Plug-N-Play 500w Fast Car Charger for Power Stations! Only $134! Pecron DC1242-500 Smart Car Charger
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2024
- In this video I test the Pecron Smart Car Charger (DC1242-500). It's a complete plug-n-play setup that is priced really well, only $134. Most power stations can charge at 100 watts in your car and this allows you to get up to 500 watts! Yes, it works with Pecron power stations, but it also works with any other brand that supports 50v DC input! What did you think of the performance? How would you use one?
Learn more about the Pecron Smart Car Charger HERE:
www.pecron.com/products/pecro...
10% OFF Discount Code: JASONCAR500
Need basic consulting or have a solar question? Get direct contact with me HERE:
asqme.com/@Jasonoid
CHARGING ADAPTERS:
Adapter for Anker Power Stations: amzn.to/3Uw8lga
Adapter for EcoFlow Power Stations: amzn.to/3JTGjX0
The use of affiliate links provide a small commission for me when you use them. Thanks for supporting my channel content and allowing me to do future comparison videos! More videos coming soon!
Video Timestamps:
What is the Pecron Smart Car Charger: (0:00)
Testing With My 4Runner: (2:30)
Efficiency Testing: (4:23)
Does It Work With Other Brands: (7:39)
Conclusion: (13:57)
#jasonoid #pecron - Věda a technologie
Interesting work around using the mppt circuit. Could actually build your own, just a boost converter. Super convenient having it all wired up though.
Plug n play is the main benefit of this one. Most people don't have the knowledge to wire up the proper wire size, fuses, and relays to get something working. This solves that 👍
There are definitely some smarts that monitor voltage to regulate current at the different rotary switch settings, a little more complicated than simple relays and such. If you didn't use a micro controller or some sort of time delay circuitry you could end up toggling the charging on and off if there were system voltage irregularities from an air compressor clutch cycling on and off, winches, off-road lighting, other inverters, etc.
@@rcguymike same as any buck booster converter circuit with variable output. Most have it, even the cheap diy ones on Amazon. Just rotate the potentiometer until you get the right current. Regulated output is not a fancy feature. If there is loads, it will regulate. Not difficult for a simple circuit to accomplish
@@rcguymike and no relays
@@WillProwse Who da man, Will? Yes, YOU rock! Nevertheless, I think that this device is aimed at the low-tech consumer. Do you have any SPECIFIC, affordable product suggestions for those of us who might have a bit more tech savvy?
Cool indeed, about time somebody made one of these at a more sensible price. Great to have Pecron filling this niche. Thanks Jason
I love this company I got 5 of their power stations and 2 expandable bats. I am definitely getting this! Thanks for showing us how it works this is the video I have been waiting for. Pecron delivers good products with affordable prices for the middle income folks!
That's awesome! Thanks for sharing your feedback about Pecron and how you like their products.
Wow, this is really, really cool. Bought one, thanks for the code and for turning me on to this product!!
You're welcome.
I have ordered the ecoflow alternator charger and will be sending it back. I will be buying 1 of these for all 3 of my vehicles and still have saved money. I have the Delta and Delta II. Thanx
I wrote them to see if they will let me use 2 codes for discount if I order 3 of these.. and talked to EF and they said to just refuse the package and they'll refund me when they get it back.
Just started my path down solar/renewable energy and seeing this product helped to alleviate some of the worries as someone who is out camping with their vehicle nearby. You can still use your solar panels on those good sunny days, but when it starts to get cloudy, or when winter hits and the amount of useable sunlight has been reduced, you can fire up your car/van/rv and recharge your power station(s) as you go about doing any errand trips around town. A very smart product to have installed! Edited: I did use your awesome code and picked one up, thanks for the cool info on this!
This may be exactly what I need! Thank you!!!!
Excellent presentation. Thank you. I would really love to see you test the new Victron Orion XS 50amp DC-to-DC chargers if you can get your hands on one. It has some really neat features such as full control of the charge amps from 0-50amps. It claims to be 98% efficient. Definitely need someone to do a really detailed test on it. They are back-ordered everywhere or I would already have one.
Great information, Jason and well presented. I have added it to my soon to buy list.
Glad it was helpful!
I mean.... I really LOVE solar, but fast car charging is also cool! Sweet product, Jason!
Great review! I got the EF 800W to use with the Wave 2, Delta 2, extra battery and Delta 2 Max, but also two of these to be able to charge other power stations with a 12V lithium battery faster when solar is scarce. I don't plan to hook up to a vehicle, just use with 12V LFP batteries. Thanks, Jason!
I literally just finished wiring in my victron 12/24 dc-dc converter. im super happy with it so far!
