Best Solar Inverters in India (2026): Datasheet Comparison
Last reviewed 6 October 2026
The right inverter depends on one question before any brand: do you need backup during power cuts? India has three practical families. Grid-tied string inverters are the cheapest and simplest, and shut down when the grid fails. Hybrid inverters add a lithium battery and export to the grid — and come with either a 48 V-class battery port or a high-voltage one. Lead-acid solar UPS units (PCUs), which many buyers mean by “hybrid”, give backup and self-use but cannot export.
This page compares nine inverters we reviewed from their manufacturer datasheets and matches each to the situation where its numbers genuinely lead. The battery voltage class is the first filter, because it decides which batteries fit — our [solar battery comparison](/reviews/best-solar-batteries-india/) is the companion page. The datasheets we found are mostly international versions, so each review flags what to confirm for the India-market model.
No paid rankings, no affiliate links. No manufacturer can pay for a score or a place on this page. We review published specifications and field reality against a transparent methodology — we are not a laboratory, and we never present a number as a test we did not run.
Which One Fits Your Situation
Growatt — MIN 5000TL-X
98.4% maximum efficiency and an established India installer base. Confirm in writing whether AFCI is included — the datasheet lists it as optional.
Solis — S6-GR1P3.6K-M
Light (7.7 kg), fanless, IP66, with AFCI integrated. We verified only the 3.6 kW model — not the wider range — so do not assume the numbers scale up.
Deye — SUN-5K-SG04LP1-EU-SM2
A single-phase 5 kW hybrid with a 120 A, 48 V-class battery port, AC-coupling and up to 8 kW of PV input on two trackers. The datasheet is the EU variant — confirm India certificates, DISCOM acceptance and local service.
Solis — S6-EH1P6K-L-PLUS single-phase low-voltage hybrid inverter
Under-4 ms backup switching, a 135 A battery port, dual backup outputs and generator support. Its datasheet is marked preliminary and its 96.2% efficiency is below the other hybrids — get the final datasheet.
Growatt — SPH 5000TL BL-UP single-phase hybrid inverter
Under-10 ms switchover, 97.5% efficiency, and a 10-year warranty option. The datasheet’s AC rating rows contradict each other for the “5000” model — confirm the real grid-side rating first.
Deye — SUN-5K-SG04LP3-EU
A 48 V-class three-phase hybrid with AC-coupling to retrofit batteries. The datasheet is the EU variant, so confirm the India model’s certification and your local service.
Huawei — SUN2000-5KTL-L1 single-phase battery-ready inverter
98.4% maximum / 97.8% European efficiency, arc-fault protection and built-in WLAN. Backup needs a separate box and the battery must be Huawei’s high-voltage LUNA2000; it is an EU datasheet, so confirm India availability and service.
Sungrow — SH5.0RS-20 single-phase hybrid inverter
97.7% maximum efficiency, under-10 ms backup switching and an 80–460 V battery window. It will not take a 48 V pack, and no warranty term or arc-fault protection is listed.
Livguard — LS OG5048M 5 kVA / 48 V MPPT solar power conditioning unit
An Indian-brand 5 kVA solar UPS with an MPPT charger for tubular or VRLA batteries. It does not export, so it earns no net-metering credit and does not suit a PM Surya Ghar installation.
Side-by-Side Specifications
Figures are manufacturer datasheet values — we are not a laboratory. Scroll sideways on mobile.
Grid-tied (no battery)
| Product | HUM score | Rating & type | Efficiency | Battery port | MPPT layout | Warranty | AFCI (arc-fault) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growatt MIN 5000TL-X | 4.1/5 | 5 kW, single-phase on-grid | 98.4% max / 97.5% Euro | None (grid-tied) | 2 MPPT, 1 string each | 5 yr (10 yr optional) | Optional |
| Solis S6-GR1P3.6K-M | 3.8/5 | 3.6 kW, single-phase on-grid | 97.3% max / 96.8% EU | None (grid-tied) | 1 MPPT, 2 strings | Not stated on datasheet | Integrated (activation required) |
Hybrid with a 48 V-class battery port
| Product | HUM score | Rating & type | Efficiency | Battery port | MPPT layout | Warranty | AFCI (arc-fault) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deye SUN-5K-SG04LP1-EU-SM2 | 3.7/5 | 5 kW, single-phase hybrid | 97.6% max / 96.5% Euro | 40–60 V, 120 A (48 V class) | 2 MPPT (1 string each) | 5 or 10 yr (site-dependent) | Optional |
| Deye SUN-5K-SG04LP3-EU | 3.8/5 | 5 kW, three-phase hybrid | 97.6% max / 97.0% Euro | 40–60 V, 120 A (48 V class) | 2 MPPT | 5 or 10 yr (site-dependent) | Optional |
| Solis S6-EH1P6K-L-PLUS single-phase low-voltage hybrid inverter | 3.5/5 | 6 kW, single-phase hybrid | 96.2% max / 94.7% Euro | 40–60 V, 135 A (48 V class) | 2 MPPT | Not stated on datasheet | Optional (AFCI 2.0) |
| Growatt SPH 5000TL BL-UP single-phase hybrid inverter | 3.6/5 | “5000” model, datasheet AC rating to confirm (4 kW listed); single-phase hybrid | 97.5% max / 97.2% Euro | 42–59 V, 85 A (48 V class) | 2 MPPT (1 string each) | 5 yr (10 yr optional) | Not listed |
