Sungrow SG5K-D Premium Inverter review | Premium but worth it
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The Sungrow SG5K-D solar inverter is new yet popular in Australia. The word ”Quality Chinese” is an oxymoron. But, with Sungrow, the meaning has changed completely. Sungrow enjoys an ever-growing market reputation.
Today, in this blog, we will review this amazing inverter to help you decide whether it is the right choice for you. So, let us check out its features, specifications, comparison chart, etc.
Sungrow started with humble beginnings in the year 1997. The company thrived under the leadership of Cao Renxian. He was a renowned professor at the Hefei University of Technology. The company aims to renovate the electricity supply globally using renewable energy.
Currently, Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd. ranks as the 2nd largest inverter maker behind Huawei. The company enjoys a $1.5 Billion net worth. It specializes in manufacturing, R&D, & renewable power supply genre.
The brand specializes in:
The SG Premium range by Sungrow features the following characteristics:
The Sungrow SG5K-D flaunts a 5000 watt rated power with the highest DC voltage standing at 600 volts. This single-phased solar PV inverter brings in a high-quality design with 2 MPPTs. The 10-year manufacturer warranty can be further extended as required.
The SG5K-D is for residential users and impresses us with its ease of installation. The high performance & reliability comes with 98.4 percent efficiency. With the flexible PV strings configuration, the inverter provides you DC/AC ratio that is 1.3.
Further, the inverter flaunts a smart management feature that ensures online monitoring. This is possible via web or application. The SG5K-D features over-the-air updates for its firmware. It also features feed-in control for dynamic accuracy.
Sungrow inverters have a Wi-Fi monitoring feature as a standard for all its models. This includes the SG5K-D model. The inverter makes use of the latest cloud-based solar monitoring portal named iSolarCloud. This is a massive improvement over the previous models by the company.
The free-of-cost smartphone application has an interesting UI that is easy to use. Yet, in some cases, it is noticeable that the power consumption monitoring has a glitch.
Anyone’s idea of cost savings isn't keeping every electronic gadget in the house synced with Wi-Fi. For most individuals, solar inverters are a set-&-forget technology. Sungrow has decided to include a screen in the design to ensure that you can see the power generated. You can walk by your inverter and take a peek.
With most solar inverters, screens have been a weak factor. This becomes worse with unnerving designs that aren’t particularly user appealing. This is why you won’t see such screens on most modern-day inverters. Yet, with Sungrow, the screen design flaunts updates given its importance. The built-in screen found in the SG5K-D is as fancy as they come.
The best way to get the most out of your solar inverter is by selecting the right sized inverter. For most Sungrow premium inverters, the efficiency ranges between 95 & 98 percent. The company’s CEC-approved models bring you an efficiency of 97.7-98.6 percent. This makes Sungrow rank higher than most market competitors' efficiency.
The specification sheet for Sungrow SG5K-D has natural cooling, as the company claim. This natural cooling comes from an embedded fan for the prevention of hot spots. The SG5K-D is compact and makes use of the heat sink feature in the inverter.
Heat tends to destroy electronics, and this is especially true for electrolytic capacitors. When you compare Sungrow with Fronius, the latter is a better choice. Fronius provides better cooling with both external and internal fans. It also has a well-designed cooling chamber to pump away the heat.
So, make sure you keep your Sungrow SG5K-D inverter in a place that is away from direct sunlight. This helps avoid unnecessary heating issues.
The Sungrow SG5K-D does advertise a surge protection feature in its specification sheet. Yet, it isn’t as effective as you would want it to be. The design could be better with some replaceable cartridges for surge protection.
The inverter has MOVs (Metal Oxide Varistors) that are crucial for the latest solar inverters. This mandate is per the IEC62109 International Inverter Standard.
Most of the premium Sungrow inverter comes with a 10-year manufacturer warranty. The number is the same in the case of the SG5K-D inverter.
The SG5K-D has features like an in-built screen, DC isolator, updated monitoring design, & solar analytics. The SG5K-D is an ideal choice for homeowners. The in-built cooling fan keeps your inverter from getting too hot & optimizes its usability. The Sungrow SG5K-D is a tried & tested choice for budget investors in need of a reliable option.
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