You’ve probably Googled things like “Powerwall vs Enphase,” or “Is SigenStor better than Tesla?” You’ve read spec sheets, watched videos, and maybe even talked to installers. But you still don’t feel confident. You don’t want to pick the wrong solar battery.
We get it. This guide will help.
PSC Energy is a certified installer of Sigenergy SigenStor, Tesla Powerwall 3, and Enphase IQ Battery 5P. We know how these batteries perform for our customers. There are reasons why we install each battery.
In this article, you’ll learn the following:
- What Solar Batteries Does PSC Energy Install?
- Battery Specs Breakdown: Side-by-Side Comparison Table
- Real-World Performance and Scenarios
- What Solar Battery Specs Don’t Tell You
- Pros and Cons of Each Battery
- Which Solar Battery Should You Choose?
- FAQ: Which Solar Battery Fits You Best?
In this article, you’ll get clear answers, real-world pros and cons, and simple tables that compare everything you care about.
By the end, you’ll know which battery fits your needs, your home, and your solar setup.
What Solar Batteries Does PSC Energy Install?
We carry three batteries, and each has its unique advantages and disadvantages. We’ll walk you through it here.
You’re here to choose between three solar batteries:
- SigenStor by Sigenergy
- Tesla Powerwall 3
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P
Each one works well. But each one does things differently. Two of them are all-in-one, two of them are modular, and two of them are easy to install. Here’s a quick look at each one.
Sigenergy SigenStor
SigenStor is a modular battery system made by Sigenergy. It’s not just a battery. It’s a complete smart energy system. It includes battery blocks, a hybrid inverter, optional EV charging support, and a dynamite energy use monitoring app, all stacked in one product.
Because it’s modular, battery storage can be installed in different sizes and can grow over time. You simply stack more battery units on top of each other to get more storage, like Lego building blocks.
SigenStor uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry. This is known for safety, long life, and thermal stability.
It has intelligent monitoring and AI features built into the system. You can control it all from one app that uses Chat GPT to learn your energy use patterns and adjust your system accordingly.
This battery is typically installed as a DC-coupled option. That means the battery system connects directly to the solar panels up on the roof before the power gets converted to AC power by an inverter.
DC coupling usually gives you better efficiency because you don’t convert power the way you would with an AC-coupled option. This makes it ideal for new solar installs or complete system upgrades.
Please note that this battery can be AC-coupled to existing solar. You just won’t be receiving the best value for this product.
Tesla Powerwall 3
The Powerwall 3 is Tesla’s latest battery. It builds on the success of the Powerwall 2, but it’s a bigger upgrade than it initially seems. The Powerwall 3 now includes a built-in solar inverter, like the SigenStor, which makes it a true all-in-one unit for new installs. That means you don’t need a separate inverter on your wall if you’re building a system from scratch.
This model has a high-power output, which means it can handle more appliances during a blackout or when running on battery power. It also uses lithium iron phosphate chemistry (LFP).
The Powerwall 3 can be AC-coupled or DC-coupled. It can be installed with existing solar or as a new energy system. When it’s DC-coupled, it connects before the power is converted by its solar inverter. When AC-coupled, it’s brand-agnostic and can be installed with existing solar systems, but the real value comes when installing it as a complete energy system, DC-coupled.
Enphase IQ Battery 5P
The Enphase IQ Battery 5P is smart and modular. It stores 5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per unit. You can stack multiple units together to build a bigger system. It uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry for safety and long life.
We recommend installing these batteries in pairs. 5 kWh isn’t much storage for a family’s energy needs today. Two for 10kWh costs about the same as other 10 kWh batteries in its class.
What makes the Enphase battery different is how it uses microinverters. Each unit has six microinverters built in. This means if one microinverter fails, the battery will continue operating at reduced capacity until the troublesome microinverter is removed.
