EcoFlow River 3 Plus Power Station review

REVIEW – Here I go again. Everyone already knows that I am an Ecoholic, so expressing my joy and anticipation as I get to review another EcoFlow power station would be repetitive. Ecoflow power stations are simply what I believe to be the industry standard for these types of devices. So, without further delay, let’s take this EcoFlow River 3 Plus Power Station for a spin.

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $209.00
Where to buy: Ecoflow website and Amazon

What is it?

The EcoFlow River 3 Plus Power Station offers versatile charging options, expandable capacity, and advanced features like X-Boost technology and UPS functionality, making it suitable for various outdoor and home backup power needs.

What’s included?

• 1 x Ecoflow River 3 Plus
• 1 x AC Charging Cable
• 1 x Car Charging Cable
• 1 x USB Data Cable
• 1 x Quick Start Guide

Tech Specs

• Battery Capacity: 286Wh
• Output Power: 600W continuous, 1200W peak (with X-Boost technology)
• Battery Type: LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
• Battery Lifespan: Up to 3000 charging cycles or 10 years of daily use
• AC Output: 1 x 230V (EU Schuko) outlet
• USB Ports: 2 x USB-A (18W each), 1 x USB-C (100W)
• DC Output: 1 x 12V/126W port
• Input Charging:
  • AC Wall Charger: 360W
  • Solar: Up to 220W (11-55V, 13A)
• Recharge Time: Approximately 1 hour (0-100% via AC)
• Expandable Capacity: Up to 858Wh with additional batteries (EB300 or EB600)
• UPS Function: <10ms response time
• Connectivity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
• Extra Features: Built-in light, smartphone app control
• Protection: IP54 water resistance, drop-resistant up to 3 ft (1.5 m)
• Dimensions: 234 x 231 x 146 mm
• Weight: 4.2 kg
• Warranty: 5 years

Design and features

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus power station features a lightweight and compact design measuring 9.2″ x 9.1″ x 5.8″ and weighing only 10.4 pounds. It has a 286Wh capacity and 600W continuous output (1200W peak with X-Boost). It can power a wide range of devices and appliances. On the back are the connections to power/charge the power station. They include the AC charging port, an XT60 solar port that can handle up to 220W input with a voltage range of 11-55V and a maximum current of 13A, and a USB Port. There are 2 AC Output ports below the input ports. On the front, is the LED display, one AC port, two USB-A ports (18W each), and one USB-C port capable of 100W output. There is also a 12V/126W DC output port for powering car accessories or other DC devices. On the bottom of the front, is an LED light that functions as a light or a strobe.

Performance

The world is changing, and people are becoming much more conscious about taking advantage of every opportunity to create a more eco-friendly environment and use eco-friendly devices. There is also a demand for on-the-go power and charging capabilities so that remote access and use of devices are not limited to the power capacity of the batteries or the proximity of access to charging. The Ecoflow River 3 Plus Power Station can power and charge all the usual devices, such as laptops, phones, fans, small appliances, etc. 

Folks who have followed my reviews of Ecoflow devices already know that I am a DIYer who uses these capable devices for much more than the average household needs. This past Summer, I renovated my detached garage so that the back half is a fully insulated and equipped gym, and the front half is my workshop, where I work on bikes, e-bikes, e-motorcycles, motorcycles, etc. The front half has the R17 insulated double-sided garage door and insulated wall. I built storage above the 8ft garage ceiling, but the garage roof above the ceiling is not insulated.

I am recovering from total knee replacement surgery, and have started to use my knee more and the first place I went back to was the garage. However, I quickly discovered that air seeps in via the garage door, side entrance door, and roof, it can get cold and much too cold to work. At first, I figured I could wear a jacket, but with my thermometer reading 27 degrees, I knew I had to find a solution. I decided to install a diesel heater since the electric heater that I initially installed costs too much to run on high for hours at a time. Once I purchased the diesel heater, I found the ideal spot in the corner of the garage, but there was no power there. For me, that was not an issue because I already knew that this Ecoflow River 3 Plus Power Station was the solution. It was so simple just to set it up on a stand below the heater and just like that, I was able to heat my garage. Just in case you are wondering, the diesel heater has a built-in fuel pump that requires continuous power to run and keep the diesel flowing.

Of course, there is always the informative Ecoflow app that can be used for monitoring, updates, etc:

Overall, the Ecoflow River 3 Plus has performed flawlessly and is up to the task. I have run the heater for as many as 4 hours with no issues and just in case you are interested, the garage space heats to between 60 and 70 degrees. If I need to run the heater for an entire day with a full tank of diesel, it can run continuously for more than 48 hours, but I would need one of the extra batteries that Ecoflow sells to run longer. I wish they would send me one to test. They sell the EB300 (286Wh) or EB600 (572Wh) as an extra battery.

This product uses a high-voltage or high-amperage lithium battery and poses a fire risk. Never leave the battery unattended while charging, and always disconnect the charger once the battery is full. Learn more about lithium battery safety here.

The only issue I encountered was that the last time I used the power station, I forgot to recharge it. It has been cold in NY and when I saw that it needed recharging, it would not and just showed “overload” and some symbols on the screen in orange/red every time I plugged it in to recharge. At first, I was concerned that something was wrong with it, but my intuition said that it was so cold in the garage that the power station was below its operating temperature. I brought it inside the house and let it sit in the warmth of the home for about an hour. After that, it charged with no problem. Note to self: bring the power station indoors when I am done. The garage gets too cold in the winter.

Final thoughts

The Ecoflow RIVER 3 Plus is a compact portable power station with a fast 1-hour charging capability. The LiFePO4 battery technology provides more than 3000 charging cycles. This power station is not only capable and versatile but also offers outstanding value at an affordable cost.

What I like about the Ecoflow River 3 Plus Power Station

• Built quality
• It is lightweight and portable with a built-in handle
• It has good power and charging capacity
• It can be recharged quickly
• It has adequate ports
• It can be used as a UPS

What needs to be improved?

• Nothing!! It works for me

Price: $209.00
Where to buy: Ecoflow website and Amazon
Source: Ecoflow provided a free sample for this review. Ecoflow did not have a final say on the review and did not preview it before it was published.

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