EcoFlow Home Battery Backup System Comparison

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Power outages are never less than a major inconvenience and, in many cases, can be life-threatening. 

When the lights go out, lighting some candles and playing board games with your family can be charming — for about 30 minutes. 

During an extended outage, the food in your fridge or freezer will quickly begin to go bad, and the temperature in your house could rise or drop to dangerous levels. And as your smartphone batteries drain, you could lose contact with the outside world and emergency services…

The list goes on.

The right home battery backup or whole home generator systems can minimize (or eliminate) disruption from a blackout and keep your essential appliances and home systems running for the duration of the outage. 

At EcoFlow, we offer a wide range of innovative off-grid power solutions… 

But that doesn’t mean they’re one-size-fits-all. 

If you’re interested in a whole home backup battery system, learn more about our Starter Kit, Advanced Kit, and Smart Control Kit and see if one works for you.

What Home Battery Backup Systems Does EcoFlow Offer? 

Don’t get stuck in the dark when the power goes out. Every home’s electricity consumption requirements are unique. If you just want to operate essentials like your refrigerator and some lighting, you don’t need as large a system as someone who wants to keep their entire house running normally.  

EcoFlow’s home battery backup systems have you covered in both scenarios — and many others. 

Let’s break down the basics… 

Starter Kit

Be prepared for blackouts with the EcoFlow Starter Kit, which includes the powerful EcoFlow DELTA Pro portable power station — our flagship product — and a Home Backup Kit.

The Starter Kit provides up to one day of essential power. You must hire a professional electrician to install and integrate the transfer switch with your home wiring. But it’s a simple job for a pro and should take 30 minutes or less. 

For the Starter Kit — all of the other systems in this article — everything else is plug-and-play.

By integrating the EcoFlow Transfer Switch with your home circuit board and wiring, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro can power the circuits you choose. You can continue to plug all your essential devices into their existing wall sockets without needing to run extension cords or any other wiring hassles.

What’s Included?

Key Specifications

  • 3.6 kWh storage capacity, 1 day of essential power
  • 3600W (running watts) 7200W (starting watts using X-Boost)
  • Fully recharges in 2.7 hours using AC (household) electricity. Perfect to quickly top up between outages

The EcoFlow Starter Kit could be the right solution if you’re looking to power essential appliances during brief outages. Calculate the total running and starting wattage of the appliances you want to run simultaneously and see if it’s a good fit.

More on how to do that below!

Advanced Kit

Double your electricity storage and AC output with EcoFlow Advanced Kit, which chains together two EcoFlow DELTA Pros using a Double Voltage Hub. 

The result? 

You can power your entire home through your home’s transfer switch to run nearly all your appliances, including high-wattage devices such as HVAC systems and a dryer. 

Want more power? No problem. This system can expand from 7.2kWh all the way to 21.6kWh with Extra Batteries and Smart Generators — keeping your essentials operating for up to a week. 

What’s Included?

Customize your home backup power solution! The Advanced Kit has three different options, so you can choose the one that best meets your needs. Each is broken down below: 

Option 1: For 1-2 days of essential power

Option 2: For 2-3 days of essential power

Option 3: For up to 1 week of essential power

  • 2 EcoFlow DELTA Pros
  • Double Voltage Hub
  • 4 Extra Batteries
  • Home Backup Kit

Key Specifications

The specifications of each Advanced Kit will depend on the option you purchase. We’ll break down each below: 

Option 1: 

  • 7.2kWh storage capacity, 1-2 days of essential power
  • 7200W AC Output (14,400 starting watts using X-Boost). 240V output capable for HVAC systems/water heaters, etc.
  • Fully recharged in 5.4 hours using AC (household) electricity.

Option 2:

  • 14.4kWh storage capacity, 2-3 days of essential power
  • 7200W AC Output (14,400 starting watts using X-Boost). 240V output capable for HVAC systems/water heaters, etc.

Option 3:

  • 21.6kWh storage capacity, up to 1 week of essential power
  • 7200W AC Output (14,400 starting watts using X-Boost). 240V output capable for HVAC systems/water heaters, etc.

This is the ideal expandable solution for those seeking a more powerful home battery backup solution. Offering essential power for anywhere from 1-2 days to up to a week, depending on your selection, you can rest assured that you’ll be kept comfortable even when the grid goes down for extended periods.

Smart Control Kit

For ultimate power self-sufficiency, the Smart Control Kit has your back. Put your mind at ease knowing you have intelligent power management and a virtually unnoticeable 20ms switchover time during a blackout. 

Reduce your energy bills with stored energy and take control of your power usage into your own hands through the EcoFlow Smartphone App.

The EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ecosystem allows you to create a backup power solution that caters to your specific needs. Want to take things to the next level? Add an EcoFlow Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) to the mix. Want to harness solar energy? Pair it with EcoFlow 400W Portable Solar Panels

It’s up to you! 

What’s Included?

Key Specifications

  • Expands from 3.6 – 25kWh, up to 1 week of power
  • Automatic 20ms switchover time, uninterrupted power (not recommended for protecting critical computer systems or other sensitive equipment that require a switchover time under 20ms)
  • Intelligent power management with the EcoFlow app
  • Lower your electricity bill by switching to battery power during your utility company’s peak rate hours  

The Smart Control Kit is designed for those who want ultimate control over their energy security, even during extended outages. 

You can reduce your electricity bills by using stored energy during peak times and customize your power usage through the EcoFlow Smartphone App. 

How To Decide Which Backup System Is Right for You

How do you know which is the best backup system for your home? 

There are many factors to consider. 

Keep these essential points front of mind when investing in energy security for your family and home. 

Battery Storage Capacity

The storage capacity of your backup system is one of the most essential considerations. 

How many appliances do you need to run (and start) during a blackout — and for how long?