The IQ Battery is AC-coupled. It’s plug-and-play for homes that already have Enphase solar microinverters. It’s especially good if you want easy scalability over time with your Enphase system.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the price of solar batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Much Are Solar Batteries? A Full Breakdown of Prices, Rebates, and Value in 2025.
Battery Specs Breakdown: Side-by-Side Comparison Table
This is where most people get stuck. Spec sheets are full of numbers, and most brands don’t explain what matters and what doesn’t.
Here’s a straightforward, side-by-side comparison of the features that affect your home’s power, savings, and flexibility.
Key Spec Table
Now let’s break down what each of these specs means in real life.
Usable Capacity
This tells you how much energy the battery can hold and discharge. Think of it like the size of your fuel tank.
- SigenStor gives you flexibility. You can start small and expand up to 48 kWh per stack by stacking more battery units. This is ideal for larger homes that have high energy needs.
- Powerwall 3 comes with 13.5 kWh, which covers most medium homes for a night. You can stack more, but stacking is less flexible than with other systems.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P gives you 5 kWh per unit. You’ll likely need two or more to meet your needs.
Power Output
This tells you how much energy the battery can deliver at one time. Think of it like the speed at which energy comes out of the tank.
- SigenStor offers high output, which is perfect if you want to run large appliances or power the whole house during an outage.
- Powerwall 3 has powerful output, which is enough to run air conditioning and other high-draw devices. However, due to local DNSP regulations, the Powerwall 3 can only output 10 kW at a time.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P has the lowest per-unit output. You’ll need more units to match the others. Even then, it may still fall short during heavy loads like electric ovens or pool pumps.
Built-in Inverter
An inverter turns solar power into usable electricity for your home. If the battery includes one, your installation will be cleaner and sometimes cheaper.
- SigenStor has a hybrid inverter built in. This means it works with both solar and battery in one device.
- Powerwall 3 now comes with a solar inverter built in, too. It simplifies installs if you’re starting from scratch.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P has microinverters built into every unit. This is great for modular setups and lets each unit work independently.
Backup Power
All three batteries offer backup, but the amount of backup they provide depends on their output.
- SigenStor and Powerwall 3 can back up your whole home if sized right. Powerwall 3 only backs up a single-phase home, while SigenStor has true three-phase backup.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P can do backup too, but its lower output means you may need to be selective with what you power. This system works best for essential loads only.
Coupling Type
This matters if you already have solar or plan to upgrade.
- SigenStor is DC-coupled. It works best for new installs or complete system upgrades. It also improves the efficiency of your solar system because it avoids converting power back and forth.
- Powerwall 3 can be installed as DC-coupled or AC-coupled, depending on whether you need a new system or have one already.
- Enphase is AC-coupled. This makes them easy to add to existing solar systems. However, it’s only compatible with an Enphase microinverter system on the roof.
Battery Chemistry
- All three batteries use LFP, which is safer, lasts longer, and works better in hot Aussie conditions.
Round-trip Efficiency
Efficiency tells you how much energy is lost in the charging and discharging process.
- Enphase ~90% (AC) ~96% (DC) efficiency.
- SigenStor ~93% (AC) ~97.5% (DC) efficiency.
- Powerwall 3 ~90% (AC) ~97% (DC) efficiency.
The higher the number, the less power you lose.
Warranty
- SigenStor offers a 10 year warranty.
- Powerwall 3 has a 10 year warranty but only guarantees 70% capacity retention.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P has a 15 year or 6,000 cycles warranty, which handily outpaces other batteries in its class.
In short, Enphase has the longest warranty and strongest long-term guarantee.
Smart Features
- SigenStor stands out with complete smart home control. It manages your solar, battery, EV charger, and even a generator in one place.
- Powerwall 3 uses the Tesla app, which is clean and well-known.
- Enphase has strong monitoring and detailed data, but less central control.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about the cost of SigenStor, we recommend you check out the following article titled, How Much Does the Sigenergy SigenStor Cost?
