ECOFLOW and Viofo

mentadent

mentadent

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Dash Cam
VIOFO A139, VIOFO A139 Pro, VIOFO A119 Mini 2, VIOFO A229...
If I was to get an ECOFLOW River 2, would it work with my Viofo and hard wiring? I currently have a PowerCore but I'm looking for something that would last longer.
 
I reckon with some custom cables you maybe get it to work?

12v from the DC plug to hardwire wire kit BAT connection, then take a seperate wire from ACC in the fuse box for the ACC connection. Not sure whether you can use the GND on the DC plug or it's better to use the car ground?

Would be nice to get some input from the more technically minded electronics people, whether this would work?

I'm not sure how easy it would be to get parking mode working with the USB sockets instead, as you probably know viofo USB cables are custom.

It looks like a good price, I paid almost double for a cellink neo 6 and a 18wh lifepo4 battery in 2021
 
EcoFlow River 2 works great as a parking battery, so long as your temps keep cool. The EcoFlow literature indicates a maximum operating temperature of 45c and they mean it. One EcoFlow unit died (fried the USB-A output regulator) following two or three days of 97F degrees. Temps inside the car hit ambient +30F, so it probably went to 130F, which is above its operating limit. If the inside of your car will remain below 45c, you should be good to go.

Here is my wiring configuration for a car where the 12v utility outlet is always live:
https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threa...options-extra-functionality.49972/post-617120

If your 12v utility outlet goes off with the ignition, the wiring is even more simple. See the rest of the thread I linked for more details.
 
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I don't mean to be rude, but that doesn't sound like it works great if it fried.

I really appreciate sharing the info.
 
Not rude at all. I see that you're in London. Summer temps in the UK seems to be somewhat cooler than where I am (central Pennsylvania, USA). If this is actually true (maybe not...), you should be good with the EcoFlow. Given my experiences, I'm building my own LTO battery pack, following GPak's design thread. The working temp of the components I am choosing should better survive hot summer days.
 
The batteries in your link look pretty interesting. That's a pretty high price point, though (compared to DIY)... Guess in comparison to LiFePo and respective lifetimes, the difference is more reasonable.
 
It's been coming soon for a few years. Looks like it charges really fast.
 
I think I would prefer the extra capacity of LifeP04 for the price ATM, and top up at home when the drives are not long enough. But once it's released, hopefully the price will drop over time.

I wish powercore would have something more detailed to monitor the battery charge, it gets more important once you start adding extension batteries. Doesn't even have to be bluetooth, something like an analogue voltage output that you could hook up to a meter for instance.
 
The 'new' one if it ever comes out has a meter on it.
 
joe384 said:
I think I would prefer the extra capacity of LifeP04 for the price ATM, and top up at home when the drives are not long enough. But once it's released, hopefully the price will drop over time.

I wish powercore would have something more detailed to monitor the battery charge, it gets more important once you start adding extension batteries. Doesn't even have to be bluetooth, something like an analogue voltage output that you could hook up to a meter for instance.
Click to expand...

See my thread regarding home chargers

I do short journeys, so I'm going to have 2 powerbanks
1 that's on charge whilst the other is giving the car protection
 
mentadent said:
If I was to get an ECOFLOW River 2, would it work with my Viofo and hard wiring? I currently have a PowerCore but I'm looking for something that would last longer.
Click to expand...
In my opinion suitable Power Station (PS) in general and EcoFlow River2 specifically is by far a better parking solution than any dedicated DashCam battery on the market today.
I have personally tested and used several different PS for parking.
It is a simple ‘plug and play’ installation.
I have not tested the EcoFlow River2 specifically, but we have at list two members on this forum who use EcoFlow River 2 for parking (I see @EricSan already posted here).

Based on information I have seen so far, the EcoFlow River 2 series is one of the best PS for the parking.
It uses 20Ah LFP cells and comes with all the necessary protections, ensuring the reliability and durability of the product.

