec wise... but dear lord... these things, all three of them are absolutely hideous. The originals actually had sex appeal and legitimately still look cool. River 2 looks cheap and significantly less classy than the original series. I could never buy it based off looks alone. It looks absolutely ridiculous, lol. I hate the toy gray plastic top. I hate the handle. I hate the almost egg like shape it has. And I especially hate that EF crammed LFP cells inside every last one of them. Because now I will be seeing these design team abominations for decades to come... They actually miraculously somehow managed to make it look far more incredibly pathetic than it actually is. Inside it's a beast. Externally, it looks like some cheap peace of crap. It stands out like a cheap sore thumb sitting next to every other EF product. Even in this video, it looks dull, lackluster and even somehow pathetic sitting next to its sexy and sleek predecessor. It's pretty impressive how much I absolutely hate it really, lol. However, I do love all their other stuff and that they sent you out some for review on day one of their launch. I mean... that's pretty much the equivalent of saying you made it. As far as a successful YT channel. Congratulations on your channel success brother! I do want to upgrade from my EF River Max to something with LFP but there just is no way I could ever buy a River 2, lol...
Still itching to find the best 500wh LFP power station. The EB55 is OKAY...but I was hoping to see an EB5A from them so it would have all the features of the EB3A but larger inverter and capacity.
@@Jasonoid I've looked at Bluetti several times. Aside from their now dated but still highly regarded and well reviewed EB series. All the other Bluetti's I've looked at, including their new flagship models seem to have this God awful power drain. Like losing 20% or more capacity in a day just from being on with no power at all going out to any devices. My EF River Max definitely doesn't lose 20% capacity a day just from being on and mine never turns off, it's on 24/7. Which might be a cool test to add to your future review videos on power stations. Like, just turn it on, 100% fully charged and check back in 24 hours. What did it lose in capacity type of test. With such a test, I wonder if a single AC300 would have ever been sold. I would have never bought my EF River Max had I been told it lost 20% in 24 hours, just from being on and in ready mode with absolutely nothing plugged in or drawing power. I would have also long replaced it by now if it Bluettied my capacity like that, lol. Have you seen the newish Zendure Superbase M series? The 600M definitely got my attention for a ~500wh.
@@C4M3120N I do test the idle power drain for both the DC output and AC output for every power station I test. The larger Bluetti power stations are around 2 percent per hour if the AC inverter is left on. Ecoflow units are around 1% to 1.5% per hour if the AC output is left on, so a little better. The DC output is much more efficient on all models and is usually around 1% per 2 or 3 hours.
@@Jasonoid M thru F 9 to 4 EST. I am noooo kind of tech type, I'm on a ranch in the border country. Make it out of wood or put hair on it and I'll do. But I'm pretty lost in the tech dept. We wanted to spend under a thousand .Come to find out it's not a package deal, the charging panel is seperate. We have a 17KW Generac, but it can be heard in the next county, true!
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Guys i can't find the words to explain how professional this man is.
Absolutely magnificent ❤
Thanks!
Jason, extremely professional review and your easy free spreadsheet tracking the data test points is why I enjoy using your information when making my decisions. I sure hope people place warranty and customer support high in their evaluation because Eco Flow is delivering on that point. Then Eco Flow is also delivering on the introductory price point. Not sure what the price point will be in the future, probably competitive, but this "out of the gate" price point is great. The better in my opinion battery chemistry, LFP, is long awaited and expected. The phone APP is superior. You did a wonderful job in explaining the difference between EPS (Emergency Power Source) vs UPS (Uninterruptable Power Source). I agree with you, not having built in wireless phone charging is bad. I feel customers this model is pointing at will demand that feature. People don't like cables. But if the customer becomes aware of all the pros that this unit offers, they can use your spreadsheet to study the data, the consumer this product is marketing MIGHT look past not having wireless phone charging and be willing to carry a phone charging cable in their backpack. Might. I don't agree with you on this model needing the expandability option, I don't believe its competitors offer expandability for their models in this "tiny" portable package, but you fairly pointed that out and it's listed as such in your spreadsheet. Thank you for your fair and professional review.
Thanks for watching Dan, as always I appreciate your excellent comments and opinion!
Wow! Great Review Jason! You have summarized so many shiny features of RIVER 2: the output efficiency, convenient connectivity, lighter weight... Looking forward to your other testing! Plus we will take into account your suggestions and those of other users. Continue the excellent review!😉
Thanks EcoFlow! Impressive new lineup!
jason ...thx i am learning more about power stations due to your ed videos...keep showing more...
Compliments to you on a very professional and in-depth review, well done!
Thanks Brahm, I love using these power stations while on the go. Especially while camping.
a little feature on my river pro I was kinda surprised and pleased to discover is the DC power does not have to be turned on to charge devices through the USB ports. Should help with the efficiency in the small device charging arena. Maybe this has that feature also. Looking at the front of the device I would guess it does.
Yes, the USB ports work independently of the DC output 👍
Okay power station. Agree with you about the lack of wireless charging. Would have also like to have a 100 watt USB-C port instead of 60 watt one. Nice they use the lithium iron phosphate batteries now. Great review.
I think the larger 500w and 800w models would be more interesting and useful. This one is priced well, but isn't quite as exciting.
I just got the river 2 this week. I did my own iceco go20 dc fridge vs test with this and the eb3a .
