Hey everyone! I'm a total solar newbie and I recently started looking into getting solar panels for my balcony in Utah, where it's all legal and encouraged. Ecoflow has a kit with the Ecoflow Stream and 4 panels, each rated at 400W. From what I've gathered, the specs state that the max input is 1200W, with three MPPTs capable of handling up to 450W each, and there are four PV terminals available.
I'm a little confused—if I connect two panels to one MPPT out of the three, wouldn't that exceed the wattage limit for that MPPT? Yet Ecoflow seems to be promoting this setup. Am I missing something here? Also, a friend of mine has three 520W panels that he just plugged in, and it seems to be working fine for him. As long as the voltage and short circuit current are okay for each panel, is that setup safe?
I'd prefer using third-party panels because Ecoflow's ones feel a bit pricey, and I'd really like to optimize my setup to hit that 1200W threshold as soon as possible. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
I totally get the confusion—there’s a lot to unpack with solar setups! According to what I know, it looks like Ecoflow’s design lets you use multiple panels without too much worry, but it’s best not to exceed those MPPT limits. If your friend’s getting good results with his 3x520W panels, it sounds like he's onto a good setup as long as he checks voltages.
Also, as others mentioned, it’s pretty common for panel ratings to be a bit inflated; in reality, you might not always hit that peak wattage. Going with 3rd party panels is a smart move! Just ensure they have appropriate specs for the Ecoflow system to avoid issues.
I think I can help clear this up! The max input of 1200W means that's the top limit it can handle at once. If you're using the Ecoflow kit, it seems designed to allow each panel to operate on its own MPPT. So, using two panels on one MPPT might not be ideal since you're right that it could exceed what that MPPT can manage, but it’s likely safe if Ecoflow is selling that kit.
For that 3rd party setup, as long as the voltage and current ratings are compatible, you should be fine using those. Just remember that 400W panels are peak ratings (400W peak), and you may not always hit that in real-world conditions—often it's about 85% efficiency.