The Victron is an excellent option!
Could you please include what solar genset you’re using it with. I’m looking for something to use with my Bluetti ac200 max
@@davidfrancis8899I’m using a EcoFlow delta 2. As long as you have the right connectors for solar input on your Bluetti, I would imagine it should work the same!
I have an EcoFlow Delta Pro power unit on the way and this is perfect timing for me to be made aware of this product! The additional adapter cable listed is also perfect for me to use with this charger. Thank you Jason for the 10% discount too. Win, win!
Doesn’t pro come with solar cables already?
@@tomdemeo2708 Yes. I always buy an extra set just in case. One is none, two is one.
Really cool stuff, a whole new type of product!
Thank you so much for this post (and its link to the Pecron Smart Car Charger discount). During a power outage, I'll now be able to charge my Bluetti from my 100Ah lithium battery overnight and then use Bluetti's 12V RV Cable to charge the 100Ah lithium battery from the 12VDC/30A port during the day. Along with, of course, use my truck's battery and alternator as a charger, should that ever be necessary.
Thank you for a great video!
Victron 12/24 is similar cost (140) and has IGN cable. So that works with smart chargers too. Most vehicles newer than 2014 have smart chargers so the fixed voltage method won't work
I love mine, I use it to charge my power station from an extra lithium iron phosphate battery. It’s a cheap way to add an expansion battery. As your power station gets full it slows down its charging. I set it to 12 volts and turned it on to charge all night and in the morning the smart shunt was giving me a low voltage warning and showed a zero % charge but it didn’t get low enough to trigger the BMS and totally shut down the battery.
Thanks Jason, I really love my E1500LFP and it's a faster way to charge it. I was prefer a charger like the ecoflow on the dc port to leave the solar charging port for solar panel, but I will put this in breakers box to select this or solar when I'm parking.
I'm using your discount code right now and ordering one of these babies. Thank you and excellent video! Jim ps not sure why there are some doubters here that seem to say that it's already discounted from 249 to 149. I can confirm your code further discounts it to 134.10 and free shipping.
Yes, I just ordered too! $134.10 with free shipping. Amazingly good deal & plug and play as well!
Just ordered and used your code. I hope the sound is bearable during a roadtrip. Thanks!
You'll have to let me know what you think.
Great product for the Car. You have an awesome channel thanks Jason
Thankyou Jason! I plan on using this device to charge a Ecoflow delta 2. Vehicle is 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan. One nice thing is that I can swap out the XT60i connector adapter to a regular XT60 connector if I want to charge at a slightly lower rate under higher demand alternator conditions. That would drop max current down to 8A vs 15A max with XT60i. Would still allow 320W charge rate vs the 500W max. Not sure what the alternator is rated for on this Dodge van, but don't want to push it too hard or overheat under high demand situations
Thats a smart idea if you notice that the battery is being stressed too much.
The ease of installation is completely underrated. Previous generations from other manufacturers required a signal wire to turn the charger on/off. This is much easier, and not expensive at all. No more solar panels needed for small vehicle camping setups.
Jason thank you, I also went with your other solution using the DC to DC Charger. This changes the game. I'm purchasing this now. Thank you again for all you do. Stay Blessed!
Thanks! I think you'll enjoy it!
Jason do you think it would be an issue swapping out the ring terminals for battery clamps? I would like to have more flexibility in and out of my vehicle? What do you think.
Thanks Again!
@@minceym I don't see an issue with that at all! Just make sure they are connected/clamped well so the power can flow well.
Okay thank you, can't wait for mine to arrive!
@@minceym sweet!
Seems like a nice unit at a very reasonable price. If I didn't already have the LiTime 40 amp dc to dc charger with built in MPPT I would definitely buy this one.
Definitely something to look at. Definitely nice that it works with so many things. I will look at it, it must have come out recently since I have not seen it before on their website.
Yeah, I only noticed it a few weeks ago!
Beautiful Informative & Detailed Review. Thank you 🙏 Brother. 🍻 👊 🇺🇸
Interesting. That looks like a good way to add the capacity of a 12.8V LiFePO4 battery to a power station. We've got a backyard shed coming, and when it gets here (not counting chickens until they're hatched), I will revisit this item and likely grab one, since this shed will not be wired to the grid.
I didn't know this existed, thanks for making the video!
Perfect, i ordered one before i finished watching your vid. For a Bluetti AC 200 pre production indiegogo model.
Enjoy the charger!
For those of us in the eastern US, this is a plug and play game changer! Solar is great when you have it but....
GREAT review as normal Jason, thanks!
