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CalculaSolar

Brands

The brands you will run into

A map of what the market carries and what each piece is for. Grouped by equipment type, not by preference. Availability and price vary a great deal between countries.

Informational page. We do not sell, do not install and hold no commercial agreements with any of these brands. If that changes, you will read it here first.

Portable power stations

Battery, inverter and controller in one box with outlets. Easiest thing to buy and the most expensive per kWh. Always check two figures: capacity in Wh and continuous output in W.

BrandTypeWhat to know
EcoFlowPortable / modularThe best known in the category. Delta units accept extra batteries, so you can start small. Confirm the model has enough solar input.
JackeryPortableSolid and simple, but barely expandable. Good for lights, internet and small loads; falls short with a fridge plus fans.
Anker SOLIXPortable / modularLiFePO4 across the line and a good warranty. A shorter distribution network than EcoFlow, so confirm after-sales support first.
BluettiPortable / modularStrong capacity per dollar and many expandable models. Parts availability varies a lot by country.

Hybrid inverters

The heart of a fixed system: it converts, charges the battery and switches between grid and backup. This is the part not to cheap out on, because it decides whether backup arrives unnoticed.

BrandTypeWhat to know
GrowattHybridThe most widespread in residential installs. Parts and experienced technicians, which is exactly what you need in a device that works daily.
Must PowerHybridThe most affordable of the three. Works well when the installer knows it; documentation is thin and configuration is unforgiving.
Huawei SUN2000HybridThe finest engineering and the most complete monitoring. Costs more and usually requires compatible batteries from its ecosystem.
Deye / SUNHybridGaining ground fast, especially in three-phase and higher power. Verify the firmware matches your region.
Victron EnergyHybrid / off-gridThe reference for serious off-grid and remote sites. High price, but open documentation and gear that lasts decades.

Batteries

Where your backup lives. For daily use in hot weather, LiFePO4 is the sensible pick: many more cycles and no objection to deep discharge.

BrandTypeWhat to know
PylontechRack LiFePO4Very compatible with Growatt and Deye. Modules of 2.4 to 3.5 kWh that stack as you grow.
BYD Battery-BoxModular LiFePO4High quality and excellent integration with Huawei. Installation is somewhat more demanding.
Trojan / RitarLead-acid and AGMCheap up front and still common. Only makes sense if you will use the backup a few times a year.

Panels

The most standardised part of the system and by far the least likely to fail. The residential standard now sits around 550 W monocrystalline.

BrandTypeWhat to know
Jinko SolarMonocrystallineWidely available in 550–615 W. Excellent price-performance for residential roofs.
Trina SolarMonocrystallineEven performance and clear warranties. Usually competes closely with Jinko on price per watt.
Canadian SolarMonocrystallineLong presence in Latin America and dependable warranty backing.
LongiMonocrystallineGood performance in heat, which is what counts in hot climates.

Five questions before you sign

  1. Who honours the warranty in your country, and on what paper? A ten-year warranty with no local representative is worth little.

  2. Does the quote state capacity in kWh and continuous output in W, or only the model? Without both figures you cannot compare.

  3. What chemistry is the battery? If it says lithium but not LiFePO4, ask how many cycles it gives at 80 % discharge.

  4. Does it include protections, grounding and wiring, or is that on you? That is where the gap between two quotes hides.

  5. Does the inverter switch over by itself when the grid drops, and how fast? Above 20 ms your computer reboots.