Power Banks?

[colyboy]

These new popular power banks.

Question can they be plugged in to the mains socket which is on the outside of the van? The reason being is there is not a lot of room in the van.

Colyboy

 

[Jev88]

Power banks - a battery and inverter in a box plus 50% mark up.
Or increase your current power harvest (solar) or storage (batteries)....

Just my opinion.

Power banks are more useful if you need portability.

 

[orridge]

Interesting to find out as I wondered if you could plug in the ehu from the power bank to operate the vans 240v system and then charge from 12v via solar panel.

Obviously not needed if you already have an inverter etc in the van but we use our EcoFlow for other things outside the van so don’t need to duplicate it.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Power banks - a battery and inverter in a box plus 50% mark up.

 

[Jo662]

I have the original Ecoflow Delta,had it about 4 years. Yes you can plug in to EHU to top the leisure batteries up,I do that when we are on a THS and there is a lack of solar.
I have lithium batteries and a B2B, but when you are setup on a site for a week with minimal solar,the Ecoflow is a great backup.
I also have an Ecoflow 220w folding panel to top the Ecoflow up.

Many people donrt like power banks,and say you be better off with this or that, well I have one and it comes in very handy now and again

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[Jim]

I have one, and they are great for things happening longer than an extension lead length away from the motorhome. There is a reasonable argument for them when someone does not want to invest in their van, because they are thinking of selling it or something similar.
However, IMO they have a few real disadvantages, the first, is keeping it charged, it's something else to think about, and safely storing it for travel is a thing I see often neglected.

For me adding an extra battery to the originals, One I don't have to see, store, carry, charge or worry about being nicked. Is just much simpler, cheaper and safer.

 

[bigtwin]

Yes you can plug in to EHU to top the leisure batteries up

I don’t think that was the main motivation for the connection - see below:

Interesting to find out as I wondered if you could plug in the ehu from the power bank to operate the vans 240v system and then charge from 12v via solar panel.

The answer to the above is no.

However, IMO they have a few real disadvantages, the first, is keeping it charged, it's something else to think about, and safely storing it for travel is a thing I see often neglected.

For me adding an extra battery to the originals, One I don't have to see, store, carry, charge or worry about being nicked. Is just much simpler, cheaper and safer.

A great summary and the two key issues that I usually highlight when trying to add balance to the fervent recommendations for these devices.

Ian

 

[Nirvanauk]

I’ve got a Ecoflow delta 2 for sale. Brand new, never used, boxed. No mucking about £500.

 

[VXman]

Yes - if you plug it into the EHU it will act just like you are plugged into the mains - EXCEPT - you will be limited to the wattage output capability of the power bank. You may not be able to run high power electric items from your sockets like ovens, microwave, hairdryer depending on the model you buy. Same goes for built in heating/water heater.

Personally I'd prefer to add a battery(ies) and inverter. (if you haven't already got one.)

 

[pwilmo]

Interesting to find out as I wondered if you could plug in the ehu from the power bank to operate the vans 240v system and then charge from 12v via solar panel.

Obviously not needed if you already have an inverter etc in the van but we use our EcoFlow for other things outside the van so don’t need to duplicate it

The answer is YES. I have done this exact procedure. Bear in mind that you are reducing the capacity by losing 20% .. by 12v DC solar panels ..>Power Pack MPPT ..>Power Pack internal inverter ..>240v AC for hook up soocket on the side of the van. Howeveryou need to switch your AC charger in your van to "power supply". Else the charger will default to charging the leisure battery as priority and if you leave it all connected overnight it will empty your powerpack. One advantage though is the ability to use high watt appliances ..a 1000w powerpack with surge will run a startup watt of upto 1500w

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[bigtwin]

The answer is YES.

The answer to the first part of the question is YES but the answer to the second part of the question is NO.

Ian

 

[pwilmo]

YES you can power the powerpack from solar panels while using it for mains AC ( I use 200w Bluetti fold ups ..plugged into powerpack Anker Solix C1000 )..I have successfully used it this way, although solar in uk will not replace the output .. it will make power pack last longer, short bursts of ac for hairdryers microwaves etc but not left on permanently. Mind you in UK, I've never had full sunshine to try it out that way !!

 

[Cush]

With the anker I run the ehu 240v sockets (air fryer, toaster) and all the 240 v appliances for a very short time as an experiment while simultaneously trickle charging it from the leisure battery at 100 watts (replenished from solar). I could plug in the 400watts of portable solar but not had too. I also have a small “portable” pure sine wave inverter that can charge at 400 watts. It’s a semi permanent installation that comes home to run the shed in darker nights. Occasionally plug the Victron ip65 charger in to give the hab battery a charge but now have a battery master to fit (thanks nigelivy RogerIvy)

If this was my forever van , and I hadn’t inherited the power bank I would have invested in more battery and bigger inverter to do the same job. Not the most efficient but went off grid for 20 days this summer and it all worked.

 

[bigtwin]

YES you can power the powerpack from solar panels while using it for mains AC

Off course you can but not from the existing panels through the EHU connection (which was my interpretation of the question). Perhaps you interpreted it differently.

Ian

 

[L' Hobo]

Mine does not recommend using the 230v plug while being replenished by Solar.
I wish it did!

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[pwilmo]

Yes bigtwin

Just re-read the original post, as you said .. you got it right, in the original posting they do not mean fold-up solars.

Of which now, the answer to the original post :

part one -YES
part two -don't know, best refer to previous posts #9 and #11