71 ambient temp
Iceco set at 37 degrees filled
First test with the river 2 was a complete disappointment . About 10 hours run time. Then I upgraded the FW. It had 2 versions to upgrade to.
New test results river -22 hours
Eb3a - 17 hours 30 mins
I am impressed with the river 2. I was going to return it but glad I upgraded the FW and re-tested .
Next test I'm going to daisy chain these 2 lol. Nerdy stuff right!?
I'm surprised how well a firmware update will change the performance. Glad it was improved! I love this nerdy stuff haha
I don't know if you've considered it or not but you can effectively create a battery extension by connecting any charger pack to the usb c. I'm running a dc fridge. I put a 20000mah pack on mine and went to bed. When I woke up the battery pack was dead and the River had gone up a few %. Depending on whatever bank you use and adapters you can go from 8w trickle charge to 60w pd. The 60w is just theory but I throw 45w at it no prob.
You show the iceco go20 in all of your solar generator reviews. I see it so much on your videos that I went ahead and bought one. Tested it on my bluetti eb3a and now testing on my river pro. Amazing refrigerator! I'm pretty stoked to see you test the next river pro!
I love how lightweight it is. It's pretty cool with it's Bluetooth and dual zones. Glad you are enjoying it so far!
@@Jasonoid the go20 is so efficient and so is the dc on the river pro. So far I set the go20 at 33 degrees 71 ambient temp. it's been 12 hours and the river pro is at 88 percent. So it looks like in these conditions it will power the go 20 for about 100 hours. That's amazing! And I have the extension battery
@@DoritosResidue how did the eb3a do with the fridge? im thinking about getting that fridge and i have a eb3a.
@@markjoyous3525 17 hours and 30 minutes with no pass through charging. Set at 37 degrees and 71 ambient temp. I was expecting 18 hours but that's close and I am very impressed. But if I used solar to top it off looks like it can run indefinitely. I will not be using this as a freezer. just testing it for the next time I go camping and good to know how long it can run during a power outage.
@@Jasonoid How long have you owned your iceco go20?
I’ve had a River 2 for about a month and had issues with it staying turned on or overheating, hopefully it’s an isolated issue but still working with tech support to get it resolved.
EcoFlow support is great so hopefully you got a dud and your replacement will be much better.
look forward to the River 2 Pro review!
Might be the perfect camping option for a 12v fridge, charging phones, and running LED lights! We'll have to see!
Thank you. Your reviews are helping me quite a bit in making some decisions, Also the spreadsheet replaced the one I had started for myself.
A quick question as I am far from an electrical guy. If I have an inverter in my truck cab that runs from the cigarette lighter, can I then plug into its 110 outlet to quick charge the EcoFlow II or another solar generator without damaging something somewhere along the line between the truck battery and the Solar Charger? Thanks.
Thx! I like the lithium phosphate and faster charging. Would like to see UPS and more efficiency. Keep up great testing. Plan to buy my first one next year, we'll see what's out there and what my needs are then.
Thanks Michelle!
Hi Jason! The battery chemistry is an awesome improvement. But I don’t know if I’m the only one that thinks the River Pro 2 looks less high end than the first version of River Pro. The elimination of the light is not a big issue, but why eliminate the fast charge usb and only have usb A (Hobotech call them dinosaurs 😬). Why ecoflow would prefer an old usb type? Any thoughts about it?
It has usb C, bidirectional port.
Wow, this was the big cons on the ecoflow side, 500 cycles against 3000 on Bluetti. Now they fixed it. But i would say the price is a bit crazy, 1400 versus 700. Literally double price than the Bluetti sister model.. Is it there a reason for this? Are not identical now with LFP in both? Just ecoflow charge way faster, and maybe inversor is better.. Also is more modular, i think you can add more energy (i dont know if in bluetti EB70 there is an easy way to trick and do). But double... OMG
I picked up a River Plus 360Wh for $250 four weeks ago and am very glad I did. It can do native 600W (1200 surge) and has the two 5.5mm DC jacks which I use on the regular, and 100W USB. You have to spend $470+ close to the same features now with the River 2 Max 512Wh. It's a shame they had to drop the River 1 almost overnight and cut all these features on the standard 2. I don't mind only 800 recharge cycles to 80 percent for what I purchased though. This battery still looks decent as long as you get it for the right price. Good review!
The new ones are awesome. Much cheaper.
Great review as always Jason. I think that's a very fair score. The lack of wireless charging seems like a missed opportunity for sure.
I can understand why some will miss that but given it's a pretty in efficient method of charging I personally would not miss it. It never get's used on the River Mini W I have now.
Good point on the lower efficiency of wireless charging. Didn't think about that!
My only question on the score was why it received a full point for output efficiency when it failed the AC side of the test?
@@HikerDoc I docked a half point on the AC inverter output part of the test due to noise and inefficiency. No reason to dock a point for the same issue twice. I'm guessing with firmware updates that efficiency will get much better. Early review models are always hard to figure out.
I returned the River 2 due to some initial quality issues: incorrect watt usage displayed, lack of advertised capacity, and battery shut down after powering higher power device that per spec. it should be able to handle that.
