Three phase solar
Three phase inverters and batteries for Melbourne homes
A three phase home in Melbourne doesn’t always need a three phase inverter, but a single phase one stays small: on a three phase supply the inverter standard limits it to 5 kVA. A three phase hybrid inverter spreads solar and battery power across all three phases, the networks pre-approve up to 30 kW of it, and some models back up the whole home.
Our three phase solar and battery packages pair 15, 21 and 28 kW of panels with a 16 kWh or larger battery. Below: which inverters and batteries suit a three phase supply, and when single phase is enough.
Updated
Do you need a three phase inverter on a three phase home?
Not always: it depends on system size, backup and exports. To keep the three phases balanced, the inverter standard (AS/NZS 4777.1:2024) limits single phase inverters on a three phase supply: up to 5 kVA for a solar or hybrid inverter and 5 kVA for a battery inverter, with single phase solar and battery inverters on the same phase. A three phase inverter has a balanced output, and every Victorian network pre-approves up to 30 kW of it, counting solar and battery inverters together.
| Single phase inverter | Three phase inverter | |
|---|---|---|
| Connects to | One of the three phases | All three phases |
| Size on a three phase home | Up to 5 kVA for solar or a hybrid; up to 5 kVA for a battery inverter, on the same phase | Up to 30 kW pre-approved, balanced across the phases |
| Exports | Within one phase’s export limit | Within each phase’s limit, on all three |
| In a blackout, with backup | Circuits on that phase only; three phase appliances stop | All three phases, on models that back up all three |
Export limits are set per phase too. AusNet Services’ limit, for example, is 5 kW per phase (15 kW across three phases); 3.5 kW on SWER lines. On the same home, a three phase inverter can export up to three times what a single phase one can.
Three phase hybrid inverters
A three phase hybrid inverter runs the panels and a battery from one box and feeds all three phases, so the battery can be fitted on day one or added later without a second inverter. Each one works only with the batteries its maker lists, so choose the inverter and the battery together.
| Inverter | Sizes | Panels it takes | Battery | Blackout backup | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sungrow SH-T three phase hybrid inverter | 5 to 25 kW (SH5T to SH25T) | Up to 200% on SH15T to SH25T (30 to 50 kWp) | Sungrow high-voltage batteries (100 to 700 V input on SH15T to SH25T) | 63 A bypass for whole-home backup and a 10 ms switch (SH15T to SH25T) | 10 years from installation in Australia (at most 11 years from manufacture) |
| Fronius Primo GEN24 and Symo GEN24 hybrid inverter | Primo GEN24 3 to 10 kW; Symo GEN24 3 to 12 kW | Up to 150% (a 5 kW model takes 7.5 kWp, a 10 kW model 15 kWp) | Fronius Reserva, BYD Battery-Box Premium HVS/HVM and LG RESU FLEX, per Fronius | PV Point: up to 3 kVA from the panels during a blackout | 5 years Fronius Warranty Plus as standard, or 10 years free when registered on Solar.web within 30 months of delivery |
Fronius Symo GEN24: the three phase half of Fronius’s GEN24 hybrid range. Fronius’s battery list names Fronius Reserva and BYD Battery-Box Premium HVS and HVM for the Symo GEN24 Plus. Without a battery, PV Point supplies up to 3,000 VA on one phase from the panels during a blackout; with a battery, Fronius offers Full Backup.
Sungrow SH-RS and Alpha ESS SMILE-G3-S5 are single phase hybrids: on a three phase home each connects to one phase and must be rated 5 kVA or less there.
Which batteries work on three phase, and what backs up?
A three phase home can take a single phase or a three phase battery system; what changes is how it connects. A battery on a three phase hybrid inverter stores and supplies power on all three phases. A battery with its own single phase inverter connects to one phase, is limited to 5 kVA on a three phase supply, and goes on the same phase as any single phase solar inverter.
