The FusionHome Smart Energy Center incorporates Huawei’s Sun2000 3.8/5/7.6/9/10/11.4KTL USL0 inverters. All of these units are high-efficiency, grid-tied, transformerless, string inverters for residential solar installations that output single-phase power.
The inverter is an essential component of your solar PV system, as it converts sunlight that your PV panels absorb into useable electricity. However, the inverter has many complex components, making it prone to failure. As such, when you’re going solar, it’s vital to identify and purchase a high-quality inverter unit.
Industry experts and consumers alike praise Huawei devices as some of the best solar inverters available. The question in this case is whether the FusionHome Smart Energy Center inverter from Huawei can guarantee you a high-performing and reliable solar installation.
To that end, our detailed review will answer popular questions about these Huawei inverters to help determine if this inverter suitable for you.
In particular, we will cover:
- What is the FusionHome Smart Energy Center Huawei inverter?
- What is the FusionHome Smart Energy Center inverter’s price?
- What are the technical specifications of the Fusion Smart Energy Center Huawei inverter?
- What are the key features of the FusionHome Smart Energy Center Huawei inverter?
- What is the FusionHome Smart Energy Center inverter’s warranty?
- Is the FusionHome Smart Energy Center Huawei inverter reliable and safe?
- Can you retrofit a battery to the FusionHome Smart Energy Center inverter?
Will all that in mind, let’s get straight into it!
What is the Huawei FusionHome Smart Energy Center Inverter?
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center inverter is among the Sun2000 string inverter lineup from Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
Specifically, these are the Sun2000-3.8/5/7.6/9/10/11.4kTL-USL0 inverter units. All are single-phase grid-tied transformerless string inverters that convert the DC solar power generated by PV strings into AC power, with output capacities ranging from 3.8 kW – 11.4 kW.
To help you understand the terminology of Huawei’s Sun2000 series, you can use the information below to know each inverter’s product info:
| Number | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Sun2000) | Product | Grid-tied PV string inverter |
| 2 (3.8K) | Power/output capacity | The output capacity of the inverter is 3.8 kW |
| 3 (TL) | Topology | Transformerless |
| 4 (US) | Region | USA |
| 5 (L0) | Design code | Residential |
Huawei is one of the best brands in digital information technology. Its solutions, products, and services are used in 170+ countries worldwide.
Since entering the solar industry, Huawei has leveraged its expertise in digital information technology and advanced R&D capabilities to incorporate ICT technologies with PV technologies, offering smart PV solutions for optimal power generation.
The company launched the “Optimal Electricity Cost and Active Safety” concept, and the Sun2000 inverters are the fruits of that labour.
Huawei FusionHome Smart Energy Center Inverter Range
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center inverter is available in six sizes, ranging from 3.8 kW – 11.4 kW.
- Sun2000-3.8KTL-USL0,
- Sun2000-5KTL-USL0,
- Sun2000-7.6KTL-USL0,
- Sun2000-9KTL-USL0,
- Sun2000-10KTL-USL0, and
- Sun2000-11.4KTL-USL0.
Huawei FusionHome Smart Energy Center Inverter Technical Specifications
The technical specifications of the FusionHome Smart Energy Center, posted in its datasheet, really highlight its excellent performance specs.