Great review Jason, as always. Personally I am not impressed with this unit. Reminds me of a Jackery with the slow solar panel charging but does charge faster with a/c. I do not like that it is an EPS instead of UPS. With my Jackery I do not worry when we have thunderstorm warnings. I hook up my Bipap to it and if we have a power shortage I do not notice it with my Bipap or the older River products . Would also have preferred a 10 amp out put from the 12V plug. I do love that it has a bi-directional charging usb plug and the life cycle of the batteries. Also prefer my old river products like the mini and the pro as they are UPS and not EPS. With how I use them they will last me a very very long time. Thanks for the review.
Always good to hear your feedback Shelly! The only way they know to improve is by people sharing their thoughts! Thank you!
I'm thinking of buying something for CPAP backup. Do you plug in the battery and then the Cpap to the unit, and the ac from your wall socket passes through the until to the cpap when the power is not out? So it never discharges the unit or uns off the battery except in a power outage?
Also what does it matter if it's eps or ups (do they stand for emergency power supply and backup power supply?)
Ecoflow has the best app. Bluetti is close but things like the ability to set the screen timeout set Ecoflow apart.
Thanks Jason🐾🐾
They really improved the River 2 from the previous River. Not only does it look better, it charges faster.
I love the fast charging on this one!
Bluetti as been on sale for $170 and it has a 600 watt and wireless charging.
You forgot to mention it also has a true UPS mode! It a great competitor to this model for sure. Bluetti support is questionable though, some people have good experiences with them, some don't.
Who has it for $170?? I have a couple of EB3A units, love them.
@@debbiedogs1 go one Slickdeals
@@Jasonoid I think their support is slower than would be ideal, but I have not seen them fail to make things right for the consumer.
Bluetti EB3A is way better
Who designed the plugs to be upside down like that? Plugging in some power bricks will be difficult to say the least.
It does look better than the old River. I find it more rugged and sturdy.
Great feedback, thanks for watching!
Great review, I only can't entirely agree with a couple points, 1)The ability to have extended battery capacity. Many LiPo and Lion stand-alone battery packs can be connected to the USB-c to give as much additional capacity as you want to depending on the battery packs you connect.
The connection via USB-c will also recharge the additional connected battery packs when the Rive is in AC or DC mode, Also to make the lack of a pad charger is a bit moot as a pad charger can be purchased from Amazon for under $15. Maybe a mention of the quick fixes would be good.
The AC converter power use is really bad for a feature many users consider primary..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, always enjoy hearing from viewers!
Currently have a River Pro, and really considering upgrading, or expanding my collection.
The RiverPro is a great power station! Which one are you thinking about upgrading to?
@@Jasonoid Leaning to the Max or possibly even the smallest model right now. Probably wait until I can see some reviews of them all before pulling the trigger! Thanks for the review!
The USB A ports are not QC 3.0, they are standard 5v at 2.4A
I totally missed that, thanks for the correction!
I liked your review. I still think a test using an external inverter would be worth while. Especially since this product is not efficient. If a person is operating a 30 watt tv, a small inverter could be possibly more efficient than a built in inverter. And it would be a test worthy of all power station.
Can you elaborate on your suggestion to test with an external inverter? What would you like to see me do in that testing?
@@Jasonoid Test an external 300 watt or smaller inverter and power a small appliance . I would like a small TV. Compare and see how long it can operate verses that of an internal inverter . Finding the most efficient external inverter would be your "baseline" for all future comparisons of solar generators' inverters.
@@tim1299 you’re limited to the 100w DC output on this so you could only run small appliances. I'm not sure those inverters are more efficient than the internal one.
@@tim1299 from my testing, my Bestek 300w pure sine inverter isn't quite as good as these 'power station' inverters. The smallest battery I could use would be a 50ah LiFePO4 battery which is much larger than the 256wh battery in a unit like this. It would be an interesting comparison to figure all the numbers to determine if the power station is worth it, or if running a standalone inverter from a large battery is better.
@@Jasonoid Plug in to the cigarette lighter of the solar generator a 200 watt inverter and see which inverter can operate the same appliance longer , i.e. internal verses external
I don't like the handle design. This unit would be great for camping, however with a handle on the backside the display will be facing the ground when transporting it from car to tent, to table, etc. This would also mean that someone could set it on the front panel when moving it from location to location. Better location for the handle would be on the side leaving the top available for stacking when packing it away. Also, allowing carry with the display outward away from the ground. And, since it is light (about 7 pounds), a shoulder strap for long hiking treks would be nice.
Great feedback on the handle design! I think you made very valid points I didn't think of, thanks!
The handle in the back keeps the fan from being blocked. It has a great design for the air intake in the front.
thanks for the review!
one question about the compressor fridge: how many liters is it (20?)and did I understand you correctly that you ran it indoors for 12 hours and still had 36% left? reason I ask is that I'm trying to figure out if I could use a river 2 to run a dometic CFF20 for about 10 hours outdoors.
seams there are alot of reviews and on this on YT but few ever mention or try runnings compressor fridges so I was happy when I saw you did, even if you kinda hurried throught it ;-)
I tested with my ICECO GO20 which is a 20 liter model. Runtimes are all based on ambient temps and fridge setpoint. If it's hot outside and you have the fridge temp set pretty low, expect a much shorter runtime. I usually recommend a 500wh sized battery at least to power a fridge, so the River 2 Max would be a better option for longer runtimes.
Which would you choose Bluetti EB3A or EcoFlow River 2?
I'd probably go with the EB3A for the small options, it beats the River 2 hands down. If it were between the larger models ( EB70 / EB55 and the Max and Pro), I'd go with the River 2 Pro.
