Long-Term Assessment of EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 portable power station
The EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 power station has been making waves in the portable power industry, offering a versatile solution for various power needs. This article delves into the features, capabilities, and limitations of the Delta Pro 3 power station, based on real-world usage and tests.
Power Capabilities and Limitations
The Delta Pro 3 power station is equipped to handle a wide range of power demands. It has been successfully used at home to power a photo and video editing rig, and during camping trips to run an older, not very efficient air conditioner for about 9 hours on hot summer nights. However, it's essential to note a key limitation: when plugged into the grid, the power station's overall AC power output is restricted to approximately 1800 watts. This restriction can cause problems with appliances that have momentary high power draws, such as air conditioners with compressor startup surges above this threshold.
Without grid input, the Delta Pro 3 can handle higher loads of up to around 4000 watts or more without issue. To overcome the grid-related limitations, some users work around this issue by either bypassing the Delta Pro 3 for high-power loads when shore power is present or supplying AC power directly to the appliances and using the unit mainly as a battery backup or solar charger.
Pass-through AC Charging and Powering
One of the standout features of the Delta Pro 3 power station is its ability to support pass-through AC charging and powering. This means it can charge itself from shore power or a generator while simultaneously powering connected loads. However, as mentioned earlier, there are limitations when it comes to power output while plugged into the grid.
Installation and Cooling
The installation of the Delta Pro 3 power station in a travel trailer required rerouting 30-amp wiring and installing a 30-amp outlet and a 30-amp plug. To ensure the device stays cool, a 12-volt computer fan and a soffit vent were added to the travel trailer.
User Experience and Issues
Despite its capabilities, the Delta Pro 3 power station's handling of pass-through AC power is the only major complaint about the device. During 5 weeks of camping, Jennifer Sensiba had to reset the power station three times due to electrical warnings. However, Reddit users reported a solution for resetting the Delta Pro 3 power station's BMS and power computer by disconnecting any input power, shutting the unit off, and holding the power button for ten seconds.
Conclusion
The EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 power station is a decent power station for camping, RVing, or power backup purposes. It offers pass-through AC charging and powering, making it a versatile solution for various power needs. However, it's essential to consider its limitations when it comes to power output while plugged into the grid, especially in scenarios where you want full power output simultaneously with grid charging, such as RV air conditioning or other heavy-duty appliances that draw surges above 1800W when starting up.
- To ensure the efficient use of the Delta Pro 3 power station when dealing with high-power appliances, users can bypass the power station for heavy-duty loads and supply AC power directly to the appliances, thus utilizing the power station primarily as a battery backup or solar charger.
- For those interested in staying updated on the latest developments and insights regarding the Delta Pro 3 power station, the EcoFlow newsletter could be a great resource, providing timely information about policy changes, technology advancements, and best practices for data-and-cloud-computing integration with the power station.
- As for those seeking to go beyond the limitations of the Delta Pro 3 power station while using it in a technological setting, exploring various podcasts dedicated to energy storage, renewable energy, or technology might offer additional insights and solutions on improving the power station's performance or discovering alternative devices to complement its capabilities.
