EcoFlow Delta Review 1800W / 1300wH Solar Generator: Is It Worth Buying? (2021)
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When the EcoFlow Delta 1800 first hit the market, solar generators were a real game-changer. Whereas a traditional solar power system requires installing expensive, bulky, and complicated components, a solar power generator can act as an all-in-one solar power station.
Today, the best solar generators feature a high-capacity internal solar battery, both a built-in charge controller and an integrated power inverter, as well as a variety of useful output ports.
In other words, the best solar generators can be paired with solar panels to give you the ability to generate, store, and access power from even the most remote locations.
The EcoFlow brand was established in 2017 with a simple goal – to reinvent the way people access power. They wanted to offer reliable, portable, and renewable power sources that customers could use for adventures in remote, off-grid locations or as reliable power banks for emergencies and power outages.
Honest Review of the EcoFlow Delta 1800
The EcoFlow brand was established in 2017 with a simple goal – to reinvent the way people access power. They wanted to offer reliable, portable, and renewable power sources that could be used for adventures in remote, off-grid locations, or as reliable power banks for emergencies and power outages.
In the brand’s short history, it has earned an impressive reputation for offering durable, high-performance solar products at affordable prices. Out of all of its products, the EcoFlow Delta 1800 continues to stand out as one of its best sellers.
To understand whether or not the Delta 1800 deserves its status, we dissect some of its internal components and look at its specifications.
EcoFlow Delta: Battery Capacity, Life Cycles, and Shelf Life
Battery Capacity:
One of the first things consumers look for when presented with a solar generator is the battery capacity.
The Delta features a built-in 1,260Wh (350Ah, 3.7V) deep-cycle solar battery, which is fairly impressive given its compact and lightweight design. For comparison, similarly-sized units, such as the Patriot Power Generator 1800, only feature a 652Wh internal battery.
Put bluntly, you get nearly twice the battery capacity you would get with other solar generators in the Delta’s price range.
For perspective, this means that a fully-charged Delta 1800 could charge and power electronic devices and appliances in the following ways:
| Large refrigerator | 15 to 18 hours |
| Coffee maker | 50+ cycles |
| Standard Laptop | 27+ recharges |
| CPAP Machine | 20+ hours |
| 32” television | 23+ hours |
| 10W LED flood light | 140+ hours |
As you can see, having a high battery capacity is incredibly important.
Whether you want to charge portable electronics, like laptops, smartphones, and tablets, or supply power to your more demanding electronic appliances, such as a toaster, refrigerator, blender, air conditioner, or oscillating fan, the Delta’s nearly 1,300Wh lithium-ion battery is up to the task.
Battery Shelf Life:
While battery capacity is important, it is also worth noting its shelf life. Essentially, shelf life refers to the amount of time you can leave a battery charged before it will lose its charge. While all batteries suffer from a natural draining process over time, some batteries hold their charge longer than others.
As you can imagine, shelf life is important for those who plan on using solar generators as a source of emergency or backup power. Fortunately, the Delta 1800 delivers. With a shelf life of over 12 months, buyers could conceivably leave the unit untouched and in storage for a full year and still rely on it to have a fully charged battery in the event of a power outage or emergency.
For comparison, similar units, like the Goal Zero Yeti 1500X, tend to have a shelf life of only three to four months.
Life Cycles:
The Delta 1800’s battery is rated for 800+ life cycles, which is, again, impressive. Essentially, life cycles refer to the total number of times the battery can be charged and drained before it starts to lose some of its capacity.
While this might lead you to believe that you can only use the battery about 800 times until you start to see signs of degradation, it is important to remember that a cycle refers to a full recharge followed by a full discharge. In other words, partially discharging the battery would not necessarily impact the battery the same way that a full discharge cycle would.
You could only use some of the Delta’s stored power before recharging the battery, and the impact on the battery’s lifespan would be negligible.
The fact that the Delta’s powerful power inverter allows you to discharge the battery fully is fairly unique. Some of the less efficient solar generators shut off before you can completely drain the battery.
EcoFlow Delta: Power Inverter, Charge Controller, and Output Ports
The Power Inverter:
One of the highlights of the Delta 1800 is its powerful and efficient internal power inverter. The 1,800W pure sine power inverter is impressive, especially when you consider the unit’s compact dimensions and lightweight design.
At 1,800W, there is nothing else like the Delta in its class. Most units this size feature far less powerful inverters, which is why most of the highly portable units are for charging smartphones, Bluetooth speakers, tablets, portable GPS units, and other handheld electronics.
As mentioned above, the combination of the Delta’s high-capacity battery and its 1,800W power inverter means it can power fairly demanding electronic appliances, like refrigerators, televisions, and more.
Not only is the power inverter rated at 1,800W, but it also offers 3,300W of surge potential, which means it can withstand the peaks and valleys you get with more temperamental electronics, like microwaves, blenders, toaster ovens, hairdryers, and straightening irons. Delta’s power inverter is so impressive that we have even seen it power some fairly demanding power tools!
Charge Controller:
The built-in MPPT charge controller protects the battery and ensures you make the most out of your power source. Generators with a far less efficient PWM charge controller require more solar power supply to charge the battery.
Your solar panels will perform effectively, and more of the DC power they generate will end up getting stored within your unit’s deep cycle battery.
The MPPT charge controller also protects against reverse battery drain, which can occur when power flows from the battery to a connected solar panel. With a low-quality charge controller, this usually occurs after the sun has set and the connected panels are no longer producing power.