Looks like EcoFlow is something to keep an eye on, especially for nomads.
Lots of new products are expected this year!
@@Jasonoid I’m looking forward to seeing your thoughts!
I have the 110 watt ecoflow portable solar panel. Can i connect this, plús my 28 watt usb solar panel in the usc-C to charge the batteries at the same time?
Hi Jason,
Great review us usual Sir!
I must admit, you got better results than Hobotech did, he couldn’t get the 300 watt inverter to run more than 285 watts without using the ‘uplift’ facility, plus the efficiency was very poor, about 73% from memory?
I’m sure the DC output is only 8 amps as well?
I have to say Jason, the Bluetti EB3A seems far superior, last week I plugged in my 2 Renogy 100 watt panels in parallel and I was getting a maximum of 177 watts input, it also has a true UPS, I get 106 watts input from my 12V socket as well, I am absolutely loving the EB3A at present……although I take on board your comment about customer care and after sales.
Keep up the great work.
Kind regards
Tony
My inverter results were the same at 74% of the rated capacity. I was able to pull the full 300 watts for 15 minutes though. My DC output performed very good at 89% but his did not. I know of another TH-camr who had the River 2 Max and it didn't do well at all so he scrapped his review... So sounds like some QC issues on some early production models.
I tried to ask Hobotech about his results and how they differ from mine but he blocked me from commenting on his channel a few weeks ago.
@@Jasonoid That's weird. Why were you blocked?
@@robertgiresi9515 he doesn't want my comments showing on his channel? I'm competition maybe? Who knows... I can only guess.
@@Jasonoid Strange. Seems petty. I've seen Will Prowse comment on his channel in the past but that was a long time ago. Also, Will is now primarily a DIY channel and doesn't do many power station reviews anymore.
Hey, will the discount code work in the UK from their own website? They aren't launched here til next week!
What up Doe Dr J!?
I think I will get a lot of use out of the River2... Thanks you much!
Also! can they do a firmware update to improve AC efficiency somehow??
I'm sure they have improved the efficiency since launch with new firmware updates. All available through the app!
@@Jasonoid Ok, I'll update it next week 😉
Thx for the high-quality review as always!!
Just thinking. When doing inverter parasitic draw. Maybe look at it for total Wh used. After you do your capacity test then do parasitic and use that to get actual energy used. So on a small unit like River 2 it is a larger % but overall may not be less efficient than an inverter in a larger unit. Also may set a better baseline.
I did spend time looking at that, but since the 300 watt inverter matches the near 300wh battery, shouldn't it be the same as a 600watt inverter and a 600wh battery? Even the Bluetti EB3A also did better and that had a 300wh battery and 600 watt inverter. I think it just needs a firmware update to allow the inverter to use less power under no load.
@@Jasonoid Agree with what you are saying about different size output, but just thinking along the lines of just parasitic draw. So a bigger unit with a smaller inverter vs small unit with big inverter. wH usage may just help with determining quality. Along with your noise and efficiently test.
I do think it would be worthwhile to represent these losses in watts to your best ability instead of percentage simply because these batteries vary so much in size from unit to unit. One could easily get confused, to no fault of your own. For example, the DC efficiency % on this unit and my AC300 is almost the same. One might be lead to believe the losses are similar. That is far from the truth as one loses 20watts a day and the other well over 200watts. It's an extreme example but you get the point.
Having used wireless charging on the Bluetti AC200P, I don't think it's that big of a deal that it's not on this unit. It's just not great, especially with a case. I would much rather plug in via USB C.
The new units are about what I expected in terms of updates, and I'm happy I pulled the trigger on a Delta 2 a few weeks ago. My only complaint with it is the fan is stupid loud and it doesn't slowly step up the RPMs. Massive fail.
Ecoflow, along with a few other manufacturers, are really missing the boat when it comes to the handle designs. They should make them integrated into the box itself, not stick out like they do today.
Good feedback on the wireless charging. Someone else mentioned charging via USBc is much more efficient as well. I hope they can slow down the fan noise on the Delta 2. Setting the charging level below 600 watts helps with that.
@@Jasonoid Thanks for the tip. It definitely helps, but the annoying step up in RPMs is still there at times, especially with discharging where wattage can vary much more. It seems to me that the RPM is based on charging speed, not battery temp, which is a bit strange. I do hope they're able to fix it with firmware. Again, overall a great unit and it's good to see that they're standing behind their products with long warranties, good service, and regular firmware and app updates.
Thanks for the video and looking forward to many more!
The battery has the x-boost mode, so it should be able to run higher power devices. However, mine failed even when it was just barely exceeding the 300W.
Xboost only works for resistive loads. Basically a small heat lamp or electric heater is all that it will run. It has a small inverter for very small loads. If you need more wattage, you'll want a bigger inverter. Xboost isn't a very useful feature and that's why I don't talk about it much in my videos. (same with 'power lift' from Bluetti)
@@Jasonoid Yep, I was using a resistive load of just a little over 300W and my River 2 kept shutting down. Also, tested it with a small 300W rice cooker and it kept shutting down. So, I concluded the battery is likely a defective as I had other batteries with similar capacity running these devices fine.
Wow that parasitic drain is not so great. Hoping they can fix that with firmware. Thinking about a Pro for a little workbench/hang out area in my new shed.
