EcoFlow RIVER 3 Portable Power Station

Backup for your Wi-Fi, laptop and phone when KPLC goes off

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 is a small battery that sits between the wall socket and the few things you can’t work without: your router, your laptop, your phone and a desk lamp. Leave it plugged in and it passes mains power straight through. When the power goes, it takes over in under 20 milliseconds, so the Wi-Fi stays up and your video call carries on. At about 3.5 kg, it is easy to carry.

It sits in our portable power stations range, part of our wider power and backup section.

What you get with the RIVER 3

245Wh of LFP battery

The battery holds 245Wh and uses LFP (lithium iron phosphate) cells, which EcoFlow rates for 3,000 cycles before dropping to 80% of original capacity. That is years of daily use.

300W output, 600W with X-Boost

The AC output is rated at 300W continuous. X-Boost lets some resistive appliances up to 600W run by lowering the voltage, but it does not suit fridges, kettles, irons or microwaves. Think of the RIVER 3 as backup for electronics, not for the kitchen.

USB and car outputs

Besides AC power, there is a USB-C port rated up to 100W, two 12W USB-A ports and a 12V car-style outlet rated at 126W. The USB-C port charges most laptops directly.

Under 20ms switchover

EcoFlow quotes a switchover time of under 20 milliseconds. Routers, laptops, phones and lamps carry on without a blip. Desktop PCs are less predictable at 20ms: many keep running, but some power supplies restart. If a desktop is the main thing you are protecting, the RIVER 3 Plus with its 10ms switchover is the safer choice.

Charges in about an hour

From a wall socket, it goes from empty to full in about an hour, according to EcoFlow. It also charges from a car socket in about 2.8 hours, and from a solar panel of up to 110W in about 2.6 hours in strong sun. Solar input runs between 11V and 30V.

Screen, app and noise

The screen shows battery level, watts in and out and time remaining. The EcoFlow app connects over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to set charging speed and a battery reserve. EcoFlow rates it at under 30dB.

How long will it run?

A simple way to estimate runtime: take the capacity in watt-hours, knock off about 15% for losses in the inverter, then divide by the load in watts. These are estimates, and real results depend on what you plug in and how hard it works.

• A router using 10W: 245 x 0.85 = about 208Wh, divided by 10W gives roughly 20 hours.
• A router and a laptop using 55W together: 208 / 55 gives roughly 3.5 to 4 hours.

Small loads on AC run shorter than the sum suggests, because the inverter uses some power just being on. Where you can, charge phones and laptops from the USB ports instead.

Compatibility

EcoFlow’s international versions output 230V AC, the same voltage as Kenyan mains, as a pure sine wave that suits electronics. The AC socket type depends on the regional version, so ask us which plug it takes if that matters to you. The USB-C port works with any USB-C laptop, phone or tablet. Use a cable rated for the power, such as the UGREEN 240W USB-C cable.

Setting it up

Charge it fully from the wall. Pair it with the EcoFlow app over Bluetooth and update the firmware if prompted. Then keep it plugged into the wall, plug your router and laptop charger into it, and switch on the AC output.

Who it suits

It suits people who work from home and need Wi-Fi and a laptop through a two or three hour outage, students, and small shops that need a phone and a light going. It is not the right choice for a fridge, a desktop PC with a large monitor, or appliances through a long night.

How it compares

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus doubles the output to 600W, switches in under 10ms and can take an extra battery, which makes it the better pick for a desktop setup. For a TV, lights and a small fridge, the EcoFlow DELTA 2 gives you about four times the capacity. If you need to protect a server, network cabinet or a row of office PCs with no gap at all, an online UPS such as the SIEL Greenpoint 2K is the right tool. It runs the load from its inverter all the time, so there is no switchover gap.

Full product details are on EcoFlow’s official site.

Looking after it

Keep it somewhere dry with space around the vents, away from direct sun. EcoFlow gives an ideal operating range of 20 to 30°C, and charging should stay between 0 and 45°C. If you store it for a long time, top it up every few months. Wipe it with a dry cloth, and keep the port covers closed when you take it outside.

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave it plugged in all the time?

Yes. That is how the backup function works. It passes power through and uses the battery only when the mains fails.

Will my desktop PC stay on during a power cut?

It may, but at under 20ms some desktops restart. The RIVER 3 Plus is the safer choice for a PC.

Can I charge it with solar?

Yes, with a panel of up to 110W that works between 11V and 30V.

How long does it take to charge?

About an hour from the wall, according to EcoFlow.

Can I charge my laptop from it?

Yes, from the 100W USB-C port or from the AC socket with your normal charger.

Is it safe to use indoors?

Yes. It has no engine and no fumes, and it is quiet enough for a bedroom.

Buying from Encom Digital

Everything we sell is genuine EcoFlow. Prices on this page exclude VAT, and every order comes with a KRA-compliant VAT invoice, which your accounts team will need if you are buying for a company.

We offer same-day delivery within Nairobi and deliver to the rest of Kenya. You can pay by M-Pesa, card or bank transfer. If you are fitting out an office, a school or an NGO, ask us for bulk and corporate pricing.

Call or WhatsApp us on +254 714 962 072, email us, or visit us at Rehema House, 4th Floor, Standard Street, Nairobi, Monday to Saturday, 8AM to 6PM.