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 2 Max
|
|---|---|---|
Battery Chemistry The composition of a battery that determines its energy storage, power delivery, charging, lifespan, and safety characteristics | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
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
Features | Ecoflow Delta Pro
| Ecoflow Delta 2 Max
|
|---|---|---|
AC Wall Power Charge from a standard wall outlet. | 1800 Watts (AC) 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 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
| 400-800 Watts 2.5-5 hours |
Combined Charging
| 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. | Yes | Yes |
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 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
|
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
| No | No |
| UPS Capability | 30 ms | 30ms |
| App Control | Yes | Yes |
| LCD Display | Yes | Yes |
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 2 Max
|
|---|---|---|
Battery Capacity The rated capacity of the battery. | 3600 Wh | 2048 Wh |
Efficiency: The usable capacity of the battery. | 3,170 Wh | 1863 Wh (~91%) |
Power output: Maximum power output for short bursts. | 3600 Watts | 2400 Watts |
Peak power: Maximum power the battery can deliver for a short burst. | 7600 Watts | 4800 Watts |
Dimension and Weight
Features | Ecoflow Delta Pro
| Ecoflow Delta 2 Max
|
|---|---|---|
Length | 25" | 19.6" |
Width
| 11.2" | 9.5" |
Height
| 16.4" | 12" |
Weight
| 99 lbs. | 50 Lbs. |