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When we need to stay connected , a backup power author like theEcoFlow River 3 Portable Power Stationoffers a criterion of surety . EcoFlowis a global company headquartered in San Francisco offering shelling index solution including portable power , family support , and off - grid Cartesian product . I previously tested some of the larger EcoFlowDelta Series power stations , which impress me with tough human body quality and numerous convenience , so I was face forward to give the River 3 a attempt . In my calendar month - long test , the EcoFlow River 3 proved to be a tough , tight - shoot competitor that had dozens of purpose around the house and in refugee camp . In this EcoFlow River 3 review , I ’ll share my observance from testing , and why I think it is one of the best thick power station on the market .
EcoFlow River 3 Portable Power Station: At a Glance
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EcoFlow River 3 Portable Power Station
grease one’s palms the EcoFlow River 3 Portable Power Station at :
Testing the EcoFlow River 3 Portable Power Station
TheEcoFlow River 3is a humble portable power place desirable for home , office , or travel . Its Li iron phosphate battery money box has a 245 - James Watt time of day capacity and 300 - James Watt maximal output , which is sufficient for saddle hand-held electronics and powering small appliances . The unit is compatible with the EcoFlow mobile app , which provides remote monitoring and customized setting . Small enough to conform to inside a daypack and a tad under 8 quid , it is conveniently sized for out-of-door adventures , but it ’s also bright enough to serve as an continuous index supply for sensitive electronic equipment .
Over 4 week , I quiz the EcoFlow River 3 several unlike fashion . One workweek it suffice as the sole world power source to lodge my phone , laptop , and a few other small cordless gadget . Then I brought the River 3 and a 110 - watt solar control board on a weekend camping trip to dish as a charging hub for 8 people and our devices . ultimately , I set it up as an continuous great power provision ( UPS ) for my tankless flatulency body of water smoke . Throughout the month - long test , the River 3 repeatedly proved its worth as a portable , flexible , and well-fixed - to - use remote magnate germ .
Smart Features Support Different Use Cases
One of the things that make theEcoFlow River 3truly stand out is its technical superiority . Other power stations on the market incorporate a basic barrage fire , inverter , and charge controller system , but the River 3 is steep with advanced feature . It boast state - of - the - art atomic number 31 nitride ( GaN ) factor that enable faster charging , longer consort time for low - electrical power appliances and less heat loss than the industry standard . Some of the excess benefit let in a 30 pct small overall size because less blank is call for for cool down and quieter cognitive process . Another feature is the X - Boost system , which delivers higher wattage ( up to 600 W ) than the rating of the power station ( 300 watts ) , to accommodate high - draw gizmo .
Right out of the box , the River 3 appeared similar to other tycoon station . It included a pair of USB - A ports , a USB - C , a DC cable car outlet , a 3 - prong AC outlet , and a 2 - prong AC outlet . The two stimulant ports set aside AC charging via wa all outlet orgas generator , or DC charging from a solar instrument panel or car release . To tap into the full ambit of control and functionality , I downloaded the EcoFlow mobile app and add my River 3 to my home WiFi connection . With the app , I was able to update the station ’s firmware , set custom charge and emission limits , schedule charging by power root , and lots of other helpful labor . For example , when I instal it as a UPS , I used the app to switch the AC electric receptacle timeout setting to “ never ” so that it would continuously function .
Dependable Power Wherever You Go
The River 3 ’s thick sizing and build - in grip makes it sluttish to bundle up and go without really ingest to plan for it . It require about an hour to in full charge from a paries issue before it was quick to snap up and go . For the camping trip , I just skid it under the back backside of the truck . As a charge port , both in camp and on my desk at home , I plug three different charging cables into the USB port and left the AC outlets subject for any charger case I might have miss .
From a full rush , the River 3 kept my phone and laptop run for a whole week without a problem . At the close of the week , after charging the laptop computer 3 time and the phone 4 times , the power station still had a 57 percent charge . Because my camping friends started out with full charges on their devices , our whole group only used 21 percentage of the full capacity between Friday evening and Sunday morning .
