Growatt MIN, MOD, MAX and SPH Solar Inverters

What it is and where it is used

Growatt (Shenzhen Growatt New Energy) makes solar inverters, batteries and chargers. Its inverters are grouped by size: single-phase MIC and MIN for homes, three-phase MOD and MID for mid-range power, MAC and MAX for commercial and industrial use, and the hybrid inverters MIN XH, SPH and WIT. Growatt’s catalog for Latin America (latam.growatt.com) presents them classified as grid-connected inverters, storage inverters, off-grid inverters and batteries.

Availability and support depend on the market; confirm them with the brand or its local distributor.

For the general concept of an inverter, see DC-DC converters and inverters; the choice between string inverter, microinverter and optimizer is covered in string inverter, microinverter or optimizer.

Other string and hybrid inverter brands with their own guide: Solis inverters, Deye hybrid inverters, Fronius inverters and Chint Power CPS inverters.

Microinverter guides are also available for the Enphase IQ8 microinverters and Hoymiles microinverters.

Variants: MIN, MOD, MAX and SPH

The power figures are those of Growatt’s Latin America catalog; the exact series of your unit is on the nameplate, and the suffixes (X, X2, XH, HU-US) change between regions.

Main features

• MIN. Multiple MPPT trackers with a wide voltage range, a local display with touch keys and a design that one person can install. The manufacturer’s page lists type II DC SPD, an export limitation function and optional AFCI.
• MAX 100-125KTL3-X LV. The data sheet describes 10 MPPT, a fuse-free design, I-V curve scanning and string-level diagnostics, IP66 protection rating and up to 1100 V DC.
• SPH. The page for the SPH 8000-10000TL-HU-US presents it with lithium or lead-acid batteries, charge and discharge current of up to 200 A, maximum efficiency of 97.5%, DC or AC coupling and an input for a diesel or gas generator.
• Array protection. DC arc fault detection (AFCI) appears as an option in some series; if your installation requires it, confirm that the inverter version includes it. Rapid shutdown requirements are covered in rapid shutdown in PV systems; installation requirements follow the local electrical code.

Communications and integration

The inverters connect to the Growatt monitoring platform with the ShineWiFi-X, Shine4G-X, ShineLan-X and ShineLink-X modules, depending on the series. The SPH comes with a data logger with Wi-Fi, 4G and wired network. For commercial and utility-scale plants, integration with SCADA and the plant controller is done through the inverter communication ports and its logger, with the protocol and register map given in the manual for your model.

The control modes a plant must have, such as reactive power and power limitation, are set by the grid-code technical requirements of the utility. For small installations connected with export, the same utility requirements apply, and the connection is designed to them.

Frequently asked technical questions

• Manual for a Growatt MIN or MAX: Growatt publishes a manual and data sheet per series and per region; the MIN XH series has its own document. Download the one for your exact suffix.
• Fault codes: each series has its list in the manual. An insulation or arc alarm points to the solar array before the inverter.
• The inverter does not communicate with the platform: check the communication module, the network and the device registration, in that order.
• It disconnects from the grid: it can be a voltage or frequency protection of the inverter itself or of the relay at the point of connection.
• Overvoltage trip: if the voltage at the point of connection rises when the inverter exports, it is an overvoltage (59) protection of the inverter or of the point of connection.

What to verify before connecting it

• Series and suffix. X, X2, XH and HU-US change phase, grid voltage and grid code. The reference on the nameplate must match the order and the type of service connection at the site.
• DC/AC ratio. Growatt states ratios of up to 1.5 on the SPH and up to 2.0 on the MIN XH-US; how much to oversize the array depends on the solar resource and the losses, and is decided at the design stage (see inverter DC/AC ratio and clipping). For the number of modules per MPPT input, you can check it with our free string sizing tool and with the guide on string sizing: Voc at minimum temperature.
• Export control. If the utility limits injection, the inverter requires a meter at the point of connection; verify the compatible meter model.
• Battery and backup. The SPH works with 48 V batteries; the list of batteries approved by Growatt is the reference. In backup mode, the power available per phase is set by the model’s manual.
• Commercial plants with several MAX units. The group behaves as a single plant: reactive power control, power limitation and interconnection protection are coordinated with the utility and follow the protection scheme of a solar plant.

How we help

Our work on an installation with Growatt inverters is the interconnection part: the protection and interconnection study, the utility requirements and the commissioning of the point-of-connection protection. For plants of a certain size we do the commissioning of solar plants; to define the connection of a project, see interconnection studies. Field work is done in Colombia, or elsewhere on request. Write to us through the contact page.

Related guides

• GoodWe DNS, SDT, ET and EH inverters: series
• The inverter disconnects from the grid
• String inverter, microinverter or optimizer
• String sizing: Voc at minimum temperature
• Inverter DC/AC ratio and clipping
• Rapid shutdown in PV systems

References

• Growatt, product catalog for Latin America; pages for the MIN 7000-10000TL-X/X2 and the SPH 8000-10000TL-HU-US; data sheet for the MAX 100-125KTL3-X LV.
• IEC 62109-1 and 62109-2; IEC 62116 (anti-islanding).

Frequently asked questions