Hybrid / battery-ready with a high-voltage battery port
| Product | HUM score | Rating & type | Efficiency | Battery port | MPPT layout | Warranty | AFCI (arc-fault) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sungrow SH5.0RS-20 single-phase hybrid inverter | 4.0/5 | 5 kW, single-phase hybrid | 97.7% max / 97.3% Euro | 80–460 V, Li-ion only (high-voltage) | 2 MPPT (1 string each) | Not stated on datasheet | Not listed |
| Huawei SUN2000-5KTL-L1 single-phase battery-ready inverter | 4.1/5 | 5 kW, single-phase, battery-ready | 98.4% max / 97.8% Euro | 350–560 V, Huawei LUNA2000 only (high-voltage) | 2 MPPT (1 input each) | Not stated (EU datasheet) | Arc-fault protection listed |
Lead-acid solar UPS (backup and self-use, no grid export)
| Product | HUM score | Rating & type | Efficiency | Battery port | MPPT layout | Warranty | AFCI (arc-fault) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livguard LS OG5048M 5 kVA / 48 V MPPT solar power conditioning unit | 3.0/5 | 5 kVA solar UPS / PCU, no grid export | Not stated for this model | Lead-acid, 48 V (4 × 12 V) | 1 MPPT input | Not matched to this model | Not listed |
How to choose between them
- Reliable grid, bill savings are the goal: a string inverter such as the Growatt or Solis is the cheaper, simpler path.
- Power cuts are frequent: you need a hybrid inverter and a battery — compare the architectures in on-grid vs off-grid vs hybrid and the battery economics in is solar battery storage worth it in India.
- Pick the battery voltage class first: 48 V-class inverters (Deye, Solis, Growatt SPH) pair with 48 V packs such as the Pylontech or Luminous batteries; Sungrow and Huawei need their own approved high-voltage batteries. See the battery comparison.
- Only lights, fans and a TV need backup: a lead-acid solar UPS can be enough, but it cannot export and does not qualify for net metering.
- Complex roof with several orientations: MPPT layout matters — one tracker with two strings suits similar orientations; two trackers with one string each suit different ones.
- Fire-risk sensitivity: ask whether AFCI is included and switched on, not just present on the datasheet.
Our 5.12 kWh LFP battery review shows what to check when pairing a battery with a hybrid inverter, and the net metering by state guide explains how exports are valued in your state.
Brand Profiles Also Reviewed
Broader brand-level reviews, based on public positioning rather than a single datasheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which inverter is best for a 5 kW home solar system?
- For a grid-tied home with reliable supply, a string inverter such as the Growatt MIN 5000TL-X (98.4% maximum efficiency) is the simplest and cheapest choice. If outages matter, a hybrid adds battery backup: the Deye SUN-5K-SG04LP1 (single-phase) or SG04LP3 (three-phase) on a 48 V battery, or the Sungrow and Huawei models on a high-voltage battery. Check the India-specific model and certification, because most datasheets we reviewed are international versions.
- Do I need a hybrid inverter?
- Only if you want backup during power cuts or plan to add a battery. A standard on-grid inverter shuts down when the grid fails, by design. Our on-grid vs off-grid vs hybrid comparison explains the trade-offs.
- Which inverter works with which battery?
- Match the voltage class. The Deye, Solis and Growatt SPH hybrids have 40–60 V (48 V-class) battery ports and fit 48 V lithium or lead-acid packs, subject to each maker’s approved-battery list. The Sungrow SH5.0RS-20 (80–460 V) and Huawei SUN2000-L1 (350–560 V) need high-voltage batteries, and Huawei’s works only with its own LUNA2000.
- Is a solar UPS or PCU the same as a hybrid inverter?
- No. A solar PCU like the Livguard LS OG5048M runs from a lead-acid battery bank, charges it from solar and the grid, and does not export power. A grid-tied hybrid can export and normally supports lithium batteries, which is what net metering and the subsidy require.
- What is AFCI and do I need it?
- AFCI detects dangerous DC arcs and shuts the system down to reduce fire risk. It is optional on the Growatt MIN 5000TL-X, the Deye datasheets and the Solis hybrid, integrated on the Solis S6-GR1P3.6K-M (activation required), and listed as arc-fault protection on the Huawei datasheet; the Sungrow and Growatt SPH datasheets do not list it. Ask your installer whether it is included and switched on.
- Can I compare the efficiency figures directly?
- Only roughly. Datasheets quote maximum and European weighted efficiency, and the test conditions differ. The Solis hybrid datasheet also lists the battery charge and discharge paths separately (94.5–95.3%), which the others omit, so its lower headline figure is not like-for-like with the rest.
- Are these inverters approved for use in India?
- The datasheets we reviewed show international or export certifications (CE, VDE, AS4777, NRS and others) and do not state India-specific approvals. Ask the vendor for the India-market model’s certificates before buying.
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