Everything from a single manufacturer: SolarEdge Home System
Now more complete than ever: SolarEdge launches the backup capable Home System. This system is one of several among the new items that joined our product range for domestic systems. We take a look at the SolarEdge Low Voltage Home Battery, the SolarEdge Home Hub inverter and the SolarEdge Home Backup interface. Below we present you the new products and the complete SolarEdge Home System.
SolarEdge now offers a complete package and new products in the field of domestic installations and sector coupling, true to the motto “SolarEdge on the roof, inside the building and in the garage”. By doing so, the company is further differentiating its offer of domestic systems from that of commercial systems. The SolarEdge Home System includes:
- SolarEdge Home Low Voltage Battery
- SolarEdge Home High Voltage Battery
- SolarEdge Home Hub inverter
- SolarEdge Home Wave Inverter (to be launched soon)
- SolarEdge Home Backup interface
- SolarEdge Home Energy Meter
- SolarEdge optimizers
- SolarEdge Smart modules
- SolarEdge charging station
- SolarEdge Home Smart devices (to be launched soon)
- SolarEdge Home Network
The most significant innovation of the SolarEdge Home System: The Low-Voltage Home Battery
With the Low Voltage Home Battery, SolarEdge now offers a 48 V battery that is stackable and scalable. Each battery module boasts 4.6 kWh net capacity. You can install up to 5 modules in 2 towers. This results in a net capacity of 4.6 kWh – 23 kWh per system. This is what you can combine:
The low-voltage battery can be combined with the 3-phase SolarEdge Hub inverter. You can mount the storage system on the floor or on the wall. The installation occurs via plug-and-play and configuration with the SolarEdge SetApp.
High-voltage storage system: The SolarEdge High-Voltage Home Battery
In addition to the low-voltage battery, you can also get the SolarEdge high-voltage Home Battery. It is compatible with single-phase inverters and can also be combined with the previous HD Wave inverters with the help of a SolarEdge Home network plug-in. The high-voltage battery comes with a net capacity of 9.7 kWh. You can connect up to 3 batteries in parallel to one inverter. The battery can be mounted indoors and outdoors. Wall installation is possible with handles and floor installation with a ground plate. Appropriate accessories are available for this purpose.
SolarEdge High-Voltage Home Battery
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SolarEdge announced the North American launch of SolarEdge Home, a home energy management solution that is the “brain” of a solar installation that brings together solar, batteries, EV chargers and more into one solution that empowers homeowners to control their home’s solar usage, energy savings and carbon emission outputs.
The DC-Optimized energy management system connects the inverter and the battery on the DC side, thus eliminating power conversions that are typical in many battery coupled systems. SolarEdge estimates that this can add up to 10 days of saved energy for every year of use. The DC-Optimized system also enables multi-day battery backup, which reduces dependence on the grid.
- SolarEdge Home Hub Inverter – a single, next generation inverter platform
- SolarEdge Power Optimizers – a DC/DC converter that turns solar modules into Smart modules and now features SolarEdge Sense Connect, a safety feature that is designed to help prevent arc faults on the roof.
- SolarEdge Home Battery – a 9540A tested-battery that allows for additional backup of switches, sockets and devices with up to 30% more power than legacy battery technology and up to 5% higher roundtrip efficiency.
- SolarEdge Home EV Charger – a fully controllable and schedulable charger that easily connects to the SolarEdge Home Inverter and features Solar Boost Mode for faster charging.
Homeowners can use the mySolarEdge app to control, schedule, and track their energy usage and savings, which will take into account external factors such as weather events and rising utility rates. The app has a Weather Guard feature that is designed to automatically alert the system when a storm is detected, and the system is triggered to charge the battery before the storm hits.
SolarEdge reports that the system simplifies the installation and commissioning process for installers because the DC-Optimized system simplifies design, reduces the need for main panel upgrades, and uses wireless plug-and-play connectivity, eliminating the need to wire communication cables between components.
“SolarEdge Home is designed to meet homeowner needs for larger PV systems, more applications, and seamless control through a single app. For installers, SolarEdge Home helps form higher-value customer relationships while minimizing operation and installation costs,” said Peter Mathews, North America general manager.
Homeowners can also opt to add features and capabilities to the SolarEdge Home ecosystem as their home energy needs evolve and change.
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Anne Fischer is a senior editor at pv magazine USA. Anne is a seasoned writer, editor, and journalist.