Other advantages over dedicated batteries include but not limited to:
- Half the price at about - $170
- Twice the usable energy capacity meaning twice the parking time - 256Wh rated/or about 192Wh usable.
- Charge rate can be - 60W (USB-C) or 95W (12VDC) or 110W (up to 24VDC using boost converter).
- If needed, charge at home with build in AC charger with included cable - from empty to full in 1 hour.
- Works with standard Hardwire Kits (HK) – as a 12V system using USB-C to 12V cable or USB-A to 12V converter, or as 5V system from USB-A port with HK voltage regulator removed.
- One of the best in industry - App to monitor the status of the battery.
- Industry-leading 5-year warranty which speaks of reliability of one of the most reputable brand.
- Plus you get full Power Station functionality, meaning AC output to power tools and appliances while on the road/camping or during a power outage at home.
- Etc.

Perhaps the only advantage the dedicated battery has is the smaller size at the expense of parking time, if for whatever reason someone wants to keep it under the seat instead of the trunk.
 
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mentadent said:
I don't mean to be rude, but that doesn't sound like it works great if it fried.

I really appreciate sharing the info.
Click to expand...
All complex electronic products can fail for various reasons, and this forum with many complaints is evidence of that.

Battery packs usually have temperature limitations due to the type of lithium cells used.
Most electronic components and circuits are typically designed to withstand considerably higher temperatures than the battery cells.
One failed USB-A board due to high temperatures or some other reason, may simply be a bad component batch, not necessarily reflective of the overall reliability of the product.
In any case 5 year warranty should take care of that.
 
GPak said:
Other advantages over dedicated batteries include but not limited to:
- Half the price at about - $170
- Twice the usable energy capacity meaning twice the parking time - 256Wh rated/or about 192Wh usable.
- Charge rate can be - 60W (USB-C) or 95W (12VDC) or 110W (up to 24VDC using boost converter).
- If needed, charge at home with build in AC charger with included cable - from empty to full in 1 hour.
- Works with standard Hardwire Kits (HK) – as a 12V system using USB-C to 12V cable or USB-A to 12V converter, or as 5V system from USB-A port with HK voltage regulator removed.
- One of the best in industry - App to monitor the status of the battery.
- Industry-leading 5-year warranty which speaks of reliability of one of the most reputable brand.
- Plus you get full Power Station functionality, meaning AC output to power tools and appliances while on the road/camping or during a power outage at home.
- Etc.
Click to expand...

Considering how capable, versatile and affordable these Portable Power Stations are it makes one wonder why dedicated dash cam battery packs are priced as they are and just what kind of margins manufacturers and retailers are making on these products.

I live on a mountain in a rural area where the power goes out quite often, usually for anywhere from a couple of hours to a day or two but occasionally for as much as a week at a time if we get a bad ice storm. As a result, for many years I've maintained a comprehensive back-up strategy that includes an 8K propane powered generator, a 12V DIY deep cycle battery auxiliary lighting system, a wood stove (along with oil and propane, my usual heating arrangement) and an array of incidental items such as li-ion flashlights of various power ratings portable radios and scanners an Aladdin Lamp and some other stuff. Many of my neighbors are similarly prepared. You have to be to live up here.

Not long ago I added a 300W portable power station to mix and it has been a great addition to my arsenal. I don't use it for my dash cams as I take another approach for that but I could if I wanted to. To some extent the power station has rendered my 12V deep cycle lighting system that I first put together long before lithium batteries came on the scene obsolete but it is still in use depending on what part of the house I want back up lighting.
 
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Dashmellow said:
Considering how capable, versatile and affordable these Portable Power Stations are it makes one wonder why dedicated dash cam battery packs are priced as they are and just what kind of margins manufacturers and retailers are making on these products.
Click to expand...
I assume they are so expensive because the market for dash cam batteries is relatively small.
However, while the power station market is probably much larger, this is somewhat offset by the sheer number of different power stations on the market compared to the handful for dash cam batteries, so I'm not sure.

Another reason may be that Korean products are more expensive than Chinese ones, where most power stations are produced.
However, with all the tariffs (up to 100%) our government is imposing on China, this advantage may soon be eliminated and we may see a significant increase in the prices of Chinese product.
Just imagine the $500-$600 Viofo A229 Pro.