As a mobile charging station , the River 3 was more than passable for our needs , and could probably support a full week in the woods , especially if supplemented by solar . When I finally ran the charge down below 10 pct , I join the 110 - watt solar panel on a bright sunny Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , and it recharged fully in a little more than 3 hours .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
To try the River 3 as a UPS for my tankless gas water smoke , and to try out the app setting , I plug the heater ’s igniter cord into the power station , and the king place into the wall . In the app , I had already set the building block ’s AC mercantile establishment to never clock out . I also set the upper mission limit to 80 pct , since I would n’t want it to stack away a full charge for calendar month on end .
I screen the organisation by turning off the circuit breaker for the water heater and after 5 minute turned on the confining hot water system tap . It is supposed to switch over in less than 20 microseconds , and as far as I could secern , it sour perfectly . Since my gas piss heater only uses a lilliputian amount of electrical energy to set off the flame that actually does the heating , this force station could do that for weeks on a single charge .
Durable Construction for Real World Conditions
I also observed a few point with regard to the River 3 ’s overall build timber . The exterior of the power station has very few portion that could go against . The handle is integrated with the body ; there are no wheel ; and the buttons and covers have a cubby , smooth fit . A atomic number 3 - smoothing iron phosphate battery mob forms the core of the whole . This battery alchemy offers a longer working life than atomic number 3 - ion , up to 3,000 burster cycle per second , as well as a fast explosive charge rate , higher dismissal pace , and outstanding safety .
The bombardment large number comes with an IP54 water- and rubble - resistant valuation , mean that only the shelling large number itself is “ rainproof , ” not the electrical outlet , LCD exhibit , or other components . The brand also indicate that the shell is fire retardant and that the unit has survive a 3.3 - foot drop trial run . Under normal , not particularly careful treatment , it did not bad . In ingroup , I kept it under a marquee where it was expose to the ambient melodic line conditions , but not to precipitation or lineal sunshine . My only booking about consistent use in outdoor or dusty surround is that neither the USB ports nor the AC outlets are covered . The Car outlet and the input ports are shroud .
Versatile and Dependable…and Worth Every Penny
TheEcoFlow River 3incorporates thoughtful figure and durable construction with state - of - the - art technology . Compared to likewise brawny models from other democratic brands , it comes in at a mid - level price , but offers top - last expert features that encourage its overall execution and value . For those interested in the sophisticated features , it ’s one of the best values on the food market .
The two standout features here are the UPS capableness and the streamlined drug user interface of the app . The River 3 only offer two AC outlets and one of those is a 2 - prong , but it is a fair match for the distinctive project you might employ it for : retain little low - draw contrivance lead in an emergency or as a portable charging base . As I hinted earlier , any brand can slap together a stamp battery stand-in , but EcoFlow conduct the market place when it come to customizable alternative and control .
Product Comparisons
So, is the EcoFlow River 3 Portable Power Station right for you?
The EcoFlow River 3 Portable Power Station is designed as a succinct charging and power backup solution for home , office , or travel . It is lightweight , compact , and easy to lay in or transport . But if you ’re only looking for a portable bombardment charger , you may think that the cost is a snatch much , especially as it does n’t let in such seek - after characteristic as an LED luminance bar or an regalia of 3 - prong outlets . It may not be for everyone .
In my tests , the best feature of speech were technological . I found the control , both onboard and in the mobile covering , to be intuitive and wanton to navigate . Even those with only a reach understanding of electric terms will be up and run in no time . Most significantly , they offered an well-situated way to keep matter up and run when the position perish sidewise , as in a major storm or extend power outage . A fiddling scrap of electrical energy goes a long way in those billet , and this unit of measurement gives you the world power to deploy it when and where you involve it .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and product examiner with a setting in the dark-green manufacture . He ’s also an avid DIYer who survive in an older home . When he is n’t examination tools , generator , and outside might equipment , he spends his time upgrading , repairing , and interchange anything and everything in his home , one thousand , and garden .
Everything You require for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
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Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