I bought one with your code (thank you again) and expected it before Memorial day, 2 weeks, but no. Today, 30th, they finally sent an email saying it was delayed another 2 weeks or more and also stated their email system failed in follow ups.
Not a good sign for the company, hopefully the product will be better.
There was definitely a glitch with the stock status on their website. I have confirmed with my Pecron rep that they will make it right to anyone who has purchased their products. The high demand for this product was unexpected and my video through things into shock. They have since updated the product listing with the current stock information.
Very nice for someone like me not well versed in matters such as this. The best part for me is that when car camping, it takes away the worry of too many cloudy days when you can't charge with solar. Your car substitutes for an emergency generator, and you always have the ability to recharge any power stations you might have. Pretty sweet IMO.
Couldn't agree more! This is an excellent backup to solar panels just in case it's cloudy. I like a unit like this since it doesn't pull too much power from your alternator. 300 to 400 watts is doable on most vehicles.
I thought of another really cool potential use for this charger! I have a Prius Prime with a extra large traction battery, but a regular Prius with smaller traction battery would also function similarly. This charger can take power from the 12 volt DC Prius secondary (accessory battery) and supply up to 500 watts to any of the larger power stations. When the 12V battery gets low, the car's DC to DC converter recharges it from the 350 volt traction battery. When the traction battery voltage drops, the car starts the engine and recharges the traction battery automatically. This results in the car running for only very short durations of time to recharge the traction battery. At this discharge rate, power could be supplied for literally several days in the event of power outages when you need to keep critical appliances running such as refrigerator, freezer, lights, furnace fan, electric blanket etc (that doesn't require a ton of power). Since power will be drawn from the power station itself, even high power appliances like coffee pots, microwaves etc could also be run for short durations. I think the output of the secondary accessory battery is fused at more than 1,000 watts, so this is well within the range of this 500W smart car charger. The car's key fob would need to be located with the car for power to remain being supplied for long durations
That's really cool!
I've been looking into something like this. I think I would change out the hard wired connections for big alligator clamps to just clamp right onto any battery.
I just ordered the new Ecoflow 800w alternator charger. I plan to put pig tails with Anderson connectors on the batteries of both of our vehicles and then add a 25’ 1/0 jumper cable extension. The clamps will have Anderson connectors as well so it can still be used elsewhere. This will give me enough wire to charge my delta pro’s and delta 2 max in the house or in our vehicle.
I was thinking of doing the same thing. It does pull a lot of amps though. I tried using it with 30 amp fuses and it melted the fuses.
Watch Hobotechs review of the Ecoflow alternator charger and it has to be connected directly to the battery. I wonder if the Pecron does too?
Your reviews are always excellent
I appreciate that! Thanks!
Another great video, in keeping with your standards. Also a very good product from Pecron, and a great value. Something you sort of alluded to, but didn't really delve into so much, is how this would be an (admittedly inefficient) way of load-shedding when you have too much solar coming in from a given PV array. By having this connected, and set at one of the higher voltage thresholds, it could be a really cool way of extending how much battery and/or power station you can charge from that single array. Maybe you could do a follow-up video, showing how that would work?
Interesting idea, I think that would work to dump power from a standalone battery into a power station. You'd have to have a separate charge controller and solar array vs just connecting the power station to that same solar array.
@@Jasonoid - I'm thinking for those folks who have solar, a charge controller, 12 or 24v battery bank, and inverter. Whenever the batteries on those systems get full, and the PV is clipping output, you could dump the excess PV output into a battery or power station.
When power station is full from solar you could use an AC battery charger from the power station to recharge a lithium battery, then this device could be used when you have limited solar to extend battery life, as long as your power station had pass through it would all be seamless, i have also looked at an 800w generator as a backup, they are pretty quite and small, that you can hook up your AC charger to charge extra battery or connect your power station to for direct charging.
I ordered this for my OG EcoFlow Delta 1300 and OG EcoFlow Wave A/C unit. Hope this is the right solution to use my car as recharging source-This is Hurricane prep readiness only. Wanted to have a faster charge alternative to solar panels which only work reliably on sunny days . I am not savvy on this stuff so hopefully this solves my recharging concern during SHTF hurricane event here in South FL. Used your referral code for discount. Thanks for the video.
This unit will work just fine on the Delta 1300. I can't remember the solar charging specs are on the Wave. As long as it allows for 43v input it should work for that unit as well 👍
Thank you! Excellent video.
Glad it was helpful!
At 3:25 what did you change to increase the charge output? I have a similar diy setup but would love the ability to have a finished product with at least a high and low charge output functionality
I was thinking of victron converter but cables and fuses were extra. Also a switch if permanent hook up.
