Solar Inverters Explained
The inverter is the brain of your system — and every system has its own
Panels make the power. The inverter decides what happens to it: what your house uses, what charges the battery, what goes to the grid, and what keeps the lights on in a blackout. Every battery system ECR Solutions installs comes with its own matched inverter, because the two are engineered and warranted as one product. Here’s what that means in plain English — and how Sigenergy, Sungrow, GoodWe and Tesla compare. On this page
4Inverter platforms installed
97.5–98.4%Peak efficiency range
0–20 msBlackout switchover
10 yrsStandard inverter warranty
3–30 kWResidential size range
IP65–IP66Outdoor weather rating
Figures are drawn from current manufacturer datasheets for the Australian market. Sizes, efficiencies and warranty terms change — the exact model and warranty are confirmed in writing on your quote.
Start here
What is a solar inverter?
A solar inverter converts the DC electricity your panels produce into the 230V AC electricity your home and the grid use. On a modern system it also tracks the best operating point for each group of panels (MPPT), decides in real time whether energy goes to your appliances, your battery, your EV or the grid, enforces the export limit your network sets, and — if it is a hybrid inverter — runs your home through a blackout.
Which inverter you get is decided by which system you buy. Sigenergy, Sungrow, GoodWe and Tesla each pair their batteries with their own inverter, because the pair is designed, tested, approved and warranted together.
The six jobs an inverter does
- Converts DC to AC — turns panel output into the 230V AC your appliances and the grid use.
- Maximises harvest (MPPT) — hunts for the best voltage and current point on each string, so partial shade or a different roof angle costs you less.
- Directs the energy — decides whether power goes to your loads, your battery, your EV or the grid.
- Keeps you compliant — manages export limits and grid protection to AS/NZS 4777.2, which is what your network distributor approves.
- Runs the blackout switch — a hybrid inverter isolates you from the grid and keeps backed-up circuits alive when the street goes dark.
- Reports everything — it is the data source behind the app on your phone and behind any fault we diagnose remotely.
Rule of thumb
Panels are a commodity with a 25-year life and no moving parts. The inverter is the working part of the system — the component doing something every second of every day, and the one that most often decides whether a system still performs in year 12. It is not the place to save $800.- Panels produce DCSunlight hits the array on your roof.
- The inverter decidesConvert, store, export or back up.
- Your home is served firstSelf-consumption always takes priority.
- Battery, then gridSurplus is stored, then exported.
How the energy moves
One box, five jobs
Everything your system does in a day passes through the inverter first.
1GeneratePanels produce DC
2ConvertDC becomes usable AC
3Self-consumeYour home is served first
4StoreSurplus charges the battery
5ExportWhat’s left goes to the grid
The four kinds
What are the different types of solar inverter?
There are four: string inverters, hybrid inverters, battery-integrated inverters and microinverters. If you are comparing quotes, this is the distinction that matters most — a cheap quote and an expensive quote are often not quoting the same category of product at all.
String inverter (solar only)
The traditional option. Panels are wired in series “strings” back to one wall-mounted box that converts DC to AC. Cheapest per kW, proven, and perfectly good for a straightforward solar-only system. It cannot charge a battery on its own and gives you nothing in a blackout. Sungrow’s SG series and GoodWe’s MS and SDT series are examples.Hybrid inverter (solar + battery)
Handles the panels and the battery in one unit, with a DC connection to the battery so energy is not converted twice on the way in. Add a backup gateway and it will run your home through an outage. Sungrow SH, GoodWe EH and ET, and the Sigen Energy Controller all work this way — and this is what nearly every battery system sold in Australia now uses.Battery-integrated inverter
The inverter is built into the battery itself — one product, one warranty, one install. Tesla’s Powerwall 3 is the clearest example, and Sigenergy’s SigenStor stacks the battery modules directly under the inverter. Fewer boxes on the wall, tighter integration, no risk of a mismatched pairing.Microinverters
A small inverter under each panel instead of one central unit. Best on complex or heavily shaded roofs where every panel behaves differently. More hardware on the roof, higher cost per kW, and battery options are more limited. ECR quotes these only where the roof genuinely calls for it.The point of this page
Why does every solar system have its own inverter?
Because the inverter and the battery are designed, tested, approved and warranted as a single system. People often ask us to “just put a battery on” an existing system, or to mix a cheap inverter with a premium battery. Occasionally that works. Usually it does not, and here is why.
