The Bluetti EP500 vs. The EcoFlow Delta PRO – Which Solar Generator Should You Choose?
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Whether you are looking to outfit your home with a backup emergency power system, or you need access to renewable energy for your off-grid home, RV, or cabin, a high-capacity solar generator can be the ideal solution to your power needs.
Fortunately for consumers, two of the biggest names in the solar industry have just released their own high-capacity solar generators – Bluetti’s EP500 and EcoFlow’s Delta PRO. Each of these solar generators combine a massive internal battery with a powerful inverter and a wide variety of convenient and practical features.
If, like many consumers, you are torn between the Bluetti EP500 and the EcoFlow Delta PRO, you have come to the right place! Not only will we offer our review of either unit, we will compare the two and try to determine which solar generator is the superior option!
The Bluetti EP500 Solar Generator
When Bluetti announced their plans to release the EP500 in late 2021, it created quite a stir within the solar industry. This is because the EP500 is by far the most powerful solar generator Bluetti has ever released!
Where Bluetti’s popular AC200 MAX contains a 2,048Wh internal battery, the EP500 sports a massive 5,100Wh battery. This is more than double the storage capacity, which means the EP500 is large enough to become a practical option for whole home applications!
What Does the Bluetti EP500 Offer?
In addition to its massive 5,100Wh LiFePO4 battery, the EP500 also sports a 2,000W pure sine wave power inverter. An efficient MPPT charge controller also means that charging the EP500’s high-capacity internal battery takes far less time than you would expect.
While the impressive storage capacity is certainly the most eye-catching feature of the EP500’s battery, Bluetti also added a fully integrated Battery Management System, which helps protect the battery and ensure it is both safe and reliable.
Another big improvement the EP500 offers over its predecessors is chaining capabilities. By purchasing Bluetti’s Fusion Box, users have the option to connect two EP500s together, which doubles the storage capacity and, more importantly, increases the output power to a more robust 4,000W. This means the EP500 can be used to supply power to some of the most demanding electronic appliances, like dryers, stoves, air conditioners, and even some power tools!
The EP500 also offers a variety of convenient features, life Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which gives you the option to control and monitor the EP500 through Bluetti’s smart app. It features 15 output ports, including two 15W wireless charging pads.
Potential Downsides of Choosing the Bluetti EP500:
While the Bluetti EP500 certainly offers some impressive internal components and features, it is not without its faults. For starters, we believe the 2,000W inverter is somewhat underwhelming, especially for a solar generator with such a massive battery.
Unless you are willing to purchase a second EP500, as well as the Bluetti Fusion Box required to connect them, you would be limited to an output rate of 2,000W. This limits what you are able to power with your EP500. Given it is capable of storing so much power, we were surprised Bluetti didn’t choose to outfit the unit with a more powerful inverter.
The next issue we had with the EP500 is how heavy and bulky it is. At 167lbs, the EP500 is a beast. While Bluetti did outfit the unit with wheels, there is no getting around the fact that moving the Bluetti EP500 any significant distance is going to be a struggle. This might not be an issue for those that are planning to use it strictly as a fixed home backup system, but it is certainly worth taking into consideration if you value portability.
While the 5,100Wh internal battery is enormous, we also would have liked if Bluetti offered expansion batteries for the Bluetti EP500. The only way to increase the total storage capacity is to purchase a second EP500, which can be prohibitively expensive.
The Delta PRO was also released in late 2021 and it was designed to be a major upgrade over EcoFlow’s popular Delta 1800 Solar Generator. Like the Bluetti EP500, the Delta PRO generated plenty of hype when it was first announced. Since its release, it is safe to say that it has really lived up to all of that hype!
What Does the Delta PRO Offer?
The Delta PRO features a reasonably large 3,600Wh LiFePO4 internal battery. While this may seem somewhat underwhelming compared to the EP500’s 5,100Wh battery, it is battery expandability where the Delta PRO really shines. In fact, the battery can be expanded to a mind-blowing 25,000Wh (25kWh)!
With an expanded battery capacity of 25kWh, the Delta PRO can compete with whole-home power storage systems, like the 13kWh Tesla Powerwall 2, which is not portable and is far more expensive.
