Has anyone installed one of these EcoFlow 500W/800W Alternator Chargers?

[swild]

Wondering if anyone has put one of these in a GX460. How does the alternator hold up? Anything I should worry about?

EcoFlow 500W Alternator Charger-Redemption | 500W Alternator Charger

- 500W Alternator Charger, 5× faster than traditional in-vehicle auxiliary power outlets. Top up 1kWh in only 2.1 hours - A 3-in-1 fast charger, maintainer, and jump starter keeps your battery in mint condition - Compatible with third-party portable power stations - 3-step easy installation -...

us.ecoflow.com

 

[jeremy j]

I have the 800 watt ecoflow charger. IU am a bit of a micro manager so I set max charging to 400 watts since I have a stock alternator and even turn it down more when I'm on a long drive. I am only charging an ecoflow fridge (286kwh) and a Delta 3 Plus (1024kwh) so I can charge that plenty fast.

The only issue is the cables are huge and they have those black clamp things on the ends in the rear. It can only get through the firewall from inside the cabin to the engine bay because of the large connectors. It took some wrangling to get it to fit under the door trim pieces but it did fit.

 

[swild]

I have the 800 watt ecoflow charger. IU am a bit of a micro manager so I set max charging to 400 watts since I have a stock alternator and even turn it down more when I'm on a long drive. I am only charging an ecoflow fridge (286kwh) and a Delta 3 Plus (1024kwh) so I can charge that plenty fast.

The only issue is the cables are huge and they have those black clamp things on the ends in the rear. It can only get through the firewall from inside the cabin to the engine bay because of the large connectors. It took some wrangling to get it to fit under the door trim pieces but it did fit.

Good to know. Thanks for the response.
I don't need much. Was thinking of doing the 500w version and just calling it a day.

 

[jeremy j]

Good to know. Thanks for the response.
I don't need much. Was thinking of doing the 500w version and just calling it a day.

500w is probably plenty for almost everyone and $200 is an awesome deal. I only have the 800w because it was part of a costco bundle.

 

[swild]

I'm pretty much sold. I just don't know where to mount it. I have a 2015 Luxury with the third row, and space it tight. Any suggestions?

 

[jdam]

I just bought a 500W for $200ish as well. Thinking the 800W is actually a better deal since it comes with an XT150 connector ($100 on their site) which is the bit that enables the reverse battery charging (essentially uses your battery unit as a jump pack/maintainer). The 500w unit comes with the XT60 connector, and it looks like the plugs on the unit side are proprietary.

I did a test run to see if it would function (so just connected my Delta 2 outside) and it worked fine. Supplied the 500w at idle but I don't think that's something I'd do long term, so I'd turn it down as well.

As for somewhere to mount it, I have a cabinet/box in the back so will likely stick it to that. It was larger than I thought it would be, but still slim.

 

[jeremy j]

I'm pretty much sold. I just don't know where to mount it. I have a 2015 Luxury with the third row, and space it tight. Any suggestions?

I removed my third row so originally I had it mounted to the trim on drivers side in year but it was a little in my way so now I just lay it in the gap next to my drawer. I am redoing my drawers so I'll probably figure out a better spot then.

 

[jeremy j]

I just bought a 500W for $200ish as well. Thinking the 800W is actually a better deal since it comes with an XT150 connector ($100 on their site) which is the bit that enables the reverse battery charging (essentially uses your battery unit as a jump pack/maintainer). The 500w unit comes with the XT60 connector, and it looks like the plugs on the unit side are proprietary.

I did a test run to see if it would function (so just connected my Delta 2 outside) and it worked fine. Supplied the 500w at idle but I don't think that's something I'd do long term, so I'd turn it down as well.

As for somewhere to mount it, I have a cabinet/box in the back so will likely stick it to that. It was larger than I thought it would be, but still slim.

Oh yes. I forgot to mention the reverse charging. I didn't know the 500w didn't have that cable. We ran my battery down when camping last month and the reverse charging was great to get me going again.

 

[HVLA]

I have the Pecron version. Works great. Zero issues. I have it sitting under driver seat and used it for 2 different week long camping trips this summer.

 

[PoindAxster]

I have it too - run it with a Delta Max. Been running it at 800W, but it began to stop charging after 10 minutes. Instead of troubleshooting things I figured the original OEM battery was old and needed replacing. Over the weekend, a 27F Costco Interstate special went in and I haven't tested the EcoFlow system yet.

It was super easy to setup. The biggest pain was running the thick wire from the trunk thorugh the firewall opening. I had to trim the backseat foot pad underneath to get it through there. The wire is exposed in the third row. I plan to put a whole walkthrough video together on my car after a few more mods. That system will be highlighted in there and I will report back when it is ready.

 

[PoindAxster]

Not a video, but some photos I could snap quickly for you. The EcoFlow unit is mounted on a Bison Gear shelf/molle window system. The plug on the right connects directly into the EcoFlow battery. The cord on the left runs through the cabin to the vehicle battery.

Running the cord through the firewall was tough, and so was this foot pad in the 2nd row backseat. I had to cut some notches out of it to get the cord to route through it.

Top-down perspective of the cord running into the third row area. My 9-year-old sits back there and loves to pick at things he shouldn't. So far, <knock on wood> he hasn't messed with this cable nor complained about it.

The third row is closed 90% of the time, and the passenger side typically has the EcoFlow battery or fridge on it. You can see the cord "disappears" when someone isn't sitting in the third row.

I'm in the middle of other mods, so things are not in the usual places. A little trailer connection relocation and splicing is on the agenda this week. That was the final component of the LRA fuel tank mating to a Metaltech rear bumper we need to figure out.

 

[swild]

Dude, thanks for showing me your setup!
I was hoping to install it under the 2nd row or someplace really out of the way. Does it get hot at all? Wondering if I need to worry about airflow.

 

[jeremy j]

Dude, thanks for showing me your setup!
I was hoping to install it under the 2nd row or someplace really out of the way. Does it get hot at all? Wondering if I need to worry about airflow.

Be sure to have some access to the device. I have to push the button on it if I haven't used it in a while. I assumed it would automatically turn on enough to be managed through the app when it got enough voltage but that isn't the case

 

[PoindAxster]

Dude, thanks for showing me your setup!
I was hoping to install it under the 2nd row or someplace really out of the way. Does it get hot at all? Wondering if I need to worry about airflow.

I haven’t noticed any temperature changes.

 

[swild]

I bought the 800W charger; it should be here within a week.
I might not permanently mount it, I'll probably run the line from the battery along the driver's side to somewhere in the back and simply plug it in when needed.
What I want to know is what wattage to run it at so I don't blow up my alternator. I'd be willing to bet that the full 800W would tax it heavily.
I was thinking of installing one of these Victron battery shunts to monitor output and draw.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0856PHNLX?tag=ihco-20

 

[alhounos]

I haven't installed it yet, but I just bought the new Jackery 600W charger during their black friday sale to go with my Jackery 1000. It is rated max output at 600W but the 1000W power station only accepts 400W max through the 8020 cable. That's fine with me as I don't want to overstress my alternator, and still 4x faster charging than a 12v outlet.