I posted a question yesterday with regard to a problem on my Kodak off-grid inverter. I subsequently noticed that one of my Pylontech batteries is also swollen. It is a small system installed in January 2020 - 1 x Kodak OG-Plus 5.48 inverter and 2 x Pylontech US 2000 batteries, and it seems like it is reaching the end of its life (much earlier than hoped/anticipated when first installed).

I would probably like to install an 8 kW inverter and a single battery to start with, and add more as I can afford to do.

I want to post a separate question with regard to off-grid vs hybrid vs grid-tied inverters in another forum, so here I think just to stick to the topic I am looking for brand recommendations in terms of the items below. TBH I have really struggled with after-sales support in trying to do the DIY approach to solar, with Segen Solar absolutely refusing to deal with end users.

1. Easy of installation, operation and management

2. Quality

3. After sales support and warranty

12 minutes ago, Tursiops said:

I posted a question yesterday with regard to a problem on my Kodak off-grid inverter. I subsequently noticed that one of my Pylontech batteries is also swollen. It is a small system installed in January 2020 - 1 x Kodak OG-Plus 5.48 inverter and 2 x Pylontech US 2000 batteries, and it seems like it is reaching the end of its life (much earlier than hoped/anticipated when first installed).

I would probably like to install an 8 kW inverter and a single battery to start with, and add more as I can afford to do.

I want to post a separate question with regard to off-grid vs hybrid vs grid-tied inverters in another forum, so here I think just to stick to the topic I am looking for brand recommendations in terms of the items below. TBH I have really struggled with after-sales support in trying to do the DIY approach to solar, with Segen Solar absolutely refusing to deal with end users.

1. Easy of installation, operation and management

2. Quality

3. After sales support and warranty

I will go out on a limb and suggest something that I typically get scorned for on other forums. As a person who also DIYed his solar, my approach was to go cheap so that when things fail, you don't cry much afterwards.

I would get an Axpert clone (these have been proven to last years without issues, brands like MUST, ECO, etc.). They come with 5-year repair warranties if you get someone certified to install it. An example would be like the one below. My logic is this: the more expensive inverters, like the Deye, etc., just don't last that much longer than these clones. My Dad is off-grid and has the 6.2kW version of this, and it has been flawless for the last 2 years. I am off-grid with the MUST version, albeit it's only a 3.6kW, and I have had zero issues. So what I would do, is buy an inverter like this, 11kW is a good size, spend the little extra to get an electrician to install it so that you keep the 5 year warranty it comes with.

As for the battery, again, not conventional advice, but go for a DIY lithium battery bank. Why? You can replace cells that swell if they swell, and not have to deal with the companies that come up with all kinds of nonsense as to why they won't repair it. BMS fail? Replace it yourself. A cell fails? Replace it yourself. Pair it with a JK BMS that has a long track record and actually does active balancing, unlike these passive balancers installed on most batteries. There are 2 local suppliers. And the cost is the same and sometimes cheaper than buying a prebuilt battery, but you get the flexibility of repairing it yourself. The example below is a good quality EVE cell. You can choose what capacity you want to build with. Busbars are included in the price.

And thats it. The inverter, go "cheap" and get a large one. Get an electrician to install so that you keep the 5 years warranty. Battery, DIY as the warranty is not needed as you can just replace a failng cell (if it fails).