EcoFlow RIVER (original)

Should you buy it?

Not for: a day of home backup (too little capacity: needs 2,323 Wh and 1,351 W at startup); a night of CPAP (too little capacity: needs 599 Wh and 104 W at startup); two nights of camping (too little capacity: needs 2,066 Wh and 157 W at startup); a day in an RV (too little capacity: needs 648 Wh and 156 W at startup); a working day in a van (too little capacity: needs 1,674 Wh and 189 W at startup); a laptop and two phones (too little capacity: needs 396 Wh and 60 W at startup).

Choose it for 200 W of solar input against 100 W and room for extra batteries: $80 more than the Pecron E500LFP.

Choose the Pecron E500LFP instead if you want the most battery for the money: $0.47 per Wh against $1.21, $80 less, 3 lb heavier; you give up solar input (100 W against 200 W).

About 245 Wh reaches the AC outlets after the 0.85 loss allowance (an estimate, not a measurement). At $1.21 per watt-hour, compare its cost with the charging speed and carry weight you need. It stores 26.2 Wh per pound. We list 28 other models in its size class; the four nearest in capacity are compared below.

What it runs, and for how long

Hours = capacity × 0.85 ÷ device watts, with the draws from the device table.

"Yes" means its continuous output covers the draw and its surge rating covers the startup figure we use, by arithmetic on ratings, not a test. Startup figures: the CPAP with its humidifier, 104 W at startup, from ResMed's peak figure; the refrigerator, 1,300 W startup allowance, from a larger 27 cu ft Whirlpool's tech sheet. Your own appliance's label or manual has its own.