The Delta PRO also features a powerful 3,600W pure sine wave inverter, which is a major upgrade over the 2,000W inverter offered by the EP500. Users also have the option to link two Delta PROs, which doubles the output rating to a truly impressive 7,200W/240V. This is more than enough output power for any electronic devices or appliances you could throw at it.
By simply connecting two Delta PROs, you could run everything from a clothing dryer or convection oven, to a well pump or arc welder! Given that the Delta PRO is also compatible with EcoFlow’s Smart Panel Ecosystem, you could easily integrate the unit into your home’s power system and use it to supply power to all of your appliances. This is incredibly valuable for emergencies and lengthy grid outages. It also makes it easy to save money on your monthly utility bills by using solar power, rather than electricity pulled from the grid.
Another major highlight is the Delta PRO’s extremely rapid charging speeds. Thanks to EcoFlow’s unique MultiCharge feature, you can achieve an input power rating of 6,500W. This is the fastest charge rate of any solar generator on the market and means you can fully charge the PRO’s high-capacity battery in as little as 1.8 hours by plugging it into a wall outlet and solar panels at the same time.
It features 12 output ports, including a 30A Anderson RV port, which is a major plus for RV owners that are looking to outfit their mobile home with solar capabilities. Like the EP500, the Delta PRO is also Wi-Fi enabled, so it can be connected to EcoFlow’s user-friendly smart app. A built-in LCD touch screen display is also a nice touch.
Potential Downsides of Choosing the Delta PRO:
For those that have no interest in purchasing expansion batteries or a second solar generator, the EP500’s larger battery will be more appealing than the Delta PRO’s 3,600Wh battery. So, in this regard, the EP500 would be the superior choice. However, it is worth remembering that the EP500’s 2,000W inverter would limit what you could use that stored power for.
Given that the Delta PRO’s storage capacity can be increased to as much as 25kWh simply by connecting it to one or more of EcoFlow’s Smart Batteries, we believe its smaller battery is not really a major concern.
While the Delta PRO is also fairly heavy, it weighs nearly 70lbs less than the EP500 and it also features a retractable suitcase-style carrying handle. This means it is far more mobile than the EP500.
The Delta PRO also lacks the wireless charging pads you get with the EP500, so that might be a consideration for those that enjoy the convenience of charging their portable devices wirelessly. Aside from that, we struggled to come up with any real downsides for choosing the Delta PRO.
Pros & Cons for the EP200 & the Delta PRO
Pros:
Bluetti EP500
- Massive 5,100Wh internal battery
- 15 output ports, including two 15W wireless charging pads
- Wi-Fi and smart app enabled
- Chaining capabilities, so you can connect two EP200s
EcoFlow Delta PRO
- 3,600Wh battery can be expanded to 25,000Wh
- Powerful 3,600W inverter (Expandable to 7,200W/240V with two Delta PROs)
- Home integration option by connecting it to EcoFlow’s Smart Panel
- 6,500+ life cycle rating
- Wi-Fi and smart app enabled
- Weighs just under 100lbs and features a retractable handle and wheels
- 3-year warranty
- World’s fastest charge rate (6,000W)
- EcoFlow X-Stream charging technology
- Compatible with EcoFlow’s Smart Gasoline Generator
- Less expensive than the EP500
Cons:
Bluetti EP500
- Not compatible with expansion batteries
- Slower charging speed than the Delta PRO
- 2,000W power inverter is underpowered for the size of the battery and the price of the unit
- Bulky design and 167lb weight
- More expensive than the Delta PRO
EcoFlow Delta PRO
- No wireless charging pads
- Smaller internal battery than the EP500
Our Overall Decision – Bluetti EP500 or Delta PRO?
While both units are extremely capable solar generators, we have to choose the EcoFlow Delta PRO as our top pick. The choice becomes even more obvious when you consider the fact that the EcoFlow Delta PRO is over $1,000 cheaper than the Bluetti EP500.
If Bluetti had chosen to upgrade the size of the inverter in the EP500, the decision would have been more difficult, but the truth is, a 2,000W inverter in a solar generator this large is just not powerful enough. While there is still plenty to like about the EP500, the Delta PRO just offers far too much.
The lightning-fast charging speeds, powerful inverter, expandable storage capacity, and home integration capabilities all combine to put the Delta PRO in a league of its own!
