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Fact-checked on Apr 23, 2026
VANPOWERCALC.COMYOUR ENERGY PROFILE
YOUR ENERGY PROFILE.
This document contains the sizing of your future electrical installation, calculated based on your appliances.
Minimum Daily Consumption
0 WH / DAY
Inventory:
SYSTEM SIZINGPage 2
Battery
To guarantee 0WH without damaging your bank (80% max discharge):
0 AH
LiFePO4 12V
Solar
Minimum power required to recharge your consumption:
0 W
via MPPT
220V AC
Maximum power (with 25% safety margin).
0 W
No Need
Safety & CablingPage 3
12V Cable Sizing Guide
Use this professional reference table to select the correct gauge (mm²) for your cables. For 12V in a van, the maximum tolerated voltage drop is 3%. Always use multi-stranded flexible automotive wire.
| Current (A) | Round trip < 2m | Round trip 4m | Round trip 6m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5A (LEDs, USB) | 1.5 mm² | 2.5 mm² | 4 mm² |
| 10A (Fridge, Pump) | 2.5 mm² | 4 mm² | 6 mm² |
| 20A (Heater) | 4 mm² | 10 mm² | 10 mm² |
| 50A (DC/DC Booster) | 10 mm² | 16 mm² | 25 mm² |
| 100A (Inverter) | 25 mm² | 35 mm² | 50 mm² |
Fuse Sizing
The fuse protects the wire, not the appliance. Always place it as close to the power source as possible (battery or busbar).
- Wire 1.5 mm² → Max fuse 10A
- Wire 2.5 mm² → Max fuse 20A
- Wire 4 mm² → Max fuse 30A
- Wire 6 mm² → Max fuse 40A
- Wire 10 mm² → Max fuse 60A
SCHÉMA ÉLECTRIQUE
PANNEAUX SOLAIRES
0W
RÉGULATEUR MPPT
BATTERIE AUXILIAIRE
0 Ah
Lithium LiFePO4
FUSIBLE
FUSIBLE
BOÎTE À FUSIBLES 12V
Pompe, Leds, Frigo...
CONVERTISSEUR 220V
NON REQUI
PRO GEARPage 4
SHOPPING LIST
Where to find this equipment? Here is the community-approved selection.
12V 6-way Fuse Box
Mandatory protection
Digital Multimeter
Test your connections
Heavy Duty Crimping Tool
For perfect lugs
Heat Shrink Tubing
Insulation and safety
GENERATED BY VANPOWERCALC.COM
Parallel 3-month test: Delta 2 vs Delta 3#
I ran the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic (1024 Wh) alongside my old Delta 2 for 3 months in my converted Sprinter, across Alpine bivouacs and summer festivals. Goal: verify if the generation jump earns its price.
What actually changes vs Delta 2#
Noise: ≤30 dB at 600W load (EcoFlow spec, measured at 0.5m, 25°C). In my van I barely hear it charging drones. Delta 2 was noticeably louder under fast AC charge.
Weight: 12.1 kg (± 0.3 kg per EcoFlow spec) vs 12 kg Delta 2 — same in practice, but better handle position on the 3.
AC power: 1800W continuous (pure sine wave), 2600W with X-Boost, 3600W surge peak. Delta 2 also topped at 1800W but its X-Boost capped at 2200W. 1500W induction hob, corded drill, 1800W kettle: all run without hiccup.
X-Boost: NOT resistive-only#
Contrary to what you read everywhere, X-Boost works with motor loads too (drills, microwaves, coffee makers, hair dryers, electric heaters) per EcoFlow. The real restriction is precision instruments with voltage protection, not a resistive-only story.
LFP cell tech#
LFP (LiFePO4) cells, automotive-grade full-tab design per EcoFlow spec. The cell supplier is not publicly disclosed — I flag this because I've seen unsourced claims circulating. What IS confirmed: 4000 cycles to 80% capacity.
Real cycle life math#
4000 cycles at 1 cycle/day = 10.9 years before hitting 80% capacity. Weekend use (2 cycles/week) = ~38 years. Delta 2 capped at 3000 cycles = 8.2 years daily or 28 years weekend. +33% lifespan for full-time vanlifers.
10ms UPS tested real#
Compressor fridge plugged in, cut mains: imperceptible switchover, compressor doesn't even restart. MacBook + external monitor = total peace during campsite micro-outages.
Solar setup and AC charging#
500W MPPT, 11-60V, 15A max via XT60. 400W flexible rooftop kit = ~3h recharge full sun. AC: 0→80% in ~45 min, 0→100% in ~60 min (1400W AC input, X-Stream).