I'm sure it's a firmware bug, other reviews have showed some similar issues. They will work out the bugs, the launch seemed a little rushed... for the holidays maybe?
@@Jasonoid that's what I'm thinking due to the staggered rollout.
Im looking forward to the new river. My bluetti replacement eb3a has failed as well. Very disappointing.
How did your Bluetti fail? I burned up my DC output recently on my EB3A
@@Jasonoid Same as the EB3AI already sent back to Bluetti. After some time plugged into the wall it will have an overload error and discharge the battery over time. What's the use of the thing if it can't remain plugged in and charged for an emergency power back up?
I should say turning the unit off and on will rectify the issue but only for a couple days.
@@JeffBreyer curious if you have the AC inverter turned on while it's plugged into the wall? I wonder if the AC inverter off will cause that issue.
I dont have DC or AC on at all. I dunno if turning one on would make a difference.
Expansion Battery - The original Extra Battery for River Pro was inelegant in the connection & shape and could not be independently charged.
One River 2 can be connected to another River 2 unit, for extending usage. What I am doing is connecting a River 2 Max (slave) to River Pro (master). This was approved by EcoFlow.
Are you connecting the power stations via the AC inverter, USBc, or the 12v? I have a video about daisy chaining power stations and it does seem to work okay.
@@Jasonoid AC - although I hadn't really thought about doing it otherwise. I just commented because you say in this video that EcoFlow is not offering an expansion battery as they did with the River Pro. I did not like the River Pro extra battery, so I purchased a River 2 Max to do the same trick (with a bit less capacity).
Would you please provide a direct link to that 'daisy chaining' video?
p.s. Your reviews are the BEST! Thank you!!!!
Heres the video: th-cam.com/video/NBFtucm0MRg/w-d-xo.html
Looks like the River 2 is missing the DC timeout feature seen on the other models @12:16.
I think it's called unit timeout now. I've never had an issue with the DC turning off on this unit.
@@Jasonoid The Delta 2 has both the Unit Timeout and 12V DC Timeout separately.
Video idea: A lot of people seem to complain about the noisy nature of the Ecoflow River 2 fan's - turns out there's a NOCTUA computer fan mod that really makes it whisper quiet. Just a suggestion for a cool video idea!
I have noctua fans in my desktop build, you have a size of fans that are in the Ecoflow River 2? Just curious if you've seen the mod or done it yourself?
@@Jasonoid If you search "Ecoflow River 2 fan mod", it's the first video!
@@LiquidTurbo yeah, that's a great video. Makes a huge difference. Id definitely have to give that guy credit if I made the video haha.
@@Jasonoid I wonder if there is a more plug and play adaptor so no soldering is involved (and warranty invalidation)
@@LiquidTurbo Id have to see what I can find out.
Hi Jason! I love your reviews, and I'm living by your spreadsheet. I have a question that I can't seem to find an answer to: I have a 2000W inverter in my car (Prius) connected to the 12v battery, and I certainly don't want to overload the circuit in the car. If I connect an EcoFlow Delta 2 to the inverter and run something that draws 1500 watts or so, can I limit the amount the passthrough charging will draw from my inverter to protect the car fuse? If, for example, I limit the charging on the EcoFlow to 600 watts (through the app), will it honor that 600-watt limit even while using a cook plate or other implement?
For what it's worth, my testing seems to indicate that what the EcoFlow does is limits the charging to the amount dialed in by the app PLUS whatever the draw is by the device it's currently running, up to about 950 watts. My testing is being done on the iRiver, however, so it may be a little different on the Delta.
@@VidMeBahb I think you're playing with fire. If you're connected directly to the battery, you created a separate circuit aside from what the car uses and whatever fuse you're talking about would be the one you put inline. You're not in danger of overloading the car's circuitry. You created your own tap right from the source and you're asking 100 amps to be delivered. It might work for awhile but stuff's going to get real hot real quick. You better have a quality inverter and a fire extinguisher.
@@rizipt Yikes. That's interesting. I'm seeing a *lot* of videos on TH-cam showing how to connect directly to the Prius' (starter) battery. (I probably should have noted the vehicle type before.) I'll note that they advocate a 100 amp fuse inline to prevent overdrawing on the battery. FWIW, it's a pure sine wave inverter, and I'm gonna do some more research now that you've properly scared me. ;) Thanks for the comment!
@@VidMeBahb I think the idea is pretty cool and definitely can be done. Sometimes we do stuff that isn't ideal when we need stuff done. It will stress the charging system but if you use it sparingly and have the wiring to support it you should be fine. Don't skip the extinguisher.
Starter batteries are meant for short bursts of large current and don't have a lot of capacity. That's why a lot of people have chosen to have a dedicated deep cycle battery also tied into their system and use that for longer discharges (SLA or LFP would work). I wouldn't suggest the full 2000w load for a long period of time on the stock starter battery as it's quite the load (over 160 amps @12v). If you're thinking only 600w, that's more reasonable, it's around 50 amps at 12.5v so your battery would be able to handle that much better. Just make sure you have the proper wiring gauge and fuse size for the task and it should be safe.
Hi Jason, I’m considering this over the AC2A for the simple fact that it can be charged via usb c albeit at 60w. I would reconsider the AC2A if there was a way to use an adapter that drew from a usb c cable but I am definitely not an expert…. What would be required if it were possible, for the Ac2a to be charged that way?