This is complete, I would use it as an emergency for my EcoFlow mini for an extended power outage and limited sun.
That said mini max solar input is 300 watts , would the EcoFlow adjust down to 300w max?
Jas. About how long does it take to completely charge an EcoFlow power station such as the original Delta from say, 10% to 100%?
I'm sort of torn between the new EF Alternator Charger since that is 800W. But you can only charge the Maxs and the Pros but not my Delta. I would also like to be able to charge my WAVE2 extra battery, but I guess I would have to take my entire unit in order to charge it.
Is there a "work around" cable for either option?
Great video. Thank you. Always fantastic content. Will this work for the Oukitel p2001 Gen1, or the Ecoflow Delta Mini? Neither have an expansion battery option and have been looking for a solution for both. I have the Dr Prepare 100ah with the hub.
Yes, this puts out 42v which is compatible with both of those power stations charging input 👍
Love that these companies are making plug and play options
Any plans to test the ecoflow version?
I'll test it if I can get my hands on it eventually.
@@Jasonoid I'd love to use the ecoflow with some other versions like their delta pro ultra, unbelievable is the same brand
Pretty cool. Only wish it would have shorter cord with Anderson connections or alligator clamps to make storage easier.
You could always cut the cable and shorten it, and then solder it back up. That's not a hard job to do.
Can you hook up solar directly into the Pecron? If yes, would this give it a max charging current at around 40amps if enough solar was used?
I've a house lithium in my jeep. 12V single 206ah LiFePo with redarc 25A bcdc charger. 2x 100W solar on parallel to a 2000w inverter.
Looking to expand solar for my house lithium to run the ecowave2 air conditioner this summer. Would the Pecron essentially act as an MPPT charger in this case and as an add on atop my existing bcdc setup?
I’m using a victron dc/dc converter and if this had been available a few months ago I’d have picked it instead. The included wiring and more adjustability, puts it a step above.
This is my exact debate right now. I'm debating between a secondary renogy 720w DC DC with mppt or this for half the cost. After rethinking my position I think I'm going to return the renogy piece as my main mppt is a 250/60 victrom big boy. This should be perfect for supplemental charging and when on the go.
From what I've read about these power chargers it should theoretically send more power to the power station if you turned off major electrical components like the A/C in the vehicle. I'd like to see this in a test. In a backcountry scenario, I'd definitely leave the switch set to at least 13v to make sure the battery was continually topped off.
Not unless you were driving the car always as it would drain starter battery.
Great info well presented and smart solution that turns off when the engine doesnt run. I wonder if its possible to run it simultaneous with solar panels..?
If your power station has dual DC inputs like the Ecoflow Delta 2 Max or the UGREEN 2200, you can charge this and solar panels at the same time! 👍
I've spoken directly with pecron and they plan on releasing the big brother to this product which will charge much faster. I'm crossing my fingers it'll be close to 1000 watts . They told me I can used 2 500 watt models together, id just have to do some wire splicing. no biggie but I'd still rather have a single unit. but on the other hand if i ran 2 500 watt ones, i have more adjustability on how hard I want to tax my alternator at a time or maybe even 2 1000 watt ones. like maybe only use one 1000 watt charger if im idle or just cruisin in town, but be able to kick the second one on when I hit highway speeds. * I have a 160amp at the moment but i I know they make alts for my minivan that can do 250 plus amps at idle but they are not cheap, but it would be super cool to be able to charge my battery bank at 1000 watts from my alt while sitting idle and then tie in my 800 watts of solat panel to get a full 1,8kw of charging while just sitting idle in the sun. I also have 2 individual 40amp chargers that i use while on shore power for a grand total o over 3kwatts of possible power i can feed my battery bank of 4 150ah bats for a 600ah total, minus my 1 pecron battery thats dedicated fulltime for my acopower fridge. It'll run my fridge for 7 days on 1 full charge at a time and will top it off with my 800 watts of solar from zero in 2 hrs, or an ac outlet in 1.5 hours, then go another week before i need to charge again.
Thanks for your reply. I think my eb70s is 12-24 and so is my Ac180 if I am not mistaken.
This will work perfect on the AC180, it will damage the EB70 though.
Everyone is coming out with their dc to dc chargers, at a good penny (BLUETTI $200 // EcoFlow $600)
This is more sensibly priced ($150) and can be used in pretty much all power stations. 👍👍
I have an older Delta 1 that only takes 400 watts. I hope it will work on it.
For my regular batteries I have the renogy dcdc50. This will allow me to use those batteries as a more practical expansion battery.
I would put a switch between the charger and starter battery. When at anchor for a week, there is no need to draw a load, even if it’s small. And I love switches!
It should be compatible with the first Delta gen.
