If you’re in the market for a modular, stackable battery solution for your solar system, you could do a lot worse than the SigenStor from Sigenergy or the Enphase IQ Battery 5P. They’re both great batteries, but which will be better for your home?
At PSC, we know a lot about solar batteries. We’ve been installing them for a decade. These are two of the best we’ve come across. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and we’re here to shine a light on both. After all, you can’t decide about purchasing a product without all the information about said product.
In this article, you’ll learn about the following:
- Power, Modularity, and Scalability: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
- Reliability and Warranty: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
- Monitoring and Smart Features: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
- Single-phase vs. Three-phase Compatibility: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
- Safety and Rapid Shutdown: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
By the end of this article, you’ll have the information you need to decide between the SigenStor or the IQ Battery.
Power, Modularity, and Scalability: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
Enphase IQ Battery 5P
While each system has strengths, the Enphase IQ Battery 5P stands out in several key areas, making it a strong choice for anyone seeking a reliable home battery solution.
The IQ Battery is designed with modular expansion in mind. Customers can start small with 5kWh of storage per unit. Sixteen can be stacked together to provide 80kWh of storage.
Flexibility like this allows homeowners to tailor their systems to their specific energy needs and goals. You might not need 27kWh, which is what you get when you stack two Powerwalls together.
But you might want 20kWh or four IQ Batteries instead. With modular options, you can zero in on your exact desired storage.
We recommend installing them two at a time, together, for 10kWh. This costs more. We’ll get into that a little later in this article, but it will be better matched to your solar panels on the roof.
Key Advantage of the Enphase IQ Battery 5P:
It has a high power-to-weight ratio. The power-to-weight ratio measures how much power a device can produce relative to its weight. This determines the efficiency and performance of the equipment.
For batteries, a higher power-to-weight ratio means that the battery can deliver more power while remaining relatively lightweight, making it easier to install and handle.
Sigenergy SigenStor
The SigenStor battery system, on the other hand, also offers modularity, but it’s designed differently. The inverter, the batteries, and the optional EV charger stack together like Lego blocks. The inverter goes on top, and the batteries and EV charger stack up beneath it.
Each battery block PSC sells is 8kWh, even though they’re also available in 5kWh. We do this because 8kWh is the minimum we recommend installing for most solar system sizes. Otherwise, the battery will struggle to supply the home loads at night.
Key Advantage of the Sigenergy SigenStor:
Scaling up your SigenStor is considerably easier than scaling up your Enphase system. Because the batteries in SigenStor are modular, they’ve also manufactured them to operate independently of each other when charging and discharging.
This means that you can add extra battery modules at any time. It’s a painless and easy process. We just install a new full battery in the block for you.
Winner: Sigenergy SigenStor.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about the features of SigenStor, we recommend you check out the following article titled, PSC Now Carries Sigenergy SigenStor Solar Panel and Battery Energy System.
Reliability and Warranty: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
Single Point of Failure
The greatest advantage of an Enphase IQ Battery 5P is that it lacks a single point of failure. We love this. A single point of failure is a real disadvantage in a solar system.
If the inverter breaks down or stops performing, your system shuts down and stops working. Then you’re stuck paying for energy again while you wait for repairs. This extends your payback period. We hate this.
Each IQ Battery has six Enphase microinverters inside it, converting direct current (DC) energy into alternating current (AC) power for the home. If anything happens to one of the microinverters or if one malfunctions, five others are charging and discharging.
They’ll continue to do so until the faulty microinverter is replaced and the whole system is functioning again. This minimises disruptions and increases system reliability.
SigenStor has a hybrid inverter on top of those batteries. It’s a central inverter that introduces a single point of failure.
However, because the SigenStor system is modular, replacing the inverter is easy. All your installer needs to do is replace the inverter block on top of the stack of batteries.
While it’s easy to install and replace the inverter, the entire system could be compromised if anything happens to it. This leads to downtime for the whole system. And we hate it.
Winner: Enphase IQ Battery 5P
Warranties
But should anything go wrong with either battery, the good news is that they each have extensive warranty coverage.
Each battery uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. LFP batteries are known for their safety, longevity, and stability.
Warranty Comparison:
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: 15-year warranty
- SigenStor: 10-year warranty
Winner: Enphase IQ Battery 5P
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about IQ Batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Much Does an Enphase IQ Battery 5P Cost?
Ready to go solar? Click here.
Monitoring and Smart Features: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
Enphase offers industry-leading monitoring capabilities via the Enphase app.
Enphase systems give you panel-level monitoring.
Panel-level monitoring means homeowners can track solar generation, battery performance, and household energy consumption in real time down to the last panel.
This level of exactness is difficult for other systems to replicate because of the architecture of the technology.
SigenStor also includes a monitoring platform but does not provide panel-level tracking like Enphase.
However, it compensates for this with advanced AI-driven analytics powered by ChatGPT-4.
This tool helps homeowners optimise their energy usage. SigenStor’s AI capabilities allow users to receive smart energy recommendations based on real-time grid conditions, historical usage patterns, and peak pricing periods.
It learns your energy behaviours and charging/discharging patterns and programs your system to match.