Ports#
1× AC outlet (1800W / X-Boost 2600W), 1× USB-C1 100W PD, 1× USB-C2 30W (not 100W), 2× USB-A 18W, 1× 12.6V car port (126W), 2× DC5521 (12.6V 3A each). Fewer AC outlets than Delta 2 (which had 4) — plan for a power strip if you charge many tools.
Battery expansion#
The DELTA 3 Series Extra Battery (1024Wh) is listed compatible with DELTA 3 and DELTA 3 Plus per EcoFlow docs. For the Classic SKU specifically, compatibility is not explicitly confirmed — verify with EcoFlow if expansion is a buying criterion.
Price and verdict#
From ~€849 on EcoFlow EU via Awin (price varies with promotions, down from €999). Verdict: if starting from scratch or your Delta 1 is fading, DELTA 3 Classic without hesitation. If Delta 2 still runs fine, wait until it dies.
Expert tip
If you're torn between Classic and Plus: the Plus adds Wi-Fi 6 + 4G LTE and smart-home gadgets. For a mobile van, 4G is redundant with phone hotspot. Price bump only justifies itself for remote control from a fixed long-stay campsite. The Classic covers 95% of vanlife use cases for less money.
Example calculation for your setup
Results based on a typical use case
| Appliance | Power | Usage/day | Wh/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression fridge | 45W | 24h | 1080 |
| LED lighting | 20W | 4h | 80 |
| Water pump | 30W | 0.5h | 15 |
| Phone charging | 15W | 2h | 30 |
| Daily consumption | 1205 Wh | ||
Recommended LiFePO4 battery
151 Ah
(80% depth of discharge)
Recommended AGM battery
241 Ah
(50% depth of discharge)
Recommended solar panels
402 Wc
4h average sun hours
Recommended inverter
No 220V appliances — no inverter needed
Adjust these values with the calculator below
About this tool
Evening in a Dolomites mountain village, 4°C outside, diesel heater running, I'm cooking pasta on a 1500W induction hob and charging the MacBook over USB-C1 at the same time. DELTA 3 Classic shows 1,720W draw, fan at half speed, nothing trips. That's exactly the scenario I tested for three months.
The numbers that matter day-to-day: 1,024 Wh LFP capacity, 1,800W continuous AC pure sine, 4,000 cycles to 80% SoH, and an AC refill 0→80% in ~45 min. These aren't marketing promises — they're what my fridge, power tools and kettle pull on me daily.
Realistic day: compressor fridge at 35Ah/day, laptop 60Wh, LED lights 20Wh, kettle twice 100Wh = ~740Wh/day. DELTA 3 gets you one full day off-grid. Stretching to two requires solar or DC-DC topping up.
The three-month surprise: the 10ms UPS handles campsite micro-outages cleanly, but a 2000W AC compressor spin-up (brief peak over 3,600W) tripped it twice. X-Boost catches a lot, not everything — don't rely on it blindly for unknown inductive start currents.
Cost math: €849 promo price via EcoFlow EU vs Delta 2 around ~€599 (refurbished or clearance). The €250 premium only pays back if you cycle daily (+33% lifespan = +2.7 years) or you need the quieter fan for stealth parking. Weekend-only users come out ahead keeping the Delta 2.
The calculator below is what I use before every trip to verify my solar input plus daily draw balances out. Size your 400W rooftop kit realistically for your region with it.
My verdict: for full-time vanlifers cycling daily, yes — the 4,000 cycles earn their keep. For weekend users with a Delta 2 still running fine, DO NOT swap. Wait until it dies.
Frequently asked questions
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic capacity?▼
1024 Wh gross capacity, LFP (LiFePO4) cells with automotive-grade full-tab design per EcoFlow spec. The cell supplier is not publicly disclosed.
What AC continuous power?▼
1800W AC continuous (pure sine wave), 2600W with X-Boost activated, 3600W surge peak. X-Boost works with motor loads too (not just resistive) — the restriction is precision instruments with voltage protection.
Full AC charge time?▼
0→80% in ~45 min, 0→100% in ~60 min with 1400W AC input (X-Stream tech). On 500W MPPT solar full sun, ~3h to fill.
Battery expansion possible?▼
The EcoFlow DELTA 3 Series Extra Battery (1024Wh) is listed compatible with DELTA 3 and DELTA 3 Plus per EcoFlow docs. For the Classic SKU, compatibility is not explicitly confirmed — verify with EcoFlow if that's a buying criterion.
Exact port count?▼
1× AC outlet (1800W / X-Boost 2600W), 1× USB-C1 100W PD, 1× USB-C2 30W, 2× USB-A 18W, 1× 12.6V car port (126W), 2× DC5521 (12.6V 3A each). Note: 1 AC outlet only, not 4.
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