SolarEdge Technologies
With a presence in over 20 countries, SolarEdge is the world’s #1 solar residential manufacturer. In 15 years, we have taken our product line-up to the next level with the market’s most advanced solarstorage solution – a winner of PV Magazine and Green Builder Media awards. With SolarEdge, you can expect up to 7% higher efficiency, up to 10 days of free power every year, and a faster ROI—now, that’s Smart. Find out more at Solaredge.com
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About SolarEdge Technologies
With over 107 million optimizers and 4.5 million inverters shipped, as well as hundreds of patents under our belt, SolarEdge is the world’s #1 manufacturer of residential and commercial solar inverters. Explore SolarEdge Home today, and see how you can be battery-ready, EV-ready, and future-ready in one award-winning solution:
ALWAYS BE ON with whole home battery backup
DRIVE ON SUNSHINE by connecting our Smart EV Charger
SEE AND SAVE with real-time energy insight
KEEP A FIRM GRIP on your connected Smart devices with the mySolarEdge app
MEET TOMORROW’S NEEDS TODAY: add SolarEdge Smart devices as needs evolve
Meet all your home energy needs with SolarEdge Home, designed to bring you more convenience and energy independence at less cost, while leaving a smaller carbon footprint.
Certifications
ISO 9001 2008Certified EMSCertified QMS
What Customers Are Saying
I couldn’t possible be more disappointed with this company. The monitoring technology goes down constantly. The mobile monitoring app generally does not work on Android phones, as indicated by the many reviews stating how the app does not connect to the inverter on Android devices. The online web platform is unstable and unreliable, constantly giving server errors when I attempt to use it to monitor output. I have been trying to resolve these issues across multiple months, yet they still persist.
Installed in 2019, my installation company has been very responsive but the inverters keep going down. Pretty much every summer our system needs a new inverter. They have been installed on warranty each year but the product quality is obviously garbage. I would avoid SolarEdge if installing a new system.
I had a Solar Edge EV charger installed with my solar system, which their app is supposed to be able to control. Apparently the installer needs to configure the app correctly for this to happen. My installer (Better Earth) isn’t Smart enough to do that and has been non responsive, so I reached out to Solar Edge for support. They won’t help the consumer though- telling my only support is from the installer. I am extremely disappointed with this installer, but am now stuck in a 20 year relationship with them with no way to manage the system I bought!
Installed the solar panels in January it is now July. they havent worked since we had them installed and its nearly impossible to get support to come help us out. DONT FALL FOR SOLAR EDGE!
Every summer my system fails and I’m always left with the bill! At this point the system cost me money it does not save me any money. This time they decided to update the firmware causing my system to stop communicating and producing power. After I just paid to have a new inverter installed last year. Every year the system fails and every time I’m left with the bill. DO NOT buy this crap!
UPDATE After some work to resolve my issue with my inverter through Solar Edge my solar panels are back online. SolarEdge had no control over the original installer, Empire Solar declaring bankruptcy. My main issue was that I could not get the proper level of support from the Solar Edge website but I was finally contacted by a representative of Solar Edge, S. Ledesma-Garcia. He was EXTEREMELY helpful in getting a replacement inverter shipped to my house and I was able to get it installed and back up and running. I feel I had to change my review from 1 Star to 5 Stars because of S. Ledesma-Garcia as he deserves all of the accolades for providing such caring and professional service. I myself work as a service person, telecommunications engineer and understand the importance of good customer support.
Key things to know about the SolarEdge Home Battery
SolarEdge offers two battery options: Home Battery 400V and Home Battery 48V. The Home Battery 400V integrates with a single-phase inverter and the Home Battery 48V integrates with a three-phase inverter. Two key things make SolarEdge’s batteries stand out from other storage solutions: efficiency and integration. SolarEdge describes its battery as having “industry-leading” efficiency and seamless integrations with other SolarEdge products to create one cohesive Smart electric home.
When evaluating the Home Battery, there are various important metrics and technical specifications to keep in mind. Among the most important are the size of the battery (power and capacity), its chemistry, depth of discharge, and roundtrip efficiency.
Size
Two important metrics to keep in mind when comparing a Home Battery to other home storage options are power and usable capacity. Power (measured in kilowatts, or kW) determines the maximum amount of electricity that can be output at a single time, while usable capacity (measured in kilowatt-hours, or kWh) is a measure of the maximum amount of electricity stored in your battery on a full charge. The Home Battery 400V includes a maximum power rating of 7.5 kW to go along with 9.7 kWh of usable capacity, and the Home Battery 48V offers 4.6 kWh of usable capacity. They also offer 5 kW of continuous power to allow homeowners to power more or higher wattage devices for longer in the event of an outage.
The Home Battery is modular, meaning it can be stacked together to create even larger, more powerful battery systems. You can stack up to three 400Vs and up to five 48Vs per inverter.
Think of your battery like water running through a pipe. The usable energy capacity is the amount of water available to push through the pipe, while power is the size of the pipe itself. Larger pipes allow more water to flow through at once, which depletes the water faster. Similarly, a battery with a high power rating can deliver more electricity at one time, but will burn through its available energy capacity faster too.
A battery’s power determines what appliances you can run with it at the same time, while usable capacity determines how long those appliances can be run. Batteries with a higher power rating are capable of powering more robust appliances or many appliances at once, while batteries with a higher usable capacity can store more total energy and thus can run your appliances for longer periods of time without needing to recharge.