Hey Jason , thanks for the video! Do you know if this can be plugged into a MPPT charger like a Victron SmartSolar 75/15 to charge a LiFePo4 battery?
It's probably best to get a DC to DC charger with solar built into it. Something the like the ABSO Kisae DMT1250.
Great info and demo. I’ve seen others showing 800 watts charging from the alternator through a voltage booster to I think 40 volts . It was charging the power station through the solar panel charging port. But it wasn’t plug and play. Ecoflow’s is stupidly expensive.
What are the pros and cons of the higher wattage charging?
How should we set this up so we can charge while we’re driving around rather than sitting idle and burning fuel?
I put out a previous video testing 3 different boost converters to do this same thing but the wiring was complicated. This solution is nice since it just plugs in.
I don't think charging much higher than 400 watts is good for your alternator unless it's upgraded. Too much stress.
Hi Jason, in order to dual charge with PV and this “smart charger” on a Bluetti AC200Max, would you still need a D050s from Bluetti to have dual input, or would you be able to wire this directly into the “58.8V/500W Max” (not the PV) port, provided you buy a barrel plug adapter?
This would only work on the pv input port, the Bluetti charging enhancer would be needed for dual charging.
I was looking at getting the Victron Orion 12/24 booster but this pecron works with 12 and 24V batterys! A huge step up from the $35 12/24 booster that gets so hot you could cook on it. I wont be using this in a car scenario, only to power dump from 12&24v Lifepo4s to large power stations at a faster rate when needed.
This is much cheaper than the Victron. Fans are a bit louder on this one though. I think it's a great price point.
Can this charge the ep3000 add-on battery for e1500lfp?
This seems to be a great addition to power station charging to have in your kit. The only thing is that it's not really meant to be mounted in the engine compartment so you could use it while driving and charging your power station. Having to idle a vehicle seems a bit inefficient but it works if needed. I'm looking at the water proof solid state 12vdc to 48vdc 288watt step up boost converters to actually mount in the engine compartment and run a cable into the cab to charge the power station while driving. I do like the ability to control the input voltage so it doesnt drain a battery.
You mount it inside, route wires through to the engine bay
@@ClewPE Yes that could be the option. However I was thinking keeping the high current (up to 50amp) side close to the battery and short and having the output which will be lower current (13 amp @ 42vdc) and therefore smaller wires run to the inside.
@@tomve3ytn732 it's already sized for voltage drop for the 15' of wire it comes with. Yeah, your way is ideal but I wouldn't want one of these cooking in my engine bay.
@@ClewPE Exactly in the current form factor it wouldnt survive in the engine bay. It would have to be completly sealed with passive cooling heat sinks. Do you know what the wire sizes are? The input looks like an xt90 plug. Still debating about getting one, about twice the cost for Canada right now plus sjipping.
This is cool, thanks for the 10% as well. I bought one based on your review, thanks so much !
Can you run this with a Y-splitter into the battery with a solar panel as well so that it'll recharge via solar if the car is not on?
This will not be compatible with solar panels at the same time, unless your power station supports dual DC inputs, like the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max.
Thanks for this video. Here is an unusual setup for you .. i think in theory it might work for me. I have a Bluetti ac200 max i want to use on a sailing catamaran. I would love to be able to use the engines as well as solar to charge it. When Under motor the boat is powered by 2x yanmar 3ym30 diesels, the output of the alternator on each motor is either 12v 60amp or 80amp (depending on model of alternator not on board to check) . The manual says 13.5 amp constant output. On my boat the house battery is the starter battery and the battery system is 6/6v golf cart type batteries wired in series parallel to give 12 volt. Also there is long run from the 2 alternators cable to the batteries. The existing system works well the house batteries are topped up by 2/240 Panasonic panels and the alternators . My question is since there are no actual starter batteries where would i attach the cables from the Pecron so i can use it to charge the Bluetti when running the engines ? 😊 thanks for your assistance
You'd attach the wires of the converter to your house batteries (which seem to be charged by the alternators).
I use a 1000w dc inverter that i connect to battery terminals while running car. It charges my Anker power supply to 100% in an hour.
That's a huge load on your alternator, over 70 amps! I mean, as long as you have an upgraded heavy duty alternator it should be fine, but most standard vehicles the alternator can't handle much more that 300 to 400 watts and will die from being over stressed.
When would you use the smart charger from spare battery to power station? Looking for the advantages. Thanks for sharing.
Anytime you want to take power from a battery and charge a power station faster than 100 watts. This allows you to use a 12v battery as a DIY 'expansion battery' to extend the runtime.
Would the attched fuse be able to pass through the car's firewall?
