I have a Gen 1 Hybrid inverter 3.6kw.
Is there any value in fitting newer batteries to it or (if I can source) are Gen 2 or Gen 1 batteries equally good.
Given the inverter limits (2kw charge and 2.6kw discharge), am I right that I'm just as well going for the cheapest batteries I can get to link to it?
But if there are any other benefits I can't think of, I'd like to know before deciding.
A gen 1 can discharge at 2.42kw, full export 2.88kw, import 2.6kw. it can discharge 3.6kw from 2 sources ie solar & battery. These figures are with a 9.5kwh gen 2 battery and 3020w array on the roof.
[unknown] thanks Marren. I think I'm already getting this same performance (peak) from my Gen 1 5.2kwh battery. What you are doing is confirming my suspicion that I should get the cheapest Givenergy batteries (per installed kWh) that I can find, so Thanks!. Because everything is limited by my inverter.
[unknown] I have a Gen 2 9.5 battery on a gen 1 hybrid and a 5.2 on a second gen 1 hybrid. They both perform as Marren says.
Only difference between the two is that in low temperatures the 5.2 downrates charging to 1.7kWh whereas the 9.5 continues at full 2.4 rate.
Bear in mind the effective usable in some of the batteries, the 5.2 is really 4.2 as its 80% usable. The new 5.12 is actually 5.12 usable.
I’d always suggest getting the biggest you can
Geoffrey, I have a Gen 1 with 2 x 5.2’s could I therefore add on a Gen 2 9.5? Is it plug & play? Why did you go for 2 inverters, and would that be more sensible for me?
Thanks for your time.
Watcher I went for two inverters because I have 10.4kW of panels connected to the givenergy inverters.
Two inverters gives double the discharge rate which is a big advantage for me. You do have to deal with or live with cross charging, but there are ways to minimise that.
The only issue with adding a 9.5 battery to your 2x 5.2’s is that when the 5.2 fills up or empties then the entire battery chain stops charging/discharging so you won’t get the full capacity of 9.5+(80% of 5.2)x2. The primary battery (the 9.5) will take most of the charge/discharge, but you will get some capacity reduction as a result of this.