The efficiency, input, output, and general inverter information for each Sun2000 model that we’ve summarised below make for good reading:
| Efficiency | 3.8KTL-USL0 | 5KTL-USL0 | 7.6KTL-USL0 | 9KTL-USL0 | 10KTL-USL0 | 11.4KTL-USL0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum efficiency | 99 % | 99 % | 99 % | 99 % | 99 % | 99 % |
| CEC weighted efficiency | 99 % | 99 % | 99 % | 99 % | 99 % | 99 % |
| Input Data | 3.8KTL-USL0 | 5KTL-USL0 | 7.6KTL-USL0 | 9KTL-USL0 | 10KTL-USL0 | 11.4KTL-USL0 |
| Recommended DC power | 5,130 Wp | 6,750 Wp | 10,260 Wp | 12,150 Wp | 13,500 Wp | 15,400 Wp |
| Maximum input voltage | 500 Vdc | 500 Vdc | 500 Vdc | 500 Vdc | 500 Vdc | 500 Vdc |
| Rated input voltage | 370 Vdc | 370 Vdc | 370 Vdc | 370 Vdc | 370 Vdc | 370 Vdc |
| Number of inputs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Maximum input current | 15 A x 2 | 15 A x 2 | 15 A x 2 | 15 A x 3 | 15 A x 3 | 15 A x 3 |
| Output Data | 3.8KTL-USL0 | 5KTL-USL0 | 7.6KTL-USL0 | 9KTL-USL0 | 10KTL-USL0 | 11.4KTL-USL0 |
| Rated output power | 3.3 kW @ 208 V3.8 kW @ 240 V | 4.3 kW @ 208 V5.0 kW @ 240 V | 6.6 kW @ 208 V7.6 kW @ 240 V | 7.6 kW @ 208 V9.0 kW @ 240 V | 8.7 kW @ 208 V10.0 kW @ 240 V | 9.9 kW @ 208 V11.4 kW @ 240 V |
| Maximum output power | 3.3 kW @ 208 V3.8 kW @ 240 V | 4.3 kW @ 208 V5.0 kW @ 240 V | 6.6 kW @ 208 V7.6 kW @ 240 V | 7.6 kW @ 208 V9.0 kW @ 240 V | 8.7 kW @ 208 V10.0 kW @ 240 V | 9.9 kW @ 208 V11.4 kW @ 240 V |
| Rated output voltage | 208 Vac, 240 Vac | 208 Vac, 240 Vac | 208 Vac, 240 Vac | 208 Vac, 240 Vac | 208 Vac, 240 Vac | 208 Vac, 240 Vac |
| Rated AC grid frequency | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Maximum output current | 15.9 A | 20.9 A | 31.7 A | 37.5 A | 41.7 A | 47.5 A |
| Adjustable power factor | 0.8 leading, 0.8 lagging | 0.8 leading, 0.8 lagging | 0.8 leading, 0.8 lagging | 0.8 leading, 0.8 lagging | 0.8 leading, 0.8 lagging | 0.8 leading, 0.8 lagging |
| Max total harmonic distortion | ≤ 3% | ≤ 3% | ≤ 3% | ≤ 3% | ≤ 3% | ≤ 3% |
| Protection | All Sun2000 Models |
|---|---|
| AFCI compliant to UL 1699B | Yes |
| DC disconnect device | Yes |
| Anti-islanding protection | Yes |
| DC reverse polarity protection | Yes |
| Insulation monitoring | Yes |
| DC surge arrester | Yes |
| AC surge arrester | Yes |
| Residual current detection | Yes |
| AC over-current protection | Yes |
| AC short-circuit current capability | Yes |
| AC over voltage protection | Yes |
| Over-heat protection | Yes |
| Ground-fault isolation detection | Yes |
| Rapid shutdown | Yes |
| General Specifications | All Sun2000 Models |
|---|---|
| Operating temperature range | -30 to + 60 °C (-22 to +140 °F) |
| Relative Humidity | 0 – 100% RH |
| Transformerless | Yes |
| Cooling | Natural Convection |
| Noise Emission | <25 dB (Sun2000 3.8KTL-USL0, 5KTL-USL0, 7.6KTL-USL0) <29 dB (Sun2000 9KTL-USL0, 10KTL-USL0, 11.4KTL-USL0) |
| Display | LED indicators |
| Supported communication interface | RS485, WLAN, 4G (optional) |
| Weight | 39.7 lb (18 kg) (Sun2000 3.8KTL-USL0, 5KTL-USL0, 7.6KTL-USL0) 50.7 lb (23 kg) (Sun2000 9KTL-USL0, 10KTL-USL0, 11.4KTL-USL0) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 400 x 570 x 160 mm (Sun2000 3.8KTL-USL0, 5KTL-USL0, 7.6KTL-USL0) 445 x 650 x 160 mm (Sun2000 9KTL-USL0, 10KTL-USL0, 11.4KTL-USL0) |
| Protection rating | Type 4X / IP65 |
| Self-consumption at night | <2.5 W (with battery enabling < 5 W) |
| Backup | 3.8KTL-USL0 | 5KTL-USL0 | 7.6KTL-USL0 | 9KTL-USL0 | 10KTL-USL0 | 11.4KTL-USL0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rated continuous output power | 3.5 kVA @240 V | 3.5 kVA @240 V | 3.5 kVA @240 V | 5 kVA @ 240 V | 5 kVA @ 240 V | 5 kVA @ 240 V |
| Peak output power | 3.8 kVA 10s @ 240V | 5 kVA 10s @ 240 V | 5 kVA 10s @ 240 V | 7 kVA 10s @ 240 V | 7 kVA 10s @ 240 V | 7 kVA 10s @ 240 V |
What is the FusionHome Smart Energy Center Output Capacity?
