Ecoflow PowerStream: Micro Inverter for balconies

Introduction

What would you say if I told you that a product I’ve been looking forward to from Ecoflow is now available? In this beautiful month of May 2023, the PowerStream joins the range of products offered by the Chinese company. This product is designed to help you save energy in the home in just a few minutes, provided you have a garden, a terrace or even a balcony. What’s more, you can upgrade your system as you go along, thanks to the energy savings you’ll make every day. I’m really excited about this innovation, and I think it will appeal to a lot of people because of its flexibility, especially if you already own products from Ecoflow’s Delta range.

So, without further ado, let’s get down to business!

Allow me to give you a brief (re)introduction to EcoFlow

EcoFlow is an innovative brand specializing in responsible energy solutions for modern homes. It offers a wide range of versatile energy stations, smart generators and solar panels, designed to work in real-life situations. These products are compatible with several energy sources, and come in sizes suitable for travel.

The brand came into being thanks to a Kickstarter campaign in 2017, which raised over $12 million, well beyond the initial goal of $100,000. The founders created EcoFlow to give renewable energy “a place to live”, helping to power your essential appliances and appliances whatever the weather.

EcoFlow stands out for its wide choice of energy stations, such as those we have already presented on this site, in our article on theDaily use of Vanlifeur with Ecoflow Delta Miniwhich we then replaced with our current battery: the Ecoflow Delta 2but above all their formidable Power Kit, the big brother of the model presented in this article.

EcoFlow is a market leader in eco-friendly energy solutions, with a vision focused on powering a new world. Since its launch in 2017, EcoFlow’s central aim has always been to transform the way individuals and families use energy, by providing sustainable, affordable and trusted solutions.

What is PowerStream?

For brand connoisseurs, I’d like to say that this is the little brother of the brand’s incredible Ecoflow Power Kit, a product that allowed you to equip your home or motorhome extremely simply with solar power. The small problem was that, despite its simplicity, there were still some minor modifications to be made, it was of little interest for an apartment with partial sunlight and, above all, the product was not accessible to all budgets.

The EcoFlow PowerStream Solar Kit is the first solar kit dedicated to balconies, equipped with a portable power station. This device gives you the opportunity to take advantage of solar energy at any timeday and night (if you have an ecoflow energy station at your disposal, but you’ll see in the case studies below that you can do without one in the first instance)and minimize your electricity costs.

Thanks to the Smart Plug and EcoFlow app, you can control and improve your energy use in real time. The system is adaptable to all EcoFlow portable power stations, and can be upgraded to provide a backup power source in the event of a power failure. It’s a revolutionary solution that saves you money by powering your home in an environmentally-friendly way, reducing your reliance on the power grid and bringing you closer to energy self-sufficiency.

What the PowerStream Ecoflow Kit consists of

The microinverter

This is the equipment that connects your solar panels and Ecoflow battery to your home network. In fact, your electrical outlets, although usually used to deliver power, are also capable of receiving it, thanks to devices such as the Ecoflow microinverter. So, when your solar system or battery is producing energy, the microinverter, with a supply capacity of up to 800W, will be able to power a large proportion of your moderate-consumption equipment – but avoid plugging in power-hungry appliances such as hairdryers or toasters.

SmartPlugs

Smart plugs allow you to monitor the energy consumption of your appliances in real time. The micro-inverter is thus able to precisely distribute the energy required by each appliance, and direct the surplus to a portable power station. During periods of high consumption, we give priority to home supply. Most energy is stored during periods of low consumption.

The application

The included mobile app lets you evaluate your home’s energy consumption, and visualize the energy and financial savings you make by using the product. In these times of responsible consumption, this type of small application is a real asset for better understanding the energy requirements of each appliance, and helps us to become more aware of our use of electricity.

Case studies

Here’s why I think this product is great, because depending on your budget, depending on your needs, you’ll be able to modulate your installation as you wish.

You don’t yet have any Ecoflow products and you’re on a tight budget

The kit has the ability to operate without a storage battery, initially allowing you to purchase it without one and use the solar energy accumulated during the day to power your home (essentially the refrigerator, or even the water heater if it’s not too energy-hungry). If you work from home, this is particularly beneficial, as all your daytime activity will be powered by the solar panels, generating substantial savings. If you’re away during the day, however, these savings will be more limited.

Nevertheless, the savings achieved in these two scenarios will help you to free up a budget for the next phase: storage. When you buy a battery, you’ll be able to store energy during the day for use at night.

You don’t yet have Ecoflow products, but you have a larger budget

Once you’ve purchased the kit, you’ll have the freedom to select the storage capacity you need according to your budget, and to increase it over time. Smartplug sockets and the microinverter will interact in an ingenious way to optimize energy needs. The battery will be recharged when the energy balance is favorable, and grid power will only be called on to support the system when absolutely necessary.

You already have an Ecoflow battery with a panel.

If you’re lucky enough to already have a Delta range product in your possession, because you use it on the move, if you don’t have a solar installation at home, I can only tell you to go for this product. your storage battery will have a use at home as well as outside. at a very low cost.

Summary of Ecoflow PowerStream technical specifications