Running a fan with an EcoFlow

EcoFlow is one of the leading brands in the Portable Power Station space, but which one can power a fan, and is there a best one?

All EcoFlow portable power stations can run a fan. However, the run time will depend on the battery capacity and the required energy output to power the fan. The smallest EcoFlow RIVER 2 will run an oscillating pedestal fan for 4 hours and 13 minutes, while the DELTA Pro will last over 72 hours.

Fans come in various sizes and require different amounts of power, so let's look at which Power Station would fit best for the most common types.

Table of contents

• How long can you run a fan on an EcoFlow portable power station?
• How to set up an EcoFlow portable power station to run a fan
• Best EcoFlow portable power station for a fan
• What alternative portable power stations should you consider?
• How to charge your EcoFlow portable power station when running a fan
• Other options to run a fan off-grid

How long can you run a fan on an EcoFlow portable power station?

The time you can run a fan on a portable power station will depend on two main factors.

• The battery capacity of the portable power station
• The power needed to run the fan

So, how long will some of the most common types last?

9 inch desk fan - 30 watts

Model	Desk fan Runtime
RIVER 2	6 hours, 19 minutes
RIVER 2 Max	12 hours, 58 minutes
RIVER 2 Pro	19 hours, 12 minutes
DELTA 2	27 hours, 39 minutes
DELTA 2 Max	60 hours, 45 minutes
DELTA Pro	109 hours, 12 minutes

52" Ceiling fan - 65 watts

Model	Ceiling fan Runtime
RIVER 2	2 hours, 55 minutes
RIVER 2 Max	5 hours, 59 minutes
RIVER 2 Pro	8 hours, 52 minutes
DELTA 2	12 hours, 46 minutes
DELTA 2 Max	28 hours, 03 minutes
DELTA Pro	50 hours, 24 minutes

30cm (11.8") box fan - 50 watts

Model	Box fan Runtime
RIVER 2	3 hours, 47 minutes
RIVER 2 Max	7 hours, 47 minutes
RIVER 2 Pro	11 hours, 31 minutes
DELTA 2	16 hours, 35 minutes
DELTA 2 Max	36 hours, 27 minutes
DELTA Pro	65 hours, 31 minutes

16" Oscillating Pedestal Fan (industry standard) - 45 watts

Model	Oscillating Pedestal fan Runtime
RIVER 2	4 hours, 13 minutes
RIVER 2 Max	8 hours, 39 minutes
RIVER 2 Pro	12 hours, 48 minutes
DELTA 2	18 hours, 26 minutes
DELTA 2 Max	40 hours, 30 minutes
DELTA Pro	72 hours, 48 minutes

75cm (29.5") industrial grade fan - 280 watts

Model	Industrial grade fan Runtime
RIVER 2	0 hours, 41 minutes
RIVER 2 Max	1 hours, 23 minutes
RIVER 2 Pro	2 hours, 03 minutes
DELTA 2	2 hours, 58 minutes
DELTA 2 Max	6 hours, 31 minutes
DELTA Pro	11 hours, 42 minutes

29" Tower fan - 50 watts

Model	Tower fan Runtime
RIVER 2	3 hours, 47 minutes
RIVER 2 Max	7 hours, 47 minutes
RIVER 2 Pro	11 hours, 31 minutes
DELTA 2	16 hours, 35 minutes
DELTA 2 Max	36 hours, 27 minutes
DELTA Pro	65 hours, 31 minutes

While most fans offer various speed settings, I am basing this on the average speed of each fan.

This means if you use the fan at lower speeds, the fan will last longer, as less wattage is required. However, if you are using the fan at a higher speed, the fan won't last as long, as more wattage is required.

How do you calculate how long your fan will run?

To calculate how long your fan will run, you will need the following:

• The battery capacity of the power station,
• the power consumption of the fan, and,
• the power station efficiency.

To help, I built a simple calculator for each EcoFlow model.

Alternatively, you can calculate it manually yourself using the formula below.

To build my calculator, I used the following details.

