Portable Solar for Camping and Road Trips in the Philippines with an EcoFlow

For camping and road trips, pair a light RIVER power station with a folding EcoFlow panel it can safely take: a RIVER 3 with the 1.4 kg EcoFlow 45W panel for the lightest kit, or a RIVER 3 Plus with one EcoFlow 160W or 220W panel for more power at a car campsite.

Three kits by trip type

All pairings below pass our voltage and current checks. Weights and capacities are EcoFlow’s published figures.

EcoFlow says the 45W panel can “fully charge RIVER 3 in 6.3 hours during peak sunlight hours”. The 45W also has a USB-C output (15W max) to charge a phone straight from the panel, handy when you only need to top up a phone. The 160W and 220W ship with an MC4-to-XT60i cable, and the 45W with a DC5521-to-XT60i cable, so no extra adapter is needed.

Buyer’s guides: RIVER 3, RIVER 3 Plus, RIVER 2 Max.

Know your RIVER’s limit before you pack

• RIVER 2, RIVER 3 and RIVER 3 UPS have an 8A, 30V input (110W). Only the 45W or 60W panels pass our checks. The 160W and 220W panels’ current is above 8A.
• RIVER 2 Max/Pro and RIVER 3 Plus/Max/Max Plus have a 13A input (220W). One 160W, one 220W, or two 160W in series all fit.

The full table is in which EcoFlow panels work with RIVER units.

Setting up at camp

1. Find open sky. Beaches and open fields are easy. Forest and mountain camps need a clearing. Avoid shade from trees and tents.
2. Aim and re-aim. Face the panel at the sun and turn it a few times a day. See how to angle a portable panel.
3. Shade the station. Keep the RIVER under the tent fly or in shade, and run the cable to it. Check the manual for its operating temperature.
4. Watch the weather. Fold the panel when rain or strong wind arrives, and keep connectors out of sand and water.
5. Save power. Run LED lights, a fan and phone charging rather than high-watt gadgets. Estimate runtime with the EcoFlow runtime calculator.

Charging on the road

Every RIVER has a combined solar/car input, so you can top up from the car while driving (check your manual for the right EcoFlow car charging cable). For bigger setups, EcoFlow also sells the EcoFlow 600W Car Alternator Charger on Lazada, which is installed in the vehicle. Check the listing for which power stations it supports and how it connects. Have it installed by a qualified auto electrician.

Don’t leave the power station or panels in a closed car parked in the sun.

Plug-and-play portable panels can be set up by the owner following the manual. Anything wired to the house, a breaker panel, the roof or the grid needs a licensed electrician or PEE and an LGU electrical permit.

What to buy

• RIVER 3: Shopee · Lazada + EcoFlow 45W on Lazada
• RIVER 3 Plus: Shopee · Lazada + EcoFlow 160W on Lazada · Shopee
• RIVER 2 Max: Shopee · Lazada + EcoFlow 220W on Lazada
• Car alternator charger (optional): Lazada (EcoFlow PH) · Shopee

Check today’s price before you buy.

Bottom line

Match the panel to your RIVER’s input first: 45W or 60W on 8A models, 160W or 220W on 13A models. Then pick by weight. The RIVER 3 with the 45W panel is the lightest verified kit. A RIVER 3 Plus or RIVER 2 Max with a 160W or 220W panel suits car camping and longer road trips.