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Solar Inverters

The inverter is the working centre of your solar system. It converts the direct current (DC) electricity your panels produce into the alternating current (AC) electricity your home uses, manages the flow of power between your panels, your home, and the grid, and provides the monitoring data that tells you how your system is performing.

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A family and their dog beside a solar inverter mounted on the outside wall of their home

Despite being less visible than the panels on your roof, the inverter has more influence on your system's day-to-day performance than almost any other component. It is also the part most likely to need replacement during the 25 to 30-year life of your solar installation. Choosing the right inverter type and brand matters.

SunRight Solar installs inverters from Fronius, Enphase, Sungrow, GoodWe, SMA, and Solis. We recommend the inverter type and brand based on your roof, your shading conditions, your electrical phase, and whether you plan to add a battery.

What Does a Solar Inverter Do?

Your solar panels generate DC electricity. Your home runs on AC electricity (240V, 50Hz in Australia). The inverter bridges this gap by converting DC to AC in real time, adjusting its output to match both your solar generation and your household demand.

Beyond the basic conversion, a modern solar inverter also:

  • Tracks the maximum power point of your panels (MPPT), continuously adjusting to extract the most electricity from your array as sunlight conditions change throughout the day
  • Manages grid interaction, controlling how much power is exported and ensuring your system complies with your distributor's connection requirements
  • Provides anti-islanding protection, which automatically shuts your system down during a grid outage to prevent electricity from feeding into power lines while workers may be carrying out repairs
  • Delivers monitoring data through a built-in Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, allowing you to track generation, consumption, and export through an app or web portal
A solar inverter mounted beside the switchboard on an outside wall, above a diagram of DC electricity from the panels being converted to AC for the home and grid

Types of Solar Inverter

There are three inverter technologies used in Australian residential solar systems. Each has distinct advantages, and the right choice depends on your roof, your shading, and your future plans.

Wiring diagrams comparing string inverter, hybrid inverter and microinverter systems

String Inverters

A string inverter is a single centralised unit, typically mounted on a wall near your switchboard. All your solar panels are connected in one or more "strings" (series circuits), and the inverter converts the combined DC output to AC.

Best suited to
Homes with a simple, unshaded roof where all panels face the same direction. String inverters are the most cost-effective option for straightforward installations.
Key advantage
Lowest upfront cost and proven long-term reliability. String inverters have been the industry standard for over a decade.
Limitation
If one panel in a string is shaded or underperforming, it reduces the output of the entire string. This makes string inverters less suitable for roofs with partial shading, multiple orientations, or obstructions like chimneys or vent pipes.
Battery note
A standard string inverter is not battery-compatible. If you want to add a battery later, you will need either a hybrid inverter from the start or a separate battery inverter added alongside the string inverter (AC-coupled configuration).

Hybrid Inverters

A hybrid inverter does everything a string inverter does, plus it includes built-in battery management capability. It can charge and discharge a battery, manage the flow of power between panels, battery, home, and grid, and (in most cases) provide backup power during grid outages when paired with a compatible battery and backup circuit.

Best suited to
Homes installing solar and a battery at the same time, or homes that want to be "battery-ready" from day one without committing to battery storage immediately.
Key advantage
A single unit manages both solar and battery, avoiding the need for a separate battery inverter. This simplifies the system, reduces installation cost when adding a battery, and enables tighter integration between solar generation and battery charging.
Consideration
Hybrid inverters typically cost more than standard string inverters. If you are certain you will never add a battery, the additional cost may not be justified.

Microinverters

Microinverters are small inverters attached to each individual solar panel, converting DC to AC at the panel level. Each panel operates independently, meaning shading or underperformance on one panel does not affect the others.

Best suited to
Roofs with partial shading, multiple orientations (e.g., panels on both north and west-facing sections), or complex layouts with obstructions. Also well suited to homes where panel-level monitoring and optimisation is a priority.
Key advantage
Maximum energy harvest from difficult roofs. If your roof has trees, chimneys, vent pipes, or sections facing different directions, microinverters will typically outperform a string inverter on the same roof.
Consideration
Higher upfront cost per panel compared to a string inverter system. However, the additional generation from each panel operating independently can offset this cost over time, particularly on shaded or multi-orientation roofs.
Brand note
Enphase is the dominant microinverter brand in the Australian residential market. Their IQ series microinverters include built-in monitoring at the panel level and are compatible with Enphase's battery storage system (IQ Battery).

