A balcony power plant requires professional installation, but a solar table can easily be set up on the balcony. So are power generating tables the perfect alternative?
Solar tables are currently on the rise in home power generation. There are good reasons for this: after all, almost everyone has a table on their balcony that sits unused in the sun most of the time. And landlords often don’t like installing a balcony power plant on the railing or even on the wall of the house. A solar table is a welcome alternative in times when many people want to be less dependent on electricity from expensive providers. Balcony power plants have been trendy for a long time, and solar tables are now following suit as an option.
What exactly is a solar table?
Solar tables are normal garden and balcony tables that have one or more solar panels installed instead of a wooden or plastic table top. If the table is exposed to direct sun or UV radiation, it produces electricity, like any conventional solar module. Just like a balcony power plant, the tables can be connected to the house network via a socket, and a built-in inverter converts the direct current produced into usable alternating current. Solar tables can therefore reduce a household’s electricity consumption.
- Perfomance: Depending on the size of the module or table, up to 400 kilowatt hours of electricity can be generated per year – but of course this depends on numerous factors such as location, efficiency of the module as well as the season and solar radiation.
- Installation: Using a power socket or a Schuko plug, the solar table is simply connected to the power grid and the electricity is then fed into the home network.
- Security: Solar panels are inherently weatherproof and robust. Quality and durability are further criteria of the modules – this ensures that they can also be easily converted into a table top. The inverter is also provided with grid connection protection.
- Cost: The costs of solar tables are currently a little higher, you have to expect around 800 to 1,500 euros. Camping tables with solar panels are significantly cheaper, but they cannot be connected to the house network.
The advantages and disadvantages of a solar table
A first and very decisive advantage is obvious: solar tables can be integrated much more discreetly into the balcony ambience and they do not disrupt the aesthetics like a balcony power plant installed on the railing. However, the inclination and location of the table may not be as optimal, and less power can be generated than would be possible with an equivalent module on the railing.
Advantages:
- No approval from the landlord required
- Does not have to be permanently installed
- Can be integrated unobtrusively
- Space on the balcony is used efficiently
- Electricity costs are reduced in a practical way
- Solar tables are durable and robust
Disadvantages:
- Possibly less electricity yield than with an optimally aligned balcony power plant
- Acquisition costs are currently still very high
- Electricity is only generated when the sun shines (season, location)
Solar tables – a selection
There are currently not many manufacturers of solar tables. If you are handy, you can also equip a balcony table with a solar module yourself. But if you prefer a ready-made complete set, you can take a look at these models:
Large solar garden table
With a table top size of approximately 172 x 113 centimeters, this model is suitable for up to eight people and is therefore primarily intended for very large balconies. But the solar table also has a lot of power. It is delivered ready to plug in and can be put into operation immediately. The table top cannot be tilted. According to the manufacturer, the high price is explained by the fact that it is a tailor-made, handcrafted product.
- Built-in solar panel with 430 watts peak power
- Feed-in converter attached under the table top
- Five meter Schuko connection cable
- Dimensions: Approximately 172 (L) x 113 (W) x 75 (H) centimeters
Click here for the solar garden table on Ebay
Technaxx folding solar camping table
If you are looking for something much cheaper, you can also use a small solar camping table. However, this is specifically designed for traveling and cannot feed electricity into the home network. Smaller devices such as smartphones, tablets, etc. can still be easily charged via a USB port.
- Power: 60 watts
- Two USB-A and one USB-C ports
- Additional DC5521 output provides 18 volt power – compatible with various adapters (XT60, DC7909, MC4, Anderson).
- Can be folded up and stored compactly
Click here for the solar camping table at Otto
The balcony power plant complete set
Some solar tables are still very expensive and may not deliver the desired performance. That’s why balcony power plants are still very popular. Kleines Kraftwerk supplies ready-to-assemble solutions even for small balconies. The complete single package for the lattice balcony, for example, is suitable for beginners and is available for around 430 euros.
- Power: 430-540 watts peak
- VDE-compliant connection optionally with Schuko or Wieland connection cable
- Hoymiles 400W micro inverter
- Includes premium brackets for lattice balconies
Click here for the single balcony power plant at Kleines Kraftwerk
Are solar tables convincing?
Solar tables have a lot of advantages; they blend discreetly into the ambience and inconspicuously feed a small amount of electricity into the house network. They can be used practically as a shelf and dining table on the balcony. However, a smaller amount of electricity generation must be expected as the orientation is often not optimal. The price is currently still quite high and there are only a few providers. But that may change in the near future if demand increases.
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