Zendure SolarFlow 800 Pro review: all-in-one home battery with smart features

Zendure SolarFlow 800 Pro review

The disappearance of the net-metering scheme in 2027 is causing more and more households with solar panels to think about home batteries. After all, storing solar power for later in the day then becomes a lot more interesting. There are plenty of different manufacturers conveniently responding to this situation, including Zendure. Zendure has launched the SolarFlow 800 Pro with some handy additions.

From the box to the socket

The Zendure SolarFlow 800 Pro comes in a sturdy cardboard box. In the box we find the main unit with built-in AB2000X battery of 2 kWh, mounting brackets for wall mounting and the necessary cables. In addition, Zendure provided us with a P1 Meter for use with the HEMS system and four solar panels of 450 watts each. You can purchase this package ready-made from Zendure's website.

Tech specs

The SolarFlow 800 Pro has a built-in inverter with four MPPT inputs that can handle up to 660 watts of solar panels each. So in total, you can connect up to 2640 watts of panels. The maximum charging capacity via the socket is 1000 watts, while discharging is done at a maximum of 800 watts. Battery capacity is expandable to 11.52 kWh by adding additional AB2000X batteries. Zendure, like many other manufacturers, opts for LFP technology, which stands for lithium iron phosphate. This battery technology is generally known to be safer than NMC.

Where do you place the battery?

The SolarFlow 800 Pro is designed for both indoor and outdoor use thanks to its IP65 waterproofing. However, it is important to keep adequate ventilation around the device. The handles on the top have been improved from previous models, making unpacking and moving a lot easier.

As with other home batteries, don't place the system in your escape route. A stairwell cupboard may therefore not be a smart choice if this is your only way out. Moreover, if you want to make use of the solar panels, choose a place where you can connect these panels without too long cables!

In use

Connecting the SolarFlow 800 Pro is very easy. After connecting it to the wall socket and your solar panels, you go through the installation wizard in the Zendure App. Connecting to your wifi network is easy and within a few minutes the system is operational.

The front display shows information such as battery status, grid status and Wi-Fi connection through icons. Via the app, you can also turn off this display if you like.

When you have connected solar panels, the Zendure app also shows you how much power and when you generated it. The inverter already starts generating power from 14 volts, so it takes a little less light to start charging the battery already. Due to the winter weather, we have not yet been able to place the panels in their final position, but we have already seen that with a little bit of sunshine, the panels do their job.

HEMS: smart energy management

Where the SolarFlow 800 Pro stands out is the Home Energy Management System, or HEMS. This AI-driven system continuously analyses weather conditions, battery status and energy prices to automatically optimise your consumption. Zendure calls this mode ZENKI. The system learns your energy behaviour and matches charging and discharging times accordingly. Learning your energy needs takes several days. You also have a universal mode with which the battery focuses more on zero-to-the-meter, charging with surplus from existing panels.

Do you have a dynamic energy contract? That's great because the system then automatically charges the battery when power prices are low and uses that stored energy again when prices rise. Zendure itself claims this saves up to 42 per cent on your energy costs, though of course this depends on your specific situation and tariffs. In our case, especially in winter, it's penny-wise, as the electric heat pump drains the battery in no time.

Another handy feature is the bypass mode. When the batteries are full, the system automatically switches over so that the solar power goes directly to your home. You do have to turn this on in the settings under the heading "power distribution strategy". Zendure's system can also be linked to Home Assistant for those who like to turn the knobs themselves. Just be aware that the options within the Zendure app become a bit more limited.

With the Zendure P1 meter, which you simply connect to the smart meter in your meter box, you get real-time insight into consumption and the energy system can therefore also smartly steer towards, for example, zero-to-the-meter. Even without the P1 meter, the battery is simply usable. You can set it based on a base load that allows you to have the battery supply a fixed amount of power back over a period of time.

Emergency power supply

A plus over some competitors is the built-in off-grid function. Via the integrated socket, you can power up to 1,000 watts of appliances in case of power failure. You activate this function via the app and the socket is sealed watertight with a protective cover. Handy for example during a power cut or even an emergency situation with which you are still, to some extent, provided with power.

Payback

The payback time of a home battery depends on many factors: your energy consumption, the number of solar panels, energy prices and, of course, how much sun is shining. The SolarFlow 800 Pro without additional battery starts from €719, with one AB2000X battery and four 450W solar panels you arrive at an investment of €1928.

With the HEMS functionality and support for dynamic tariffs, you can theoretically save extra, but don't count yourself rich too quickly. The winter months remain challenging with less sun and more consumption. We have already seen that while testing the Homewizard Plug-in Battery.

Review

Zendure delivers a complete and user-friendly home battery system with the SolarFlow 800 Pro. The combination of inverter, battery and smart energy management in one device makes installation low key. The HEMS system gives you some handy tools that go beyond some competitors. The built-in emergency power supply is also a welcome addition that we don't see with all competitors.

Got interested in this or other products from Zendure? You can purchase this SolarFlow 800 Pro from as little as €719 via Zendure itself.