SMA Inverter review Updated July 2025

When we started in 2011, SMA were the benchmark for quality.
German made reliability.

They really weren't quite as reliable as we all thought they would be.
Had a great many that just got past their 5 year warranty before dying.
I am not saying it was planned obsolescence at all. Just coincidence.

However, considering the utter garbage coming out of China back then, they were, by comparison,
extremely reliable.

Then SMA made some decisions including Chinese ventures, that didn't work out.
Nobody asked us for SMA inverters for years and years.

It looks like in 2025, SMA maybe are making a comeback in Australia.
There's a new single phase hybrid inverter and battery.

This is not one of my usual reviews.
I can hardly review something that we haven't installed yet.
I'm being a bit cautious and letting some other solar companies install a few first.
If feedback is good, then we'll decide whether we stock them or not.

This is what their datasheet tells me...
5kW single phase model can take 10kW of panels and the 6kW model can take 12kW of panels.
That's with a battery of course.
It has 3 x MPPTs with a minimum of 3 panels per MPPT and a maximum of 13.
It is compatible with SMA's new Home Storage battery.
The battery comprises up to 5 x 3.2kWh modules stacked on top of each other.
The battery warranty is 10 years or 8,000 complete charge/discharge cycles.
(I've never been a fan of 'cycles', energy throughput is a much better metric for batteries).

I'm not really sure about how the inverter handles backup during a grid outage yet.
A YouTube video from the USA talks about 'Backup Secure' which is the same as Fronius PV Point.
1.9kW max power to an RCD protected outlet, doesn't need a battery.
This may or may not be available in Australia.
Elsewhere there's also mention of an optional backup box that needs a battery.

I'll update this page as I learn more about the new SMA inverter and battery.

This review was written by Andrew MacKeith, Solar4Ever service manager since 2011.