They are engineered as one product
Battery voltage windows, charge and discharge curves, thermal limits and firmware are designed around a specific inverter. A “compatible” pairing from two vendors is a compromise; a matched pairing is a single tested system.One warranty, one phone number
When the inverter and battery are one system, there is no argument about whose fault a fault is. Mixed-brand systems are where warranty claims go to die — each manufacturer points at the other.One app that tells the truth
Matched systems report generation, consumption, battery state and backup status in a single app. Bolted-together systems often need two apps that disagree with each other.Backup actually works
Blackout backup depends on the inverter and its gateway isolating your home from the grid in milliseconds. It is a hardware capability, not a setting — a solar-only string inverter will never do it, whatever battery you attach.Approvals are per-combination
Networks and the Clean Energy Council approve specific inverter and battery combinations. An unapproved pairing can hold up your connection approval and put rebate eligibility at risk.Future upgrades stay open
EV charging, a second battery tower, three-phase backup — all of it depends on the inverter platform you started with. Choosing well at the start is what keeps those doors open later.What we install
The four inverter platforms behind our systems
We deliberately do not carry a catalogue of twenty brands. We install four platforms we know inside out, so our licensed electricians commission them faster and diagnose them properly when something needs attention.
Flagship · Modular
Sigenergy — Sigen Energy Controller (SigenStor)
Sigenergy’s approach is a stack: the Energy Controller (the hybrid inverter) sits at the top and battery modules clip underneath it, with an optional EV DC charging module and gateway in the same tower. It is the most flexible platform we install — it grows with the house rather than being replaced.- Single phase3.0 – 12.0 kW
- Three phase5.0 – 30.0 kW
- Peak efficiencyUp to 98.0% single phase / 98.4% three phase
- MPPTs2 – 4 depending on model
- Backup transfer0 ms load-side transition with the Sigen Gateway
- Weather ratingIP66, −30 °C to 60 °C
- Battery range5.2 – 46.8 kWh usable (1–6 modules per tower)
- Warranty10 years on the Energy Controller and battery modules
Most installed · Safe choice
Sungrow — SH-RS and SH-RT hybrid inverters
Sungrow is the volume standard in Australian homes and the platform we reach for when the priority is a proven system with parts on the shelf. The SH-RS covers single-phase homes and the SH-RT covers three-phase, both pairing with Sungrow’s own SBR or SBH batteries and reporting into the iSolarCloud app. Sungrow has had an Australian office in Sydney since 2012, and it is the most widely installed residential hybrid brand in the country.- SH-RS single phase3.0 – 10 kW, up to 4 MPPT
- SH-RT three phase5 – 10 kW, 2 MPPT
- Peak efficiency97.5% (SH-RS) / up to 98.4% (SH-RT)
- Backup transferUnder 10 ms (SH-RS) / under 20 ms (SH-RT)
- PV oversizingUp to 200% on SH-RS, 150% on SH-RT
- Backup capacityBuilt-in 63 A bypass, 13.68 kVA peak for 10 seconds (SH-RS)
- BatteriesSBR 6.4 – 25.6 kWh or SBH 15 – 40 kWh per stack, to 160 kWh
- Weather ratingIP65, −25 °C to 60 °C
Worth knowing: only Sungrow’s SH hybrid inverters take a battery. The SG string inverters are solar-only — if a quote pairs an SG model with a Sungrow battery, ask the installer to explain exactly how it is being charged.
Dependable · Value
GoodWe — MS, SDT, EH and ET series
GoodWe is the workhorse of the four. There is a solar-only inverter for straightforward jobs and a hybrid for battery systems, single or three phase, all reporting into the free SEMS+ app. It is the platform we reach for when the budget is real but the system still has to last.- MS series (solar only)5 – 10 kW single phase, 3 MPPTs
- SDT G2 (solar only)5 – 20 kW three phase, up to 98.4%
- EH series (hybrid)3.6 – 6 kW single phase
- ET Plus+ (hybrid)5 – 10 kW three phase, 2 MPPTs, up to 98.2%
- Backup transferUnder 10 ms UPS-level switching
- Weather ratingIP66, −35 °C to 60 °C
- BatteryLynx Home U, 5.4 – 32.4 kWh modular LFP
- Warranty10 years on the Lynx Home U battery; inverter term confirmed on quote
Premium · All-in-one
Tesla — Powerwall 3 integrated inverter
Powerwall 3 is the clearest example of “the system has its own inverter”: Tesla built the solar inverter into the battery. One unit on the wall handles up to 20 kW of panels across three MPPTs and 13.5 kWh of storage, and the whole thing is set up and monitored from the Tesla app.- Usable energy13.5 kWh
