Parking Battery-Power Station, 3X capacity and 3X cheaper than dedicated options + extra functionality

Shiwarrior said:
the river 2 has an update (Wi-Fi stability issues)
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I’ve noticed this right from the start of using my EcoFlow R2 (just about a year ago). It indicated some firmware version and that an update was available. After doing the update, it then showed version V0.1.0.0 like you indicated. Then, I was unable to update again. I had to spend some time on the phone with their tech support to get it to update properly. Given the issues I had, I haven’t updated it since.
 
Since the Ecoflow R2/R3 timeout function for the 12V DC port does not work, I decided to check the USB ports as well, just in case, and......
The timeout works for USB-A ports with a regular 5V output, as well as with a USB-A-12V converter cable.
However, unfortunately, the timeout does not work for the USB-C-12V/15V cable, I guess the power station detects the voltage request, assuming that the load is connected, although there is no power draw.
The timeout is desirable, since it will save about 1.2W per hour (about 0.45% per hour) of self-discharge after the parking recording is completed.
As I mentioned in the previous post, as an alternative, we can turn Off the Ecoflow R3 from the App if parking recording is not needed, thereby saving not only battery power but also the SD card.

If timeout is a must, consider a 5V system by removing the voltage regulator from the HW kit and feeding USB-A-5V directly to the modified HW cable (red and black wires), note that the ACC signal from the 12V vehicle output must be converted to 5V before connecting to HW kit cable (yellow wire).
 
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Just got my EcoFlow River 3, and honestly, it’s like having a cool old-school lunch box, but way more useful! For charging it in my car, I’ve got a 15A fuse, so I should be fine cranking it up to the 8A setting, right? Or should I play it safe and stick with the 6A, which is just a notch above what the Cellink Neo uses? What do you think?

Absolutely hate the Cellink neo design with the flimsy on/off/chgange input switch all in one. I agree that a on/off button is required to save self discharge.
 
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The charge setting should be the minimum that meets your charging needs. On days that I drive (instead of riding my bike), my car would sit for about 8-9hrs and my drive was about 20-25mins per day. This was sufficient to recharge my batter when it was set to 6A charge rate. Do check the Utility Outlet Plug from time to time and make sure that it stays fully seated in the car's Utility Outlet. I had one melt on me, likely because it worked itself loose a bit and made intermittent contact.
 
So, tomorrow I’m planning to test just my two black Tapo C121 security cameras with my 4G LTE hotspot USB stick connected to the ecoflow, while leaving the E360 in the Cellink NEO for now. But I have a question about my cigarette socket splitter. I’ve got this one link 1 that’s set up with one end for the NEO and the other planned for the Ecoflow. If I charge both at the same time, is there a chance it could mess anything up, or will they just charge a bit slower? Also, I’ve got this two-button switch 2 button because my plug is always on, and I definitely need that!
 
Using a splitter to charge both at the same time sounds like a VERY BAD IDEA.

Your car's Utility Outlet is likely fused for 15A. Charging both together will easily exceed 15A. The EcoFlow charging current is actually pretty accurate to what it claims. Others have been measured to draw FAR more current than they claim to draw. In addition, the wire used to power your Utility Outlet is often very thin - like 16g or 18g. At a minimum, you'll blow a fuse. Worst case, you'll melt wires that will be difficult to replace and have some potential for a fire when melted wires ground to the chassis.

Please don't burn up your car!

EDIT: This is precisely the reason that I hardwired my DIY LTO battery box directly to the car's battery with new 11g wire (thicker than the 120v wiring in my house) and its own fuse. The wire in the second splitter that you linked is only 18g wire - WAY too thin for this kind of current. That splitter is meant for "little stuff" like a GPS unit and a cell phone charger. It is NOT meant for anything with larger current draw.

Just say NO! to outlet splitters...
 
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Ha, in other news, has anyone else seen EcoFlow's new solar charging hat???

IMG_5146.webp

EcoFlow's new solar charging hat
 
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Alright, so tomorrow’s plan is to keep my car intact and just go with the EcoFlow for everything. I’ll be using that splitter I got mainly for its on/off switch. The second link has a 16AWG splitter too, but the first one did just fine with 13.8V and 5A, according to the battery app reading and it didn’t heat up at all!
 
That’s the key metric: if a wire is warm to the touch, it is too thin. Replace with heavier wire and proceed.
 
Alright, everything looks good. It's charging at 80W with a 6A car setting, and I think this is enough for now. I will try to get the thickest cables I can find on Amazon anyway.
 
Hello,
not sure if okay to ask in this thread, but

anyone could recommend some bargain power station in EU (with German/French socket) [for dashhcam parking mode] ?

Thanks
 
denial said:
Hello,
not sure if okay to ask in this thread, but
anyone could recommend some bargain power station in EU (with German/French socket) [for dashhcam parking mode] ?
Thanks
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I have tested quite a few different brands of power stations for use with dash cams.
Not every power station is suitable for dash cam application.
Of all the options I tested, I think the Ecoflow River 3 is the best.
It has a large enough capacity, yet is relatively compact, has a good set of features, and is quite affordable.
I especially like the functionality of the App, like ability to change charging current on the fly, or ability to turn off power station at locations where parking recording is not needed, and the accurate display of input/output power and battery charge status.
I am currently using River 3 in my Jeep without any issues.

