SPAN and EcoFlow both sell “smart panels,” but the two products sit in different places in a home’s wiring and solve different problems. SPAN’s website describes the SPAN Panel as “the smartest electrical panel,” a replacement for your main breaker panel starting at $2,550 plus installation. EcoFlow’s user manual describes the Smart Home Panel 2 (SHP2) as “the center of any whole-home backup system,” a 12-circuit subpanel built for EcoFlow’s DELTA Pro batteries. On Oct. 17, 2026, EcoFlow’s U.S. store listed the SHP2 at $1,399, also before installation.
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Both products need a licensed electrician, and neither one is a DIY item. This comparison uses SPAN’s product and support pages and EcoFlow’s SHP2 product page and user manual. Cost figures marked “estimate” are mine.
The one-sentence difference
A SPAN Panel replaces your main panel and makes every circuit in the house measurable and switchable, whatever battery brand you use. The EcoFlow SHP2 adds a 12-circuit backup subpanel next to your existing main panel. It switches those circuits between grid, EcoFlow battery and generator. EcoFlow’s manual answers the question “Can Smart Home Panel 2 be a main panel or service equipment?” with a one-word “No.”
Side-by-side specs
| Item | SPAN Panel (MAIN 32) | EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Role in the house | Main electrical panel (replaces existing) | Backup subpanel (fed from existing main panel) |
| Controllable circuits | 32 (lineup runs 16 to 48) | 12 load branches |
| Main breaker / rating | 100–200A main; 225A busbar | 100A panel / 90A storage; 120A busbar |
| Battery brands | Several third-party home batteries | EcoFlow DELTA Pro series |
| Generator input | Handled by the battery system | Built-in generator breaker and interlock; 3–12kW, 120V or 240V |
| Outage switchover | Handled by the paired battery’s gateway | 20 ms with EPS mode on; about 5 s with it off |
| Metering | ANSI revenue-grade, ±0.5% | Per-circuit current in the EcoFlow app |
| Connectivity | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular backup | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Enclosure | NEMA 3R, indoor/outdoor | NEMA 3R distribution panel; NEMA 1 battery connection box (indoor) |
| Size / weight | See SPAN’s install guide | 32.4 × 14.9 × 6.7 in; 52.9 lb |
| Warranty | 10-year limited | See EcoFlow’s warranty page |
| Hardware price | From $2,550 + installation | $1,399 (EcoFlow U.S., Oct. 17, 2026) + installation |
Where each one goes in your wiring
SPAN: the panel is the house
An electrician removes your existing breaker panel and installs the SPAN Panel in its place. Each circuit runs through a relay the panel can measure and switch. Because it’s the main panel, it sees whole-home demand, and the company describes it as a certified Energy Management System: when total draw would exceed your service size, it pauses selected circuits, mainly EV charger loads today. That’s how some homes add an EV charger or heat pump without a utility service upgrade. Our SPAN Panel review covers the lineup and battery list in detail.
EcoFlow SHP2: a backup subpanel
The SHP2 mounts beside your main panel. Up to 12 circuits move from the main panel into the SHP2, and it decides which source feeds them: grid, the EcoFlow battery or a generator. It has its own grid main breaker, a generator main breaker with a mechanical interlock between them, and a removable battery connection box. Circuits left in the main panel run as before and are not backed up. This is the same idea as a critical loads panel, with app control and an automatic transfer built in.
Battery compatibility
This is usually the deciding factor, because neither panel works with the other company’s batteries.
| Battery family | Works with SPAN? | Works with EcoFlow SHP2? |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla, FranklinWH, SolarEdge, Enphase home batteries | Yes, model-specific (see our full review for the list) | No |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra | Not listed | Yes: up to 3 inverters and 15 × 6kWh packs (EcoFlow quotes up to 90kWh and 21.6kW) |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 | Not listed | Yes: EcoFlow sells a DELTA Pro 3 + SHP2 + installation bundle |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro (original) | Not listed | Yes: up to 2 units through the Double Voltage Hub |
The SHP2 manual has a detail worth knowing for DELTA Pro owners. With one DELTA Pro connected, the panel can charge it but cannot discharge from it. Backup output needs two DELTA Pros, or a DELTA Pro Ultra. For more on that battery, see our EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra review.