Or can the fuse be disconnected, passed through, and then reconnected ?
I didn't look at disassembly and reassembly but I bet it can be taken apart and then reinstalled. The fuse seems swappable.
Very cool. I believe ecoflows version is proprietary. Pecrons is more pratical and affordable.
Yes, not as fancy as the Ecoflow but I think it's just enough to get the job done.
Went ahead and ordered this and the E1500 LFP with your code. I know you have things scheduled, but it would be helpful to show more close-up the connections, including the ground. Also, how you run it to the back the vehicle. Are there things to be avoided or careful of when we install?
It's a simple install, positive and negative connections only. Not much else to worry about. I'd probably run it through the firewall to somewhere in the cabin.
I think thats great! I would get that in a heartbeat if I could instal it myself 😂
Install is really easy! You can do it!
Folks, including myself, might like a reference for how to go through the firewall of their vehicle. I'm going to search that. Thanks for staying so on top of innovative technologies.
Is the cord long enough to connect your vehicle starter battery in the engine bay with the charging unit in the front seat or dashboard of your vehicle so that it can stay wired 24/7?
It's 15 feet long, good enough to run from the battery to the cab on most vehicles
Jason, I have 2 newbie questions... about the adapter cables for my anchor 767.. Should I get 10 or 12AWG cables?
Also, i have a ford transit with dual batteries (70AMP-HR), which battery do i hook up to?
The Anker F2000 (767) has a 20 amp input limit so you'd want to use 10awg to be safe and avoid voltage drop.
You can connect to either battery. It might be best to connect to your start battery though since it's getting charged directly by your alternator.
Jason, how is this different compared to an Dc to Ac inverter, I’m looking at the 300w Dc to ac inverter that I can plug into the cigarette plug? Thanks
Two issues with that.
1) Most 12v sockets are good for 120w to 180w in cars. If you pull more power and it will blow a fuse.
2) Most power stations charge at over 300 watts. If you plug in a power station into a small 300w inverter it will overload the inverter and shut it down.
If you want to run higher power you'll need to wire directly to your battery with large wires.
Can the round connectors be attached to jumper style clips to make the install temporary? Can you pull 400w through those jumper clamps?
If you have a decent set of jumper cables and wiring, yes you can use this as a portable charging setup off any battery.
Ordered 1 for my semi will probably replace the fans to a better quality fan
That definitely would be a nice upgrade!
Have to say this seems well thought out. Personally I'd rather just run a 1000 watt inverter and charge dc to ac in, much more input,faster,cheaper, basically the same connection JM2C
I personally think 1000w is too big to pull from an alternator setup. If your power station has adjustable charging you can turn it down to a lower AC charging speed and the inverter option will work just fine.
I don't think I'd pull more than 400 to 450 watts from an alternator unless it's upgraded.
Cool video- thank you! A couple of other ones are mentioned in the comments-EcoFlow and Victron. Would you consider doing a video comparing these 3 options and the pros and cons? Also, is there any way to boost car charging for non gasoline (electric) cars with no alternator? I have a Kia Niro EV with a 180 watt 12 V plug but my Ecoflow limits my car charging to 8 amps max despite the fact that my 12V plug has 15 amps available.
Hmmmmm, that's a tough one. Which Ecoflow unit do you have? You could possibly use the Xt60i solar charging cable to get the full 15 amps if it's one of the newer models.
@@Jasonoid I have three Ecoflows-River 2, Delta 2, and Delta Pro. I’ve tried the Delta 2 and it only gets 100 watts with the car charger. It seems there’s no way to set the car charger for 15 amps.
The Delta Pro is too heavy for the car anyway.
The solar cable has MC4 connectors-is there a “converter” to make that fit a cigarette plug?
@@teuton6167 the orange xt60i car charging cigarette cable is "fake", as in the 3rd pin is not active so you won't see higher charging with that. You'd need to try car charging with the solar MC4 xt60i cable, where the 3rd pin is active. You'd have to buy some weird adapter to get it to work since it's MC4.... it get annoying having to make up your own adapters.
Thank you. 🙏
Hello, Jason. I have seen reviews of devices like this that have an alternate way of telling when alternator is running: they have a separate input that you tie into a circuit that is only energized when the vehicle is running as opposed to sensing a voltage change at the battery. The reviewers claimed this was a better way to do things as it prevented parasitic draw on the starter battery from the DC to DC converter or DC charger. Would you be able to test the parasitic draw of this Pecron unit?
I tested that in the video, it uses 1 watt of power when not in use.
@@Jasonoid I’m not sure how I missed that. Thanks, Jason.
