Why is there such a big price difference between grid-tie and offgrid inverters?

[EastFalcon]

I just watched the EG4 6000EX video and compared it to the 18KV, there is a very big price difference, 2x of the 6000ex are less than half the price of the 18K.

What are the main reasons for the price difference except for selling back to the grid they seem to do the same thing?

Testing fees to utility companies?

 

[hwy17]

Product quality and certifications.

I don't think grid tied vs. off grid is the main distinction there. Pure grid tied inverters are cheaper than either of those.

 

[pvgirl]

On grid off grid isn't really the driver for the difference in price between those 2 inverters. It's more the features, the 18kpv has a 200 amp pass thru simplifying wiring, higher PV voltage, and is rated for installs outdoors.

 

[MichaelK]

UL-listing is a primary factor. All grid-tie inverters that undergo inspection MUST have UL-listing. Off-grid is still the wild-west with foreign makers flooding the market with cheaply made products of varying quality with a lot of bottom rung components. Only the Tier-1 products get UL-listing.

 

[Supervstech]

UL certification is EXPENSIVE… in all things pricing is a compromise… trying to get sales, against competing products requires a reputation, a value, and demand.
A bulletproof reputation requires either a bulletproof product or a tremendous support staff. Or both. Everything costs money.

 

[Alkaline]

UL-listing is a primary factor. All grid-tie inverters that undergo inspection MUST have UL-listing. Off-grid is still the wild-west with foreign makers flooding the market with cheaply made products of varying quality with a lot of bottom rung components. Only the Tier-1 products get UL-listing.

So how is the EG6500 UL certified and the MPP Solar 6058 TUV (which is supposed to be equivalent to UL)?

 

[EastFalcon]

If you are not planning on selling back to grid/utility can you still use this inverters? How does home owner insurance work with them.

 

[zanydroid]

Grid tie high volume stuff is pretty cheap.

Hybrid inverters have extra testing required and lower volume. You pay an early adopter penalty.

Also the 6000XP doesn’t (yet?) have AC coupling, though that’s also coming in cheaper devices.

I think 6000XP is UL listed for off grid (it’s the same standard 1741 so you have to dig into the exact variant) but not for use with batteries (9540, applies for on and off grid).

 

[zanydroid]

If you are not planning on selling back to grid/utility can you still use this inverters? How does home owner insurance work with them.

Can you? Plenty of people are doing that. Heck plenty of people are naughtily using grid tie inverters not allowed by their utility

Should you? / Insurance. Dunno, I haven’t seen an authoritative answer. I bet if you ask insurance agent they’ll say they want to see listed equipment only/fully code compliant house.

 

[zanydroid]

Only the Tier-1 products get UL-listing.

What do you count as Tier 1? EG4 says the 6000XP is UL1741

Growatt’s grid tie product lines are UL listed. 9540 even. I don’t think people here would put growatt in Tier 1

EDIT; At this point there’s really no reason to go below UL1741 or the mobile equivalent (4xx something) unless going for something intrinsically problematic with going respectable like GTIL

 

[MichaelK]

What do you count as Tier 1? EG4 says the 6000XP is UL1741

Growatt’s grid tie product lines are UL listed. 9540 even. I don’t think people here would put growatt in Tier 1

Well, I guess that means I was wrong.