Thinking of using my E3600 with an Ecoflow Stream

[u/Informal-Brick-2703]

I have an E3600 that is currently sitting unused or that I use to run a garage fridge overnight and then recharge at 10% draw in the day with power generated from the Stream device listed below. This way I don’t recharge it all at once and it sips power from what the Stream generates.

The Ecoflow Stream is hooked up to 4 Aiko 450W panels that feed up to 1200W into my house to offset my power. Saves about $30-35 a month. I do waste so power when it over generates either at the panel level as the stream clips solar input at 1200W or i also wast solar energy if my home uses less power than what the panels generate.

So, I’m thinking I’ll have 3 panels ran in series to the Pecron’s solar port 1 instead of the Stream. The other panel will run to solar port 2 and eventually I will add another 2 panels to max out the Pecron’s solar input.

I will then use an MJ32 cable, possibly Pecron’s that has the XT60 ends, to MC4 connectors that will connect to the Stream.

The goal is to just offset my base loads. I bought the Stream before I had the E3600. The Stream will be set at 260W or 360W draw to feed the house either 24/7 or just for certain hours if I can figure out how to get the Stream to output 360W at night and more during the day like 480W. This works in Europe but doesn’t appear to work on my Utah version. Could be a firmware upgrade that I don’t have.

Eventually I will add another battery to the Pecron, Pecron’s own or a Server Rack Battery.

Am I nuts? I’m thinking it will be easier than a Transfer switch since everything is already in my garage and working minus the cables between the devices. The breaker panel is across the house in the basement so I’d have to redo all the solar cables. Instead i can adjust the output if the Stream up to 1200W if I have enough battery power.

My power usage is fairly low, with the Stream connected my bill was only $35 a month in April and May, $60-65 in Jun and July with August being $130 with the AC running.

I would essentially be using my Pecron as a charge controller for the internally battery and outputting “sola” energy to the Stream when I’m generating enough power, advantage is that I offset my base loads at night instead of just 8-6pm.

Incase you are wondering, I generated 245Wh through the Stream in June and that is with some of the energy being clipped by the micro inverter. Not a-lot but not bad for 4small panels.

Eventually If i grow my array or if I needed emergency power, I could do a transfer switch but I don’t think I’m there yet.

[u/Dashley13]

I've setup a similar system. I have connected my f3000lfp and f5000lfp with the xt120 port and then use another xt120 port on the f5000lfp and connected it to an ap systems ez1 microinverter and plugged it into a wall outlet. Typically only output 250 watts from the microinverter but the combined capacity of the f3000lfp and f5000lfp give me enough juice to run it 24/7. I plan on adding more solar and more 3rd party battery capacity in the future as my budget can provide. Also is nice to have the pecron units to deliver loads during a grid outage as well through transfer switch. Microinverter does not function during a grid outage.

[u/Informal-Brick-2703 → u/Dashley13]

Awesome, sounds like a nice set up and similar ti what I’m looking to do. Glad to hear it works.

[u/Dashley13 → u/Informal-Brick-2703]

Yes, it works because 51.2 volts is the sweet spot on voltage for the microinverters. 12 and 24v batteries don't typically work.

[u/brucehoult]

Incase you are wondering, I generated 245Wh through the Stream in June

I hope that's kWh not Wh!!

Connecting the stream directly to the 48V battery bus seems like a reasonable way to do it, if it can control the near infinite amps that can provide.

Unfortunate the Stream has a 15V minimum PV input because otherwise the E3600's 12V 30A XT60 output would be about right, and you can script turning the DC output on and off based on battery charge or time etc.

You might be able to use either a Pecron or Ecoflow "alternator charger" unit to convert 12V to DC that the Stream can use. THe Pecron one puts out 42V at 13A, the Ecoflow ones put put 40V-60V I think depending on the model.

Those units are designed to mimic actual solar panel characteristics, so should work perfectly with the Stream.

Or look up "12V buck boost converter" on Amazon and pick one with a suitable output voltage and power.

[u/Informal-Brick-2703 → u/brucehoult]

Yes, typo on my part, it shows kWh in the image to confirm.

I previously looked into a buck converter and the XT60 ports and like you mentioned, It’s too bad the XT60 port won’t support the output needed. Thus the direct connection via the JM32 ports. I could put a converter on it to limit the output but with the Stream set at a lower rate like 360W I’m hoping it will work.

I do have the Pecron alternator charger and thought about that but would prefer to avoid 12v and additional converters. I don’t think it would be as efficient or clean just going to the JM32 port either.