The output capacity of the FusionHome Smart Energy Center inverter ranges from 3.8 kW – 11.4 kW.
The model number of each invertes indicates their output capacity:
| Inverter Model Number | Output Capacity |
|---|---|
| Sun2000-3.8KTL-USL0 | 3.8 kW |
| Sun2000-5KTL-USL0 | 5 kW |
| Sun2000-7.6KTL-USL0 | 7.6 kW |
| Sun2000-9KTL-USL0 | 9 kW |
| Sun2000-10KTL-USL0 | 10 kW |
| Sun2000-11.4KTL-USL0 | 11.4 kW |
The output capacity of the FusionHome Smart Energy Center string inverters (3.8 kW – 11.4 kW) shows that they are perfect for residential solar systems.
These inverters can provide backup power, offering continuous output power of 3.5 – 5 kVA and peak power of 3.8 – 7 kVA. The continuous power is the backup energy that the inverter outputs in the long term, while the peak power is the wattage it produces for a very short period (10s).
What is the FusionHome Smart Energy Center Inverter’s Efficiency?
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center solar inverter has an efficiency of 99%.
A solar inverter’s efficiency is how much of the DC electricity from the PV panels it can convert to useable AC electricity. The average efficiency of solar inverters is around 93 – 96%.
If you take that range as a reference, the 99% efficiency of the FusionHome Smart Energy Center makes it a highly efficient solar inverter.
How Many MPP Trackers does the FusionHome Smart Energy Center have?
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center are multi-string inverters (also known as multi-MPPT inverters).
The Sun2000-3.8/5/7.6KTL-USL0 have two input points which means they have two MPP trackers, while the Sun2000-9/10/11.4KTL-USL0 have three input points which means they have three MPP trackers.
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is a feature in grid-tied inverters which ensures that solar panels always operate at their maximum efficiency. As such, MPP tracking is a must-have for rooftop PV systems facing multiple directions.
When PV strings on your roof face alternate directions, they receive varying amounts of sunlight and will have different IV curves and maximum power points. So, you will need one MPP tracker for each string.
Thus, the FusionHome Smart Energy Center solar inverters are appropriate for rooftop installations where the panels may not be perfectly aligned. The Sun2000-3.8/5/7.6KTL-USL0 inverters, with their two MPPTs, can function with rooftop strings facing two different directions.
Meanwhile, the Sun2000-9/10/11.4KTL-USL0 inverters can work with rooftop strings facing up to three different directions.
Does the FusionHome Smart Energy Center come with an Internal DC Circuit Breaker?
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center inverter has surge protection on both the DC and AC sides.
The inverters have internal DC circuit breakers that protect them from overcurrent. When the electric current exceeds the rated value, the breaker triggers. The internal DC circuit breaker also offers protection against faults like short-circuiting, as the breaker activates when a faulty current is present in a massive amount.
FusionHome Smart Energy Center Key Features
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center has some amazing features that set them apart from competing inverter brands.
These include:
- Single box design. The FusionHome Smart Energy Center is an elegant-looking inverter without an LCD screen.
- Transformerless topology. The inverter does not have a transformer, resulting in fewer components and failure points.
- Multiple MPP Tracking. Having 2 – 3 input points allows for flexibility in system design and better shade tolerance.
- Passive cooling. The inverter is cooled by natural convection, making for a less noisy solar experience.
- Solid ingress protection. The FusionHome is dust-proof and waterproof, so it won’t have any issues with sand or rain.
- Battery-ready. You can add more batteries to your solar PV system without needing to invest in a battery inverter.
- Arc fault protection. The inverters offer protection against DC arc faults, making them some of the safest inverters in the country.
- DC circuit breaker. An internal DC circuit breaker provides overcurrent and short-circuit protection.
Single Box Design
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center comes in a simple white inverter enclosure with a small semi-circle centre featuring the Huawei logo, name, and LED indicators.
The front of the inverter lacks an LCD screen, the absence of which means that the process of setting up the inverter is app-based. The bottom of the inverter has nine ports, including two AC output cable holes – one for critical loads and the other for home loads (larger devices).
This minimalistic layout of the FusionHome Smart Energy Center certainly makes it a very sleek-looking device.
Transformerless Topology
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center is a transformerless string inverter. Any Huawei Sun2000 inverter with “TL” listed in the model name has a transformerless topology.
