Inverters and batteries
Growatt
Growatt is the range we point people at when the battery decision is not settled yet. You can install the inverter now as a straight solar system and add storage later, and the battery is designed so the modules you add in three years do not have to match the ones you bought today.
What we supply from Growatt
Growatt spans a wider power band than most brands we carry, from a 5 kW single phase unit up to a 30 kW three phase inverter, which means the same brand covers a small home and a light commercial site.
Single phase hybrid
MIN TL-XH2
5 kW
Two MPPT, pairs with the APX battery. Can be installed as a straight grid connected inverter and upgraded to storage later without replacing it.
Single phase hybrid
SPM
10 kW
Three MPPT for larger single phase homes, or roofs split across multiple orientations.
Single phase hub
SPH with EPS
5 kW
Hub configuration with emergency power supply backup built in. Runs with the ALP battery rather than APX.
Three phase hybrid
MOD XH BP
5 and 10 kW
Two MPPT, pairs with the APX battery. The entry point for three phase properties.
Three phase hybrid
MID XH
10 and 15 kW
Three MPPT. Suits larger homes and small commercial sites with three phase supply.
Three phase hybrid
MID XH
30 kW
The largest unit we carry from Growatt. Commercial and industrial rooftops with substantial daytime load.
The APX battery does something most batteries cannot
The APX is a modular high voltage LiFePO4 battery built in 5 kWh modules that stack. That part is fairly standard. What is not standard is how it manages them.
Most modular batteries expect every module in the stack to be at a similar state of charge and state of health. Add a new module to a five year old stack and the system typically runs the whole stack down to the level of the weakest one.
The APX optimises per module rather than per stack. Its management system tracks individual cell voltages, temperatures and state of charge, and modules at different states of charge and health can be combined in the same system.
Why that matters in practice
It changes the expansion conversation. If you install 10 kWh now and want another 10 kWh in four years, you are not stuck hunting for modules matching the originals, and you are not sacrificing the capacity of the new modules to the condition of the old ones.
For anyone unsure how much storage they need, which is most people, that is a genuinely useful property rather than a specification.
How it stacks
Up to four modules sit on a single floor base. Beyond four, Growatt’s own guidance is to split into a second column rather than building higher, with clearance maintained around each stack for ventilation. We plan the footprint during the site assessment, because a second column needs wall space that is not always obvious until someone measures it.
Three things we tell people before quoting
Battery ready is a real option, not a sales line
The MIN TL-XH2 can be installed as a grid connected inverter and upgraded to a storage system when you are ready. With a battery connected it supports 200 per cent DC oversizing, so it can charge the battery and export at the same time.
That said, if you already know a battery is coming, we will usually still tell you to buy the storage in the same job. Two site visits and two sets of paperwork costs more than doing it once.
The battery has to match the inverter family
The MIN, MOD XH and MID series run with the APX battery. The SPH hub runs with ALP. They are not interchangeable, and picking the inverter effectively picks the battery. It is worth knowing that when comparing quotes, because a cheaper inverter can commit you to a different storage path.
Backup needs a separate component
As with every brand we supply, a battery alone does not carry the house through a blackout. Growatt handles this either through a backup box on the XH series or through the SPH hub with EPS built in. Either way it is a real line on the quote and a real bit of switchboard work.
Specifications
| Model | Configuration | Power | MPPT | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIN TL-XH2 | Single phase hybrid | 5 kW | 2 | APX |
| SPM | Single phase hybrid | 10 kW | 3 | APX |
| SPH hub with EPS | Single phase | 5 kW | — | ALP |
| MOD XH BP | Three phase hybrid | 5 and 10 kW | 2 | APX |
| MID XH | Three phase hybrid | 10 and 15 kW | 3 | APX |
| MID XH | Three phase hybrid | 30 kW | 3 | APX |
| APX battery | High voltage modular | 5 kWh per module | — | LiFePO4 |
Growatt produces a broader range than the models listed here. These are the units we ordinarily supply. Current warranty terms are confirmed at quote. Full specifications are published by Growatt.
Questions we get asked
Can I really add the battery later?
Yes, on the XH series. The inverter installs as a grid connected system and the battery is added when you are ready, without replacing the inverter. Whether you should wait is a separate question and depends on the rebate position at the time.
Do new battery modules have to match my existing ones?
No, and this is the main reason we recommend Growatt to people expanding over time. The APX manages each module individually, so modules at different states of charge and health can run in the same system.
How much space does the battery need?
Up to four modules on one base. Above that it splits into a second column with clearance around each stack. We measure the wall during the site assessment rather than finding out on install day.
Which battery goes with which inverter?
The MIN, MOD XH and MID series run with APX. The SPH hub runs with ALP. They are not interchangeable, so the inverter choice sets the battery.
Will it keep the house running in a blackout?
Only with the backup equipment installed, either a backup box on the XH series or the SPH hub which has emergency power supply built in. Tell us at the first conversation if backup is why you are buying.
Not sure how much battery you need?
Growatt is usually our answer to that. Send us your address and a recent bill and we will show you what it costs to start smaller and expand, against buying the full capacity now.