How warm did the exterior of the unit get?? I would probably end up with an anderson to xt-90 adapter and it laying in the floorboard on the rubber mat, if it's not getting too hot to touch
It didn't get very warm at all. I would have no concerns with this overheating.
@@Jasonoid Thanks, this certainly looks like the GOTO solution. Another Great video!!
For a pickup truck with an insulated camper shell, would i be able to run the cables straight from the battery, under the vehicle, and out to the bed? I would store the unit inside the camper.
Also... Which cable should I get to use with my Anker C1000?
Depends on the length of the truck. The main power cable is 15 feet long. This 'MC4 to XT60' adapter will work on your C1000: amzn.to/4aiwWen
@@Jasonoid thanks. We'll see. I think the length from the engine bay is about 12ft so it'll be close. Might have to connect a second cable or run a longer cable from this unit
Just bought one. Certainly less expensive than the EcoFlow one which i was considering in a bundle. Glad i waited! Thanks for another great and informative review. Now all we need is a cheap fairly efficient HV solar converter to drop 100 and above DC down to 60V or less that ideally will allow you to fine tune the output voltage to max out the solar input of your charging station.
Just waiting on that PV reducer from Bluetti! (It's designed for the AC240). They said it isn't ready yet. I'll be doing a video on that once I get my hands on it.
@Jasonoid designed for the 240 but I wonder if it will be compatible with other power stations 🤔
@@Bamabrute85 that's what I'm hoping! Fingers crossed!
TBH, that Ecoflow Bundle (Delta 2, 800w charger, 110w solar panel) for $999 is a great value! If i didn’t already own the Delta 2 i would jump on that combo in a heartbeat! But, buying only the charger (outside the bundle) is insane at $599!
@@Bacnow where can I find that?
Just out of Curiousity, I wonder what would happen if someone were to parallel Two 24 volt solar panels and wire them up to this thing, would it still step up the power?
The input voltage is stated as being 12v to 30v, it might work for something like that. Solar voltage isn't nearly as stable as a battery though.
I’m curious how much stress this puts on an alternator in the long run. Modern alternators are typically 100-140A. 500w continuous is about 40A.
I just replaced my Honda Odyssey alternator after 120K miles and it wasn’t cheap.
It you want to pull less wattage (less strees/amps) set the voltage level higher and it won't pull the battery lower than that voltage.
Bought it last week.
I hope you enjoy it!
Maybe I missed it, but what is the wire gauge and length of that input cable. 80$ efficiency might be normal but needing to pull 50A I am wondering if they gave the right size cable.
I think it's 6awg, rated for 55 amps continuous. I'd have to check when I get home if not.
Per Pecron it's 10mm^2, which equates to 7AUG
I connected one through my BougeRV mppt charge controller to my battery bank. I got 450ish watts charging.
That's awesome using it with a solar charge controller!
Hi Jason, bit of advice .... I recently saw a video you produced on i believe similar item made by Bluetti...(The D050S 500w)...I have a bluetti AC180 and eb3 with 2 x pv200s panels and 2x elecaenta 120 panels.. I am based in the UK and unfortunately the Pecron is not available here whereas the bluetti is.. Are both devices the same ??? I would primarily use this for charging the bluetti from the 12v socket in the van whilst driving ...
The Bluetti charging enhancer is not designed to pull much power from a battery. It will only charge your power station at around 120w if connected to a 12v source. It will not perform the same way.
@@Jasonoid Ok thx .. as i workaround could you recommend me the best current alternative .. I remember you saying something about the small 12/24v converters that you wire up yourself .. please excuse my ignorance on this
Very cool. But can this be connected to a 24v battery??
Looks like the switch doesn’t go that high.
Oops I see now that it is.
Yep, its setup for both 24v and 12v batteries
Overlanders should be falling all over themselves to buy this. Good Job Jason!
I wonder if this is similar to the Ecoflow alternator charger coming out soon?
This is a much more simple device. This just charges your power station. The EcoFlow alternator charger takes both solar and alternator input. The EcoFlow unit is also bidirectional, meaning it can charge your starter battery and pull power from it. They are a bit different, especially in price.
I purchased one using your discount code. Anyone know what setting works best with a 2014 Honda Pilot? I think its a 130 amp alternator. Also will it work with Tesla Model 3 ?
Probably the 13.5v option should be good out of the box. Just pick up a voltmeter and measure your battery when your engine is not running and when it's running and that will give you a good place to start.
I have a Blueitti AC500 with 3 B300S in my Class C motor home Ford E450. I have solar connected to the AC500. I could connect the Pecon to a B300S but the Pecon 13amp output is greater then the 10amp max input for the B300S will the Pecon adjust the Amp output?
