Using EcoFlow River 3 Plus as a UPS: How to Configure Synology NAS

EcoFlow River 3 Plus is a portable power station. In addition to its standard outdoor power features, it can also function as a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). Compared to traditional lead-acid UPS systems, EcoFlow offers several advantages:

• Larger capacity (e.g., 286Wh)
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• Remote management capabilities (via app or web interface)

However, when connecting it to a Synology NAS as a UPS, many users find that the NAS fails to recognize the device—even after installing the official EcoFlow Power Manager for NAS package. This article analyzes the root causes of the issue and provides a practical solution.

Problem Analysis

During debugging, I found the compatibility issues mainly stem from the following factors:

1. USB Not Recognized: The version of NUT (Network UPS Tools) bundled with Synology DSM is outdated and may not recognize the EcoFlow device as a USB UPS.

2. Port Mismatch: EcoFlow Power Manager provides UPS services on port 3496, whereas Synology expects the UPS server on port 3493.

3. Device Name Mismatch: Synology assumes the remote UPS device is named ups, while EcoFlow uses nutdev1 by default.

Quick Solution Overview

To address the above compatibility issues, we can manually modify several configuration files within the EcoFlow Power Manager for NAS package to make it compatible with Synology’s UPS service.

Key changes include:

• Change the EcoFlow service port from 3496 to 3493
• Rename the UPS device from nutdev1 to ups
• Restart the Power Manager service to apply the changes

Step-by-Step Instructions (based on DSM 7.x)

⚠️ Please back up relevant files before proceeding. Familiarity with SSH is recommended. The paths below are based on default installation locations.

1. Install the Power Manager Package

Download and install from the EcoFlow official site:
https://www.ecoflow.com/us/support/download/index

2. Modify run.sh

Path:
/volume1/@appstore/PowerManagerNUT/usr/local/bin/nas/run.sh

Change this line:

output=$(sudo $BASE_DIR/bin/upsc nutdev1@127.0.0.1:3496 2>&1)

To:

output=$(sudo $BASE_DIR/bin/upsc ups@127.0.0.1:3493 2>&1)

3. Modify upsd.conf

Path:
/volume1/@appstore/PowerManagerNUT/usr/local/bin/nas/x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-nut-server/etc/upsd.conf

Change this line:

LISTEN 0.0.0.0 3496

To:

LISTEN 0.0.0.0 3493

4. Modify eco_shutdown.sh

Path:
/volume1/@appstore/PowerManagerNUT/usr/local/bin/nas/x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-nut-server/script/eco_shutdown.sh

Change this line:

status=$(/var/packages/PowerManagerNUT/target/usr/local/bin/nas/x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-nut-server/bin/upsc nutdev1@localhost:3496 ups.status 2>/dev/null)

To:

status=$(/var/packages/PowerManagerNUT/target/usr/local/bin/nas/x86_64-pc-linux-gnu-nut-server/bin/upsc ups@localhost:3493 ups.status 2>/dev/null)

5. Restart the Power Manager Service

You can restart the Power Manager NUT service via Synology’s Package Center.

Configuring the UPS Client in Synology DSM

1. Go to DSM Control Panel → Hardware & Power → UPS
2. Choose the Synology UPS Server mode
3. Enter the IP address of the current NAS as the UPS server address
4. Apply the settings; the NAS should now be able to detect UPS status from EcoFlow

To verify, run the following in terminal:

upsc ups@localhost:3493

Notes & Further Recommendations

• These changes may be overwritten when EcoFlow Power Manager or DSM is updated.
• If you have multiple NAS units and want to share the EcoFlow UPS with others, configure the other NAS to use Synology UPS Server and provide this NAS’s IP address.
• Long-term, monitor updates from DSM and EcoFlow regarding official NUT compatibility for native support.

References

• Related GitHub Issue on Network UPS Tools
• Reddit community discussions:
  • Thread 1
  • Thread 2
  • Thread 3
• EcoFlow Download Center

If you encounter any issues during setup, feel free to leave a comment below. You’re also welcome to share your experience using other portable power stations as a UPS.