Which Inverter Type Is Right for Your Home?

The decision usually comes down to three factors: your roof, your battery plans, and your budget.

Three homes illustrating a string inverter, a hybrid inverter with a battery, and microinverters on a roof with several angles
If your roof is unshaded and all panels face the same direction

And you have no plans to add a battery, a string inverter is the most cost-effective choice.

If you are installing a battery now or want the option to add one later

A hybrid inverter is the practical choice. It avoids the cost and complexity of adding a separate battery inverter down the track.

If your roof has shading, multiple orientations, or a complex layout

Microinverters will maximise your generation. They are the best option when your roof makes it difficult for a string inverter to perform well.

When you request a quote from SunRight Solar, we assess your roof layout, shading conditions, and future plans before recommending an inverter type. We explain the reasoning behind our recommendation so you understand why we have selected a particular technology for your home.

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Single-Phase vs Three-Phase

Australian homes have either a single-phase or three-phase electrical connection. This affects which inverter you can install and the maximum system size your home can support.

Standard for most homes

Single-phase is the standard connection for most homes. It supports inverters up to 5kW of output capacity, which is why the most common residential system is 6.6kW of panels on a 5kW inverter (see the sizing section below).

Newer and larger properties

Three-phase is common in newer homes, larger properties, and homes with high-draw appliances like ducted air conditioning, pool pumps, or workshop equipment. Three-phase connections support larger inverters (typically 8kW to 15kW), enabling 10kW and 13kW solar systems.

If you are unsure whether your home has single-phase or three-phase power, check your switchboard. A three-phase board will have three main switches at the top (one per phase). Alternatively, your installer will confirm this during the site assessment.

Some electricity distributors also impose export limits on single-phase connections. SunRight Solar manages the connection application and will advise you on any limitations that apply to your home.

Inverter Brands We Install

We select inverter brands based on conversion efficiency, warranty terms, monitoring quality, local support infrastructure, and compatibility with our panel and battery range. Every inverter we install is from the CEC-approved product list.

Inverter units from Fronius, Enphase, Sungrow, GoodWe, SMA and Solis

Fronius

10-year warranty

An Austrian manufacturer widely regarded as the premium string and hybrid inverter in the Australian market. Fronius inverters are known for high efficiency (up to 98.3%), exceptional build quality, and one of the best monitoring platforms in the industry (Fronius Solar.web). Fronius offers a 10-year manufacturer warranty, and their Australian support and warranty service is well established.

Enphase

15-year warranty

The world's leading microinverter manufacturer and the default choice for shaded or complex roofs in Australia. Each Enphase IQ microinverter operates independently behind a single panel, providing panel-level monitoring and optimisation. Enphase offers a 15-year manufacturer warranty on their IQ8 series microinverters. Their monitoring platform (Enphase Enlighten) provides detailed panel-by-panel performance data.

Sungrow

10-year warranty

One of the world's largest inverter manufacturers, offering both string and hybrid inverters at a mid-premium price point. Sungrow's hybrid inverters pair seamlessly with their SBR battery range for an integrated solar-plus-battery system. Sungrow offers a 10-year manufacturer warranty and has a strong Australian presence with local support.

GoodWe

10-year warranty

A mid-range inverter brand offering solid performance and competitive pricing across string, hybrid, and three-phase models. GoodWe's hybrid inverters are compatible with a range of battery brands, making them a flexible choice for battery-ready installations. GoodWe offers a 10-year manufacturer warranty.

SMA

5-year warranty

A German manufacturer with a long history in the Australian solar market. SMA inverters are known for robust engineering and excellent grid compliance. Their Sunny Boy and Sunny Tripower ranges cover single-phase and three-phase applications. SMA offers a 5-year warranty with the option to extend to 10 or 15 years.

Solis

10-year warranty

A cost-effective inverter brand with a growing presence in the Australian residential market. Solis inverters offer reliable performance at a lower price point, with models available across single-phase, three-phase, and hybrid configurations. Solis offers a 10-year manufacturer warranty.

Read the Solar Panel Buying Guide Explore Solar Panel Systems

Inverter Sizing: Why a 5kW Inverter Pairs With 6.6kW of Panels

If you have received a solar quote, you may have noticed that the panel capacity (e.g., 6.6kW) is larger than the inverter capacity (e.g., 5kW). This is not an error.

