Overview
- CHIP’s hands-on of Ikea’s Svea Solar–supplied EcoFlow Stream set found assembly and commissioning manageable in under two hours, though cable lengths proved insufficient without a €60 add-on and the flat-roof mounts left modules unstressed at the center.
- Testers advise plugging the system into a properly protected circuit with an RCD and appropriate breaker sizing, noting that shared circuits may require lower amperage to maintain safety.
- Home&Smart outlines expansion paths under Germany’s simplified rules, highlighting roughly 800 watts feed-in per circuit, practical caps near 2,000 Wp, multi‑phase setups for additional kits, and the need for an electrician when limits are exceeded.
- Guides now favor batteries to raise self-consumption, citing integrated-inverter options such as Anker Solix 3 with about 2.69 kWh base capacity, multiple MPPTs for higher PV input, app-based controls, and bundled smart meters to manage flows.
- Seasonal advice stresses clearing snow, gentle cleaning and steeper winter tilt—using snow’s reflectivity can lift output by up to about 10 percent—while a veteran owner’s 2007 installation still yields roughly 850 to 1,000 kWh annually; for travel, experts say short trips justify leaving systems on but long absences or severe storms warrant shutdown.