The AC2A is really small. This one has a little more capacity but just keep in mind these are just for charging phones and running very small loads. What are you wanting to use it for?
@@Jasonoid Honestly just that, I spend a lot of time out when working so besides the phones and tablets, to avoid eating out, the biggest loads would be my electric Lunchboxes, one is 200w the other is more just for reheating and draws 80w. I also have a 210w egg cooker and a 300w rice cooker but the rice cooker is too bulky anyway since I get around by bike.
@@Jasonoid I did actually end up ordering the River 2 in the end because I felt like there was a bit more research I had to do before diving into adapters that could have made charging the ac2a via usb c possible, besides I live in Italy and there was a better deal on the River 2 which still offered a built in handle despite it protruding a bit.
I'm happy that Ecoflow switched to LFP batteries which will equate to a longer battery life.
Same, it's a good change for sure. Safer and longer lasting!
At end of 23'/near 2024... would you recommend the EcoFlow River 2 or the Bluetti AC2a, assuming pricing is the same? Use case is CarCamping to run heated blankets & fans, charging iPhone and iPad.
Both of those units have SUPER small batteries inside and a heated blanket would only run about 3 hours (depending on the model). For charging phones and fans, these would both work well. I haven't tested the AC2A yet but I should get my hands on it soon. The AC2A is newer so it might offer some newer features.
@@Jasonoid - YUPP, just got the Ecoflow River 2 and it reads 2 hours when fully charged and two 50w heating "PADS" (ones used for pain relief, not a blanket) connected. Found that cycling the heating PADS for 30 mins a pop inside of sleeping bag was plenty toasty on a breezy 28 degree night, so who knows.
I tested the River 2 Pro on my heated blanket here:
th-cam.com/video/PopluGVg-jw/w-d-xo.html
The more I see the competition. The more I become a Bluetti fan boy.
The EB3A does beat this device in specs!
Does this have the typical super loud jet engine fan noise? You should let people know because many users would think to use this with a CPAP machine but it's way too loud.
I demonstrated how quiet the fan is during the AC max load testing, it's very quiet :)
Not good for an uninterrupted power supply for your computer. Even though it has pass through the switch over takes too long to keep your computer up and running when the grid fails. This is an important shortcoming. For me it's a no-go.
Will you do a review of the River 2 Pro?
I'm hoping to review one, depends on when they are launching!
@@Jasonoid Just got a notification they are in stock in a local shop in the netherlands, so should be soon I guess
I returned my River 2 due to the extremely loud fan noise during charging. In a quiet room, it is terribly noisy.
Luckily they have updated the fans on the largest river 2 Pro, this one was a bit loud for sure!
Is there a way to improve the efficiency of the AC converter?
A future firmware update will improve these numbers. These are preproduction units.
is there a way i can connect the river 2 to a massimo solar panel? i have a couple of those. im assuming i would need to buy an adapter?
What connection does your Massimo panel come with? MC4 connections?
Your spreadsheet shows the efficiency as 89% but I thought the video shows it much lower??
The spreadsheet lists the most efficient rating. AC output was 74%, DC output was much better at 89% and that's why it's listed there. If you look at the second page of the spreadsheet it breaks down the performance much further.
river 2 max or bluetti eb55? both near the same price with jason discount code on the eco
The EB55 is a bit dated now. I was hoping Bluetti would release a newer version. The River 2 Max is lined up really good with the EB55 but it's newer and offers quite a bit of good features. Now I haven't tested the River 2 Max but I think I'd like that one a little more than the EB55.
What does the little blinking light mean when it is off?
Also, it seems to lose its charge quickly.
I plan on calling customer service ptomorrow.
The app seems to do little, unlike yours. Very confusing. It may go back.
You have an output turned on if the white light is blinking. That means you have the AC inverter or DC ouput on. Those both use background power. In order to turn off the unit completely you need to click and hold down the power button until the screen shows 'off". That will keep the battery percentage at 100%.
Good to know. However, I must solve the other issues. I can’t find instructions other than the quick-start guide. The app does nothing. I am considering buying an electrical instrument/gauge to better figure it out. Thank you.
@@stephenpowstinger733 you need to be on the same wifi network as the device. The River 2 only supports 2.4ghz wifi. So if your phone is connected to a 2.4ghz wifi network, you should be able to program the power station in the app.
Hi could someone let me know for sure if I can continue using solar from this when the battery is full like a passthrough?
Yes, when the battery is full the output ports stay powered on and it will charge occasionally to keep the batteries near 100%
@@Jasonoid Thank you. Yours and Will's channels are tops 🙏
sad to know about the inverter effeciency of ecoflow river 2. LFP battery is great though
It's a small power station so the inverter uses more power sitting idle. The larger Max and Pro are pretty awesome!
@@Jasonoid thanks for the info
Would you take this for $179 or the Bluetti EB3A for 219?
If you don't need the larger inverter, this one will do great at $179
Eco Flow has always been the trend setter for solar generators, and now that they are finally ditching 20 year old batteries and going with LiFePO4. If only EV car makers would follow this trend:( I think the biggest selling point is how lite it is, literally 25% lighter than the EB3A! Great to see you getting these videos of new products out before everyone else, great job! Thanks
Thanks John, at 7lbs this thing is super portable.
yes, but the eb3a is 600w and 1200w surge, while the river 2 is 300w and 600w surge. same price.
