RV FEATURE
The Truma Aventa air-conditioner is rated at 1008W . A bit too much for my little Yamaha but not for the Delta 2 .
The Delta 2 was what EcoFlow supplied to us for testing purposes . It was pure luck that it happened to be of similar size and weight to our Yamaha . The Delta 2 ’ s 1024Wh storage capacity is the minimum I would have considered for our particular requirements .
In order to determine whether a solar generator , like the Delta 2 , can perform the same functions as a petrol generator , we need to look at each application individually and evaluate how each unit performs those specific functions .
RECHARGING BATTERIES
We typically drain our 400Ah ( 4800Wh ) caravan batteries by up to 25 per cent overnight . That ’ s 1200Wh I need to obtain the next day in order to fully recharge the batteries . Using my petrol generator to power the 700W battery charger takes about three hours and will use about half to two-thirds of the fuel in the tank . So I can get about two full recharge cycles out of one tank . Any more and I ’ ll need to refill the generator .
The EcoFlow Delta 2 has 1024Wh to give so , at best , I ’ ll get my batteries back up to about 90 per cent state of charge . Still , that isn ’ t too bad . It ’ s certainly enough to get me well out of trouble and keep me going for at least another day .
Now , I know I can ’ t just fill up the ‘ fuel tank ’ like I do with the petrol generator . I need to recharge the Delta 2 somehow . We generally don ’ t sit around camp all day . We like to go out and explore the area . That means heading off in the car . I can recharge the Delta 2 using the car ’ s 12V outlet or , for faster charging , I can connect it directly to the car ’ s battery and it will recharge at about 200W from the alternator , meaning it can be fully recharged in about four to five hours of driving . If that ’ s not fast enough , there is the option to install a DC-DC transformer such as the Victron 12 / 24-20 and charge the Delta 2 at up to 400W , halving recharge times again .
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