Here in US the River 3 usually sells for around $159 (Amazon), often on sale, in the EU it's probably a bit more expensive.
 
I have never seen the River 3 for sale in the EU for more than €5 off. It’s not a cheap option, but other than that, it has nice features as GPak mentioned.

So far, so good. I only wish I had gone with the PLUS version so I could extend the battery or even get the Delta 3, but I do not consider it a cheap power station in the EU. I will keep it that way and maybe get the Delta later, using the River 3 only for top-ups since it’s small enough to fit in my backpack.

Getting the Anker Solix 300 seems to be impossible, at least directly from Anker.

If anybody can recommend a good EU shop for power stations that has this, please let me know!

The Vantrue E360 works really well with it, as it has GPS motion parking detection or G-sensor. Not sure yet. There's no need to manage cables, and once in parking mode, it won't exit when motion is detected, unlike the Viofo Mini 2.

I'm running it in the 20-80% range to save the battery as much as possible, as I only require about 8 hours a day. So, cigarette charging at 105W seems to work fine at the moment.
 
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Getting the Anker Solix 300 seems to be impossible, at least directly from Anker.
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I got the Anker Solix C300 DC, but there seems to be an issue after battery is depleted it won't turn its USB ports back on automatically once you recharge it (unless you unplug and reconnect the USB cable). This is not the case when you shut it off manually and starts charging it again through the XT60 port - it will turn on and start providing power normally. I contacted Anker because it seems like a firmware would solve this - the problem seems to be in the automatic shut down procedure since the manual shutdown preserves the memory of UBC-C ports so they're active when device is restarted. I also tested the Solix C300 (AC) but it won't turn USB ports back on automatically in any scenario (manual shutdown or after battery depletion) so it's not useful for this.

I should receive Anker Solix 200 DC next week and will test. River 3 and River 3 Plus that I tested here works fine in this case, they will turn on and start the dashcam through USB-C after a few seconds of charging even if battery was 100% drained. I was looking for a larger capacity than River 3 Plus though, and given the efficiency of C300 DC (without the inverter) and smaller size, I was hoping to connect 2 of them together for 500+Wh, but the non-automatic start up after battery is drained is a problem for me.

Can anyone confirm if River 2 Max 500 (or River 2 in general) will automatically turn USB-C ports on after battery is 100% drained and the recharge process from XT60 port resumes (like it does in the River 3 series).

Thanks everyone for the information on the setup, which I followed to be able to connect everything through Viofo's HK4.
 
I wouldn't have even noticed this because I have my River locked at 20 to 80% and didn't manage to go below 45% yet, but I'm staying out little longer this days just to charge it back up to 80% when I start parking mode. I'm also debating if I should keep using the cellink neo and use the river for topping it up if needed. Or if I should even get something in the 1k Wh range.

Also it possible isn't a bug but a security feature as I read something like this why they wouldn't include this in the Bluetti powerstations.
 
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GPak

Post in thread 'ECOFLOW and Viofo'

reg4marco said:
Thanks everyone for all the information about your setup shared here, it helped me a lot. @GPak an additional question that can be important for a worry-free solution: from your tests does the River 2 automatically turn the USB-C ports back on after a complete automatic shut-off (drainage of the battery) once the car is turned on and charging through XT60 begins? So we don't have to manually restart/reconnect cables.
I tested the River 3 series (both 3 and 3 Plus) and both works as expected but I am looking for a higher capacity that River 2 Max could offer. Thanks again
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Yes...
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Will the river 3 also turn on its ciagrette lighter port when a charge is applied and it was completely dead?
 
stephenjones said:
Will the river 3 also turn on its ciagrette lighter port when a charge is applied and it was completely dead?
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No, not from a completely dead.
River3 has a port memory function where it remembers the port state and applies it the next time it is turned on with charging.
However, when the battery is completely dead, this memory is erased.

I would just like to add that in two months of daily use in my car I have never dropped the River3 below 45%, usually cycled around 75% ± 20%.
The ability to adjust the charging current as needed and the ability to shut the battery down at home in the garage help to balance charging and parking.
 
reg4marco said:
I got the Anker Solix C300 DC, but there seems to be an issue after battery is depleted it won't turn its USB ports back on automatically once you recharge it (unless you unplug and reconnect the USB cable). This is not the case when you shut it off manually and starts charging it again through the XT60 port - it will turn on and start providing power normally. I contacted Anker because it seems like a firmware would solve this - the problem seems to be in the automatic shut down procedure since the manual shutdown preserves the memory of UBC-C ports so they're active when device is restarted.
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Hey @reg4marco - did you get any follow-up on this from Anker? What's been your experience with it from there on?

I'm about to take the plunge on the Solix given in UK at least it seems EcoFlow River 3 Plus has gone unavailable for a while now, and while for the C300 DC this seems fairly important to be addressed, possibly this ends up being an annoyance to re-plug your dashcam in case you see it's dead and you'd either way have to take some action rethinking how to charge the C300 appropriately, right?
 
GPak said:
River3 has a port memory function where it remembers the port state and applies it the next time it is turned on with charging.
However, when the battery is completely dead, this memory is erased.
Click to expand...
Have you told Anker this? Maybe they can make a firmware update especially if you tell them Dashcamforum users want that feature.
 
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