Hybrid inverters save money. They don't increase project cost.
The Sol-Ark is the largest and most powerful hybrid AIO on the market. It has 10% more battery charger amps, 50% more MPPT, and 25% more daytime AC power than the Luxpower. That gets you the flexibility to choose lower cost modules... for larger arrays - particularly rooftop arrays, that more than makes up the cost difference between the LuxPower and you aren't running the unit at max spec if you need the 12kW power (such as for NEM3 or other virtual power plant incentives... which are only growing in number).
You get what you pay for, but there are considerations pro installers must make which DIYers can avoid. Sol-Ark's DC optimizers will provide in-platform shade management and rapid shutdown compliance, without juggling multiple monitoring portals on site, for example. We have multiple battery partners which are good to go re. UL9540-2020 (mandated in California today and across most of the the USA next year). You want easy? Go with Homegrid. You want great UI with load management? Go with Storz. You want low cost per kwh? Go with Pytes. Ultimately, DIYers can always save money compared to a pro installers, and that doesn't matter if you use a top quality product, or go with a cheaper option with less features / spec. But you're looking at a marginal difference in cost between Sol-Ark and Luxpower unless you're snagging those $4k earliest models (which... just no). It is possible to go to cheap and end up with a very expensive brick instead of a functioning system. The warranty is only as good as the company behind it.
If you go with Luxpower, fine. It won't be more cost-effective for larger installs, because of the MPPT sizing. It's common to blow out the PV size for offgrid for cloudy day production. And for grid-tied, I think we are moving toward a future where people will want to discharge batteries to the grid somewhere between a 1C to C/2 rate on a regular basis. Only Sol-Ark has the endurance testing to back up the claim that it can do that every day for 10 years under warranty. But the idea that Luxpower is an equivalent or better inverter is simply not true. It is a smaller and cheaper inverter, and repped by very different companies. Some may prefer the slightly lower cost.
But can't we all admit that Luxpower ripped off the Sol-Ark 15k? Sol-Ark is the thought leader in this space, and that difference will only continue to add value over the years as the product line grows.
If you don't need something as large as the 15k, you can always go with a smaller inverter. When we launch the load controller, it will really start to lead the pack in terms of cost-effective whole system level design, both on and off grid. Not to rest on our laurels, we have tremendous field experience with our inverter product line, and are growing into a comprehensive platform like Enphase/Solaredge/Tesla.
I appreciate that Sol-Ark has a teammate like you,
@jrcromer , who promote and endorse the company they serve. I actually have been too busy to respond directly to some of public comments from Sol-Ark regarding Luxpower. Here now I would like to briefly address this particular statement:
The phrase "you get what you pay for" shouldn't come from a specific manufacturer; it should be left to the judgment of the consumers.
We and Deye (your manufacturing partner) started developing this US version inverter around the same time.
In 2018, our AIO hybrid inverter was already being used in markets like South Africa. However, due to certain unfair exclusive agency agreement issues, we couldn't enter the market for the US standard machines as originally planned in 2019.
Our founders team has over 10 years of inverter experience. Our founder, Jin Wang, was the 2nd co-founder of Growatt in 2010, and since then, Growatt has sold hundreds of thousands of various solar inverters, including hybrid inverters, every year.
Personally, I purchased and tested Voltronic's Infini-Solar 3k, Solax's 5kW, and GoodWe bi-directional inverters 13 years ago. At that time, these models were also referred to as hybrid inverters, but it was still the era of lead-acid batteries, and the cost of batteries was not affordable for ordinary users to have such an energy storage system. Additionally, regulators in various countries did not emphasize the development of Distributed Energy Storage networks. Regardless, we never claim to be the inventors of hybrid inverters; we have always strived to manufacture hybrid inverters that better meet the expectations of today's users and comply with different regional regulatory standards.
Surely I believe Sol-Ark has made tons of efforts to make their products more excellent for the American customers. Not just the product itself, Sol-Ark has built an excellent customers /installers service network.
Did Luxpower copy Sol-Ark inverters? It is easy to have such a misconception, and I don't blame you for thinking so as you can find a lot of same features between these 2 brands. Before the release of the new version, we did benefit from many suggestions, including those from the EG4 team, which mentioned comparisons with other inverter brands. For example, someone asked, "Can you have a wiring space as large as Sol-Ark's?" We couldn't meet all the suggestions in practice, but we knew that all our improvements had to be based on two fundamental principles: 1) not breaking the law or infringing on any protected patents, and 2) putting user needs at the center.
Another significant reason why similar products with similar functions may appear alike is the local electrical codes and standards. For example, the external placement of the RSD button and the requirement to use components from the standardized list.
Furthermore, concerning third-party lifespan testing, I admit that we have not conducted as many tests in this area compared to Sol-Ark. However, that doesn't mean our quality is inferior. A company's assurance of product quality, such as a limited 10-year warranty, is not just an advertisement; it is a commitment of responsibility that has been tested and accepted by the market. Clearly, if a company fails to deliver on such a promise, it would be digging its own grave and pushing the company off a cliff.
Anyway, in the end, I want to say that the benefit of a free market is that it encourages competition, leading to better products with better prices for consumers. We are open to this and have a forward-looking approach. Beyond our two companies, there are more and more inverter brands joining this competition, which drives rapid industrial development. Everyone's efforts will contribute to achieving "Energy Independence" to the maximum extent possible in our world. Keep going; all our efforts are changing this world, making it better and more sustainable.
Thank you all!
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