In times of rapidly rising electricity prices and growing enthusiasm for photovoltaics and home energy systems, the demand for modular, intelligently controlled solutions is high. In the Zendure SolarFlow 2400 AC test, we took a closer look at an energy storage system that is explicitly aimed at users who already own a PV system or operate a balcony power plant, but have been working without an energy storage system until now. Its claim: simple retrofitting, smart control and sufficient power for everyday operation – combined with off-grid capability for individual consumers.
The look and feel of devices that are visible in utility rooms or basements play a particularly important role. The SolarFlow 2400 AC and the AB3000X modules are kept in dark gray tones, with clear edges and an angular, functional look. The inverter has ribs at the top, some of which serve as cooling surfaces, and has a robust and high-quality finish overall.
The plug-in and connection points are a perfect fit and all protective caps can be removed or fitted securely without excessive force. Even after repeated installation, there was no excessive wear or play in the connection points. The metal wall brackets supplied seem stable enough for permanent installation, provided the surface is stable.
In the tests, heat development was occasionally measured on the housing under high load (up to around 45 °C) – which is not unusual for such storage systems. Nevertheless, you should bear this in mind when choosing a location and ensure good ventilation in the surrounding area. The overall impression of the system is extremely positive. You get solid workmanship and high-quality materials. Visually, of course, the whole thing is always a matter of taste.
The design may look rather technical for the living area, but tech fans certainly won’t mind. Due to its high-quality appearance, I would definitely have no problem installing the storage system in the living room. However, thanks to IP65 certification, it is also possible to connect the SolarFlow 2400 AC to a socket outdoors without any problems.
A big plus point of the SolarFlow 2400 AC is the simple, plug-and-play installation – at least for basic operation. All you have to do is connect the inverter to the additional battery. Zendure sent us the AB3000X additional battery (€ 679.90 *) for the test. The plug-in principle makes the system virtually wireless.
The only cable that is used is the connection cable with which you connect the main unit to the household socket of your choice. This is where the great advantage of the system becomes apparent. It is extremely flexible. There is no need for direct PV module wiring to the storage system. Existing inverters remain in place and the SolarFlow “looks” at surplus alternating current for storage.
It is important to note that only 800 W output power is enabled ex works. To be able to use the maximum power of 2,400 W, the app must be activated. Before you use the maximum, an expert should assess the domestic conditions. Sufficient line protection and suitable fuse protection are prerequisites.
If there are several storage devices, they can be connected in parallel. A maximum total output of up to 7,200 W is possible. The use of a smart meter is necessary for truly intelligent control. We used the Shelly 3EM (€ 64.95 *) in the test. The smart meter measures household electricity consumption in real time and enables the HEMS (Home Energy Management System) to control charging and discharging processes in a targeted manner.
The IP65 protection class also allows outdoor installation in principle, but only if the plug connections are well protected and without permanently exposed connections. Overall, commissioning is surprisingly simple – at least for basic use. For higher outputs and optimum control, however, technical knowledge or support from an electrician is definitely required.
A central element of the system is the Zendure app, which is used for configuration, monitoring and control. In the tests, the app was described as intuitive, visually appealing and relatively stable. After the initial installation, the storage unit connects via Bluetooth and can thus be integrated into the home Wi-Fi network so that cloud access is also possible. The Home Energy Management System (HEMS) function, including the practical AI feature ZENKI, is particularly important.
This feature analyzes weather data, household consumption, battery status and, if applicable, variable electricity tariffs to optimize charging and discharging times and maximize savings potential. Zendure itself claims savings of up to 42% on electricity costs through intelligent planning. The app offers graphical dashboards that provide a good overview. Here you can see parameters such as home consumption, feed-in, battery status and forecasts in real or near real time at a glance.
Integration into smart home systems or cooperation with other Zendure devices also works seamlessly in some cases. However, there are also weaknesses: occasional bugs or translation errors in the German version detract a little from the otherwise positive impression. In addition, fine-tuning and understanding the various parameters (e.g. charging/discharging limits, priorities) require some familiarization time.
Some setting changes are not always applied immediately or sometimes require the page to be reloaded. A major advantage of the Zendure app is the option of operating the system purely locally and without a connection to the cloud. However, this is only advisable if you can do without the practical remote access. Overall, the app offers a powerful control platform that provides real added value when set up carefully, even if it is not completely error-free.
An outstanding feature of the SolarFlow 2400 AC is the integrated off-grid socket on the inverter. This allows individual consumers (e.g. refrigerator or PC) to be supplied directly from the storage system, even if the public grid fails or is switched off. Zendure specifies a continuous output of 2,400 W. However, a temporary peak output of 3,600 W is also possible. Switching from mains operation to off-grid takes place within around 15-20 ms. This is completely sufficient for many household appliances.
Practical use has shown that the off-grid feature is useful in many scenarios, especially for devices with medium energy requirements. A special feature: the off-grid output can also be used as an input. For example, you can connect a micro inverter here and feed in solar power directly. This opens up interesting hybrid scenarios, especially for balcony power plants. All in all, this socket is a big plus.
For the practical test, I used a setup with a Zendure AB3000X together with a Shelly 3EM Smart Meter for precise consumption monitoring. When the sun was shining, excess electricity from my PV system was fed into the battery, then taken out at night or when the feed-in was low to minimize grid consumption. Thanks to the smart meter and the app control, the storage system reacted very sensitively to power changes. Even load jumps of 50 W were taken into account within a few seconds.
However, it took a few hours for the SolarFlow 2400 AC to work smoothly with my Shelly. I’m still not sure why this was the case. The whole thing can work a little more smoothly if you use the in-house smart meter Zendure D0 (€ 44.90 *). Alternatively, the system should also work with the EverHome EcoTracker (Review | € 73.48 *). In the meantime, however, the Shelly reliably shares its data with the storage system.
During operation, the outside of the cylinder occasionally became quite warm. This was by no means alarming in the tests, but it was an indication that there should be sufficient heat dissipation at the planned location. In the event of a simulated power failure, the system reliably switched to the off-grid output. My connected PC continued to run reliably during the test. However, it is important to pay attention to the maximum load of 2,400 W.
The Zendure SolarFlow 2400 AC impresses in the test as a flexible and powerful storage solution for easy retrofitting of existing PV systems and balcony power plants. Installation is quick and uncomplicated thanks to the plug-and-play principle, and the workmanship and material quality are of a high standard. The integrated off-grid socket, which provides a reliable power supply in an emergency or for selected consumers, is a particularly positive feature.
With the HEMS and the AI feature ZENKI, the Zendure app offers many smart functions for optimizing self-consumption, but requires some training and occasionally shows minor weaknesses in implementation. In practice, the system works reliably, reacts quickly to load changes and effectively helps to reduce grid power consumption. Overall, the SolarFlow 2400 AC is a recommendable solution for users who want to make better use of their solar power and are prepared to get to grips with the technical aspects of the system.
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CONTRA
The Zendure SolarFlow 2400 AC impresses as a flexible retrofittable PV storage system with simple installation, high performance and practical off-grid function. The smart app offers convenience and potential savings, but requires some training.
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