A few years ago, few Ukrainians were interested in portable charging stations.But things have changed
3 reasons to buy EcoFlow River 2 Max:
- fast charging up to 660 W;
- balanced set of connectors (USB-C with PD 3.0, two 220 V sockets);
- convenient management (mobile application, informative display).
2 reasons not to buy EcoFlow River 2 Max:
- you lack 512 Wh;
- you have a generator.
Fast passage:
- What is in the box?
- What does EcoFlow River 2 Max look like?
- Interfaces
- Mobile app
- Practical test EcoFlow River 2 Max
- What is useful to know about EcoFlow
- Impressions
What is in the box?
EcoFlow River 2 Max comes in a boxbox. In addition to the charging station itself, the package includes a quick start guide and three cables: DC5521, as well as for charging from an AC source and from a car. The instruction is available in several languages, but not in Ukrainian. Russian is.
IMPORTANT: It is strictly forbidden to use homemade plug-to-plug cables. After turning on the power, the oncoming phase sends your EcoFlow to the charging station graveyard.
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What does EcoFlow River 2 Max look like?
The charging station looks almosta cube with a display and a large set of connectors that allow you to connect almost everything. The EcoFlow River 2 Max measures 269 x 259 x 196 mm and weighs 6.1 kg. Fans for cooling are mounted on the sides and are louder than in the previous generation.
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A sturdy handle protrudes from the back, whichmakes it easy to move the station. In the previous version, it was on top. Our hero has a flat top cover where you can put something. For example, another station. It suggests wireless charging, but it's not here. Although it is unlikely that you will suffer from this, because there should be enough connectors for everyone.
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EcoFlow River 2 Max offers optionsconnections for every taste. But first, let's say a few words about the display. It is based on a bright LCD panel without touch control and displays the following parameters:
- remaining charge in %;
- remaining charging/discharging time;
- AC output;
- USB-A output;
- heating warning;
- fan indicator;
- Bluetooth / Wi-Fi connection status;
- state of charge;
- output power;
- car exit;
- USB-C output;
- hypothermia warning;
- overload warning.
To turn on EcoFlow River 2 Max you simply need toPress the power button below the screen. To turn off the charging station, you will have to hold the button for a second. The device does not turn off when charging.
Interfaces
Now it's time to talk about what connectors the EcoFlow River 2 Max charging station is equipped with.
To the left of the display:
- three USB-A;
- one USB-C (100W).
To the right of the display:
- socket for car charger (10 A);
- two DC5521 connectors.
Below display:
- power indicator;
- station on / off button;
- two AC output sockets;
- AC switch.
Behind:
- input port X-Stream;
- input port for solar panel.
Mobile app
The EcoFlow River 2 Max charging station canmanage with the EcoFlow mobile app. It is available for both Android and iOS smartphones. There is a Russian language, but there is no Ukrainian, as in the case of the instruction.
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To start using the application, you need to go through a simple registration. You will need to provide an email address and create a password. Next, the application will offer to connect to a charging station in the coverage area.
With EcoFlow you have the opportunity to managestation settings. For example, turn sockets off or on, set an automatic break time, or select constant current. In the application, you can update the firmware, contact the support center and view the detailed characteristics of the station.
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Interestingly, if you close the window with the parameters, the interface switches from Russian to English. But just go to the main menu, and the language changes back.
Also through the application you can configurebattery charge and discharge level. For example, 90% and 10% respectively. This means that the EcoFlow River 2 Max will stop charging if the charge level reaches 90%, and will stop producing energy if it drops to 10%. In addition, the application can adjust the charging speed from the AC mains within the range of 100-660 W in 1 W steps.
Practical tests EcoFlow River 2 Max
If you are looking for a charging station that does notnotice power outages, then you are in the wrong place. EcoFlow River 2 Max is a large power bank with a lithium-iron-phosphate battery with a capacity of 512 Wh for connecting low-power devices (up to 1 kW, but there are nuances).
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The station will be able to provide power to the router,laptop, desktop computer or TV so that during power outages you do not go crazy with boredom or have the opportunity to work remotely. In order for the electric kettle, microwave oven, washing machine or heater to fully work, it is recommended to look at the more expensive models of the Delta series.
Scenarios for using the charging station can be thought out for a long time. However, we will only focus on how the author of the material used EcoFlow River 2 Max.
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The tests began, of course, with a laptop and a router.You can use the DC5521 output to connect a router. This will save you one outlet and energy, since you do not have to spend it on an inverter. The ASUS M509-DA work laptop with a 32 Wh battery, of which just over 20 Wh is left, consumes 15-30 W and can work for about 10-13 hours.
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This data does not include the router.When connecting the ASUS RT-51AC4 router via the DC5521, the charging station's operating time is reduced, but not significantly. If you connect the router itself to the EcoFlow River 2 Max, the display will show 0 W consumption.
Next came the smartphone.Huawei P30 with a battery capacity of 3650 mAh via USB-A is fully charged in 2 hours, and the station loses only 4%. However, the charging power is a modest 10 watts. Moreover, when reaching 95%, the power drops to 3 watts. But the presence of an outlet allows you to use the supplied 22.5 W power adapter.
