This EcoFlow Station Is the Ultimate Power Outage Companion

EcoFlow sells many portable power stations, but the Delta 3 Max Plus is one of the most versatile options. The 120V and 20A AC output support and rated capacity of 2048Wh makes it a great option for outdoors trips, home power outages, and everything in between. There are a few catches, though.

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Series Portable Power Station

9/10

Dimensions: 494 × 242 × 305.mm
Weight: 22.1 kg
AC Output ports: 4
AC Input rating: 1

The EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus is a capable battery backup for computers, portable electronics, and most appliances. It has a massive 2048Wh capacity, 20A AC wall outlet plugs, and solar panel input support.

Pros & Cons

Support for most appliances with 20A AC outlets
Customization and remote monitoring through EcoFlow app
Expandable with solar panels, generators, and other batteries

Large and heavy
Most settings only available through EcoFlow app

Price and Availability

The EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus has a suggested retail price of $1,899.00, and it’s available through EcoFlow’s website or Amazon. However, frequent sales are likely, so check the retail listings for current prices.

If you buy from EcoFlow’s online store, you have the option of bundling various solar panels, alternator chargers, or extra batteries at a discount. Those accessories can also all be purchased separately.

Dimensions: 494 × 242 × 305.mm
Weight: 22.1 kg
AC Output ports: 4
USB Ports: 3x Type-C, 1x Type-A
Battery Capacity: 2048Wh 51.2V 40Ah
AC Input rating: 1
Solar input rating: 1000W
Battery type: LFP
Connectivity: Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Expandable: Yes 2-10kWh

A Big Battery and a Lot of Ports

The Max Plus is a large portable power station, measuring 19.5 x 9.5 x 12 inches (494 × 242 × 305mm) and weighing around 48 pounds (22.1 kg). This is not a battery you can throw into a bag or easily carry around on outdoor adventures—this is a “lift with your legs, not your back” battery. The large handles on each corner are helpful, though.

The front of the unit has four 120V 60Hz AC wall outlet ports, all of which can handle 20-amp devices. Those ports have a combined maximum output of 3,000W, and can handle surges of 6,000W. That means it should handle anything that uses a standard 120V US wall outlet, including computers, drones and drone batteries, refrigerators, coffee makers, and dishwashers. There are also four USB ports: one 140W USB Type-C connector, two more Type-C ports with a shared 45W output, and one USB Type-A port with 18W. Those are ideal for charging phones, laptops, handheld game consoles, and other USB devices without taking up an AC power plug.

The main digital display is above the AC and USB ports, giving you information about the current input and output levels, which ports are active, the fan status, and the current charge level. It can be difficult to read in direct sunlight, but otherwise it’s a great way to see what the battery is doing at any time.

The buttons around the screen are only for turning the AC plugs on or off, or switching the entire battery on or off—the other settings and features are only accessible through the EcoFlow app. I’m generally not a fan of large expensive devices requiring an app for most functionality, since there’s always the chance the app could disappear before the end of the device’s functional lifespan.

The battery can connect directly to a phone or tablet with Bluetooth, and setting up a Wi-Fi connection will enable cloud monitoring and control through the EcoFlow app. The Wi-Fi support is limited to 2.4GHz, though, like many other smart home devices.

There are two more power outputs on the back. You get a 12V DC output running at 12.6V-30A/378W, also called an Anderson Port, which can be used for some appliances built for RVs and motorhomes. Finally, there’s a car charger/cigarette lighter output running at 12.6V-10A/126W.

Finally, there are a few ways to charge the battery itself. You can plug it into a standard wall outlet with the included AC power cable. There’s a switch on the back for switching between the ‘Fast’ maximum power draw and a slower ‘Adjust’ charging rate, the latter of which can be configured with the app. If you keep triggering a circuit breaker in your home, you might want to use the Adjust option. There are also two 11-60V 18A XT60 ports, primarily intended for solar charging.