What happens when the grid goes down
| Step | SPAN Panel | EcoFlow SHP2 |
|---|---|---|
| Detecting the outage | The paired battery system tells SPAN the grid is down | The SHP2 detects it and switches the backed-up circuits |
| Switch time | Set by the battery’s gateway | 20 ms in EPS mode; about 5 s otherwise |
| Which circuits stay on | Any circuit in the house, by priority you set in the SPAN Home app | The 12 SHP2 circuits, sorted into “must supply,” “conditional supply” (on above a set battery %, 50% default) and “no power supply” |
| Changing priorities mid-outage | Yes, from the app, with a backup-time estimate | Yes, from the app |
| Storm prep | Depends on the battery system | Storm Guard charges to 100% when severe weather is forecast within 24 hours |
| Generator | Through the battery system’s own generator support | Flip the interlock to generator; the house gets power about 25 s after the generator starts |
The company says its circuit control can stretch battery backup by 40% during an outage. That’s a marketing figure. The real gain depends on how many big loads you’re willing to switch off. Two SHP2 notes from EcoFlow’s manual: EPS mode turns off savings mode while it’s on, and grid-to-generator switching happens at the physical interlock, not in the app.
Cost picture (estimates)
Hardware prices come from each company’s site on Oct. 17, 2026. Installation varies widely by region, panel location and permit fees, so the totals below are rough planning ranges, not quotes.
| Line item | SPAN route | EcoFlow SHP2 route |
|---|---|---|
| Panel hardware | From $2,550 | $1,399 |
| Installation | Main-panel swap by a SPAN Authorized Installer (estimate: often several thousand dollars) | Subpanel install; EcoFlow’s page notes a $500 permit-fee charge when ordered with installation |
| Battery | Separate (Tesla, FranklinWH, SolarEdge or Enphase) | EcoFlow: DELTA Pro 3 listed at $1,399; 6.1kWh/7.2kW and 12.2kWh/14.4kW bundles at $5,599 and $11,799 |
| Best value when… | You’re already replacing the panel or adding a whole-home battery | You want backup for 12 key circuits and already own, or plan to buy, EcoFlow |
Which one fits your home?
| Your situation | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You own a DELTA Pro Ultra or DELTA Pro 3 | EcoFlow SHP2 | Built for those batteries; SPAN doesn’t list EcoFlow |
| You’re getting a Tesla or FranklinWH battery quote | SPAN | Directly supported, with every circuit backup-eligible |
| Your old panel needs replacing anyway | SPAN | The panel swap is already in the budget |
| You’re adding an EV charger on a 100–150A service | SPAN | Energy-management feature that SPAN pitches as avoiding a service upgrade |
| You want a generator plus battery on the same circuits | EcoFlow SHP2 | Built-in generator breaker and interlock for 3–12kW units |
| You only need the fridge, furnace, Wi-Fi and lights | EcoFlow SHP2 | 12 circuits cover most essentials at a lower hardware price |
If you’re still deciding between a battery and a generator in the first place, start with our comparison of generator vs battery backup for a home. Our guide to pairing a home backup battery with a generator covers the SHP2’s generator settings in more depth. For simpler options, see transfer switch vs interlock kit.
Questions to ask your installer
- Which circuits will be backed up? With SHP2 the limit is 12, so make a list first.
- For a smart main panel: is a wired network link between the panel and the battery system part of the job?
- For SHP2 with a generator: does your generator have a bonded neutral? EcoFlow’s manual says to remove that bond when connecting.
- Does your utility or inspector accept SPAN’s energy management in place of a service upgrade?
- Are permits and inspection included in the quote?
FAQ
Can a SPAN Panel work with EcoFlow batteries?
EcoFlow does not appear on the published compatibility list. If you own EcoFlow batteries, the SHP2 is the panel designed for them.
Can the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2 replace my main panel?
No. EcoFlow’s manual says the SHP2 can’t be a main panel or service equipment. It installs as a subpanel.
How many circuits does each control?
The SHP2 controls 12 circuits. SPAN panels come in 16-, 24-, 32-, 40- and 48-circuit versions.
How fast does the SHP2 switch to battery?
In 20 ms with EPS mode on, and in about 5 seconds with it off.
Which is cheaper?
The SHP2’s hardware costs less ($1,399 vs SPAN’s starting price of $2,550). SPAN’s installation is usually the bigger job, because it’s a full main-panel swap.
Can I install either one myself?
No. SPAN is sold through authorized installers. EcoFlow says the SHP2 requires professional installation, and connecting a generator should be done by a qualified electrician.
Bottom line
Your battery brand usually decides this. With an EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra or DELTA Pro 3, the Smart Home Panel 2 is the natural hub: 12 backed-up circuits, a 20 ms switchover and a built-in generator path for $1,399 in hardware. With another home battery brand, the SPAN Panel turns every circuit in the house into a backup circuit you can control. It’s the stronger pick when the main panel is due for replacement anyway.
One reply on “SPAN Panel vs EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2: Which Fits Your Home?”
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