- Continuous outputUp to 11.04 kW AC per unit
- Max solar input20 kW DC
- MPPTs3
- Solar-to-grid efficiency97.5%
- Round-trip efficiency89% (solar → battery → home)
- Weather ratingIP55 wiring compartment / IP67 electronics, −20 °C to 50 °C
- Warranty10 years
Side by side
Solar inverter comparison chart
The honest summary: all four are good inverters. They differ in how far they scale, how tightly they integrate, and what you pay for that. Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Feature | Sigenergy Energy Controller | Sungrow SH-RS / SH-RT | GoodWe EH / ET hybrid | Tesla Powerwall 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Modular hybrid, battery stacks under it | Wall-mounted hybrid, separate battery | Wall-mounted hybrid, separate battery | Inverter built into the battery |
| Size range | 3–12 kW single phase · 5–30 kW three phase | 3–10 kW single phase · 5–10 kW three phase | 3.6–6 kW single phase · 5–10 kW three phase | 11.04 kW AC, single phase |
| MPPTs | 2–4 | Up to 4 (SH-RS) · 2 (SH-RT) | 2 (ET Plus+) | 3 |
| Peak efficiency | 98.0% single phase / 98.4% three phase | 97.5% (SH-RS) / up to 98.4% (SH-RT) | Up to 98.2% (ET Plus+) | 97.5% solar to grid |
| Max solar input | 8–48 kW DC depending on model | Up to 200% of rating (SH-RS) · 150% (SH-RT) | 7.5–15 kW DC depending on model | 20 kW DC |
| Blackout backup | Yes — 0 ms with Gateway | Yes — under 10 ms / 20 ms | Yes — under 10 ms | Yes — whole-home capable |
| Three-phase option | Yes, to 30 kW | Yes, to 10 kW (SH-RT) | Yes, to 10 kW hybrid | Single-phase unit |
| Matched battery | SigenStor modules, 5.2–46.8 kWh | SBR 6.4–25.6 kWh or SBH 15–160 kWh | Lynx Home U, 5.4–32.4 kWh | 13.5 kWh built in, multiple units |
| EV charging integration | Yes — AC and bidirectional DC modules | Yes — Sungrow AC charger | Yes — GoodWe AC charger | Yes — Wall Connector, app-managed |
| Weather rating | IP66 | IP65 | IP66 | IP55 / IP67 |
| App | mySigen | iSolarCloud | SEMS+ (free) | Tesla app |
| Best suited to | Larger homes, three phase, EV owners, staged expansion | Most homes — the proven default, single or three phase | Value-focused builds and straightforward retrofits | Single-phase homes wanting one box and one app |
Specifications vary by exact model and are subject to manufacturer change. Sizes, efficiencies and warranty terms are confirmed in writing on your ECR Solutions quote.
Short version
Which inverter is right for my home?
If you want the one-line answer for each, here it is. We will still recommend a specific model after we have seen your roof, your phase supply and your bills.
Choose Sungrow if…
You want the proven default
Single or three phase, the most widely installed hybrid in Australia, parts always available and a battery range that scales from 6.4 kWh to well past a big family home. The safe answer for most households. Choose Sigenergy if…
You are thinking five years ahead
Three-phase capacity to 30 kW, battery stacking to 46.8 kWh, a bidirectional DC EV module and 0 ms backup. The pick for larger homes, EV owners and anyone planning to expand in stages. Choose GoodWe if…
Budget is the constraint
Proven hardware, a modular battery and a free monitoring app at a sensible price. The sensible middle when the system still has to last but the number has to work. Choose Tesla if…
You want one box and one app
Powerwall 3 puts the inverter, the battery and 20 kW of solar capacity in a single unit on a single-phase home, managed entirely from the Tesla app. Simplicity is the product.Before you sign anything
Six questions to ask about the inverter on your quote
You do not need to become an engineer. You do need the answers to these six, from every installer you are comparing.
- Is it a hybrid, or solar only?If there is a battery on the quote and the inverter is not a hybrid or battery-integrated unit, ask exactly how the battery is being charged.
- What happens in a blackout?“Battery backup” and “backup-ready” are not the same thing. Ask which circuits stay live and what hardware is included to make that happen.
- How much solar can it take?An undersized inverter caps your system’s future. Ask the maximum DC input and how much headroom is left above the array you are being sold.
- How many MPPTs, and how are my panels split?If your roof faces two or three directions, this decides how much you actually harvest.
- How long is the inverter warranty, in writing?Ten years is the benchmark. Ask whether any extension has conditions, and whether it requires an internet connection.
- Who services it, and from where?An inverter with no local support is a long wait when it matters. Every ECR install is commissioned and serviced by our own licensed electricians.