It is standard practice in the Australian solar industry, and it is allowed under the Clean Energy Council's guidelines, which permit an oversizing ratio of up to 133%.

The reason is practical: solar panels rarely produce their full rated output simultaneously. Cloud cover, temperature, panel angle, and time of day all reduce actual generation below the rated maximum. By oversizing the panel array relative to the inverter, the system generates more electricity during non-peak conditions without significantly clipping output during the brief periods when panels reach full capacity.

A 6.6kW panel array on a 5kW single-phase inverter is the most common residential configuration in Australia because it maximises the federal STC rebate within the single-phase inverter limit.

Monitoring Your Solar System

Every inverter brand includes a monitoring platform that connects through Wi-Fi or Ethernet. This is how you track your system's real-time generation, daily and monthly output, consumption patterns, and any error alerts.

Monitoring is not optional. It is your first line of defence against underperformance. A system generating less than expected for the time of year may indicate a fault, shading issue, or degradation that needs attention. Without monitoring, you would not know until your electricity bill arrives.

Each brand has its own monitoring app:

Fronius
Solar.web (browser and app)
Enphase
Enlighten (app, with panel-level detail)
Sungrow
iSolarCloud (app)
GoodWe
SEMS Portal (app)
SMA
Sunny Portal / SMA Energy (app)
Solis
SolisCloud (app)

Your SunRight Solar installer will set up your monitoring during commissioning and walk you through how to use it.

A phone showing live solar monitoring, above the monitoring apps of Fronius, Enphase, Sungrow, GoodWe, SMA and Solis

How Long Does a Solar Inverter Last?

String and hybrid inverters typically last 10 to 15 years in Australian residential use, though some premium models may last longer. Microinverters generally have a longer expected lifespan, with Enphase warranting their IQ series for 15 years.

The inverter is the solar system component most likely to need replacement during the 25 to 30-year life of your panels. This is normal and expected. Your panels will likely outlast two inverters over their lifetime.

Signs that your inverter may need attention include error codes or warning lights, a noticeable drop in daily generation compared to the same period in previous years, unusual noise (humming or buzzing), or the inverter failing to restart after a grid outage.

If your existing inverter fails and is out of warranty, it may be an opportunity to upgrade to a hybrid inverter, which enables battery storage. SunRight Solar can assess your existing system and advise on the best replacement option.

View Battery Storage Options

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my inverter brand need to match my panel brand?

No. Inverters and panels are designed to be interoperable. You can pair Jinko panels with a Fronius inverter, or Trina panels with an Enphase microinverter. What matters is that the electrical specifications (voltage and current ranges) are compatible, which your installer verifies during system design.

Can I upgrade my inverter to add a battery later?

Yes. If your current inverter is a standard string inverter, you can either replace it with a hybrid inverter (which manages both solar and battery) or add a separate battery inverter alongside it in an AC-coupled configuration. Both approaches work. Your installer will recommend the most cost-effective path based on your existing setup.

Why is my inverter rated at less capacity than my panels?

This is standard practice. Australian installations typically oversize panels by up to 133% relative to the inverter, as permitted by the CEC guidelines. A 6.6kW panel array on a 5kW inverter maximises real-world generation without meaningful energy loss, because panels rarely produce their full rated output simultaneously.

How noisy is a solar inverter?

Most modern residential inverters produce very little noise during normal operation. You may hear a faint hum during peak generation periods, but this is typically inaudible from inside the home. If your inverter is making unusual buzzing, clicking, or rattling sounds, it may indicate a fault that should be inspected.

Where is the inverter installed?

The inverter is typically mounted on a wall near your switchboard, either inside your garage or on an external wall. It should be in a shaded, ventilated location that is accessible for maintenance. Direct sun and excessive heat reduce inverter efficiency and lifespan. Your installer will identify the best location during the site assessment.

What happens to my inverter during a blackout?

A standard grid-connected inverter (string or hybrid without backup) will shut down during a grid outage. This is an anti-islanding safety requirement under Australian Standards (AS/NZS 4777.2). If you have a hybrid inverter with a battery and backup circuits configured, those circuits will continue to receive power from the battery during the outage.

The Right Inverter for Your System

Your inverter choice affects your system's efficiency, monitoring, battery compatibility, and long-term value. Request a free, no-obligation quote and we will recommend the inverter type and brand that best suits your roof, your energy goals, and your future plans.

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A family and their dog looking at their solar-powered home and battery at sunset

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