A transformer is a critical part of solar inverters, as it steps up the voltage generated by your PV system to the voltage required by appliances.
In a transformerless inverter like the FusionHome Smart Energy Center, the “voltage step-up” function of the transformer is carried out by a computerised multi-step system. The absence of a transformer makes the inverter more efficient because it does not suffer from the energy losses associated with the operation.
Being transformerless also makes the FusionHome inverters more compact, portable, and less expensive. The transformer is an additional component and requires more space in the inverter, leading to higher costs. As such, reducing the components in an inverter also means you reduce the points of failure.
Multiple MPP Tracking
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center solar inverter has multiple (2 – 3) input points allowing for more flexibility in system design and better shading tolerance.
Typically, solar panels are connected in series to form a string, and the string connects to a solar inverter. But strings must be of the same length and face the same direction.
However, with a 2 – 3 MPPT inverter like the FusionHome Smart Energy Center, you can have a system with strings of 2 – 3 different lengths or facing 2 – 3 separate directions.
The multiple MPP tracking capability also makes the FusionHome more shade tolerant. For dual MPPT Sun2000-3.8/5/6.7KTL-USL0 inverters, if partial shading or soiling drags down the performance of one string, the second string can still operate optimally. Thus, you’ll minimise your system’s power losses.
Passive Cooling
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center solar inverter features Huawei’s heat sink technology. Thus, these Huawei inverters are cooled by natural convection, not internal fans.
The heat sink technology features special indentations at the back of the inverters that allow cool air to flow in and hot air to flow out of the inverter, thereby cooling it. Huawei perfected this technology in its mobile phones and other electronic applications.
By contrast, most standard inverters feature internal cooling fans. Sadly, these fans create extra noise in the inverter, making them unsuitable for installation in environments that require silence (such as bedrooms, libraries, or hospital wards).
To that end, the passive cooling employed by Huawei FusionHome inverters allows them to run more quietly than other inverters. For example, the noise emission of the Sun2000 – 3.8/5/6.7KTL – USL0 inverters is under 25 decibels, while the Sun2000 – 9/10/11.4KTL – USL0 inverters is less than 29 decibels.
To put this in perspective, a whisper from five feet away rates at 20 dB, while a quiet library sound is 40 dB.
These inverters hum so quietly that you can even install the FusionHome Smart Energy Center just outside your bedroom!
Solid Ingress Protection
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center solar inverter has an IP65 protection rating.
The ingress protection rating describes the level of security that an electrical enclosure provides against dust and water. In the case of the Huawei Sun2000 inverter:
- The “6” indicates the inverter is entirely dust-proof, and
- The “5” means the inverter protects against low-pressure jets of water (in other words, waterproof).
In other words, the FushionHome Smart Energy Center inverter is quite suitable for installation outdoors. The solid ingress protection rating of the inverter also means it’s reliable as there is little chance of dust or water entering the compartment to damage critical internal components.
Battery-ready
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center is a battery-ready solar inverter. This means it is a hybrid inverter that allows you to add a battery to your solar system in the future.
With a typical central inverter, you’ll need a separate battery inverter if you want to add a battery to your solar system. But a hybrid inverter has an interface for coupling with DC batteries, so you will not need a separate battery inverter.
Arc Fault Protection
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center solar inverters offer full arc fault protection.
Solar fires are caused mainly by DC arc faults. The flow of electrical energy through ionised air causes arcing in PV arrays, which is usually hot enough to melt glass and aluminium frames, and this initiates the combustion of surrounding materials.
Thankfully, the Huawei Sun2000 inverters have arc fault protection features. These features include detection of solar inverter arcing and rapid shutdown of the system upon detecting the issue.
The arc fault protection is a safety feature that safeguards your system, property, and above all, the lives of your household.
What is the Huawei FusionHome Smart Energy Center Inverter’s Warranty?
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center solar inverter includes a generous 12-year warranty period.
With this guarantee, Huawei promises that in twelve years from the time of purchase, your inverter will not be found defective from defective materials or workmanship. Huawei will repair or replace the inverter without charge to you if such defects occur.
Solar inverters typically last between 10 – 12 years. Thus, the 12 years warranty of the FusionHome inverter covers its full lifespan. As such, these inverters provide great peace of mind. You can be certain that your inverters will be free from manufacturing defects that would affect performance.
For comparison, many other inverter brands only offer 5 – 10 years of warranty. This makes the 12-year warranty of the FusionHome Smart Energy Center one of the best guarantees on the market.