Monitoring Comparison:
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: Detailed panel-level and battery monitoring
- SigenStor: AI-enhanced system-wide monitoring with ChatGPT-4 analytics for energy optimization
Winner: Let’s call it a tie. Each monitoring system has advantages that the other lacks. It’s tough to declare a winner.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about SigenStor, we recommend you check out the following article titled, Sigenergy SigenStor Review.
Single-phase vs. Three-phase Compatibility: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
A key difference between these two battery systems is how they interact with the electrical grid. Homes in Australia have either single-phase or three-phase power, and your home’s setup will determine which battery system is best for you.
A single-phase connection is the most common setup in residential homes. It delivers 230V using a single active wire and is typically sufficient for standard household appliances, lights, and general electricity needs.
If your home is single-phase, the Enphase IQ Battery 5P is a great match because it is designed specifically for this type of system.
A three-phase connection is more common in larger homes or commercial properties with high power demands. It delivers 400V by using three active wires. This allows for more even power distribution across different circuits.
This benefits homes with large air conditioning systems, electric vehicle chargers, or multiple high-energy appliances running at once.
How do Enphase and SigenStor fit into this?
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P is only available in a single-phase configuration, though a three-phase version is expected by late 2025. Enphase can still be used for homes with three-phase power, but it will only back up one of the three phases.
- SigenStor supports both single-phase and three-phase configurations, making it a more versatile option for homeowners who need full three-phase backup.
If your home runs on three-phase power and you want a battery that can fully back up all three phases, SigenStor is the better option.
However, if you are on a single-phase system or are willing to wait for Enphase’s three-phase release, the IQ Battery 5P remains a strong contender.
Winner: Sigenergy SigenStor
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about single-phase and three-phase sites, you might want to check out the following article titled, Single-Phase vs. Three-Phase: How Are They Different?
Power up your savings. Click here.
Safety and Rapid Shutdown: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
When it comes to safety, both Enphase and SigenStor take different approaches.
The Enphase IQ Battery 5P is one of the safest battery systems available, thanks to its true rapid shutdown capability. This means that if an emergency arises, such as a fire or a system fault, you can completely shut down the system, ensuring zero electrical output.
This is especially important for first responders who need to work in or around the home without the risk of live electricity from solar panels or batteries. With its microinverter-based design, the Enphase system ensures that each battery and panel can be isolated quickly and effectively.
SigenStor, while incorporating standard safety measures such as LFP chemistry and protective housing, does not offer the same level of rapid shutdown as Enphase.
Instead, it focuses on system protection. Surge protection and temperature management are included to prevent overheating or electrical faults.
Safety Comparison:
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: Full rapid shutdown capability, microinverter-based system with enhanced safety protocols.
- SigenStor: Standard safety features, surge protection, and temperature management but lacks a full rapid shutdown option.
If safety and the ability to fully disconnect your system from the grid instantly are a priority, the Enphase system offers the most comprehensive protection available.
Winner: Enphase IQ Battery 5P
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about rapid shutdown, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Important is Rapid Shutdown in a High Voltage DC Solar System?
Value: Sigenergy SigenStor vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P
When it comes to cost, both the IQ Battery and SigenStor are competitive options for homeowners looking to invest in battery storage.
However, the cost can vary depending on what you’re in the market for and how the system will be installed.
Cost-Saving Considerations:
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: Modular, meaning you can start small and expand over time, spreading out costs.
- SigenStor: Also modular. It can be installed with fewer additional components than Enphase, making it potentially more cost-effective for homeowners with limited wall space.
Enphase holds an advantage in its long-term value. With a 15-year warranty, it is built to last longer than most batteries in its class, which can translate into fewer replacements and lower costs over time.
While the upfront investment might be higher, you could save money in the long run by avoiding early replacements.
SigenStor, on the other hand, might have a lower initial cost of entry. Since it integrates a hybrid inverter, homeowners may find that they don’t need as many additional components as they would with an Enphase system, reducing the total system cost.
For homeowners on a tighter budget, the ability to install a battery system without all the extra backup components could be a major advantage.
However, if you’re looking at energy storage as a long-term investment, the longevity and extended warranty of Enphase may be worth the additional upfront cost.
Whether Enphase or SigenStor provides better value depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a battery that will last well beyond a decade, Enphase is a strong choice. If you want an affordable, efficient storage solution with minimal extra costs, SigenStor may be the better fit.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about the cost of SigenStor, we recommend you check out the following article titled, How Much Does the Sigenergy SigenStor Cost?
Let’s talk solar savings. Click here.
Wrapping Things Up: Which is Right for You?
Now you know why both Enphase and SigenStor are solid choices. Which one is the best fit depends on your specific needs and goals.
Go with the Enphase IQ Battery 5P if:
- You want reliability without a single point of failure.
- A 15-year warranty gives you peace of mind for long-term savings.
- You appreciate panel-level monitoring and rapid shutdown features for maximum control and safety.
Choose SigenStor if:
- You need a cost-effective energy system.
- Your home runs on three-phase power, and you want a battery that fully integrates without limitations.
- You want efficient DC-coupled charging with minimal energy loss.
At PSC, we help homeowners find the right energy solution for their needs. Whether you’re considering Enphase, SigenStor, or another battery option, our team is here to provide expert guidance and seamless installation. It’s what we do.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the solar battery rebate, you might want to check out the following article titled, Everything You Need to Know About the Home Battery Rebate for NSW.
