Goodbye EcoFlow Stream Ultra — The Stream 5000 Has Arrived
For the last year, my EcoFlow Stream Ultra and Stream AC Pro have been quietly sitting in the background, connected to my fence-mounted solar panels, storing energy and saving me money.
But their time in my setup has come to an end.
They've been replaced.
And the replacement is the new EcoFlow Stream 5000.
I've now installed the Stream 5000 as part of my home energy system, connected it to panels on my recently completed solar pergola, and started what will become another of my 12-month real-world tests.
You can watch the full installation and first look here:
Two Boxes Out, One Box In
One of the most obvious changes is simply how much EcoFlow has managed to squeeze into the new system.
My previous Stream Ultra and AC Pro combination provided around 4kWh of battery capacity between the two units.
The Stream 5000 gives me 5kWh in a single, surprisingly compact unit.
But capacity isn't the only interesting bit.
The Stream 5000 has four independent MPPTs, allowing different sets of solar panels to operate independently. That's particularly useful in installations where panels face different directions or experience different levels of shading throughout the day.
That's exactly the sort of flexibility I want from a system connected to my solar pergola.
There's a Bigger Change Inside
Perhaps the more interesting difference is how EcoFlow has approached expansion.
With the older Stream system, separate units could be connected using a parallel cable. Moving energy around the system could involve converting between DC and AC, and every conversion introduces losses.
The new architecture allows additional batteries to sit underneath a Stream 5000 head unit, keeping energy on the DC side for longer.
In theory, that's a more efficient way of doing things.
But there's an important phrase there: in theory.
Rather than simply repeating specifications, I want to measure what actually happens once the system has spent months operating in a real home.
Installing the Stream 5000
In the video I take you through the complete process, from getting the nearly 50kg Stream 5000 out of its box through to connecting the solar panels and commissioning it using the EcoFlow app.
Mine isn't simply plugged into a normal household socket. I've had a fused spur professionally installed, which also gives the system additional possibilities when it comes to charging and output power.
I show how EcoFlow initially limits grid-tied output to 800W and the process within the app for requesting a higher limit where the installation and relevant requirements allow it.
I also configure my own operating schedule so the Stream 5000 charges from solar during the day and then releases that stored energy later when I actually want it.
The Real Test Starts Now
First-look videos are useful, but they don't tell you what owning something is actually like.
So the Stream 5000 is joining my other systems on long-term test.
I'll be collecting its performance data throughout the year so we can see what happens in summer, winter and everything in between.
Does the new architecture actually improve efficiency?
How much useful solar energy does it capture?
And, ultimately, does it save enough money to justify having it?
Those are much more interesting questions than simply reading the specification sheet.
Finally, if you enjoy the channel and want to support the work I do, I've put all the options in one place:
You'll also find a link there to my Amazon Storefront. If you're buying an Ecoflow 5000 or something else, please consider starting there. Using one of my shopping links can help support the channel at no additional cost to you — and helps fund more of these slightly obsessive long-term tests!
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