Plain English
Inverter terms you will see on a quote
MPPT
Maximum Power Point Tracker. Each one manages a separate group of panels, so a shaded or differently angled section does not drag down the rest of the array.kW vs kWh
kW is how fast energy moves — the inverter’s rating. kWh is how much energy is stored or used — the battery’s rating. A 5 kW inverter with a 13.5 kWh battery is a normal pairing.Oversizing / DC:AC ratio
Australian rules allow a panel array up to 133% of the inverter’s AC rating, and some hybrids accept more on the DC side. It is deliberate — it fills out generation in the mornings, evenings and winter.Clipping
When the array briefly produces more than the inverter can convert, the peak is trimmed. A small amount of clipping is normal and usually cheaper than buying a bigger inverter.AS/NZS 4777.2
The Australian standard every grid-connected inverter must meet. It governs export limits, voltage response and how the inverter behaves when the grid misbehaves.Export limit
The cap your network distributor places on how much you may send to the grid. The inverter enforces it — which is exactly why a battery is often worth more than a bigger array.Where we install
Inverter installation across Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter
Inverter choice is not just a product decision — it depends on your network distributor’s export rules and what your switchboard will take. We install and service across four regions.
Sydney
Split between Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy, and their export limits differ — which changes how much a battery is worth to you and therefore which inverter we recommend. Strong demand for three-phase hybrids across the west and south-west.Central Coast
Salt air near the coast means enclosure ratings matter. Every platform here is IP65 or better, and we mount out of direct afternoon sun to protect efficiency and lifespan.Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
A mix of Federation-era homes with older switchboards and newer estates with plenty of roof. Both are straightforward — the switchboard usually decides whether an upgrade is part of the job.Maitland & the Hunter Valley
Three-phase supply is common and rural feeders make outages a genuine issue, not a hypothetical — which pushes most quotes here towards a hybrid with real backup capacity.Not sure which distributor you are on or what your switchboard will take? Tell us your suburb on the quote form and we will confirm it before we recommend anything.
Common questions
Solar inverter FAQs
A solar inverter converts the DC electricity your panels produce into the 230V AC electricity your home and the grid use. It also tracks the best operating point for each group of panels, decides whether energy goes to your loads, your battery, your EV or the grid, enforces your network’s export limit under AS/NZS 4777.2, and — on a hybrid — runs your home during a blackout.
Because the inverter and battery are engineered, tested, approved and warranted together. Battery voltage windows, charge curves, thermal limits and firmware are built around a specific inverter, and networks approve specific combinations. A matched pair also means one app, one warranty and one company to call.
Sometimes. If your existing inverter is solar-only, the usual options are an AC-coupled battery with its own inverter built in, such as Powerwall 3, or replacing the inverter with a hybrid. Both work; they cost differently. We tell you which applies after looking at your switchboard and existing setup — that assessment is free.
A string inverter converts solar DC to AC and nothing else — it cannot charge a battery and shuts down in a blackout. A hybrid inverter also manages a battery on the DC side and, with a backup gateway, keeps nominated circuits running during an outage. Sungrow’s SG range is string; its SH range is hybrid.
There is no single best. Sungrow is the most widely installed and the safe default for most homes. Sigenergy scales furthest and suits three-phase homes and EV owners. GoodWe is the value pick. Tesla Powerwall 3 is the simplest single-box option for single-phase homes. The right answer depends on your roof, your phase supply and your plans.
Plan on 10 to 15 years for the inverter against 25 years for the panels. It is the hardest-working component in the system, which is why the warranty term and the manufacturer’s local support presence matter more here than anywhere else on the quote.
Only up to the size of your array and what your network will approve. A 10 kW inverter on a 6.6 kW array does not generate more — it just costs more. Sizing is a match between the roof, your usage, your battery and your distributor’s export rules.
Yes. Three-phase homes can run larger inverters and, with the right platform, back up all three phases. Sigenergy offers three-phase models to 30 kW, Sungrow and GoodWe to 10 kW hybrid, while Tesla Powerwall 3 is a single-phase unit. If you have three phase, say so early — it changes which systems are on the table.
Only if it is a hybrid or battery-integrated inverter with backup hardware fitted. A standard grid-connected solar inverter shuts down in an outage by design, for the safety of anyone working on the lines. All four platforms on this page support backup when specified.
Australian rules generally allow an array up to 133% of the inverter’s AC rating, and some hybrids accept considerably more on the DC side — Sungrow’s SH-RS takes up to 200%. Oversizing is deliberate: it lifts generation in the mornings, evenings and winter, at the cost of trimming a few peak summer hours.
Out of direct afternoon sun, well ventilated, and close enough to the switchboard to keep cable runs short. Garage walls and shaded southern or eastern walls are the usual choices. Heat is the enemy of both efficiency and lifespan.
Not to generate power, but yes for monitoring, firmware updates and remote diagnostics — and some manufacturers require connectivity for the full warranty term. We set the connection up at commissioning and show you the app before we leave.
Next step
Get a quote that names the inverter
Every ECR Solutions quote states the exact inverter model, its size, its warranty and what it will do in a blackout — no “premium European inverter” vagueness. Licensed electricians, no call centre, no subcontractors.