This portable power station kept my essentials running during a snowstorm outage

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Power outages aren’t anywhere near as commonplace here in the UK as they were a decade or two ago, so I get fewer opportunities to use power stations during real-world emergencies. 

Well, the other day a fair bit of snow — a fair bit by UK standards, which, to be fair, is anything more than a quarter of an inch — fell over the course of a few days, and this resulted in power lines being brought down.

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It just so happens that I was in the middle of trying the new EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus power station, so this was the perfect opportunity to test it. Note that mine is the UK version, so the type and orientation of the sockets will be different, and the power output is 240V/50Hz, but beyond this, the units are practically the same.

Mid-range power station

The Delta 3 Max Plus is a mid-range power station with a 2,048Wh capacity and a 3,800W continuous power output (with surge loads capable of hitting 6,000W without causing a problem). This is a unit that can handle some serious loads. 

In fact, that power output is enough to handle the majority of home appliances, even big things like a 1-ton HVAC unit. That’s quite a load for a portable unit that weighs just under 50 pounds — much less than most of the other comparable units out there.

What makes this as light as it is is that EcoFlow has moved to a 16-cell-per-kWh design, which is around 27 percent less than what most makers use. This is not only lighter but also allows the unit to run cooler, last longer, and offer greater power stability.

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The batteries are high-grade LiFePO4 cells and have a decade-long lifespan, even if used daily.

Very portable

But despite the weight, the unit is very portable thanks to the two ammo crate-style handles on the side.

The unit has four 120V~60Hz/20A AC outlets, three USB-C ports (one 140W and two 45W ports), one 45W USB-A port, a 12V DC outlet, and a 12V car outlet, so all your gear is covered by this one unit. I had a myriad of leads and cables going into mine, and it handled all the loads without any problem.

Fast charging

It’s also flexible when it comes to charging. It can charge using AC up to 1,800W, which can take the unit from flat to 80 percent in 64 minutes, and a 1,000W input from solar or a vehicle via the two XT60 ports, which can bring the unit from zero to 80 percent in 96 minutes. 

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This fast charging capability came in really useful for me as the power came on after a day for just under an hour, and in that time, the unit recharged completely.

As for cooling, there are fans built into the Delta 3 Max Plus; this isn’t at the obnoxious “jumbo jet taking off” levels of some power stations. While it’s not silent by far, I don’t have a problem with this in a living room or sleeping next to it when camping. When running with a sub-600W load, the system runs at a whisper of 25dB.

There are some nice refinements on this unit, too. For example, the flaps covering the ports at the back flip open and slide into the unit to prevent them from getting damaged. This is a great idea because I’ve lost count of the number of port covers and flaps that I’ve broken off power stations.

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While the unit has a recommended optimal operating temperature of 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 30 degrees Celsius), it can discharge in 14 to 113 degrees F (-10 to 45 degrees C) and charge in 32 to 113 degrees F (0 to 45 degrees C).

I can confirm this because I had the unit outside under the carport for the majority of the time, where the temperatures were just below freezing at night. There was likely some drop in actual overall capacity due to inefficiencies resulting from the cold; these weren’t obvious to me.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Priced at $1,050, the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus is a great choice for those wanting backup power. Whether it’s for the home, a workshop, or for the RV or camping, this unit ticks all the boxes. It holds a decent amount of power, it’s light enough to move short distances, and it doesn’t sound like you’re next to an airport.

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I was very pleased with how my review unit handled the power outage, along with the relatively cold weather. It kept my key devices running, and I was able to make myself hot meals and even keep warm using an electric throw without resorting to bushcraft skills.

The fast charging certainly came in handy because that allowed me to completely recharge the unit from the mains outlet when the power came on temporarily; otherwise, I’d have had to load it into a vehicle for charging.