Stiftung Warentest
Which balcony power plants are good – and which scrap
Balcon power plants are booming for solar power generation. The Stiftung Warentest has tested eight models, but only recommends two. The other questionable wind problems revealed.
You can see them more and more balconies, but also on garage roofs, carports or in the garden: there are now almost 900,000 balcony power plants in Germany. Last year alone, the number of these mini solar systems more than doubled. If the sun is shining and the orientation is right, the systems can be created at least part of your own electricity needs.
It tested eight balcony power plants with 800 watts of power. It can only recommend two models with the overall grade “good”. However, five fall through “poor”. That is test winner which is available at an average price of around 515 euros. For the price-performance winner, the goods testers choose the Zeus Smart System from Heckert Solar, which costs 329 euros on average.
In terms of electricity generation, there were no serious differences between the balcony power plants in the test. The two test winners even delivered a bit below average: at Greens solar, the lack of the possibility to bend the yield. In the cheap Heckert solar model, the efficiency was a little weaker than the competition. However, the optimal alignment of the solar panels is decisive for the electricity yield, they should point to the south as shadow -free as possible.
Balcony power plants differently stable
The bad grades forgave Warentest because of the sometimes poor stability. The supplied brackets in the five failed balcony power plants are “scrap”, the test report says. “Tost strong wind, you can bend or even break.” In the stress test that was supposed to simulate a storm, the brackets bent, a pierced even the solar module. The two test winners, on the other hand, remained stable.
Warent test rated the handling: all test candidates could be installed in just a few simple steps. However, this has not yet been done: If you buy a balcony power plant, you have to register this with the Federal Network Agency’s market master data register. If necessary, the network operator must also replace the electricity meter.
Before the purchase, you should find out whether there is funding at the place of residence. Tenants also have to ask their landlord for permission and owner the community of owners.
You can find the complete test for a fee .
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Source: Stern
