How long will an EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max run a gas furnace?
It will hold it but probably will not start it. The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max can supply the 600 W a gas furnace draws while running, but the 1,500 W start-up surge exceeds its 1,200 W peak rating, so the inverter is likely to trip the moment the motor kicks in.
The gas makes the heat, but the blower that pushes warm air through the ducts is a real motor with a real start-up surge — far more than a British combi boiler. Variable-speed (ECM) blowers usually draw less.
Before you rely on it
A furnace blower is a real motor with a start-up surge, and most furnaces are hard-wired with no plug. Some will not light on a station's floating output because they sense the flame through ground. The furnace guide explains all three problems and the safe way to connect one.
The numbers
| Setup | Average draw | Cautious | Typical | Best case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × gas furnace, UK 230 V | 309 W | — | — | — |
| 2 × gas furnace, UK 230 V | 609 W | — | — | — |
| 1 × gas furnace, US 120 V | 309 W | — | — | — |
- Usable energy: 372 Wh of the 512 Wh on the box, after chemistry, inverter losses and the reserve.
- To keep it going for a full 24 hours you would need about 10,204 Wh of rated capacity — 19.9× this station.
- Start-up: the gas furnace asks for 1,500 W at switch-on against this station's 1,200 W peak — not enough.
Buy the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max
Where to buy
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If this is for a power cut
Heating is what a battery does worst. In a power cut, warming people rather than rooms goes much further, and none of this needs a socket.
Without a power station: a 20,000 mAh power bank runs a USB heated throw for about 7 h 24 min. See the power bank numbers.
Hot water bottle and a vacuum flask. Boil water while you still can, keep it hot in a flask, and refill the bottle through the night.
Look for: A bottle made to BS 1970 in the UK, and a flask of a litre or more.
Hand warmers. Air-activated packs give hours of heat with no power at all, and a pocketful helps children and older relatives.
Look for: Long-duration packs, and the expiry date on bulk boxes.
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More: How to keep warm in a power cut, and the power cut essentials list (US edition).
What changes the answer
| If instead… | Typical runtime | Change |
|---|---|---|
| The pack is two years old | — | -7% |
| The pack is five years old | — | -20% |
| It is −10 °C outside | — | -15% |
| You run it flat, no reserve | — | +12% |
| You keep 20% back | — | -11% |
If you need it to run longer
These run a gas furnace for at least twice as long as the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max does, cheapest first.
| Station | Wh | Typical | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 | 2 h 31 min | £419 / $549 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus | 1,264 | 2 h 57 min | £549 / $999 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 | 1,056 | 2 h 28 min | £699 / $799 |
| ALLPOWERS R1500 | 1,152 | 2 h 41 min | £699 / $539 |
The cheapest step up: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
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Smaller options that still work
Nothing smaller than the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max runs a gas furnace for a useful length of time.
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