EcoFlow’s River 2 Max is a portable power station designed to provide uninterrupted power supply for your home or outdoor activities. Unlike the first edition, these can be left plugged in.
With its reasonbly sized 512Wh LiFePO4 or LFP battery and 500W output, the River 2 Max can power almost anything, from small electronic devices to larger appliances. I’ve tried it with my full desktop setup (i5 PC + 32″ widescreen) and TV with a soundbar to much success.
This product is an excellent choice for people who experience loadshedding in South Africa, as it can provide several hours of power supply for your home appliances, even during Stage 4 – 6 loadshedding.
The River 2 Max is lightweight, weighing only 6kg, making it easy to carry around to different rooms, whether you’re camping, working remotely, or simply need backup power for your home. I move it from my television room to my office when I need to power my computer.
Charging
One of the most impressive features of the River 2 Max is its charging capabilities. It can be charged in three ways: via wall socket, USB-C, or solar panels.
The charging time varies depending on the method you use, but the fastest charging time is through a wall socket, where it can fully charge in just one hour (660W).
This is useful when several loadshedding slots are scheduled for the day and you need to recharge the Portable Power Station as quickly as possible. It’s recommended to turn down the charging speed slightly (I’ve set to 200W) which increases the battery lifespan.
The USB-C port can also be used for fast charging, and it takes approximately 2.5 hours to charge the device fully. If you prefer to use solar panels, it can take up to 3.5 hours for a full charge, depending on the size of the solar panel.
Performance
The River 2 Max can power a wide range of devices, including small electronics like laptops and smartphones, medium-sized appliances like TVs, and even larger appliances like a Playstation 5 or refrigerators.
My EcoFlow River 2 Max with a 42″ LED TV, soundbar, router and light plugged lasts around 4 hours and never runs flat, even during extended loadshedding periods. These figures may vary depending on the wattage of the device, but they are a good indication of what to expect from this portable power station.
One of the standout features of the River 2 Max is its intuitive display and mobile app. The display provides real-time information about the battery level, input and output wattage, and the estimated remaining runtime.
The mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices, allowing you to monitor the device’s performance and control the output from your smartphone. A late update in May has added a new Homepage Style called Energy Flow, which looks great. Nice to see they are still adding new features.
Below is a screenshot after a 2 hour loadshedding slot as the device recharges (still roughly half the battery left running TV + soundbar + media box).
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max tips
Here are some tips to improve the performance and lifespan of your EcoFlow River 2 Max:
- I have it plugged into a Gizzu Universal Voltage Protector Plug, which protects the unit against sudden surges when the power comes back on. There’s also a 90 second startup delay which helps devices too. You can find them at Takealot, Incredible Connection, Makro, etc.
- I have the AC Charging Speed set to 200W. This means it takes longer to charge, but the battery doesn’t get as hot in comparison to full speed (660W). The fan also doesn’t kick in as much.
- I’ve set the discharge level to 10% and the charge level to 90%
- Once a month I charge up to 100%, unplug the unit and then use the battery until it reaches 0%. Plug the device back in and recharge until 100%. This helps recalibrate the battery.
- There’s an EcoFlow South Africa FB group, which has further tips and and an official rep who is helpful.
Conclusion
The EcoFlow River 2 Max is an excellent portable power station for anyone who needs backup power for their home during load shedding. Its large battery and high output power make it suitable for powering a wide range of devices including a TV, PC, DSTV decoder, router, etc.
If you need to use more powerful devices like a coffee machine, kettle and microwave, look at the Delta 2 range, which can handle 1800W | 1260Wh.
Although the device is made of hard plastic instead of aluminum, it is still durable and long-lasting, with the ability to support 3000 charge cycles. It’s a bit disappointing the battery isn’t replaceable long-term.
If you’re looking for a reliable and efficient portable power station, the EcoFlow River 2 Max is an excellent choice. I am incredibly happy with my purchase!
Save 5% off with coupon AFFECOFLOW at EcoFlow South Africa Store. It is definitely best to buy direct from EcoFlow South Africa.
EcoFlow River 2 Max
A fantastic solution for most South Africans who are looking to keep a few devices powered up and beat loadshedding.
Product Brand: EcoFlow
Product Currency: ZAR
Product Price: 12999
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.8
Pros
- LiFePO4 Battery
- Fast charging
- 5 Year warranty
- Only 6kg
Cons
- Plastic body
- Might not be enough power for some users