| Battery | On three phase | Blackout backup |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Powerwall 3 | Single phase unit; Backup Gateway 2 connects to single or three phase supply | Whole or partial home, with Backup Gateway 2 |
| Sigenergy SigenStor | Single phase (SP) or three phase (TP) Energy Controller | Whole or partial home, with the Sigen Energy Gateway |
| Sungrow SBR | Single phase SH-RS or three phase SH-T hybrid inverter | Through the Sungrow hybrid inverter; whole home on SH8.0RS, SH10RS and SH15T to SH25T |
| Alpha ESS SMILE-G3 | Single phase S5 or B5, or three phase SMILE-G3-T5 to T20 hybrid inverter | Backup (UPS) port for the circuits wired to it: 5 kVA single phase, 5 to 20 kVA three phase |
| GoodWe Lynx Home F G2 | Single or three phase, with a GoodWe EH, EHB or ET hybrid or a retrofit inverter | Set by the GoodWe inverter it is paired with |
| Fox ESS EQ5500 | Single phase H1-G2 or KH, three phase H3 Smart or H3 Pro inverter | Set by the Fox ESS hybrid inverter it is paired with |
| BYD Battery-Box Premium HVS / HVM | Single or three phase, with an inverter on BYD’s compatible list | Supports backup; depends on the paired inverter |
| Enphase IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase | Single or three phase installations | Grid-tied or backup set-ups; works with Enphase’s IQ System Controller |
Of the battery brands we fit, Sungrow SBR pairs with a single phase SH-RS or three phase SH-T hybrid inverter and Alpha ESS SMILE-G3 pairs with a single phase S5 or B5, or three phase SMILE-G3-T5 to T20 hybrid inverter.
For backup, the inverter decides what keeps running. A single phase hybrid or battery backs up only the circuits on its phase, so Tesla Powerwall 3 covers one phase of a three phase home. Sungrow’s SH-T three phase hybrids have a 63 A bypass for whole-home backup and a 10 ms switch (SH15T to SH25T). The Sigenergy SigenStor supports whole or partial home backup on three phase through the Sigen Gateway Home TP. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount counts usable kWh the same way on single or three phase.
A single phase inverter on a three phase home: when it’s fine
A single phase solar or battery inverter works on a three phase home; it simply feeds one phase and leaves the other two to the grid. It suits you when:
- The system is small: a solar or hybrid inverter of up to 5 kVA, like the 5 kW hybrid in our 6.6kW package.
- You’re adding a battery to existing single phase solar: an AC-coupled battery with its own inverter of up to 5 kVA goes on the same phase as the solar inverter.
- Essential circuits are enough in a blackout: lights, the fridge and power points can be wired to the inverter’s phase.
Choose a three phase inverter instead when:
- You want more than 5 kVA of inverter: our three phase packages start at 15 kW of panels, and the 10 kW hybrid in our larger single phase packages is over the single phase limit on a three phase supply.
- Three phase appliances must run in a blackout, or you want the whole home backed up.
- One phase’s export limit would hold back a big system.
Look, don’t touch: which phase each circuit is on, and moving circuits for backup, is switchboard work for a licensed electrician.
Our three phase packages: 15, 21 and 28 kW
Each three phase package pairs the panels with a 16 kWh or larger battery and one inverter. On three phase the networks pre-approve up to 30 kW of inverter, so it isn’t held to the 10 kW single phase ceiling. Looking for a 20kW three phase solar system? The 21kW package is the nearest: 51 panels and a 16 kWh or larger battery.
| Package | Panels | Battery | Solar a year | Federal rebates, about |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15kW three phase | 36 | 16 kWh or larger | 21,291 kWh | $7,300 |
| 21kW three phase | 51 | 16 kWh or larger | 29,807 kWh | $8,600 |
| 28kW three phase | 68 | 16 kWh or larger | 39,742 kWh | $10,200 |
Your quote names the three phase inverter and its size; the yearly output above is before any limit it sets.
A three phase package price depends on the inverter, the battery size, your switchboard and your roof, so we give you a fixed price in writing after a free inspection, with every federal rebate your home qualifies for already taken off.
Your saving and payback are worked out from your own bills in your quote.
