Sol-Ark
SKU18K-2P-N
Sol-Ark 18K Hybrid All-in-One Inverter – 18K-2P-N
$8,949.70
Available to order
Shipping calculated at checkout
Hybrid Inverters
A hybrid inverter connects your solar array, a battery bank and the utility grid so you can use solar, store energy and keep selected loads on during an outage. When the grid is up it powers your home and can send extra solar to the utility; when the grid goes down, a properly set up hybrid system with a supported battery can keep backed-up circuits running. Some models include the backup transfer hardware; others need an external backup or transfer device — check the manufacturer's spec sheet. Choose by battery voltage first (48V low-voltage or high-voltage), then how much you want to back up, how much solar you plan to connect, and whether you need a generator input.
Read more about Hybrid Inverters
- Mid-size home, 48V battery: Sol-Ark 12K-2P: 9,000W continuous AC, two MPPTs with 12,000W of usable solar, 4 ms backup transfer.
- Whole-home backup, 48V battery: Sol-Ark Limitless 15K-2P: 12,000W continuous backup at 240V, 200A grid passthrough, three MPPTs with 19,500W of usable solar.
- Large home with big motor loads, 48V battery: Sol-Ark 18K (18K-2P-N): 18,000W continuous and 36,000W surge for 10 seconds, 200A grid passthrough, 28,800W of usable solar.
- 16kW whole-home backup, 48V battery: Solis S6 16kW: 16kW backup rating, 200A passthrough, three MPPTs, under 10 ms switchover. Also listed with a built-in APsmart rapid shutdown transmitter.
- High-voltage battery: GoodWe ES-US 11.4kW: 80–495V battery range, four MPPTs with up to 17,100W of solar input; backup needs GoodWe's Automatic Backup Device.
Need another brand or a complete system list? Request a written quote. No grid connection at your site? See off-grid inverters instead.
- Sol-ArkSKU15K-2P
Sol-Ark Limitless 15K-2P 48V Hybrid Inverter, 120/240V Split-Phase
$7,071.43Available to order Shipping calculated at checkout - Sol-ArkSKU12K-2P
Sol-Ark 12K-2P 48V Hybrid Inverter, 120/240V Split-Phase
$5,428.57Available to order Shipping calculated at checkout - SolisSKUS6-EH2P16K03-SV-YD-L-US-APST
Solis S6 16kW 48V Hybrid Inverter, 120/240V, APsmart RSD Transmitter – S6-EH2P16K03-SV-YD-L-US-APST
$4,995.00Available to order Shipping calculated at checkout - SolisSKUS6-EH2P16K03-SV-YD-L-US
Solis S6 16kW 48V Hybrid Inverter, 120/240V Split-Phase – S6-EH2P16K03-SV-YD-L-US
$4,995.00Available to order Shipping calculated at checkout - GoodWeSKUGW11K4-ES-US20
GoodWe ES-US 11.4kW High-Voltage Hybrid Inverter, 240V Split-Phase – GW11K4-ES-US20
$2,264.38Available to order Shipping calculated at checkout
Hybrid vs grid-tie vs off-grid inverters
- Grid-tie inverter: sends solar power to your home and the utility, with no battery. Inverters connected to the grid must disconnect from it when the grid goes out, so most grid-tie systems without batteries or backup equipment give you no power during an outage, even on a sunny day. See solar panels and backup power.
- Hybrid inverter: a grid-connected inverter with a battery inverter-charger that can keep backed-up loads on during an outage. Some hybrids include backup transfer hardware; others need an external backup or transfer device — check the manufacturer's spec sheet. During an outage the system disconnects from the grid and runs backed-up loads from the batteries, while the solar array can keep charging them.
- Off-grid inverter-charger: built for sites with no utility, or as a battery system that can charge from a generator or the grid. It takes power in through its AC input but does not send power back to the utility. Read what is an inverter/charger?
- Microinverters: one small grid-tie inverter per panel. Backup needs additional backup equipment from the microinverter maker. See microinverters.
How to choose a hybrid inverter
- Decide what to back up. Whole-home backup needs a high continuous rating and a grid passthrough sized for your service; the Sol-Ark 15K-2P, Sol-Ark 18K and Solis S6 16kW each list a 200A passthrough. Backing up selected circuits through a backup loads subpanel lets you use a smaller inverter and battery bank. Our guide the reality of a backup power system helps you decide.
- Pick the battery voltage. The Sol-Ark and Solis models are 48V low-voltage hybrids (operating ranges of about 40–63V depending on the model). The GoodWe ES-US uses a high-voltage battery (80–495V, 300V nominal), so a 48V bank does not fit it.
- Check continuous and surge ratings. Motors such as well pumps and air conditioners draw a large start-up surge. Compare each model's continuous backup watts and its surge rating against the loads you plan to run during an outage.
- Size the solar input. Each hybrid has built-in MPPT solar charging, so you do not need a separate charge controller for the array connected to it. Keep every string inside the MPPT voltage range and below the maximum input voltage at your coldest temperature (see each product page).