EcoFlow Power Station battery capacity

Model	Battery Capacity
RIVER 2	256Wh
RIVER 2 Max	512Wh
RIVER 2 Pro	768Wh
DELTA 2	1,024Wh
DELTA 2 Max	2,048Wh
DELTA Pro	3,600Wh

Fan power consumption

Your fan will likely have a sticker or carved area indicating its power consumption. If there isn't, you can look in the user manual, which you can usually download online if you can't find the original.

Remember, your fan wattage will vary depending on the fan's speed. As the speed increases, so will the wattage. Most fans will state their wattage based on the average speed; however, when testing, I have found them to be inaccurate.

For the most accurate power consumption, use a watt meter. They are around £10-£15 and are great for measuring the power needs of all appliances. I use this one from Amazon.

On average, fans need:

Fan	Power
9" desk fan	30 watts
52" Ceiling fan	65 watts
30cm (11.8") box fan	50 watts
16" Oscillating Pedestal Fan (industry standard)	45 watts
75cm (29.5") industrial grade fan	280 watts
29" Tower fan	50 watts

EcoFlow power station efficiency

Different EcoFlow power stations will have varying efficiencies, and there will be a difference between AC and DC powering.

But, most fans will need to be powered by AC, so let's look at the AC inverter efficiencies by each model:

Model	AC Inverter Efficiency
RIVER 2	74%
RIVER 2 Max	76%
RIVER 2 Pro	75%
DELTA 2	81%
DELTA 2 Max	89%
DELTA Pro	91%

As you can see, EcoFlow's larger portable power stations are the most efficient. So, while you are spending more money, you can get a significant amount more power out of them when powering AC appliances (which most household items are).

EcoFlow RIVER 2 desk fan Runtime

I ran my 9" desk fan with my RIVER 2, and was surprised by the results. While the fan stated it uses 30 watts, at the lowest speed, it drew 35 watts, while at the fastest speed, it continuously drew 46 watts.

The display suggested I could run the fan at the highest speed for over 4 hours.

EcoFlow RIVER 2 tower fan Runtime

I plugged in my tower fan as a second test with the RIVER 2. Again, this wasn't accurate, as while the sticker indicated 50 watts, it needed only 18 watts at the slowest speed and 32 watts at the fastest speed.

The display suggested I could run the fan at the fastest speed for 5 hours.

From my tests, I found that while the sticker indicators can be helpful, I can't rely on them. Instead, use a watt meter or allow for extra wattage if you plan to use them at faster speeds.

How to set up an EcoFlow portable power station to run a fan

Straight out of the box, your EcoFlow should be configured to run A/C appliances, including a fan.

But, before using your EcoFlow to power your fan, you should first charge its internal battery.

Your user guide will explain how to charge your specific power station. You can find a digital copy of the RIVER 2 Max user guide on the EcoFlow website here.

In general, one of the easiest ways to charge your EcoFlow will be using the included power cable or USB in a wall outlet tied to the grid.

Once your power station is charged, you can plug your fan straight into the A/C outlet on the EcoFlow.

Best EcoFlow portable power station for a fan

Even the smallest EcoFlow RIVER 2 is capable of powering a fan. However, you might find the battery lacking, so we recommend the RIVER 2 Max as the best EcoFlow portable power station for a fan.

The RIVER 2 Max also offers great output options for powering a fan, including:

• USB-C
• USB-A
• DC5521
• Wall Socket

With all of these output options, your EcoFlow should be able to power any type of fan.

However, as it's one of their smaller portable power station, you might find the battery lacking if you plan to use the fan for multiple days, perhaps when camping over a weekend. If you need a portable power station to handle this, I recommend the EcoFlow DELTA Series as they offer large batteries out of the box, and can be easily expanded.

The DELTA series also offer much larger output capabilities which can be great for powering other more power-hungry appliances, such as power tools.

USB-C Charging

While many other Power Stations offer USB-C output, EcoFlow is one of the only brands to provide USB-C charging. I find this very helpful as so many devices are charged this way nowadays.

With Apple releasing their latest iPhone with USB-C charging, there is no question it will become the universal charger for tech.

