Looking for a good deal on a powerful solar generator?
I recommend the EcoFlow Delta Max, one of the best priced power stations in the 2kW range. It is cheaper than many other similar-sized solar generators like the Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro.
The Delta Max comes with plenty of interesting features including super fast charging, expandable capacity and X-Boost.
Read on for my in-depth review of the EcoFlow Delta Max, including what I don't like about it.
If the Delta Max is not what you are looking for, see my reviews of the best 2000W solar generators for other options.
If you are shopping for a smaller, more portable power station, see my reviews of the best portable solar generators.EcoFlow Delta Max Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Best Features
2kWh Expandable Capacity
The EcoFlow Delta Max comes with a 2016Wh Li-ion battery. That’s enough capacity to run larger appliances or multiple electronics without draining the battery too quickly.
This makes the Delta Max a great pick for powering appliances in an RV, boat, off-grid cabin or during a power emergency at home.
It’s also great for camper vans and car/truck camping.
If 2016Wh is not enough for your needs, the Delta Max is expandable. You can connect up to two extra batteries to the Delta Max, essentially creating one massive 6048Wh battery bank for home backup or powering your RV or motorhome.What can the EcoFlow Delta Max Power?
Appliance/device | Run time/recharges |
CPAP | 34hrs |
Fridge | 14hrs |
Car fridge | 33hrs |
Smartphone | 175 recharges |
Laptop | 32 recharges |
Coffee maker | 1.9hrs |
50” TV | 15hrs |
Up To 3400W Output
To make sure you can enjoy the high capacity to power appliances, the Delta Max produces 2400W of continuous AC power (5000W surge).
That’s enough to power just about any appliance you might have, including high-consumption ones like a large TV, kitchen fridge, microwave and blow dryer.
And if that’s not enough, the Delta Max comes with a feature called X-Boost. Turn it on and the inverter increases output to 3400W. You can power things like AC or multiple large appliances at the same time.
The X-Boost feature is especially handy once you’ve gotten the extra batteries. It ensures you don't drain the battery too fast.
15 Outlets
You can plug in up to six AC-powered appliances, devices or electronics into the EcoFlow Delta Max at the same time. Just make sure the total draw doesn't exceed 2400W (or 3400W with X-Boost on).
And for your devices and gadgets, the Delta Max has six USB ports. These include two USB-A ports, another two USB-A ports with Quick Charge technology, and a pair of USB-C ports with a 100W output each.
So you can charge or power just about any gadget, including USB-C powered laptops.
For DC power, you get a 12V 126W car outlet and a couple of DC5521 outlets (38W each).
Fast Charging With AC, Solar & Smart Generator
EcoFlow power stations, even the small ones like the River Mini, tend to have a high power output. So the battery drains quicker when powering large appliances.
Luckily, they also charge faster than any other power stations thanks to EcoFlow’s X-Stream charging technology.
The Delta Max, in particular, charges from 0 to 80% in just 65 minutes using the included 1800W AC charger.
You can also charge from the EcoFlow Smart generator, a dual gas/propane generator.
The Delta Max allows dual charging. You can combine the smart generator with AC charging to achieve charging input of up to 3400W for even faster charging.
The Delta Max accepts up to 800W of solar power, which lets you recharge the battery in the sun in about 3.5 hours.
You can also combine solar and the smart generator to get up to 2600W of input power.
And when you are on the road, top up the Delta Max from your vehicle's 12V/24V socket.
App Control & Monitoring
The EcoFlow Delta Max has a small screen where you can check power coming in, power going out, remaining charge, errors and other info.
But you can also get all this information on your smartphone via the EcoFlow app. The Delta Max power station has WiFi connectivity, letting you control and monitor it wherever you are.
Issues & Limitations
Average Lifespan Battery
The Li-ion battery in the EcoFlow Delta Max is great and certainly better than older lead-acid batteries. It’s lighter, smaller, requires no maintenance and lasts longer.
However, it doesn't last as long as lithium phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries that are increasingly common in power stations.
EcoFlow says the battery in the Delta Max lasts 800 cycles to 80% capacity. In contrast, most LiFePO4 batteries last at least 2500 cycles to 80% capacity.
On average, Li-ion power stations are useful for 3-5 years while LiFePO4 power stations can last up to 10 years.
Limited Portability
The other limitation of the Delta Max is its weight. The 48lb weight is to be expected considering the Delta Max has a large battery and inverter.