Output Ports:
The Delta also features a wide variety of practical output charging ports, including:
EcoFlow Delta 1800 Output Ports:
| 2 x | USB-A ports |
| 2 x | USB fast-charging ports |
| 2 x | 60W USB-C ports (compatible with latest Apple iPhones and iPads, as well as newer Android smartphones) |
| 6 x | standard three-prong AC wall-style plugs |
| 1 x | cigarette lighter-style 12V DC carport |
All of these output ports combine to give the Delta 1800 outstanding versatility. With five unique charging options and the potential to power 13 devices at once, the Delta is incredibly impressive for its size. Typically, only the larger and more expensive units offer this many output ports, and even some of them lack the more modern USB-C ports.
How to Recharge the EcoFlow Delta 1800 Solar Generator
Another area where the Delta shines is its surprisingly fast recharge times.
If you are charging the unit through a standard AC wall outlet, you can fully charge the 1,260Wh battery in as little as 1.6 hours! This speed is incredibly fast, especially considering similar solar generators can take up to 12 hours to charge this way.
Using solar panels that have a total power rating of 100W, you can typically charge the battery in 4 to 8 hours. As is always the case with solar, the actual recharge time will depend on several factors, including the efficiency rating of the panels, the amount of cloud cover, your geographic location, and the time of day when the panels are being used.
One of the unique and useful features the Delta has is being able to charge the battery through a 12V DC input port. You can charge the battery from your car, which is great for campers and RV enthusiasts.
Our Overall Impression of the EcoFlow Delta 1800 Solar Generator
After taking an in-depth look at the Delta, it became pretty obvious why it is one of the best-selling solar generators on the market today. Put simply, the Delta 1800 offers outstanding reliability and performance at an affordable price point.
Given that similar units tend to weigh close to 50lbs and the Delta comes in at just 30.9lbs, it is also fair to say it is a highly portable solar generator. Backcountry campers, RV enthusiasts, camper van drivers, and anyone else who values mobility will also appreciate the two rigid carrying handles.
While the high-capacity battery and 1,800W power inverter were the real highlights, we cannot ignore the high-end features you get with the Delta. These include the crystal-clear LCD screen, fast recharge rate, 13 output ports, and the ability to charge through solar power, AC power, or a 12V DC carport.
EcoFlow Delta Pros
- Efficient and powerful power inverter with excellent surge protection
- High-capacity 1,260Wh deep cycle battery with an impressive shelf life
- Compact dimensions, durable carrying handles, and a total weight of 30.9lbs
- Backed by a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty, which is much better than the 1-year industry standard
- Pass-through charging means you can draw power from the output ports as the unit is charging
- 800+ life cycles
- DC output port allows you to trickle charge a vehicle battery, as well as run any DC-powered appliances. This is helpful for those with an RV, tiny home, camper van, or any other type of mobile living arrangement
- Includes all of the charging cables you would need and a protective carrying case
- LCD screen allows you to quickly note the remaining battery power, as well as the power input and output information
- Affordable price
- Chaining function, which means multiple Deltas can be wired together to create a larger battery bank
EcoFlow Delta Cons
- Fairly loud internal fan, which is because it is a small, yet powerful unit. Less surface area reduces heat displacement, so the fan is required to keep the unit running properly
- AC wall-style outputs are arranged in a way that prevents you from plugging in six 3-pronged appliances at the same time. You can still run three 3-pronged appliances and three 2-pronged appliances simultaneously, but it could still be an issue for some.
As you can see, the pros certainly outweigh the cons. Whether you are looking for a highly portable and durable unit that can accompany you on your next adventure, or you are looking for a reliable and powerful solar generator for emergencies, the Delta 1800 is up to the task, and we cannot recommend it enough.
The Best EcoFlow Delta 1800 Solar Kits
Now that we have given our impression of the Delta 1800, we can take a look at some kits that offer value and convenience:
This kit combines the outstanding Delta 1800 with four highly efficient, 100W monocrystalline solar panels. It also comes packaged with all of the MC4 solar cables and connectors required to wire everything together.
The rigid panels feature rugged aluminum frames and pre-drilled installation holes, making them easy to install and ideal for emergency preparedness. They also work exceptionally well for camper vans and RVs and for those looking to build a fixed solar array for an off-grid or grid-tied solar power system.
Best of all, the package offers excellent value!
The Double Kit is very similar to the Quad Kit; however, it comes packaged with two 100W solar panels rather than four. While it is less expensive, the value isn’t there. For the slight price increase, you would be better off with the four solar panels.
With that said, it could be a practical option for those that already own solar panels or for anyone that plans to charge their Delta primarily through AC power.
The Base Camp Kit is the perfect emergency power backup kit. Not only do you get the Delta 1800 and four 100W solar panels, but you also get a T10 EMP bag, a set of low-watt LED emergency lights and an emergency power preparedness guide.
For those who prefer folding solar panels, you can get them with the Nomad Kit, which puts the Delta with two 200W folding suitcase-style solar panels. While you get better value with the Quad Kit, the portable nature of the Nomad Kit might be right for you, especially if you enjoy backcountry camping or frequently travel by RV, van, or skoolie.
EcoFlow Delta: Final Words
The Delta 1800 deserves its status as one of the best-selling solar generators on the market. No matter what sort of package works for you, we feel confident that you will be satisfied with your decision if you choose to invest in an EcoFlow Delta 1800.
