Hi guys, just had a new system put in with an RCT 8kw Axpert Max inverter. I can only assume the installer had the foresight to choose an inverter than can sell back excess PV power to the grid, but I've seen some comments here that this inverter can't sell excess power to the grid. Is this true? I have a smart meter fwiw. Thanks in advance. 

These are off grid and hence cannot feed back into the grid. For that you would need a hybrid inverter.

2 minutes ago, abd7 said:

These are off grid and hence cannot feed back into the grid. For that you would need a hybrid inverter.

Just not any hybrid as the term is used by sales staff the moment the inverter can also use panels or fitted with an AC charger. 

The true hybrids are the ones that can export. There is a lack of understanding the grid tied portion even amongst installers. 

11 minutes ago, abd7 said:

These are off grid and hence cannot feed back into the grid. For that you would need a hybrid inverter.

Thanks, are there any hybrid 8kw inverters that don't cost twice what the Axpert Max does? 🤔

7 minutes ago, Scorp007 said:

Just not any hybrid as the term is used by sales staff the moment the inverter can also use panels or fitted with an AC charger. 

The true hybrids are the ones that can export. There is a lack of understanding the grid tied portion even amongst installers. 

This is going to be a huge problem in a few months' time when everyone installing solar now is going to want to sell back to the grid...only to find out they can't!

2 hours ago, gLer said:

Thanks, are there any hybrid 8kw inverters that don't cost twice what the Axpert Max does? 🤔

The ones that are extensively used are the Sunsynks

Edited February 11, 20233 yr by abd7

3 hours ago, gLer said:

This is going to be a huge problem in a few months' time when everyone installing solar now is going to want to sell back to the grid...only to find out they can't!

Yes probably, but  if you want to export and make it count,  you will have to upsize your system in terms of capacity, and have the roofspace and the additional 5-10kw of additional panels. Thats a lot of money. Maybe there will be a long term ROI, but i for one am struggling with the exorbitant prices  just to have the bare minimum to provide for my own needs to cope with loadshedding and energy saving. 

2 minutes ago, BritishRacingGreen said:

Yes probably, but  if you want to export and make it count,  you will have to upsize your system in terms of capacity, and have the roofspace and the additional 5-10kw of additional panels. Thats a lot of money. Maybe there will be a long term ROI, but i for one am struggling with the exorbitant prices  just to have the bare minimum to provide for my own needs to cope with loadshedding and energy saving. 

This is also true. I've got just enough by the skin of my teeth with 10x540W panels and 2x5KWh batteries to stay off grid, and that's in summer. The system already costs me more each month (finance) than I'd be spending on electricity, but it's worth it to bypass load shedding and not have to rely on Eskon 80-90% of the time. Winter is going to be a different story. Adding another 5Kw battery and 10 panels blows any sort of ROI out the water, so I may just add some panels for the winter shortfall and suck up whatever on-grid energy I reluctantly have to use. 

3 minutes ago, gLer said:

This is also true. I've got just enough by the skin of my teeth with 10x540W panels and 2x5KWh batteries to stay off grid, and that's in summer. The system already costs me more each month (finance) than I'd be spending on electricity, but it's worth it to bypass load shedding and not have to rely on Eskon 80-90% of the time. Winter is going to be a different story. Adding another 5Kw battery and 10 panels blows any sort of ROI out the water, so I may just add some panels for the winter shortfall and suck up whatever on-grid energy I reluctantly have to use. 

Yep,  and I am yealous of your 2x5kw batteries, i have 6kw and my next priority will be added another 5kw or so to increase storage.