Due to aging infrastructure and a sharp increase in extreme weather events, it’s vital to be prepared for more frequent power outages.

Storage capacity is the most crucial consideration in how long you’ll be able to operate the appliances you deem essential during an outage

If you just want the essentials covered for a day, opt for the Starter Kit, which has a battery capacity of 3.6kWh. 

If you need more AC output and storage, consider the Advanced Kit (between 7.2 and 21.6kWh battery capacity) or the Smart Control Kit (between 3.6 – 25kWh).

AC Power Output

In addition to storage capacity, the amount of electricity your home battery backup system can output at any given time is another essential factor to consider.

AC (electricity) output, typically measured in watts or kilowatts, determines what appliances you can operate (or even turn on.) 

A high-quality home battery backup system is a substantial investment. Don’t try to cut corners on determining your electricity needs. 

You’re going to have to do the math. 

Here’s the best way to estimate your total electricity consumption. 

Once you have a firm handle on that, you can accurately estimate your required AC output (starting and running watts) and storage capacity requirements.

  1. Identify the wattage requirements of your appliances. Survey the starting and running wattage requirements of the appliances and devices you plan to plug into the generator. You can usually find the wattage requirements labeled on the appliance, but we’ve also compiled the starting and running watts of typical household appliances in the table below. 
  2. Convert volts/amps to watts. If your appliance’s power requirements are in volts or amps, you can calculate an appliance’s running watts with this equation: 

Volts (V) x Amps (A) = ​​Watts (W)  

  1. Count the running watts of your appliances. Add up the running watts of the appliances you plan to use — does the total exceed the running watts listed on your generator? If so, consider buying a generator with more output capacity.
  2. Factor in starting watt requirements. Identify the appliance with the highest starting wattage. Add that appliance’s starting wattage to the running wattage total.
  3. Calculate the sum. That final number is the total starting watts you need from your generator.  As discussed above, to avoid overloading your generator, do not exceed its starting watts rating.

Starting and Running Watts of Typical Household Appliances 

ApplianceRated (Running) WattsStarting Watts
Dishwasher13001800
Washing Machine12002300
Refrigerator/Freezer7002200
Light Bulb60-750
Microwave600-10000
TV5000
Toaster9000
Vacuum14402500
Coffee Maker10000
Blender300800
Clothing Iron15000
Dryer54007000
Toaster Oven12000
Curling Iron15000
Space Heater20000
Laptop50-3000
20” Box Fan200350

Charging Time

You would think that the more electricity your battery backup system can store, the longer it will take to charge to full capacity.

That’s true of the systems we’re covering here, but charge times vary hugely between manufacturers, charging methods (e.g., AC or solar panels), battery chemistry, and more.

EcoFlow DELTA Pro offers the world’s fastest recharge times. Even without EcoFlow’s proprietary MultiCharge technology — which enables 6,500W of simultaneous charging input — EcoFlow DELTA Pro still outperforms the competition with up to 6x faster charge times.

Length and Frequency of Outages

Do you anticipate experiencing extended outages frequently? In that case, you might opt for more storage capacity to keep the lights on during more prolonged blackouts. 

If you are battling short but frequent outages, you may not have to invest in additional storage capacity by adding Smart Extra Batteries. Or you may not need the additional AC output provided by a second EcoFlow DELTA Pro. 

In that case, the Starter Kit is your most cost-effective option.

It’s important to understand that an Advanced Kit won’t charge more slowly than a Starter Kit. 

In fact, if you go for a fully kitted out MultiCharge configuration, the Smart Control kit with additional charging methods and a Smart Extra Battery will charge at a much faster rate than just an EcoFlow DELTA Pro. 

Your storage capacity impacts how quickly your home battery backup system will charge to total capacity — not the charging rate.

Budget

The amount of money you have available to invest in a home battery backup system upfront is another critical consideration.

Many manufacturers and retailers — including EcoFlow — offer low-to-no interest financing options to qualified buyers.

Another option to consider is adding solar panels to your backup battery system. Not only can this help you achieve personal energy independence, it could help you qualify for substantial government rebates and incentives.

You could substantially decrease your initial investment by opting for a whole home generator instead of just battery backup. 

Additionally, your return on investment really kicks in after your solar payback period is complete. 

Any money you save on your electricity bills stays in your pocket!

Another option is to invest in a Starter Kit first and expand as your budget allows — and if your requirements change. 

The cross-compatibility of components in EcoFlow’s home backup battery systems allows you to expand your setup over time. 

Ease of Installation

All of EcoFlow’s portable power stations — including the EcoFlow DELTA Pro — operate standalone. 

Simply plug your appliances and devices into the AC, DC, USB-C, etc., inputs on the unit.

But for most people, a true home battery backup system requires integration with your home’s existing wiring and circuit panel. All the options we’ve explored here need a professional electrician to safely install the transfer switch or EcoFlow Smart Home Panel. 

For a licensed professional, it’s not even a thirty-minute job — a small price to pay for virtually instantaneous backup during a blackout.

Other than that, any setup required is plug-and-play — you can handle it on your own. 

Final Thoughts

In times of increasing energy insecurity, it’s no wonder you’re looking for a way to protect your home and your family during extended blackouts.

At EcoFlow, we offer off-grid power solutions to meet every need. From backpacking to whole home backup, we’ve got you covered, and all our solutions are customizable to meet your unique needs. 

Are you ready to take the first step toward reliable home backup power? 

Browse our selection today! 

(Universal/Everett Collection)

ECOFLOW
ECOFLOWhttps://www.ecoflow.com/
EcoFlow is a portable power and renewable energy solutions company. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow has provided peace-of-mind power to customers in over 85 markets through its DELTA and RIVER product lines of portable power stations and eco-friendly accessories.

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