The Delta 3 Max Plus is also designed to connect with other EcoFlow devices, like the Smart Generator 4000 or expansions like the Smart Extra Battery. There’s a lot of flexibility here, and many third-party generators or XT60-compatible solar panels should work as well.

Enough Power for Everything

I tested the Delta 3 Max Plus with a few different power backup situations. First, I tried powering my entire home network from the battery—including my router, modem, Samsung SmartThings Hub, and two-bay Synology NAS, all of which used around 50-60W. I plugged it in at 2:21 PM with the battery at 100% capacity, and it didn’t run out of power until 5:02 PM the following day.

The largest appliance I have with an (accessible) 20A wall plug is my kitchen’s refrigerator, so I tried that next. With my fridge being opened and closed a few times, and the compressor using around 200-350W while active, the battery kept it powered for about 21 hours before hitting 0% charge.

I also used the battery as a UPS for my desk area for a few days, powering my two computers (a gaming PC and a MacBook Pro), a 27-inch 4K Samsung monitor, speakers, and my standing desk’s motor. I didn’t have any power outages during that time, but I did unplug it from the wall a few times as a test, and everything worked perfectly.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any solar panels or generators, so I couldn’t stress-test the XT60 ports or some of the hybrid charging options. I did use a third-party car charger to XT60 adapter to power the battery with my car for a few hours, though, and that did work.

Extensive Software Customization

You need the EcoFlow app for remote monitoring and changing settings, which is available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. There’s a standalone APK for other Android devices from EcoFlow’s website. I was also able to install the iPad app on my MacBook Pro from the Mac App Store.

The setup process is similar to most other smart home devices: create an account with your email address, then connect to the battery over Bluetooth. You can choose between two homepage styles: ‘Energy flow’ that highlights how power moves through the battery, and ‘Standard’ that shows power levels for each individual port. I mostly stuck to the Energy flow option, but you can change it whenever you want in the app.

There are a lot of options configurable through the app, including the custom AC charging speeds, overload protection, charge and discharge limits to improve long-term battery health, and which ports are given priority as power levels run low. You can also set up ‘Storm Guard,’ which starts charging your battery to maximum levels if severe weather is expected within 12 hours, overriding any savings modes and automations you might have set up for normal use.

Those features let you customize your ideal balance of AC, solar, and generator input, much like you would for a whole-home solar power system. Thankfully, all those options stay out of the way unless you want them.

The app also allows you to monitor and control the battery when you’re away from home, assuming the battery is connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network. You can even share remote access with other EcoFlow accounts. I was impressed by how seamless everything worked—the app used whatever connection was available without me thinking about it.

I don’t have any real complaints with the EcoFlow app, except that it sent a marketing push notification to me about a sale on accessories. I turned off ‘Personalized recommendations’ in the app settings and haven’t seen another similar alert.

Should You Buy the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus?

The EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus worked perfectly in all my testing, and it could be a great option for anyone needing a battery for camping or power outages. The 20A AC plugs are enough to power most electronics and appliances for hours or even days, depending on your usage. The large and heavy design is a potential downside, but that’s unavoidable with how much capacity is available. The lack of a 3-pin circular outlet for some larger appliances might be a drawback for some people, too.

Power station with a phone and power cables connected

My only real point of concern is the battery’s dependence on the EcoFlow app for changing some settings. Even though EcoFlow is an established company, there’s always the chance the app could disappear from App Stores, or cloud services could shut down. That’s a risk with most smart home products, but this is also much more expensive than your typical smart bulb or smart plug, and the hardware is designed to last around 10 years. You’re also required to set up an account with an email address, even if you won’t be using the cloud functionality.

The suggested retail price of $1,899 is certainly expensive, but the company’s previous Delta 2 power stations were frequently on sale, so that will probably happen again with the Delta 3 Max Plus. As of the time of writing, there’s an introductory sale that drops the price to $1,099, a 42% discount.