Knowledge Base

Sol-Ark® FAQs

Whether you’re a new or existing Sol-Ark® customer, or researching if solar energy system is the right solution for you, we’ve created a list of frequently asked questions about our products, services, and policies.

What is a Hybrid Inverter?

A hybrid inverter is used in solar power systems to manage and convert electricity generated from solar panels (PV), stored in batteries, and supplied to the power grid. The inverter will use the most efficient power source available for the situation, whether it is PV to Grid, battery to home, generator to battery, etc.

What "All-in-One" Mean for Hybrid Inverters?

Sol-Ark® hybrid inverters for residential and commercial have the charge controller, A/C charger, generator controls, touchscreen display, remote monitoring, & transfer switch all built in. There’s no need to purchase and install additional pieces of equipment. Some models also have battery disconnects.

Do I Need Batteries With My Sol-Ark® Hybrid Inverter?

No. However, we strongly recommend that you purchase batteries to provide energy resilience and backup power and around-the-clock monitoring.

Our hybrid inverters have a 48V battery agnostic architecture, which means you can use any 48V battery to fit your budget.

Do I Need A Generator With My Sol-Ark® Invertor?

No, generators are not required with our hybrid inverters; however, but they are supported. If you do buy a generator, please make sure it matches the output of your inverter.

Does My Sol-Ark® Inverter Have a Warranty?

Yes, all Sol-Ark® inverters come with our iron-clad 10-year warranty.

What is an EMP?

EMP stands for electromagnetic pulse. It can be caused by multiple things (e.g. lightning strikes), but it destroys most electrical components when it happens by putting many times too much energy in a given space, overloading the electrical device’s internals.

What all EMP Protection the Same?

The short answer is no. You can isolate and protect different components in a system from an EMP, but when even things like wires can spike up to hundreds of thousands of volts in just 1 meter, it’s hard to catch every component. We have put the time and effort into protecting entire systems, and not just some of the pieces.

Does EMP Protection Protect My Batteries Also?

No, it does not. Protecting the inverter doesn’t automatically protect the batteries associated with it, and that’s a big choice to consider when choosing batteries. Current lithium-ion batteries are vulnerable to EMP’s due to the BMS (battery management system) that it takes to run them properly.

Consider it the brain of the system. If the BMS goes down, the batteries are worthless. Lithium-ion batteries are fantastic and perform incredibly well, but for a full EMP-hardened system, it’s best to consider another type.

Can EMP Hardening be used Off-Grid?

Absolutely! Many of our customers that go with a fully EMP-hardened system are off-grid, and their buildings range from luxurious ranch homes to bunkers that are completely underground. We even have commercial buildings that utilize our EMP-hardened systems to protect their building and appliances.

Can I Add EMP Hardening to an Existing Inverter System?

Unfortunately, no. This particular upgrade must be done at the time of sale for your new inverter. We do these upgrades in-house, so we make sure that they leave our facility ready to be installed like a normal inverter.