It has been a really long time, since I posted last over here. I am very very sorry, however, radio and stuff had a very low priority lately. I have not even been on QO100 for the last years.
However, here I am, having something to share.
Everyone around me, and here I am writing about my neighbours, were installing massive PV installations of their roofs. Following local politics and news, this did not make a lot of sense to me. It was something like pre-paid electricity. You pay upfront and might use said energy when you are not at home, or when you do not need light... or something. Yes, storage was out there, but when I looked that up, this was prohibitively expensive.
Over the last few years some low power Plug&Play solutions came along. Here in NL, the maximum for those is 600W. Not very appealing. OK, the internet stuff and some PC related electricity could be fed by that.
I am not paid for disclosing the following: I was made aware of the latest EcoFlow products, the STREAM series. Looking at those devices, they seem to for a perfect basis for an island solution. So, I bought myself a starter kit including an EcoFlow Stream Ultra and two 520 Wp panels for €1300. The stuff came in yesterday and today.
Having storage does make so much more sense! The Stream Ultra storage employs for PV input terminals with a total input power of 2kWp. My setup only has 1.04kWp and charged the 1.92kWh accumulator in about half a day under non-perfect Dutch weather condition. My panels, at present, are not in a perfect position, they will be in shadow for about half of a day in summer. There was direct sun hitting them. The peak was about 800W DC, if I remember correctly. Anyway, at the end of the day, the storage was filled.
The interesting bit about the EcoFlow Stream series is that, it can provide AC power up to 1.1kW from a single storage unit, without being connected to the grid. My mind went immediately: radio station! With 1kW in and 1kW out, this would be all I need (not running kW powers). Interestingly, one can hook up 2 storage units to provide 2.3kW. Maybe in the future.
Presently, I have connected the storage unit to my house, feeding in 40W of baseline power for internet, the laption and some LED bulbs. The system needs (costly) improvements, such as a smart-meter and maybe an additional storage unit.
For now, not running an island though, I will try that in the future.
73!
