However, a laptop (for example) will be unaffected by the 30ms switchover as it has its own battery. Can the RIVER 2 Handle High-Wattage Appliances? The River series is targeted at portable use, and it includes a range of models — the standard River 2 comes with a 268Wh battery, the River 2 Max I'm looking at has a 512Wh unit, and there's also a River 2 Pro that features a 768Wh battery. All three models include long-lasting Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries that are touted with up to ten years of regular use without any degradation, feature Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and can be charged in four different ways — including solar power.

Or, you can go solar. Depending on environmental conditions, such as available sunlight, RIVER 2 Pro can recharge 0-100% in 4.5-9 hours using a 22oW Bifacial Portable Solar Panel. You can charge using AC power, solar panels, a car adapter, or USB-C. Solar Charging: 110W Solar Charging

The River 2 Max delivers high capacity, lots of connectivity and super-fast charging at a competitive price

To figure this out, you’ll need to divide the storage capacity of the RIVER 2, which is 256Wh, by the wattage of the appliances you want to charge. When you’re halfway through a 2-week overlanding trip, having a renewable power source to keep all your gear powered comes in handy. Like EcoFlow’s DELTA series, the RIVER 2 series comes in various shapes and sizes, with different features tailored toward different users and scenarios. The 512Wh battery is ideally suited for camping activities, and there's enough power on offer to charge phones, notebooks, and other tech accessories in addition to projectors. The fact that the batteries are based on LiFePO4 tech means they should be much more durable than standard Lithium-ion batteries, and the long-term warranty alleviates any worries in this area. RIVER 2 charges from 0-100% in just 60 minutes using AC power. RIVER 2 Pro offers three times the storage capacity at 768Wh, but it only takes 10 minutes longer to charge using AC.

You can recharge while you operate using any of RIVER 2’s four charging methods — including solar panels. Can I Connect Two RIVER 2s Together in Parallel? If you need more power, consider upgrading to other RIVER 2 series devices, such as the RIVER 2 Pro or RIVER 2 Max — each of which offers greater AC output. RIVER 2 Pro offers 800W running watts and up to 1600W starting watts (surge power) using X-Boost. The RIVER 2 series is the first-ever collection of portable power stations to be TÜV Rheinland certified, meaning their safety, durability, and quality is evaluated by independent experts and found to be beyond reproach. The amount of time that the RIVER 2 PPS can power your appliances between charges depends entirely on your appliances’ starting and running wattages and how many devices you run simultaneously.

The River 2 Max charges just about anything you have, and has all the ports you need.

With normal use, RIVER 2 Max can fully discharge/recharge 3,000+ times without diminished efficiency. That’s 10+ years of regular use. EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max: The Final Verdict Temperature affects solar panel efficiency, while factors like the peak sun hours your solar panel receives and its positioning impact how much electricity you generate in real-world conditions.

If you plan to power multiple appliances simultaneously, you’ll need to add up the sum of their wattages. Significantly, LiFePO4 batteries require no cobalt — one of the primary materials used in traditional Li-ion batteries. 70% of the world’s cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where both mining and processing are carried out under extremely cruel labour conditions by children as young as six years old. Can You Keep RIVER 2 Outdoors? RIVER 2’s maximum solar input is 110W. You can use any solar panel with a rated power of 110W (or slightly above) to charge the RIVER 2 — instantly turning it into a solar generator! The RIVER 2 takes about three hours to charge fully using your car’s cigarette lighter. Its maximum DC input is 12/24, 8A, or 100W Max, and the PPS battery storage capacity is 256Wh.

Lightweight at only 7.8 kg

If you need a compact option that can power 80% of home appliances but still weighs under 20 pounds, at 17.2 lbs (8 kg), RIVER 2 Pro offers 768 Wh battery storage — perfect for off-grid weekends away with the family. AC Output For off-grid camping, tailgating, or other outdoor activities, charging your RIVER 2 PPS with a solar panel gives you true energy independence. You can harness the sun’s power to generate clean, renewable energy. You’ll often hear portable power stations called solar, battery, or even portable generators. Ultimately, they’re all battery-powered devices. All of these ports make RIVER 2 the most versatile 7.7 lb (3.5 kg) PPS on the market. But every port is also an opportunity for water to make ingress into your PPS. While your RIVER 2 will surely survive a slight sprinkle, don’t leave it outside in the rain — and don’t immerse it in the water! Suppose you’re on a budget and don’t like the idea of paying for more electricity generation capacity that you need. In that case, you’re better off purchasing a 110W EcoFlow solar panel to match your RIVER 2’s solar input capacity.