Why our 19.8kW single phase package has a 10 kW inverter
A single phase home can connect up to 10 kW of inverter, so a big single phase array shares one 10 kW hybrid. Without a battery, the SAA Technical Requirements (version 1.9, February 2026) require the inverter to be at least 75% of the panels’ peak power: 19.8 kW of panels would need 14.85 kW, more than single phase allows. With a battery connected, the panels can go past that ratio within the inverter maker’s own limit. Sungrow’s datasheets give its single phase SH-RS hybrids these limits: up to 12 kWp (SH5.0RS) and 13 kWp (SH6.0RS); up to 200% on SH8.0RS and SH10RS.
| Package | Panels to inverter | Solar a year, uncapped | After the inverter limit | Trimmed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6kW on a 5 kW inverter | 132% | 9,368 kWh | 9,319 kWh | About 0.5% |
| 15kW on a 10 kW inverter | 150% | 21,291 kWh | 20,750 kWh | About 2.5% |
| 19.8kW on a 10 kW inverter | 198% | 28,104 kWh | 24,936 kWh | About 11.3% |
Outside bright middays the extra panels still add output, which is why the bigger package makes more each year. A three phase home’s 30 kW pre-approval leaves room for an inverter closer to the panels’ size.
Which 10 kW hybrid the single phase packages use, and its maker’s panel limit, is named in your written quote before you sign, so you can check the design against the datasheet.
Limits and upgrades
- Not sure you have three phase? Read the meter plate and the main switch: how to tell single from three phase.
- Thinking of upgrading to three phase? On an existing home it can cost a lot: when an upgrade makes sense.
- Export limits by network, including flexible exports: export limits and feed-in tariffs.
Three phase solar: your questions
Do I need a 3 phase inverter if I have 3 phase power?
Not for a small system. A single phase inverter works on a three phase home, but the inverter standard keeps the phases balanced, so it is limited to 5 kVA there, and a single phase battery inverter to 5 kVA on the same phase. Choose a three phase inverter for a bigger system, to back up the whole home including three phase appliances, or to export on all three phases. We check your supply and switchboard at the free inspection. Check which supply you have
What is the best solar battery for 3 phase?
The one your inverter supports and that covers your evening use and backup plans. A battery on a three phase hybrid inverter supplies all three phases, and 7 of the 8 batteries in our comparison have three phase set-ups, including the Sigenergy SigenStor and Sungrow SBR. Tesla Powerwall 3 is a single phase unit, which connects to one phase on a three phase home. Compare home batteries
How big a solar system can I put on three phase?
Every Victorian network pre-approves up to 30 kW of inverter on a three phase home, counting solar and battery inverters together. The panels can be larger than the inverter: up to about 33% larger without a battery, and further with a battery connected, within the inverter maker’s limit. Our largest three phase package has 28 kW of panels. Larger systems can still apply to the network through a paid or negotiated assessment. Export limits on each network
Can a single phase battery go on a three phase home?
Yes. A battery with its own single phase inverter connects to one phase, limited to 5 kVA under AS/NZS 4777.1:2024, and on the same phase as any single phase solar inverter. In a blackout it backs up only the circuits on that phase, so anything wired for three phase stops. Tesla Powerwall 3 is a single phase unit. For whole-home backup on three phase, choose a three phase hybrid or battery system. Backup on three phase homes
Why does a 19.8kW single phase system have a 10kW inverter?
Because a single phase home can connect only up to 10 kW of inverter. Without a battery the panels could be only about 33% larger than the inverter; with a battery connected they can go further, within the inverter maker’s limit. On bright middays the inverter trims what it can’t pass. For our 19.8kW package, PVGIS hourly data puts that at about 11.3% of the year’s output.
Three phase solar in Melbourne: what we check first
Whichever of Melbourne’s five networks supplies your street (AusNet Services, CitiPower, Jemena, Powercor and United Energy), a three phase home is pre-approved for up to 30 kW of inverter, against 10 kW on single phase. The inverter standard (AS/NZS 4777.1:2024) applies on all of them: single phase solar inverters on a three phase supply are limited to 5 kVA per phase, and a mix of single phase inverters may not leave the phases more than 5 kVA apart. So the system that suits you turns on your own switchboard: whether the meter and main switch really are three phase, which phase the circuits you want backed up (lights, fridge, power points) sit on, and whether any three phase appliance must run in a blackout. Our Mount Waverley team checks all three at a free inspection, then quotes our 15, 21 or 28 kW three phase package, or single phase where that is enough.
Get a three phase system quoted
We check your supply, switchboard and roof at a free inspection, then quote the inverter and battery that fit, with every federal rebate your home qualifies for already taken off.
Talk to us about three phase solar
Locally owned, locally installed. Call, email, or send the form and we’ll come out and inspect the property.
- Phone
- 0485 000 015
- Workshop
- 8/41 Ricketts Road,
Mount Waverley, VIC 3149