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TV with a diagonal of 49″ with Smart TVconsumes 40-50 W and can work for 5-7 hours. Regular panel at 32″ consumes 15-20 W. If, together with a TV with a diagonal of 32″ Turn on the Xbox Series S game console, then consumption will increase to 80 W. In this operating mode, the charging station will last approximately 3-4 hours. Enough to play a few matches in FIFA 23 or complete the Guardian story challenge in Hogwarts Legacy.
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Now let's move on to the heating system pump. It consumes 46 watts. The screen of the EcoFlow River 2 Max displays 37W of power and a run time of 6 hours at 90% battery charge.
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For the sake of interest, we checked the refrigerator.It consumes 430-450 watts at once. Of course, in this mode, EcoFlow River 2 Max will not last more than 1 hour. But in case of a total blackout, no charging station will help you globally. And if the refrigerator is normal, then in the fan mode -4 / +4 shutdown, nothing bad will happen to the products.
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Unfortunately, the author of the review does not havedesktop computer. Here you can focus on the operation of the refrigerator for 1 hour at 450 watts. But it is important to make allowance for the fact that you will have to connect a monitor to the second outlet. Also, most likely, you will need a router.
No washing machine, heater or ironmeaning to connect. On the screen you will see the message Overload, as shown in the photo below. A few seconds later, the AC output sockets will be automatically turned off. But here the situation is the same as with the refrigerator. 4 hours can be tolerated without washing, ironing and cleaning, and in the event of a total blackout, the lack of trousers with arrows will not be your main problem.
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If desired, you can connect to EcoFlowRiver 2 Max electric kettle with a capacity of approximately 1.5 kW. But first you need to open the mobile application and activate the X-Boost mode. After that, the kettle will work by reducing the voltage in the outlet. But you need to understand that water does not boil as quickly as when connected to a conventional outlet. The same goes for microwaves and coffee makers.
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Separately, we note that the charging station can beuse and charge at the same time. In addition, it can act as an uninterruptible power supply. Switching occurs in 29 milliseconds. At the same time, the company recommends pulling the plug out of the socket after a power outage.
The EcoFlow River 2 Max itself charges in four ways:
- from USB-C - up to 100 W / 6 hours;
- from the AC mains - up to 660 W / 1 hour;
- from solar panel - up to 220 W / 3-6 hours
- from the car - up to 100 W / 6 hours.
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For charging, the company recommends using the bundled cable that is in the box. Poor quality cables can melt during recharging.
What is useful to know about EcoFlow
EcoFlow is a Chinese unicorn company thatbased in Shenzhen and San Francisco. Its value is estimated at more than $1 billion. EcoFlow has a leading position in the Chinese market in the energy storage sector.
The brand is widely known in the field of portableenergy storage devices and energy systems for autonomous provision of buildings. EcoFlow is represented in 83 countries around the world. In addition to portable charging stations like River 2 Max, the company produces EcoFlow Solar Panels, Power Kits, generators and accessories to create an energy ecosystem.
Impressions
In general, EcoFlow River 2 Max is a goodportable charging station. Pleased with the presence of fast charging, two sockets and the ability to charge the battery from the car. The fact that the station itself charges in 1 hour will come in handy when the electricity is turned on for only 2 hours. But even with long outages, 512 Wh is enough to run a laptop and router for a full day, as well as to recharge a smartphone and tablet.
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Noisy work can be a small minusfans. But you can easily use an extension cord and send the EcoFlow River 2 Max to another room. Also note the lack of a flashlight, which some competitors have. But this is not critical.
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Manufacturer's recommended charger pricestation is ₴32,999. However, at the time of writing this review, you can buy EcoFlow River 2 Max with a discount of ₴11,000 (officially). The high price is fully compensated by the quality.
General information
Capacity
512 Wh (20 Ah / 25.6 V ⎓)
Weight
6.1 kg
Dimensions
26.9 x 25.9 x 19.5 cm
Output / Input ports
AC input
220-240V ~ 50/60Hz, 10A max.
DC input
11-50 V ⎓ 13 A, 220 W max.
USB-C Input/Output
5/9/12/15/20 V ⎓ 5 A, 100 W max.
USB-A output
5 V, ⎓ 2.4 A, 12 W max. per port
(total power 24W)
DC output
12.6V ⎓ 10A /3A/3A, 126W max.
AC output
Unmodulated sine wave, 500W total power (1000W surge), 230V~50/60Hz
Battery Information
Chemical composition of the battery
LFP
Life time
3000 cycles at 80%+ capacity
Working temperature
Discharge temperature
-10° C - 45° C (14° F - 113° F)
Charging temperature
0°C – 45°C (32°F – 113°F)
Optimal operating temperature
-20° C – 30° C (68° F – 86° F)
Storage temperature
-10° C - 45° C (preferably 20° C - 30° C)
-14° F - 113° F (preferably 68° F - 86° F)
Thank you
Editorialgg Thanks distributor EcoFlow Ukraine for kindly providing the EcoFlow River 2 Max charging station for this review