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Battery Backup System Features and Options

Battery power backup systems are commonly used to power critical devices during power outages. They can provide power for a certain period of time, depending on the capacity of the battery and the electricity demands of the devices plugged into the system.

A battery backup system includes the following components:

  • Battery: typically, a high-capacity lithium-ion battery used to store power for future use. Batteries store power as direct current (DC).
  • Charger: special electronics that enable the battery to charge safely when connected to an external power source such as a wall outlet or solar panel.
  • Inverter: used to convert DC power stored in the battery into alternating current (AC), which is the form of power used by most household devices.
  • Power Outlets: used to plug in the devices that need to be powered. Battery backup systems typically include standard wall outlets as well as specific outlets to power other AC and DC devices with different plug types. 

Battery Chemistry

The batteries in power backup systems differ from one another depending on the materials used to create them. These differences are called “chemistries.”  Most power backup systems use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFEPO4). which offer improved safety and a longer lifespan. 

Features

Ecoflow Delta Pro

Ecoflow Delta Pro

Ecoflow Delta 2 Max

Ecoflow Delta 2 Max

Battery Chemistry

The composition of a battery that determines its energy storage, power delivery, charging, lifespan, and safety characteristics

LiFePO4LiFePO4

Cycle Life:

The number of times a battery can be charged and discharged until it falls below 80% of its original capacity. A higher number means a longer lifespan.

3,500

Approximately 10 years to 80% capacity

3000

Approximately 10 years to 80% capacity

Depth of Discharge:

How much battery can be drained without causing damage.

Draining and charging a battery completely can cause damage over time.

80% -  90%80% - 90%

Stability:

How the battery performs at elevated temperatures.

Resistant to heat
unlikely to catch fire
Resistant to heat
unlikely to catch fire

 

Charging

Battery systems can be charged in many ways. Options include:
  • Wall outlet
  • Solar
  • Car battery
  • EV Charging Stations
Each of these options can provide power at different rates. Higher rates mean faster charging. Certain battery systems enable combining the options above for even faster charging speeds. Power is provided in Watts. Higher Watts equals faster charge times.

Features

Ecoflow Delta Pro

Ecoflow Delta Pro

Ecoflow Delta 2 Max

Ecoflow Delta 2 Max

AC Wall Power

Charge from a standard wall outlet.

1800 Watts (AC)
3000 Watts (DC)

Full Charge:

2.7 hrs.
1800 Watts (AC)
Full Charge:
1.5 hrs.

Solar Panels

Charge using solar panels. Solar panel sizes can range from 100 Watts to 400 Watts per panel. Panels can be combined to increase charging speed.

 

 

1600 Watts 
max input
Full Charge:
3 hrs.

 

 

1000 Watts
max input

Full Charge:

2.5 hrs.

 

DC Charging (12-volt socket)

Charge use the car's 12-volt socket. The car must be turned on but does not have to be running.

 

120 Watts
25+ hours
120 Watts
20+ hours

DC Alternator Charging

A device that attaches to your car's battery that only operates when the car's engine is running.

400-800 Watts
4-8 hours

 

400-800 Watts
2.5-5 hours

Combined Charging
(wall + solar)

 

3400 watts
Full Charge: 
 2 hrs.
2400 watts
Full Charge: 
1.1 hrs.

Pass Through Power

The ability to bypass the battery when the battery system is plugged into the wall.

YesYes

 


Backup System Features

Understanding and getting the most benefit out of power backup systems during an emergency often depends on the features and capabilities available. Some key features include:

  • Un-interruptible Power Supply (UPS), Power switches immediately from the wall outlet to the power backup system seamlessly when the power goes out.
  • App control – the ability to view and change settings on the power backup system from a mobile device.
  • LCD Display – visible indication of remaining battery capacity.
  • Expansion – the ability to add external batteries to increase the capacity of the power backup system.

Features

Ecoflow Delta Pro

Ecoflow Delta Pro

Ecoflow Delta 2 Max

Ecoflow Delta 2 Max

AC Outlets

4 x 120V, 20A

1 x TT-30, 30A
6 x 120,16.5A

DC Outlets

 

1 x 12V, 10A

1 x 12V, 30A

 1 x 12V, 13A
2 x 12V, 10A
1 x 12V, 30A

 

USB Outlets

 

2 x 100w USB-C

2 x 18w USB-A

2 x 12w USB-A
2 x 100w USB-C
2 x 12w USB-A

Wireless Charging

 

NoNo
UPS Capability30 ms30ms
App ControlYesYes
LCD DisplayYesYes

 

Performance

Power backup systems need to provide enough power to support critical electronics such as Ventilators and Oxygen concentrators for as long as possible. They also need to be able to handle the power demands of multiple devices connected at once and devices that use a lot of electricity such as chair lifts, well pumps or elevators. Important considerations include:
  • Battery capacity - how much energy a battery can store (measured in Watt hours) – larger batteries have more watt hours.
  • Efficiency – how close the system comes to the advertised battery capacity.
  • Power output - (measured in Watts) – more power equals more, or more power-hungry, devices can be plugged in at once.
  • Peak power – or surge, determines how large of spike in power the system can handle without shutting down. Motors, refrigerators, and heaters all use elevated power when initially starting up. 

Features

Ecoflow Delta Pro

Ecoflow Delta Pro

Ecoflow Delta 2 Max

Ecoflow Delta 2 Max

Battery Capacity

The rated capacity of the battery.

3600 Wh2048 Wh

Efficiency:

The usable capacity of the battery.

3,170 Wh
(~88%)

1863 Wh

(~91%)

Power output:

Maximum power output for short bursts.

3600 Watts2400 Watts

Peak power:

Maximum power the battery can deliver for a short burst.

7600 Watts4800 Watts

 

Dimension and Weight

Features

Ecoflow Delta Pro

Ecoflow Delta Pro

Ecoflow Delta 2 Max

Ecoflow Delta 2 Max

Length

25"19.6"

Width

 

11.2"

9.5"

Height

 

16.4"12"

Weight

 

99 lbs.50 Lbs.

 

Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering (CIDE)

CU Denver

The Hub, Bioengineering

1224 5th Street

Suite 130

Denver, CO 80204


303-315-1280

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