Dashmellow said:
Not long ago I added a 300W portable power station to mix and it has been a great addition to my arsenal. I don't use it for my dash cams as I take another approach for that but I could if I wanted to.
Click to expand...
Not all portable power stations can be a good dash cam battery.
I always emphasize "suitable" power stations that meet certain requirements.
A very common example: if the power station has an ON/OFF button for both DC and USB output ports that requires a physical press to activate, it will most likely not work as a dash cam battery, simply inconvenient.
 
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Yes I think it is high because dashcam batteries are a specialist product with low volume.

I wish they would charge faster.
 
GPak said:
I assume they are so expensive because the market for dash cam batteries is relatively small.
However, while the power station market is probably much larger, this is somewhat offset by the sheer number of different power stations on the market compared to the handful for dash cam batteries, so I'm not sure.

Another reason may be that Korean products are more expensive than Chinese ones, where most power stations are produced.
However, with all the tariffs (up to 100%) our government is imposing on China, this advantage may soon be eliminated and we may see a significant increase in the prices of Chinese product.
Just imagine the $500-$600 Viofo A229 Pro.


Not all portable power stations can be a good dash cam battery.
I always emphasize "suitable" power stations that meet certain requirements.
A very common example: if the power station has an ON/OFF button for both DC and USB output ports that requires a physical press to activate, it will most likely not work as a dash cam battery, simply inconvenient.
Click to expand...

You make some very good points. Dedicated dash cam battery packs and even in many ways dash cams themselves are still niche market products.

I recall more than twenty years ago when "solar generators" began to appear on the market and most people had never heard of them but now they are widely available and come in a variety of sizes and are quite popular.

And no, for a variety of reasons not all power stations are suitable for dash cam use. The one I purchased uses standard lithium-ion batteries whereas if I had intended to use it in my vehicle I would have purchased one that uses
LiFePO4 cells and different switching, but it is perfect for my usage requirements.

As for Chinese products becoming more expensive, I've noticed that beginning to happen some time ago and several Chinese vendors I've purchased tools and gadgets from over the years (like Banggood) are now charging for shipping that used to be free.
 
I have heard that China subsidizes shipping, and that international postal agreements end up costing receiving countries money. Maybe this is coming to an end or reducing?
 
mentadent said:
I have heard that China subsidizes shipping, and that international postal agreements end up costing receiving countries money. Maybe this is coming to an end or reducing?
Click to expand...

I don't know about subsidies but some Chinese vendors have either abandoned free shipping altogether or now only provide free shipping if you spend over a certain amount. In other cases there is a modest shipping fee (or more) of some kind so there could be a subsidy supporting that. I've noticed that Bangood has been experimenting with different shipping fee models which I assume means that they lost business after they abandoned free shipping altogether, I think much of the shipping fee issue has less to do with tariffs and more to do with the changes in the shipping industry due to the pandemic supply chain issues when the cost of a shipping container shot up from $1000.00 to $10,000.00. Now that it has come back down things seem to be normalizing but not back to pre-pandemic levels at this point.
 
GPak said:
One failed USB-A board due to high temperatures or some other reason, may simply be a bad component batch, not necessarily reflective of the overall reliability of the product.
Click to expand...
This is the part that I’ll never know. I was guessing which part had failed. Did the 5v USB regulator itself fail? Maybe it was some other component? I purchased a refurb unit, so perhaps whatever it was returned for had already weakened some of the board components. I didn’t ask for nor did I receive an explanation of what failed. They may not even diagnose things at that level of granularity. I suspect each board is diagnosed as a whole and when it fails, the board itself is tossed and replaced. Thus, the manufacturer may not even care to know what happened, unless discarded board go to another unit for more extensive and detailed testing. I’m tempted to put the EcoFlow back into service and see how it holds up.

Overall, the EcoFlow is hard to beat on price and features. Like any product, using it within the manufacturer’s guidelines seems wise.
 
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