The power station will limit the amperage automatically 👍
Great thanks
Nice informative video as always. Nice to see companies starting to make all in one solutions. I just got EcoFlow 800W Alternator Charger. I know it is more expensive, but I like it can back charge the car battery. I have a X2Power Premium AGM that likes to be charged at 14.2- 14.4 , but even with my cheat on the fuse for my Tacoma. I am only lucky if I can get 14.0. This means I usually have to put the trickle charger on every other week.
That EcoFlow 3-in-1 is a pretty cool device! I think it will also function as a battery booster down the road too.
@@Jasonoid Yes, that is what they say. I should get it today and install this weekend. Hopefully the app and/or firmware has been updated since a few reviews on it seem to make it seem glitchy. I was doing what you would showed with a boaster and was getting about 430 avg. I have Delta 2 that I leave in my truck with my Glacier. With a couple small fans to keep cabin cool when on the jobsite. I have two 100 watt panels on the roof. It wasn't making enough power for 1 hour drive a day and solar to keep things running. Was a pain to switch between solar and alternator. I had to start using my Delta 2 Max, I don't like leaving that in the truck. It was easier because of the two solar inputs. It would make it the week, but still had to top off on weekend.
In the battery to power station setup, is the loss of efficiency in using a DC to AC inverter instead much different than this DC to DC up converter? (Including the power station converting the AC back to DC. And the higher cost of the inverter). I’m trying to determine how I can get 600+ watts into my Anker Solix F2000, which allows 20a input at 33-60v up to 1000w, but up to 1440w via AC charging And I am trying to determine the best option to adding additional battery capacity (in addition to its expansion battery).
I wouldn't recommend pulling much more that 400 to 500 watts from your alternator setup unless you have a HUGE upgraded alternator.
@@Jasonoid
You addressed my question in your earlier video on car charging a portable power station. czcams.com/video/I78RxjRXTn4/video.htmlsi=dRk_yy0M84gikBZW
I wasn’t clear in my comment/question above. Not the chassis battery/alternator but a standard alone bank of lithium batteries utilizing an inverter (essentially mimicking solar panels) to input charge to the Anker at a high rate. One disadvantage of the Anker is that total capacity is limited to 4096wh. Unlike some of the competitors that allow for more capacity addition using their expansion batteries (which are expensive).
Man, this is awesome! SIGNIFICANTLY less than Ecoflow's new unit. Sure, it doesn't put out 800W, but for saving $400, I'm game.
The EcoFlow unit is a bit smarter and does a bit more but for someone looking to just charge a power station, this is a great option!
Can you use this with a Hybrid ? My lexus 400h doesn't have a alternator.
I haven't tested this with an EV or a hybrid. Does your larger hybrid battery charge the starter battery as needed?
Nice detail ,this device seems a very good solution if its reliable and main the same price or low .
I just purchased one with your discount code. Great deal thanks!! Now I haven’t purchased a power station for my van build but I’m ready to pull the trigger. I’ve been leaning towards the Ugreen 2200 but I have been waiting to see the Pecron 3600 that will be coming out real soon. Jason do you know when you will be reviewing the 3600? Pecron said it’s coming soon.
Still waiting on word from Pecron with that unit. If it's anything like the new Pecron E1500LFP it should be an awesome device!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the EF Alternator charger. Is it worth the higher price?
The EcoFlow is kinda in a different category. It takes in solar panels and alternator power. It also can reverse charge your starter battery or house batteries. I'd say it's more for an overlanding rig, van build, or RV. This option is just for charging a power station. I am trying to get my hands on the EcoFlow car charger, the Bluetti D40 and maybe I'll do a comparison video.
@Jasonoid not maybe. You will make a comparison video ASAP! Thank you!
Anyone know how long the included power cable is? Have a Ram 2500 and would prefer to put the unit in bed of truck, have a topper so nice and dry back there.
Around 15 feet
Jason do you know of any of the smart chargers that work in a similar manner with an output of in excess of 30 volts?
You mean with an input more than 30 volts? I don't know of any plug n play setups.
No I was thinking of anything like the Victron Smart 12/24 15A dc-dc charger that has an output of 30V. This product is nice.and solves a lot of problems for those who would like to use solar but just isn't efficient enough. Unfortunately I live in the EU and Peceon 1242 500 is not available here yet.
@@berniefranklin3586 I have a full video on the Victron :
czcams.com/video/I78RxjRXTn4/video.htmlsi=8u21GoGP84-Sc_6O
I wonder if this work with ecoflow PRO 720Wh thanks
This converter puts out 42vdc, the River Pro is only capable of 25vdc input. It is not compatible.