Powering the Dream: Inside the EcoFlow Power Kit in Our 2025 Show Van

Hey everybody, Matt here for AVC and welcome back to AVC Chronicles!

Today, we're diving deep into the heart of our 2025 show van: its power system. After about six months of real-world use, we're thrilled to share our experience with the EcoFlow Power Kit. This integrated system has been a game-changer, simplifying our power setup and keeping us running smoothly on all our adventures.

Let's head into the shop and break down this incredible system!

The EcoFlow Power Kit: Key Components

The EcoFlow Power Kit is an all-in-one solution designed to make van power simple and efficient. We're featuring the Independence Kit, which includes:

• 5 kWh Battery: This is the powerhouse of the system. EcoFlow offers these batteries in 5 kWh, 10 kWh, and 15 kWh configurations (one, two, or three batteries respectively). For most vans, we recommend at least a 5 kWh system, as smaller options can be too limiting.

  • Internal Heater: A crucial feature for colder climates, the 5 kWh and 2 kWh batteries have internal heaters that activate automatically to keep the battery functional in low temperatures. Just be mindful of this during storage to prevent unnecessary battery drain.

• Gen 1 Power Hub: This is the brain of the operation. It handles all the conversion and inversion for your system:

  • 3600W Inverter: Powers your AC appliances.

  • Solar Charge Controller: Manages power from your roof-mounted solar panels.

  • Vehicle Charge Controller (DC-to-DC): Charges the battery from your alternator while driving.

  • Shore Power Charge Controller: Charges the battery when you're plugged into an external power source.

  • Versatile Inputs: It has three DC inputs for alternators or solar, plus an AC input for shore power.

  • Built-in 110V Outlet: A handy feature for simple setups, allowing you to power small devices directly without extra wiring.

  • 48V AC Compatibility: A standout feature! This system can directly power a 48V AC air conditioner from the batteries, eliminating the need for complex voltage converters and extra wiring that often come with 24V systems.

• 30 Amp Distribution Panel: This panel makes wiring incredibly simple with WAGO connectors. Instead of stripping wires and using screw terminals, you simply lift an orange lever, insert the wire, and clip it down. This applies to both AC and DC circuits, making it easy and safe to set up your electrical system.

  • Monitored Circuits: Each individual circuit is monitored, allowing you to see power output.

  • Touchscreen Control: The first six low-voltage circuits can be controlled directly from the touchscreen, letting you turn off things like your fridge or USB ports remotely. The remaining six circuits are always hot.

• Touchscreen Display: This mounted panel is your command center.

  • System Overview: See real-time metrics for solar input, alternator charging, battery status (including temperature and percentage), and power output to all systems.

  • User-Friendly Interface: Easily label circuits, perform system updates, and adjust settings. It's far less tedious than manually configuring systems from other brands.

  • Companion App: A smartphone app mirrors the touchscreen's functionality, making it even easier to label circuits, monitor power, and even turn circuits on/off remotely.

  • Software Updates: EcoFlow constantly improves the system through updates, often fixing issues and adding new features. We highly recommend checking for updates regularly via Wi-Fi or your phone's hotspot.

  • Sensor Input: The system has provisions for hardwiring sensors (like water tank levels), though we haven't utilized this feature yet.

Installation in the Show Van

Seeing the components is one thing, but seeing them integrated into a build is where the magic happens. We've housed our EcoFlow system in a custom-built aluminum cabinet, part of our Tailored Aluminum Cabinet Program.

• Battery Placement: The 5 kWh battery is secured over the rear wheel well. This placement is strategic, keeping weight centered over the wheels for better weight distribution. It's strapped down and bolted to the van wall for maximum security.

• Power Hub Location: The Power Hub is through-bolted top and bottom in the rear of the cabinet, with plenty of airflow around it. Passive vents in the cabinet allow for air circulation, and active cooling can be added if needed (though we haven't encountered overheating issues).

• Fuse Panel Integration: The 30A distribution panel fits perfectly in front of the wheel well, an out-of-the-way yet accessible spot for fuse changes or breaker resets. This location also helps hide wiring mess.

• Extra Circuit Protection: We utilized the rear section of the cabinet for additional circuit protection, including a 30-amp breaker for our roof solar and an 80-amp fuse for ignition protection to charge the system while driving.

• Shore Power Connection: A simple extension cord outlet serves as our shore power connection.

• Wiring Management: All wiring is neatly tucked away, preventing a "spaghetti mess" and keeping the build clean and organized. We even have pre-wired exterior light connections ready for future expansion.

Real-World Usage & Monitoring

The touchscreen and app give us incredible insight into our van's power usage:

• Battery Status: We can see the exact percentage of charge, how much power is coming in from shore power or solar, and an estimated time to full charge.

• Input Monitoring: We can track solar input (currently 130 watts from the roof) and shore power (limited to 12 amps for safety). We can also see that the alternator is activated but not currently charging.

• Output Control: We can monitor and control all AC and DC circuits. For example, we can easily turn off the refrigerator’s light to defrost it, or turn off USB outlets to prevent phantom power draw.

• Customization: Labeling circuits (e.g., "Passenger USB," "Refrigerator") and assigning icons makes it incredibly easy to see at a glance what each circuit does.

• System Settings: From the touchscreen, we can manage Wi-Fi for updates, customize alarm settings, and set auto-timeouts to prevent over-discharging the battery. The standby power setting allows us to define what constitutes "active use" to prevent the system from shutting down unexpectedly.

• Software Updates: We regularly check for and install software updates, which have consistently improved system performance and added new features.

Our Verdict?

The EcoFlow Power Kit has been a fantastic addition to our 2025 show van. Its integrated design, ease of use, and ability to power a 48V AC system directly from the batteries have made it a standout choice for our build. It truly simplifies van power, making it more accessible and reliable.

What are your thoughts on integrated power systems like the EcoFlow Power Kit versus building a custom system from individual components? We'd love to hear your opinions in the comments below!

Get the EcoFlow Kit Here: https://avcrig.com/products/3-6-kw-ecoflow-power-kit-5-kwh-collective-supplier?_pos=1&_psq=eco&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Get Your Van Built By AVC: https://avcrig.com/pages/contact