But if you are shopping for a lightweight solar generator you can easily handle on your own, the Delta Max is probably not the best choice. See the alternative I recommend below.
Best EcoFlow Delta Max Solar Generator
By the way, there’s a slightly smaller and cheaper version of the Delta Max. The Delta Max 1600 has a capacity of 1612Wh and produces 2000W of power.
It has X-Boost to increase output to 2800W and the capacity is also expandable to 5644Wh.
But if neither Delta Max power station is right for your needs, here are three alternatives to consider.
1. EcoFlow Delta Pro - More Power & Capacity
After the Delta Max, the Delta Pro is the next largest power station from EcoFlow. It’s a beast.
The Delta Pro has a capacity of 3600Wh, which you can expand with extra batteries up to 25000Wh or 25kWh.
If you are thinking about going off-grid or setting up a serious home backup solar generator, the EcoFlow Delta Pro is a great choice. You can even integrate it into your home circuit using the EcoFlow smart panel.
By the way, the Delta Pro is equipped with a LiFePO4, not Li-ion, battery. It’ll last far longer than other EcoFlow power stations.
Power output is an equally impressive 3600W and you can boost that to 4500W with X-Boost. You can run multiple large appliances with the Delta Pro without tripping the inverter.
If that’s still not enough, you can increase output to 7200W (at 240V) using a second Delta Pro and the EcoFlow double voltage hub.
The Delta Pro offers multiple charging methods including from an EV charging station.
2. Jackery Explorer 1000 - Lightweight & Portable
If you are looking for a lighter power station to take with you when camping, on road trips and other outdoor adventures, I recommend the Jackery Explorer 1000.
Weighing 22lbs, it is less than half the weight of the Delta Max. It’s much easier to handle on your own.
The Jackery 1000 is much less capable than the Delta Max. It has a capacity of 1002Wh and has a continuous output of 1000W.
You can still run appliances, but smaller ones like a car fridge, CPAP, mini coffee maker and so on.
The Jackery 1000 has three AC ports, a 12V car outlet, and USB-A, QC USB-A and 2 USB-C ports.
3. Bluetti AC200MAX - LiFePO4 Battery
If the capacity and output of the Delta Max are perfect for your needs but want a longer-lasting solar generator, I recommend the Bluetti AC200MAX.
It has almost the same specs (and price) as the Delta Max but uses a LiFePO4 battery that lasts 3500 cycles to 80% capacity.
The AC200MAX has a capacity of 2048Wh and produces up to 2200W of AC power. Unlike Delta Max, the AC200MAX doesn't have a power boost feature.
But it is expandable up to 8192Wh using extra battery packs. This is more than you can expand the Delta Max to, making the Bluetti AC200MAX the better pick if you want to build more capacity.
The Bluetti AC200MAX also outshines the Delta Max when it comes to the variety of outlets. In addition to the usual AC, USB, and DC ports, the AC200MAX also has NEMA TT-30 outlet, a 12V/30A RV port and two wireless charging pads.
The main downside of the Bluetti AC200MAX is that it’s heavy thanks to the LiFePO4 battery that has a lower energy density than Li-ion (lower energy density makes for a bigger and heavier battery).
The AC200MAX weighs 62lbs to Delta Max’s 48lbs.
Care and Maintenance
Here are a few tips for taking care of the Delta Max solar generator.
Warranty
EcoFlow offers a 2-year warranty on the Delta Max power station. When you register it with EcoFlow, you’ll get a 1-year extension for a total coverage of 3 years.
Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight: | 48lbs |
Size | 19.6 x 9.5 x 12 in |
Capacity | 2016Wh |
AC output | 2400W continuous, 3400W with X-Boost, 5000W surge pure sine wave inverter |
Outlets | 6xAC, 2xUSB-A, 2xQC USB-A, 2x100W USB-C, 3x12V DC |
Max solar input | 800W |
Charging time | 1.8hrs with AC adapter, 3.5 hours with 800W solar |
Battery chemistry | Lithium-ion NMC |
Battery lifespan | 800 cycles to 80% |
Operating temperature | 68°F to 86°F (optimal), -4°F to 113°F (discharge), 32°F to 113°F (charge) |
Where To Buy
You can order the EcoFlow Delta Max from the official EcoFlow website. The Delta Max solar generator is also available on Amazon.
