Knowledge base · Product architecture

What are you actually buying?

Solar modules, inverters and batteries perform different jobs. Architecture shows where generation, conversion and storage sit before a score or sales bundle enters the decision.

275 products classified4 inverter architectures3 battery couplings10 module technologies

One energy flow, three product records

Generation, conversion and storage should not be collapsed into one claim.

01 GENERATIONLIGHT BECOMES DCDC02 CONVERSIONPOWER ELECTRONICSDC AND AC CONTROLLEDACUSEHOME AND GRID03 STORAGESTORED AND RELEASED · COUPLED ON THE DC OR THE AC SIDE

An all-in-one product can package conversion and storage together. A DC-coupled battery leaves conversion elsewhere. A microinverter moves conversion to the roof. These are purchasing architectures, not quality rankings.

Power conversion

Inverter architectures

The inverter is the control plane of most modern residential systems, but the exact scope varies.

01

Solar-only string inverter

Converts PV string DC into grid-connected AC.

PV STRINGDCINVERTERMPPT · DC→ACACHOMEGRIDPRODUCT RECORDNO NATIVE BATTERY PATH RECORDED
Storage boundary
No native battery conversion path is recorded for the product.
Buying question
Best understood as the solar conversion layer, with storage treated as a separate future decision.
02

Battery-ready inverter

Converts solar DC to AC and exposes a documented storage pathway, often through additional equipment.

PV STRINGDCINVERTERSTORAGE PATHWAYACHOMEGRIDPRODUCT RECORDSEPARATE PURCHASE · MAY NEED EQUIPMENT
Storage boundary
Battery hardware is separate and may require an added controller or interface.
Buying question
Confirm what battery functionality is present now and what remains optional hardware or commissioning work.
03

Hybrid inverter

Manages PV, battery DC and household AC through the inverter platform.

PV STRINGDCHYBRIDPV · BATTERY · ACACHOMEBACKUPPRODUCT RECORDDCBATTERY · SEPARATE PRODUCT RECORD
Storage boundary
The battery remains a separate product even when it belongs to the same branded platform.
Buying question
Compare phase, MPPTs, output, backup boundary, monitoring and warranty before considering installation design.
04

Microinverter

Converts DC to AC at each solar module rather than at one central string inverter.

DC→AC AT EACH MODULEAC BUSHOMEGRIDPRODUCT RECORDSTORAGE, WHEN USED, SITS ELSEWHERE
Storage boundary
Storage, when used, sits elsewhere in the energy platform.
Buying question
Compare module-level conversion, monitoring, roof complexity, service model and warranty evidence.
Energy storage

Battery architectures

Coupling describes where conversion occurs. It does not determine battery quality or approve an installation.

01

DC-coupled battery

Stores DC energy and relies on system power electronics outside the battery product for household AC.

PV STRINGDCSYSTEM INVERTERSEPARATEACHOMEGRIDDCPRODUCT RECORD · STACK + BMS
Product boundary
The published battery record covers the storage stack, controller and stated capacity range.
Buying question
Compare usable capacity, voltage class, modular limits, chemistry and battery warranty without treating the battery as the inverter.
02

AC-coupled battery

Includes battery-side power conversion and connects on the household AC side.

PV INVACHOMEGRIDAC↔DCPRODUCT RECORD · OWN CONVERSION
Product boundary
The battery product includes its own conversion stage, while site isolation and backup controls may remain separate.
Buying question
Compare conversion losses, retrofit value, output, gateway requirements and warranty scope.
03

All-in-one energy system

Presents storage and power conversion as one integrated product or product platform.

PV STRINGDCCONVERSIONMPPT · DC→ACACHOMEBACKUPPRODUCT RECORD · ONE PLATFORMCHECK WHAT THE PACKAGE ACTUALLY INCLUDES
Product boundary
Battery modules, inverter functions and controls are packaged as one purchasing architecture.
Buying question
Compare what is actually included, phase, output, expansion limits, backup hardware and service responsibility.
Australian priority cohort

See the architecture before the score

Ten purchase-priority, buyer-ready records per category. Ranking remains inside each product's scoring class.

10 records
ProductArchitecturePublished rangePhaseScore
SH10RS Single-Phase HybridSungrow · AU priority 1Hybrid inverterWhole-home capability recorded10 kWSingle phase83/ 100
Verto PlusFronius · AU priority 1Hybrid inverterWhole-home capability recorded15–33.3 kWThree phase82/ 100
SH5T / SH10T Three-PhaseSungrow · AU priority 1Hybrid inverterWhole-home capability recorded5–10 kWThree phase81/ 100
SH5.0/6.0RSSungrow · AU priority 1Hybrid inverterEssential-load capability recorded5–6 kWSingle phase78/ 100
HIT L G3Hoymiles · AU priority 1Hybrid inverterEssential-load capability recorded12–20 kWThree phase77/ 100
ESA G20 Power ModuleGoodWe · AU priority 1Hybrid inverterWhole-home capability recorded3–9.999 kWSingle phase76/ 100
DNS G4GoodWe · AU priority 1Solar-only string inverterNo native backup recorded3–6 kWSingle phase69/ 100
SG RSSungrow · AU priority 1Solar-only string inverterNo native backup recorded5–10 kWSingle phase68/ 100
Symo GEN24 Plus SCFronius · AU priority 2Hybrid inverterWhole-home capability recorded6–12 kWThree phase79/ 100
SH15T / SH20T / SH25T Three-PhaseSungrow · AU priority 2Hybrid inverterWhole-home capability recorded15–25 kWThree phase77/ 100

Architecture describes where conversion and storage functions sit. It does not establish site suitability, an equipment pairing, installation design or network approval.

Continue the decision

Compare within the right architecture, then return to the exact quote.

Compare products Check model identities Australian buyer guide

Architecture classification comes from the curated product identity and source-backed specification records. It remains separate from site design, price, network approval and installer acceptance.