- Check your main panel. Larger grid-connected inverters often run into the NEC 120% busbar rule. Read grid-tied solar and the 120% rule before you plan the interconnection.
- Confirm the battery is supported. Each maker publishes battery compatibility documents for its hybrids. Pick a battery listed for your exact inverter model and firmware, and follow both makers' setup instructions.
Compare the hybrids we list
| Model | Battery voltage | Continuous backup output | Grid passthrough | Solar input | Generator / AC-coupled input |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sol-Ark 12K-2P | 48V (43–63V) | 9,000W | See product page | 2 MPPTs, 12,000W usable, 500V max | Generator input with auto start; up to 9,600W AC-coupled |
| Sol-Ark Limitless 15K-2P | 48V (43–59V) | 12,000W at 240V | 200A | 3 MPPTs, 19,500W usable, 500V max | GEN port, up to 19,200W at 240V |
| Sol-Ark 18K | 48V (43–59V) | 18,000W at 240V | 200A | 3 MPPTs, 28,800W usable, 500V max | GEN port, up to 28,800W at 240V |
| Solis S6 16kW | 48V class (40–60V) | 16kW | 200A | 3 MPPTs, 25.6kW recommended max, 550V max | Smart port for a generator or AC coupling |
| GoodWe ES-US 11.4kW | High voltage (80–495V) | 11,400VA | Through GoodWe's Automatic Backup Device | 4 MPPTs, 17,100W max input, 600V max | Generator supported; GoodWe's manual requires an automatic transfer switch |
Specs are from each manufacturer's current datasheet. Check each product page for full details and current information.
What else you need
- A battery bank that matches the inverter: browse solar batteries and lithium (LiFePO4) batteries, then confirm the battery is on the inverter maker's compatibility list. Sol-Ark's warranty excludes damage caused by batteries not listed in its Low Voltage Battery Integration Guide. Our guide to sizing a deep-cycle battery bank helps with capacity.
- Rapid shutdown: rooftop arrays generally must meet NEC 690.12. Each of these hybrids lists built-in rapid shutdown control or a transmitter option; pair it with module-level devices the inverter maker lists as compatible for that model. Browse rapid shutdown devices and read NEC 690.12 rapid shutdown for inverters.
- Solar panels: solar panels wired in strings that fit the inverter's MPPT window.
- Protection and wiring: disconnects and breakers, cable and wiring, and our inverter cable, breaker and fuse sizing table. A backup loads subpanel is needed when you back up selected circuits rather than the whole home.
Comparing inverter types? See all solar inverters, including grid-tie, off-grid and microinverters.
Hybrid inverter FAQ
Will a hybrid inverter keep my power on during an outage?
Yes, for the circuits it backs up, when it is set up with a supported, charged battery bank. Sol-Ark lists a 4 ms transfer time on the 12K-2P and 5 ms on the 15K-2P and 18K; Solis lists under 10 ms on the S6 16kW. The GoodWe ES-US needs GoodWe's Automatic Backup Device for backup, and GoodWe does not recommend backup without a battery. A standard grid-tie inverter without batteries or backup equipment shuts down when the grid goes out.
What is the difference between a hybrid and an off-grid inverter?
A hybrid is built to work with the utility grid: it can power your home from solar, batteries and the grid, and send extra solar to the utility where your utility approves the interconnection. An off-grid inverter-charger can take power from a generator or the grid to charge batteries, but it does not send power back. If your site has no utility service, see our off-grid inverters collection instead.
What battery voltage do these hybrids use?
The Sol-Ark 12K-2P, Limitless 15K-2P and 18K and the Solis S6 16kW use 48V low-voltage batteries. The GoodWe ES-US 11.4kW uses a high-voltage battery in the 80–495V range. Battery chemistry differs too: Sol-Ark lists lead-acid or lithium for the 15K-2P and 18K and lithium for the 12K-2P, Solis lists lithium-ion or lead-acid, and GoodWe lists lithium-ion. Always check the inverter maker's battery compatibility list for your exact model.
Can I add a hybrid inverter to my existing grid-tie solar system?
Often, yes, through AC coupling: your existing grid-tie inverter feeds the hybrid's AC side, and the hybrid charges the batteries from it. Sol-Ark lists an AC-coupled solar input on all three of its models here, and Solis lists DC and AC coupling on the S6. Check the AC-coupling limits for your model. Our guide to AC coupling: adding battery backup to an existing grid-tie system explains the approach.
Can a hybrid inverter run with a generator?
Yes. The Sol-Ark models have a generator input with two-wire automatic generator start, and the Solis S6 has a smart port that accepts a generator. GoodWe says the ES-US supports generators, and its manual says a system with a generator should also use an automatic transfer switch. Confirm the generator size and wiring for your model before you buy transfer equipment.
Can altE help me choose?
Yes. Send us the loads you want to back up, your electrical service, battery preference and planned solar array. Start with a written quote request or the battery backup system quote request form.