@@larryc1616 no matter what the specs are on these small units, the inverter surge is basically non existent. I'd just stick with the 300w and the 600w ratings. The EB3A is pretty much better in most categories. I'd say the only thing that's better with the Ecoflow is that it's lighter weight and Ecoflow has a much better support team.
The river 2 is the same price as the bluetti eb3a at amazon for $239. Which is the better buy?
The EB3A basically beats the River 2 (256wh) on most specs and performance. However, if you want an updated lifepo4 model that's larger... like 500wh or 700wh, the River 2 Max and River 2 Pro beat the EB55 and EB70.
@@Jasonoid EB70s is 800W and 1600W surge for about $500(w/$60 coupon) at Amazon. i haven't looked at all the specs and prices for the river2 max and river 2 pro, but you say it beats the EB70s? for me, i'm more concerned about Wattage to power things then battery capacity. i'm going to buy the eb3a with 600W, i'll want something double that wattage for my next buy. eb70s is only 800w sometimes not enough to power induction stove, blender, microwave, hair dryer, mini washer/dryer, etc.... what do you suggest for my needs for under 1K if possible.
@@larryc1616 the EB3A is a good buy and I think you'll like it. As for my EB70, it doesn't surge over 800 watts. Even for less than 1 second. For example, it won't start my full size fridge compressor (but neither would the old River Pro). It's meant for 800 watts or less.
If you want a device to handle over 1000 watts continuously id recommend the Vigorpool 1200 or the Ecoflow Delta 2 at this point. Both are excellent! Bluetti doesn't offer a newer LFP 1000 - 1200 watt device right now.
River 2 Max also has higher solar input voltage limit (50 V) compared to EB3A and River 2, which is very useful if you plan to run regular, rigid solar panels
So bummed. Just got my River 2 and went to test it with my Iceco VL45 pro and all I get is E1 error once compressor tries to start. I tried some other stuff and might be the cooler which I just bought too. But have you tried on the VL45 you have?
What battery mode do you have it set on? I always have my VL45 set to low battery mode.
@@Jasonoid I’m using the low voltage and set to Eco but as soon as I turn on fan will spin for split second. Then E1. The River 2 will stay on and after about a minute the fridge tries to start again before going back to E1. My Oupes 1200w died and I have an AC to Dc adapter rated for 12.5 volt at 10 amp and it didn’t get it going. So thinking something with fridge but Iceco magnetic battery is rated 13.3V at 10amp. So might just have that much in rush?
@@thomasbyers9153 I'll test it on my River 2 right now, but it ran my GO20 just fine and that fridge actually pulls more power than the VL45. It might be your fridge compressor. Does it start up with the with AC power?
Iceco has a support number on their website. They just helped me get my JP50 Pro fixed, I had a good support experience with them.
My VL45 runs without an issue on my River 2
@@Jasonoid thanks for checking. I’ve sent video and info to Iceco. I’m not too happy with Iceco. I had ordered the magnetic battery, but something was rattling loose on inside. So I returned but when doing so I pulled off old shipping label to see it had already been returned. Then this issue with fridge. It will run on AC and it will run on DC but only on 20 amp car output which is excessive draw it seems.
3000 charge cycles is a lot. Even if you charge it daily, it will give you power for more than 10 years.
where's the x-boost test?
Xboost is a gimmick. Its not super useful since you can only power resistive loads ( electric heaters). It won't work for electronics or motors, or appliances 👍
Interesting when Hobo tested the capacity he only got 73% wonder how each of your testing differed.
Sounds like his device was garbage compared to this one. I got 89% on the DC output capacity test. Hard to tell why they differed, early production models can perform pretty differently? I hope they get the small bugs worked out.
I can definitely use a power station that is fully charged in 60 minutes.
Thats one of the best features for sure!
I just watched hobotechs video on this. his efficiency findings were a little different, dc was around 74 or 76 percent, around the same ac efficiency as your test showed. his ups test showed it better than the delta 2 he had. I am wondering why the lifepo4 battery units seem to be less efficient than the nmc or lithium versions. Great review as always. keep up the good work. I did order one off his coupon code since it made it 209, $225 after tax.
It was interesting to see the difference in his video. Unfortunately Hobotech blocked me from commenting on his videos, too much competition to his channel? Not sure.
@@Jasonoid That guy seems like he can be a little prickly. It's not like you guys are selling a limited product here, they are limitless videos lol.
@@dfgatorfan It's all good. I appreciate my viewers and how they contribute to my channel. My channel is growing at it's steady pace and it's been great so far!
@@Jasonoid You do an outstanding job and I'm always happy to see a new video out by you. Keep it up!
@@Jasonoid I mentioned it as well. He's not interested in a discussion. He only defended his testing methods. I'm not challenging, just trying to understand the huge gap in results. You threw 50watts at yours. His was 100watts. That was the only difference I could see. If the unit is more efficient the smaller the load, that's information I'd like to be aware of.
You need to do a capacity test. AC and DC capacity is garbage, as both only pull about 73%. The previous version was like 92% for DC, but still only 73% for AC.
I did both tests as shown in the video sir. If you watch it you'll see the full DC and AC capacity tests.
@@Jasonoid I missed it, I was scimming reading the captions. Hobotech did a capacity test and got 73% on both AC/DC tests. Interesting that you got 89%. However, that sounds far mor reasonable. I'm interested in the pro, but it's not released yet.
