top of page

Friesen Energy is pleased to be an Installer for affordable, cutting-edge, Hybrid Inverters made by Sol-Ark.

 

As solar technology has improved and changed over the years, the industry's legacy manufacturers have primarily cobbled together their existing solar, inverter and battery charging components into various new cabinets, with incremental improvements in such things as upgraded interfaces, remote monitoring, software fixes and on-grid/off-grid options. This has resulted in multiple models and combinations of equipment with a plethora of choices, footprints, wiring requirements and pricing that require careful line by line comparisons of specifications to identify a workable system for even a residential application.

​

Joining these companies are many new ones that have focused on producing grid-tied solar power systems using micro-inverters. With the growing interest in 'Solar plus Storage', particularly in California with electrical grid shut-downs due to fire risks, many households are finding out that their grid-tied systems are also 'grid-dependent'. This means that no matter how many thousands of dollars of solar panels are on their roof, they will not be producing any power independently from the grid. These systems are for selling power to the grid, not surviving without it. Some of these companies sell limited Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), but many of these still can't 'cold start' (or 'black start'), which means they can't start up without the grid to get them going.  If a grid-dependent BESS drains before it can be recharged by the sun or the grid, the power will shut off, and stay off, until the grid comes back on.

Homeowners - be sure to know what your solar power system can and cannot do

before a grid shut-down leaves you in the dark!

 

If your solar power system is grid-dependent, or you are just getting started with solar power, Friesen Energy recommends the

award-winning, affordable, sophisticated but still friendly,

Solar Hybrid Inverters from Sol-Ark.

​

​

​Q: So what makes Sol-Ark hybrid inverters so compact and attractive?

A: Sol-Ark's experienced engineering team took the time and effort to design these new products using a clean slate. They put together a wish-list of features, then combined everything into two, primary, All-In-One models, the SA-8K and the SA-12K.

​

Q: What about all the options other companies offer?

A: Almost all of the Sol-Ark options are already programmed into every unit. Options are select-able using the built-in, intuitive, graphical, colored, touch-screen interface. Did you make a mistake in ordering, or want to change your system? Just change parameters on the interface.

​

Q: It looks like Sol-Ark is going to eventually dominate the market! Until then, what if I get one installed and I have questions or troubles that no one nearby can answer?

A: No problem. These inverters rarely have problems, and if they do, or you just have questions, Sol-Ark provides prompt technical support directly from their base in Texas, 7 days a week.

​

Both the 8K and 12K models have the following standard features:

  • Modes/programmable options: On-Grid / Grid-Tied / Off-Grid (cold start) / Time of Use / Zero Metering / Peak Shaving (lowers Demand Charges for commercial installations).

  • Dual MPPT Solar Charge Controller circuits.

  • AC In by grid, generator and/or solar micro-inverters.

  • AC Out to sell to grid or for use on-site.

  • Battery charging.

  • Battery temperature sensing.

  • Battery communication for Lithium-ion batteries.

  • Intuitive, built-in, graphical, touch, color interface.

  • Auto-generator start (2-wire).

  • PV Rapid Shut Down.

  • Built in Arc Fault and Ground Fault detection.

  • External current sensors.

  • Smart Load connection.

  • Remote Monitoring capability.

  • DC to AC transformerless inverter.

  • All-In-One enclosure rated at NEMA 1 (indoor use).

 

Options: A popular option are the EMP hardened versions that exceed U.S. military standards.

SA-8K

SA-12K

Sol-Ark comparison for website-2.JPG

Chart comparing Sol-Ark Hybrid Inverters with other popular brands

bottom of page