Small PV systems, the balcony power plants, are similarly equipped and deliver electricity without much bureaucracy, which reduces self-consumption. Apart from the holder, it doesn’t matter whether the panels are in the garden, on the roof or hanging on the balcony. Equipped with sufficiently powerful PV modules, the inverters reduce their own power consumption by up to 800 watts. Despite the performance limit, such mini power plants reduce electricity bills by several hundred euros annually.
However, the inverters of balcony power plants only deliver full power when the conditions are ideal. In bad weather and in the winter months, the performance of the panels drops rapidly and so more power is needed. This could be done with more than just two solar panels. However, such an XL system, such as the 1640 Wp solar power plant Priwatt Priflat Quattro (test report), is only worthwhile in combination with an electricity storage system, otherwise electricity is wasted when conditions are good. If you only want to work with two panels, you need as much solar power as possible.
Two-sided, bifacial solar panels (guide) such as the 430-watt solar panels from the Pribasic Duo balcony power plant, which are from 459 Euro available from Priwatt. With the code TECHSTAGE30 the price for a limited number of pieces drops further 30 Euro.
The individual test shows how the small PV system from specialist retailers performs in practice. We show the best mini PV systems we have tested so far in our Top 10 balcony power plants. If you want to take full advantage of the legal framework, we recommend our top 4: The best storage for balcony power plants.
Conclusion to the test
If you want to get the most out of your panels even in moderate weather conditions, Pribasic Duo is a stylish, powerful and reliable mini power station for your home. Even those who plan to work with more panels and additional memory will get a strong set here, which can optionally be upgraded directly from Priwatt with the storage solution from Zendure (test report). We really like the decision that the set now includes an inverter with WiFi. Experience has shown that the annoying detour via a dongle is no longer necessary when checking the status via smartphone. At 459 euros, the 860-watt set from Priwatt is not inexpensive, but it is an above-average powerful balcony power plant.
The Hoymiles HMS-800W microinverter, which we already know, was also sent with the tested variant. The HMS-800W-2T inverter is already included in the version now available in the shop. This can be integrated directly into the WLAN without any complicated detours. This makes it much easier to use, but means that we cannot show current images from the app.
In order for the two-sided panels to reach their full potential, they must be some distance from the floor or wall. If you don’t use a stand and screw the modules directly to the wall, you will also get an above-average powerful module, but ultimately you can also choose a cheaper model. We used our own brackets in the test. If you want, you can also get the Basic Duo with appropriate brackets.
scope of delivery
The Pribasic Duo arrives neatly packaged by a shipping company. The scope of delivery consists of two huge boxes with the two solar panels and a box for the inverter and accessories.
The two solar panels have a black aluminum frame and dark collectors, which looks chic and modern. The spaces between the individual solar modules are transparent so that the light can shine through and be reflected from the floor or wall. The back of the PV modules absorbs this scattered light and provides additional power. However, the Pribasic version does not come with a holder. The Priwatt sets for gardens, facades or flat roofs come into question here.
The panels are connected via a pair of MC4 connectors, which are mounted on the back. However, the connectors don’t look quite as usual and so we have to improvise a bit to loosen the connectors – our standard tool doesn’t fit. Loosening it with two screwdrivers works, but it’s a shame that standard plugs and sockets weren’t used here.
The accessories box contains instructions for the entire system and the individual components, two MC4 extension cables (1 meter), the optional connection cable for the inverter and the inverter. If you don’t have a Wieland socket, you should choose the cable with a Schuko plug.
Our set also includes the HMS-800W from Hoymiles. Priwatt has now replaced this with the much more user-friendly Hoymiles HMS-800W-2T model. A complicated setup using a radio dongle is therefore not necessary. Experience has shown that integration into your home WLAN works without any problems, unlike the detour via the dongle.
Construction
First we have to drag the solar modules, which measure around 172 × 113 × 3 cm and weigh 25.5 kg, into the garden. Unlike the light BKW from Lanpwr (test report), a lot of power is required here. In addition to the weight, the dimensions are primarily problematic, at least if you work alone. For installation on the roof or on the facade, you should work with at least two or, better, three people. For us, the solar panels come into the garden and so we first screw a support from our private fund onto the panels.
Now we turn our attention to the inverter and first connect one panel directly and one via an MC4 extension cable. After connecting the solar modules, the status LED starts flashing and we connect the inverter to our home network.
Installation
In order to be able to address the system’s inverter, power is required from the panels – setting it up in the dark generally does not work. For commissioning, the Schuko plug is plugged into the nearest external socket in daylight – but not into a multiple socket.
Once the inverter is connected, the green flashing LED shows us that everything is working correctly. The DTU radio dongle from Hoymiles, which is familiar from other sets, was used in our model for settings and monitoring. We were also annoyed about this detour with other balcony power plants. All the better that Priwatt has been delivering the set with the Hoymiles HMS-800W-2T since the end of last week. The functionality and performance have generally not changed, but the new model has integrated WLAN and so setup and remote access are usually completely unproblematic.
In addition to current performance data and also the inverter temperature, statistics about solar yield and feed-in can be accessed here. If you don’t want this, you should alternatively use a WLAN adapter with current measurement (guide).
Despite the weak sun at the beginning of February, the panels still achieved 80 percent of the nominal output when aligned very roughly. A good value! To determine a difference to normal panels, we measure the performance of the solar modules in comparison to classic, single-sided 400 watt modules. There is a difference in direct sunshine, but it is small given the nominal power. The behavior is more interesting when clouds pass through and the lighting conditions are poor. Then the performance drops massively with the 430 Wp panel, but compared to the one-sided panel we still get almost twice the performance from the module.
With good placement, around 3.5 kWh per sunny day is realistically possible in summer. Assuming a high electricity price of 40 cents per kWh, this corresponds to a saving of around 96 cents per day from March to October. Although the yield is lower in the months with little sun, 2 kWh per day should be a realistic annual average value if placed sensibly. At an electricity price of 40 cents per kWh, this would amount to 292 euros per year and the balcony power plant would be paid off in less than two years.
Preis
The tested set with 800 Wp, 800 watt inverter and accessories currently costs 459 Euro. With the coupon code TECHSTAGE30 the price drops again around 30 euros for a limited quantity.
Alternatives
If you want to know how the other mini PV systems tested perform in practice, you should take a look at our top 10: The best balcony power plants. We have summarized the best electricity storage devices for balcony power plants in our own list of the best.
Cheaper electricity and gas tariffs
If you want to save additional money, you should currently compare electricity prices. The electricity price brake will be lifted in December 2023. As expected, electricity prices will then rise again. We are currently changing our electricity tariffs. Here you can currently secure offers for 2024 with a working price starting at 24 cents per kWh.
The same applies to gas tariffs. These are currently available from 9 cents per kWh instead of 20 cents in January 2023. We also offer a corresponding comparison offer for this in the heise tariff comparison.