What alternative portable power stations should you consider?

EcoFlow is a great contender in the Portable Power Station market, and their entire range can run a fan. However, consider cheaper alternatives or other brands which offer more features for your money.

We have tested models from the leading portable power station brands Bluetti, EcoFlow, and Jackery.

Portable Power Station	Inverter Power	Battery Size
Bluetti EB55	700 watts	537 Wh
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max	500 watts	512 Wh
Jackery 500	500 watts	518 Wh

If you aren't set on the EcoFlow, and are comparing different options, consider the Bluetti EB55 a more suitable alternative for running a fan.

The Bluetti offers a larger output, which can be helpful for other household appliances. And while the Bluetti and EcoFlow have almost the same battery size, I have found the efficiency of the EB55 to be fantastic.

From my tests, I have found the Belutti EB55 87% efficient, while in the same environment, the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max was only 76% efficient. This means the Bluetti can run the fan for a reasonable amount longer than the EcoFlow.

While the Jackery is often more expensive and offers less features than the other brands, it is the lightest, making it ideal for carrying longer distances. However, there is a reason it's lighter - the battery chemistry. It uses lithium-ion rather than LiFePO4.

LiFePO4 batteries are typically regarded as the better version of lithium-ion batteries. This is because they have a 4-5x longer lifecycle and are less prone to overheating or exploding - not to say it happens often!

You will often find EcoFlow, Bluetti and Jackery products on sale. Check out their latest prices below:

Bluetti EB55 Latest Price

EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max Latest Price

Jackery 500 Latest Price

How to charge your EcoFlow portable power station when running a fan

A great feature that EcoFlow offer with all their portable power stations is that you can charge your battery while powering a fan. This means if you are at home, you can use your mains power to keep your EcoFlow fully charged while using your fan.

This can be a great option to use your EcoFlow as an EPS to keep your fan running during a power outage.

It does not have true UPS, but EPS is suitable for a fan..

But what if you are on the road or don't have access to mains power?

Three other great ways to keep your power station charged are:

1. Solar power
2. DC power
3. USB-C Charging (5/9/12/15/20V, 5A, 100W Max)

Solar power

Offering a wide range of solar panel choices, EcoFlow power stations work excellently with solar panels.

However, their own solar panels can be expensive compared to others on the market. But, I do like the ease of adding them to your purchase on the website, as it clearly states which ones are compatible, and which ones aren't. They also come with all the necessary adaptors for your Portable Power Station, so you don't have to worry about buying anything separately.

EcoFlow's RIVER 2 Max (recommended) portable power station will include a solar charge cable pre-terminated to MC4, a widespread solar connector. (DC5521)

However, their smaller model, the RIVER 2 does not come with a solar cable. Therefore, if you are using your own solar panels, you must purchase a XT60 or XT60i to MC4 adaptor.

But, if you use your own solar panels, be careful; you must ensure that they are within the specification of your EcoFlow.

DC power

Powering by another DC battery is one of my favourite ways to add extra battery capacity cheaply!

My setup allows me to more than double my battery capacity for much less than buying the next model up.

This allows me to charge my EcoFlow RIVER 2 at 95W, which is more than enough to extend the battery on the RIVER 2 while running a fan.

As you can see, unlike some other portable power stations, EcoFlow provides a digital display telling me exactly how long it has left to run.

To replicate, you will need the following:

• 12V battery
• 12V to 19V 5A step-up converter
• XT60i pigtail. However, I could not find any reasonably priced ones that would ship from the UK. Therefore, I purchased a Solar to XT60i cable, and cut it in half.
• Basic wiring tools (wire cutters, strippers, crimpers)

Other options to run a fan off-grid

While powering your fan off-grid with a portable power station is a great solution, it will only be suitable for some.

Some other alternative ways to power your fan include:

• solar
• diesel generator
• gas (propane) generator
• buy a fan which has a battery built-in (for example, a portable camping fan)
• UPS

To stay as green as possible, we always recommend, where possible, powering your devices using solar power.