r/BalconySolarUS

California based here.

So,

I'm considering how to proceed with plug-in solar. I see that EcoFlow is certifying their STREAM microinverter and ULTRA battery to comply with UL3700. It seems like a great option once it's certified, being that you can set up the inverter with extra solar capacity so you can meet the 1200w cap asap and then have some clipping, and have another couple panels on the battery and have it be charged by peak time. All of that sounds good. My problem is that the ULTRA battery is only 1.9KWh, with a DC to AC conversion rate of about 65% - meaning youll only get around 1.3KWh out of it. To expand the capacity, you have to buy more fully fledged STREAM ULTRA batteries ie there are no cheaper expansion modules. I would need an effective 5-6KWh to cover my consumption during peak times. Looks like an ULTRA X battery with about twice the capacity is available in EU, but not US. That still would only give me half the capacity I need to cover peak times, which is when the financial benefit of the system would really kick in.

Has anyone found a larger UL3700 compliant battery?

Thanks!

So MD now allows this, so I was going to install a EZ1 with two 450-550w solar panels. Everything is easy except getting the solar panels. Anyone find a good way to buy 2 solar panels? Seems like I have to deal with high shipping/freight. Not finding anywhere local where I can get them. Installers don't want to deal with me... Any good ideas welcome. Thanks.

Yahoo

The new EZ1 I received the other day has a feature I really do not like! I needed to disconnect the solar cabling and could not unlatch the positive DC mc4 from the Inverter. They added what I might refer to as a Guard to just those 2 positive MC4 connections on the new inverter. Those "Guards" prevent me from using a standard Klein 68426S solar "wrench" from disconnecting that cable. WTF? I had to go find two small flat head screw drivers to unlatch the clips holding it in. Before reconnecting I had to go find a set of 1 foot extensions which I will leave on until I find a tool that will allow me to undo those like every other MC4 connection I have. My first EZ1 does NOT have that feature.. I had not noticed this feature while installing it, just when I needed to move my panels to a rack, and couldn't disconnect the positive cable.

JFYI.