Finn's APsystems Inverters Review & Verdict
Finn Peacock has been a Chartered Electrical Engineer since 1998, and is ex-CSIRO
APSystems make microinverters with a twist. Rather than power one panel at a time, they power 2 to 4 panels per microinverter, depending on the model. They also make a microinverter that accepts 3 phase. These are both innovations which I just don’t see the need for.
And I can’t get over the reports of problems from installers and customers plus the low average score from users.
My advice: 1) ask yourself: are you sure you really need microinverters? 2) If ‘yes’ invest in Enphase.
APsystems Inverters: Pros & Cons
- Support for multiple panels on a single device
- Cheaper than Enphase microinverters
- Mixed reviews
About APsystems
APsystems offers microinverter and battery inverter technology for residential and commercial solar systems.
Australian Office Contact Details
Address: Suite 50/Level 1, 285a Crown Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 9007 7984
Phone (tech support): (02) 8283 8050
Email (general): [email protected]
Email (tech support): [email protected]
Australian website
Company Info
APsystems was founded in the USA's Silicon Valley in 2009 by Dr. Zhi-Min Ling and Yuhao Luo under the name APS. After establishing a manufacturing facility in Jiaxing, China, the firm released its first product in 2010, a dual-module microinverter.
The company opened a sales office in Sydney and an office in Shanghai in 2011 to service the APAC region. In 2015, APS rebranded as APsystems.
APsystems listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in June 2022, and by the end of that year had surpassed 3 gigawatts in cumulative product shipments. Today, APsystems is headquartered in Seattle, USA, and Jiaxing, China. The company serves customers in 120 countries and claims over 5 GW of products shipped; including approximately 4 million microinverters.
APsystems Microinverters
The company offers a number of microinverter solutions, including the DS3 (single-phase) and QT2 (three-phase); as well as their APstorage products, such as the ELS-5K PCS.
DS3 Single-Phase Microinverters
The dual-module DS3 model series available in Australia offers 625, 750, 880 or 960 watts output and is fully backwards compatible with APsystems' QS1 and YC600 microinverters and accessories (which have been discontinued in Australia).
The DS3 features 2 input channels, each with an independent MPPT, and encrypted wireless Zigbee communication. They have an operating temperature range of -40°C to +65°C
QT2 Three-Phase Microinverters
QT2 series is APsystems' second generation of 3-phase microinverters; supporting four solar panels and providing power output of 2000VA to suit today's larger PV modules. With balancing 3-phase output, 4 DC inputs and encrypted Zigbee comms, the QT2 features an entirely new architecture. According to APsystems, it provides 97% peak efficiency with 20% less components compared to the company's previous generation product.
ELS-5K PCS Battery Inverter
A full size inverter but based on APsystems' MLPE technologies, the ELS-5K PCS 5kW unit offers a modular, single-phase AC coupling energy storage solution for residential solar. It offers multiple modes including backup power supply, self-consumption, peak and valley, and peak shaving. The ELS-5K has a UPS-level switching time of <10ms.
The ELS-5K inverter supports parallel connections and is compatible with various batteries, including selected models from Dyness, Pylon and of course, APsystems' APStorage products.
APsystems' microinverter and inverter monitoring is via the company's EMA App. It allows (near) real-time performance tracking; with system output by day, month or year, energy savings and environmental benefits.
Warranty Information
APsystems microinverters are accompanied by a standard product warranty of 10 years (which can be extended for a fee), which begins on the earlier of three months after the date of the shipment of the product from the company or the date it is registered in the EMA portal. But note products purchased after Jan 1, 2021 not continuously connected to the internet only have a warranty of 2 years, starting from APsystems' shipment date.
The ELS-5K inverter comes with a ten-year product warranty.
Find out what Australian customers think of company's products below, and if you have APSystems microinverters installed - please add your review.
APsystems has no solar inverters in our database
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APsystems Reviews (30)
Show Most Relevant reviews from All time
- 5 star 10
- 4 star 9
- 3 star 5
- 2 star 3
- 1 star 3
View Timeline
15 July 2021
23 February 2021
31 January 2021
System is less than 12 months old and have had to have 4 inverters replaced with a huge lead time on the repair,
i do not recommend this product at all- wish i went with Solar Hart
12 October 2017
13 January 2017
16 January 2024
17 January 2022
30 September 2021
11 March 2021
12 September 2019
10 September 2019
28 August 2019
30 June 2017
07 February 2017
13 February 2016
04 January 2016
03 September 2015
07 August 2015
05 August 2015
18 July 2015
16 June 2015
06 May 2015
The remote monitoring provided by these inverters in conjunction with the ECU control unit and the manufacturers website, provides a very useful tool for online monitoring of the system performance in real time for the whole system, or panel by panel, or the entire historic record by day/week/month/year (provided the ECU control unit has internet access). It is also supposed to report individual panel or inverter failure immediately - but no failures yet so I can't comment on this.