Loadshedding was the last thing I thought I would ever mention in an article on any of our platforms, but it has become a reality for us in South Africa. From an overlanding perspective, though, the many products developed as a countermeasure to loadshedding have brought ample new options to ensure power while out in the bundu.
A few weeks ago – just in time for a what was to be a frustrating week of stage 6 loadshedding – we got our hands on the EcoFlow Delta Pro, probably the largest portable power station currently available in the local market.
The EcoFlow Delta Pro weighs 45kg but with that weight comes 3 600Wh, enough to run a few things when the power goes down. We kept it plugged in at the wall socket with a couple of extensions running through the house to distribute power to a TV, a couple of laptops, Wi-Fi and a few lights. While plugged in it stays at 100% charged and as soon as the power goes off the EcoFlow kicks in without a glitch. During a three-hour power break, we used about 15% of its capacity and within 10 minutes after the power came back on it was fully charged and ready to go. To fully charge it from 13% took about 90 minutes!
What really had me excited, were the possibilities it opened up when camping. We took it with us to the Makgadikgadi Pans for two nights. I was able to plug our Vagabond trailer straight into the EcoFlow and keep the lights on for our entire stay. It also kept our fridges running. While driving we had it plugged into the vehicle’s power socket and that kept the Ecoflow Delta Pro fully charged for the trip. With the fridge plugged into the EcoFlow, we kept our drinks cold and our ice frozen.
There is a very handy app that allows you to monitor the work rate of your EcoFlow or just glimpse at the huge LED screen to see what is happening. As I said before, this thing is heavy, but the wheels and extended handle make it easy to move it to where you want it.
Our first two weeks with the EcoFlow Delta Pro were a pleasure. I look forward to taking it on an extended trip to the bush and keeping it charged with solar. I will also be looking at how to give it a better charge while driving. The standard power socket in our vehicle was only able to deliver about 170W and I would prefer to get it closer to 300W, just to get it fully charged a bit quicker. The EcoFlow Delta Pro will really make things much more comfortable in the bush – cold beer and ice have always put a smile on my face in the hot African sun! At around R73 990 the EcoFlow Delta Pro seems expensive, but it is worth every cent!
Key specifications:
- Net weight: Approx. 45kg
- Dimension: 63.5cm x 28.4cm x 42cm
- Capacity: 3 600Wh
- Extra battery: Supports up to two Delta Pro Smart Extra Batteries/Smart Generators
- AC output: 4 outlets, 230V/16A, 36 00W total (surge 7 200W)
- USB-A output: 2 ports, 5V, 2.4A, 12W max per port
- USB-A fast charge: 2 ports, 5V, 2.4A / 9V, 2A / 12V, 1.5A, 18W max per port
- USB-C output: 2 ports, 5/9/12/15/20V, 5A, 100W max per port
- Car power output: 12.6V, 10A, 126W max
- DC5521 output: 2 ports, 12.6V, 3A, 38W max per port
- Anderson port: 12.6V, 30A
- AC charging input: 2 900W max, 230V~12.5A
- Solar charging input: 1 600W max, 11-150V, 15A
- Car charging input: Supports 12V/24V battery, 8A
- Battery chemistry: LFP
- Cycle life: 6 500 cycles to 50% capacity, 3 500 cycles to 80% capacity
- Connection: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wired
Other EcoFlow products available in SA:
River Pro
The River Pro is a compact, portable, battery-powered device with an AC output of 600W and a base battery capacity of 720Wh – expandable to 1 440Wh with an extra battery. It is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use and is 30% cheaper than comparable fossil fuel-powered generators.
Delta
The Delta is EcoFlow’s best-seller and is the ultimate backup power solution for your home. This is thanks to its first-ofits- kind two-way inversion technology that converts AC to DC power and vice versa. It also offers six 1 800W AC outlets and safely charges up to 80% in under an hour with X-Stream fast charge.
Delta Max
The Delta Max packs an impressive 2kWh capacity that is expandable up to 6kWh with Delta Max Smart Extra Batteries. It can power most home appliances, including heavy-duty devices that use up to 3 400W. It charges up from 0-100% in just 1.8 hours. Additionally, it can be monitored, controlled, and managed using the free EcoFlow app via a Wi-Fi connection.
Delta Max 1600 + 400W Solar Panel
The Delta Max 1600 + 400W Solar Panel bundle is the ultimate solution to keep your lights on during power outages. This is because even during loadshedding, you can charge the Delta Max with up to two EcoFlow 400W Solar Panels. A Smart Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm automatically detects the voltage and current input from the solar panels in real-time to provide optimal solar generation, even during cold or cloudy days.
*Available from our online store, Ready 4 Adventure: www.r4a.co.za. For more information on the product: www.za.ecoflow.com