Is the FusionHome Smart Energy Center Reliable? Is the Solar Inverter Safe?
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center inverters are made with premium materials and are exceptionally safe. They tick all the right boxes when it comes to reliability and security, as they pass many internal and independent durability and safety tests.
For example, the Sun2000 solar inverters are some of the best performers in the PVEL test, which is arguably the most comprehensive inverter test in the world.
The PVEL testing includes:
- Passive chamber testing. This examines the impact of environmental conditions on inverter performance. These devices did not display any issues such as corrosion, water condensation in wiring compartments, coating delamination, discolouration and melting of external displays, electro-mechanical fatigue of solder joints and electrical connections, etc.
- Thermal performance characterisation. The looks at the effect of temperature on performance. The Huawei inverters were among the best performers in this area, as their built-in mechanisms protect internal components from exceeding temperature limits.
- Efficiency performance testing. The efficiency tests determine how well the inverter converts DC to AC under different voltages (conversion efficiency) and under varying daytime irradiance levels (energy harvest). It also assesses how well the inverter tracks maximum power point under different conditions. The Sun2000 inverters were among the best performers, showing that they can reliably give high yield under a wide range of operating conditions.
- Operational window performance testing. The test examines whether the inverter has a narrower operational window than its datasheet states. The Sun2000 inverter performed capably and even topped others in the “transient response” test. Put simply, the inverters will operate without reliability issues like de-rated power output, production losses, and nuisance tripping.
- Field testing. The test includes a “ground and arc fault” and a “30-day runtime” test. In the former, the inverter operated without showing high arcing temperatures that pose fire risks. In the latter, the inverter recorded reliable energy production for 30 straight days.
Is the FusionHome Smart Energy Center CEC-approved?
At this time of writing, the FusionHome Smart Energy Center solar inverter is not CEC-approved.
It’s worth nothing that while the CEC is one of the best sources for solar standards, that doesn’t mean these inverters aren’t up to spec. It just means that these devices are applicable for installation under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
The Clean Energy Council (CEC) is the regulator of the Australian solar industry and sets the standards for brands to follow. It also maintains a list of approved solar products, including inverters. The CEC-approved inverters are those that Aussies interested in solar subsidies should use in their installations.
So far in 2022, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd has had several solar inverters that are CEC-approved. These include the Sun2000 L1, M1, M2, and M3 models.
So, if you want to claim STCs to reduce the cost of your solar installation, the Huawei FusionHome Smart Energy Center inverters are not the best devices to do so. You’d be better served by other Huawei models like the Sun2000 KTL L1 solar inverter.
Can you Retrofit a Battery to the FusionHome Smart Energy Center’s Solar System?
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center are battery-ready hybrid inverters. As such, it’s easy to retrofit a battery to a solar PV system that features the inverter.
Central inverters are usually not battery-ready. To add a battery to a system with a typical central inverter, you’ll need to add a battery inverter.
The central inverter converts DC electricity generated by the panels to AC electricity for the house. Likewise, the battery inverter converts the AC electricity into DC electricity for storage in the battery.
Interestingly, the FusionHome Smart Energy Center can handle both DC-AC and AC-DC power conversions. Thus, with these Huawei inverters, you won’t need to invest in a separate battery inverter to retrofit a battery to your PV system.
Is the FusionHome Smart Energy Center a High-quality and Valuable Inverter? Our Opinion
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center solar inverter isn’t just a high-quality solar inverter, it’s one of the best in the world, period.
It has everything a consumer could want in performance. First, it’s a high-efficiency inverter that converts 99% of DC electricity produced by your solar panels. So, it’s the go-to inverter if you don’t want to waste your solar power, especially under poor weather conditions or shading when solar production is not optimal.
The inverters are great value for money as they facilitate flexibility in your system design. You won’t have to worry about investing in another string inverter if your solar arrays are on roof areas facing more than one direction. The inverters can also force your solar panels to operate at their maximum power point, reducing your system’s production losses.
The FusionHome Smart Energy Center Huawei inverters also have numerous safety features. The inverters have internal DC circuit breakers for overcurrent and short circuit protection. It also has arc fault protection, prevents fire hazards, and has excellent temperature performance.
In addition, you can use this device anywhere in Australia. These inverters also have battery compatibility, making it easy to add a battery to your system in the future.
Lastly, the rugged construction of the exterior means it can withstand harsh conditions when installed outside.
Next Steps…
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