Basic functionality
The functionality of one solar power battery next to another can vary. Some batteries have excellent off-grid capabilities, while others offer software solutions specific to rate arbitrage. Here are the important qualities of the SolarEdge Home Battery:
Backup power
The Home Battery is designed to support backup power capabilities. In the event of severe weather, a special feature of the mySolarEdge app called Weather Guard will send you alerts based on data from the National Weather Service and automatically charge your battery to full capacity before the storm. SolarEdge also offers a Backup Interface product that will automatically power your devices (from your entire home to selected loads) when a power outage occurs. The Backup Interface includes a built-in Auto Transformer and Energy Meter, meaning fewer boxes on your wall and a faster (and often cheaper) installation.
Coupling
When considering the wiring of your storage system, there are two main options: alternating current (AC) coupling and direct current (DC) coupling. Solar panels generate DC electricity and solar batteries store DC electricity, whereas your home’s appliances consume AC electricity. With AC-coupled storage systems, the energy stored in your battery will need to be inverted three separate times before it can be used, which leads to efficiency losses. The Home Battery is a DC-coupled system, enabling its high round-trip efficiency because there are fewer AC inversions. However, it’s important to note that the Home Battery only integrates with the SolarEdge inverters.
Installation
By integrating the Home Battery with a SolarEdge inverter, SolarEdge has designed its storage solution to minimize the number of main electrical panel upgrades needed. According to SolarEdge, the Home Battery can be installed in just one day, allowing you quick access to features like backup power and rate arbitrage.
Rate Saver
In post-NEM 3.0 California, the SolarEdge Home Battery solar-plus-storage system can significantly cut installation times and reduce the battery system cost for homeowners by up to 38 percent. In addition to the basic functionality of SolarEdge Home Batteries, this next generation software known as “Rate Saver” maximizes Time-of-Use rates through its NEM 3.0 specific battery management algorithms. With Rate Saver, stored energy is discharged at peak rates autonomously to avoid high utility costs and further reduce payback periods.
SolarEdge Home Battery warranty coverage
In most cases, homes with a Home Battery will charge and discharge their battery every day. So, how long will the Home Batteries last? The Home Battery comes with a 10-year warranty and SolarEdge guarantees that the battery will maintain at least 70 percent of its capacity to hold a charge during that time period. Importantly, SolarEdge does not include a cycles or throughput clause, which can often shorten the warranty term for other battery products.
SolarEdge’s battery technology is similar to other rechargeable batteries both large and small. As time goes on, the battery loses some of its ability to hold a charge. Think of how the battery life of a brand-new smartphone compares to one that is a few years old. As you continually charge and drain your phone’s battery, it starts to lose some of its ability to hold a charge.
The battery life of your SolarEdge Home Battery will deteriorate in the same way, but that isn’t indicative of a product flaw. All batteries lose some of their ability to hold a charge over time after extended usage, whether it’s an electric vehicle battery, a home energy battery, or a rechargeable AA battery. This is why SolarEdge offers a warranty that guarantees a certain percentage of storage capacity.
If you want to compare individual battery models side-by-side, our battery Buyer’s Guide lets you select products and compare them based on efficiency, capacity, power, and more.
How much does the SolarEdge Home Battery cost?
A solar battery installation isn’t as simple as a list price for a component – depending on your electrical setup, among other factors, installation costs can vary widely. As a rough estimate, you can expect it to cost between 10,000 and 20,000 for a full system installation.
That may sound like a lot of money, but installing a solar-plus-storage system can be a worthwhile investment. Whether or not the Home Battery makes sense for you is determined by the way that your electric utility structures its rates, as well as your reasons for installing a solar battery (i.e. if you want backup power in the event of a grid outage). Additionally, financial incentives can reduce your home energy storage installation costs significantly.
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, all residential storage systems over 3 kWh in size are eligible for the 30 percent Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Depending on where you live, you may also have access to financial incentives at the state and local levels. For instance, if you live in California, you could get a cash rebate through the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP).
Can you go off-grid with the SolarEdge Home Battery?
Installing a solar-plus-storage system at your home is a great way to take control of your electricity bill, but it doesn’t mean that you’re completely disconnected from your utility. Going “off the grid” with solar batteries is actually a more expensive and complicated proposition than you might think. Most home batteries, including the Home Battery, only have enough capacity to store a few hours of electricity (depending on what you’re running). That being said, the Home Battery can serve as a temporary backup when the grid goes down if you have a solar panel system to provide power, operating without the grid but not requiring you to disconnect from it entirely.
Whether you want to install a SolarEdge Home Battery or another home battery pack, you will need to work with a certified installer. Adding energy storage technology to your home is a complicated process that requires electrical expertise, certifications, and knowledge of the best practices required to install a solar-plus-storage system correctly.
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