@@rogerdayton I think the pro will be an excellent option. We need a decent LFP option in that size category!
Regarding the capacity difference, Hobo always tests lower because he runs the test at much higher discharge rate. Looked at his River 2 test and it was discharging at 0.67C. He's also not consistent at his discharge rate from unit to unit. Jason tests at 0.2C, which is a standard test condition for most any battery test.
The higher the discharge current, the more heat and thus loss, so Hobo will get lower capacity as more energy is being wasted as heat. Jason's tests are more inline with industry standards and he does it consistently.
No AC compacity test ? Really disappointed!
Must not have watched the full video. It's in there.
River 2 ?!
let's see what it has..
What did you think of the performance?
10% code is not working
The code has expired since the product launch, Costco always has the best price for Ecoflow products!
👍
Laurels; lots of laurels, on which Ecoflow is resting. I see too much wasted potential; this could have been SO much better than it is, but is arguably almost toy-like with some of its omissions. No dust cover on the 12V output? No solar charging cable? This is an intro device only, and a buyer is going to want more. I'm sure it's MUCH better than any cheap 240WH-280WH prior-generation Li-ion device out there, but this one simply doesn't lead, which doesn't seem consistent with the Ecoflow brand. The inverter isn't as good as the first generation River's either.
I REALLY want to see your reviews of the new Max and Pro models, and I hope they are a whole lot better.
Glad to hear your opinion on it, Joe. I thought it could have been improved as well. I might be reviewing the Pro version later, I don't have it yet so it's hard to say 'if and when'.
Great review but eco flow are poor value for money. The Ctechi 240wh and 320wh are both much cheaper and do the same thing. Ctechi had lithium phosphate batteries before eco flow
I like the Ctechi units, I've had good luck with them. They do charge very slow and do not have app connectivity (that would have been very helpful for the solar charging bug fix that was needed on the 240wh).
I'm just going to go ahead and say it because I think no one else wants to admit it to themselves. Probably because this is literally everything we wanted the River 2 series to be, spec wise... but dear lord... these things, all three of them are absolutely hideous. The originals actually had sex appeal and legitimately still look cool. River 2 looks cheap and significantly less classy than the original series. I could never buy it based off looks alone. It looks absolutely ridiculous, lol. I hate the toy gray plastic top. I hate the handle. I hate the almost egg like shape it has. And I especially hate that EF crammed LFP cells inside every last one of them. Because now I will be seeing these design team abominations for decades to come...
They actually miraculously somehow managed to make it look far more incredibly pathetic than it actually is. Inside it's a beast. Externally, it looks like some cheap peace of crap. It stands out like a cheap sore thumb sitting next to every other EF product. Even in this video, it looks dull, lackluster and even somehow pathetic sitting next to its sexy and sleek predecessor.
It's pretty impressive how much I absolutely hate it really, lol.
However, I do love all their other stuff and that they sent you out some for review on day one of their launch. I mean... that's pretty much the equivalent of saying you made it. As far as a successful YT channel. Congratulations on your channel success brother!
I do want to upgrade from my EF River Max to something with LFP but there just is no way I could ever buy a River 2, lol...
Still itching to find the best 500wh LFP power station. The EB55 is OKAY...but I was hoping to see an EB5A from them so it would have all the features of the EB3A but larger inverter and capacity.
@@Jasonoid I've looked at Bluetti several times. Aside from their now dated but still highly regarded and well reviewed EB series. All the other Bluetti's I've looked at, including their new flagship models seem to have this God awful power drain. Like losing 20% or more capacity in a day just from being on with no power at all going out to any devices. My EF River Max definitely doesn't lose 20% capacity a day just from being on and mine never turns off, it's on 24/7.
Which might be a cool test to add to your future review videos on power stations. Like, just turn it on, 100% fully charged and check back in 24 hours. What did it lose in capacity type of test.
With such a test, I wonder if a single AC300 would have ever been sold. I would have never bought my EF River Max had I been told it lost 20% in 24 hours, just from being on and in ready mode with absolutely nothing plugged in or drawing power. I would have also long replaced it by now if it Bluettied my capacity like that, lol.
Have you seen the newish Zendure Superbase M series? The 600M definitely got my attention for a ~500wh.
@@C4M3120N I do test the idle power drain for both the DC output and AC output for every power station I test. The larger Bluetti power stations are around 2 percent per hour if the AC inverter is left on. Ecoflow units are around 1% to 1.5% per hour if the AC output is left on, so a little better. The DC output is much more efficient on all models and is usually around 1% per 2 or 3 hours.
@@Jasonoid I hear the Pecron units are pretty efficient. Wish you would do a Review on the smaller Pecron P600. Before I pull the trigger on one.
@@shelley131 I have plans to review that one early next year.
shill no ups
I demoed how it worked in the video, it's definitely slower than a true UPS @ 30ms. That's why they call it EPS mode.
But just try to get to a living human being. All you get is "If you would like a call back dial 2".
I've called 3 or 4 times, I always got an answer. Are you calling during business hours?
@@Jasonoid M thru F 9 to 4 EST. I am noooo kind of tech type, I'm on a ranch in the border country. Make it out of wood or put hair on it and I'll do. But I'm pretty lost in the tech dept. We wanted to spend under a thousand .Come to find out it's not a package deal, the charging panel is seperate. We have a 17KW Generac, but it can be heard in the next county, true!