Real-World Performance and Scenarios
Specs are helpful, but they don’t always show how a battery performs in day-to-day use. This section looks at how each of these three batteries behaves in common home scenarios. This is where you find out if a system just looks good or if it fits the way you live.
Powering Through Blackouts
If your main goal is to keep the lights on during a power outage, the size and power output of your battery matters. So does the speed at which it can switch over when the grid goes down.
- SigenStor can back up your whole home if you size it right. It reacts quickly to outages and can run high-load appliances like fridges, air conditioners, and pumps at the same time. It also supports a generator input, which makes it a strong option for semi-off-grid setups. And as we already said, it offers true three-phase backup.
- Powerwall 3 is also designed for whole-home backup, but only for single-phase homes. It has high output and fast switchover time. This works well if you want smart control over what gets power.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P can support essential loads, but each unit has limited power. For a whole home, you’ll need multiple batteries. And even then, the output may not match what you’d get from a single SigenStor or Powerwall 3. This setup works best for lights, fridges, modems, and smaller appliances, not large ones.
Daily Cycling to Reduce Bills
Many homeowners use their battery to store excess solar during the day and use it at night. This saves on power bills and reduces reliance on the grid.
- SigenStor has good efficiency, and because it’s DC-coupled, it avoids double-converting power. This means you save more of what your panels produce. The AI system can also learn your habits and optimise energy use.
- Powerwall 3 is slightly less efficient but still effective. It works well with dynamic energy tariffs and can be programmed to store cheap energy from the grid when rates are low.
- Enphase IQ 5P has an excellent round-trip efficiency. That means less energy gets lost in the charging and discharging process. It’s great for people who want to squeeze the most value out of their solar generation.
Off-Grid or Remote Living
If you want to be entirely off-grid, you’ll need a battery system that can deliver high power, store lots of energy, and connect with backup systems like generators.
- SigenStor is well-suited to off-grid setups. It supports generator input, can be scaled to large capacity, and offers full-home backup. It also has a built-in hybrid inverter, which simplifies the system design.
- Powerwall 3 doesn’t work off-grid.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P is not ideal for off-grid use. It lacks generator support and has lower output per unit.
Homeowners With Existing Solar and Inverter
If you already have a solar system on your roof and just want to add a battery, you want something that connects easily without ripping out your existing system.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P is a top choice here, especially if you already use Enphase microinverters. It’s plug-and-play and works well with existing microinverter systems.
- Powerwall 3 is also a good option. It’s AC-coupled and can be added to most existing solar systems without major rewiring. It’s a clean install for single-phase homes.
- SigenStor works best as part of a complete system upgrade. Because it uses DC coupling and comes with a hybrid inverter, it’s not the best match for homes with a working inverter they want to keep. You can add it to existing systems, but it usually makes more sense when doing a full refresh to get the most value.
Futureproofing (EVs, Smart Home, Expansion)
If you want a battery system that grows with your needs, this is where modularity, innovative features, and integration matter.
- SigenStor is built for the future. It can integrate with EV chargers, solar, batteries, and generators all in one app. You can add more storage later without redoing the system. It’s ideal for people planning EVs, smart homes, or full energy independence.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P is modular and scalable. You can add units over time. It’s a good match for growing families or homes that want to build slowly.
- Powerwall 3 is expandable, but less flexible than the others. You can stack units, but they all rely on the same central controls. Tesla’s app is user-friendly, but the system is more closed than the others.
If you’d like to learn more about the price of a Powerwall 3, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Much Does a Tesla Powerwall 3 Cost?
What Solar Battery Specs Don’t Tell You
A battery can look perfect on paper and still cause problems once it’s installed. That’s because specs don’t tell you how the system feels to live with, how easy it is to install, or how well the app works.
This section gives you the real-world details most sales pages skip.
Noise Levels
Most batteries are quiet, but not all are silent.
- SigenStor has a cooling fan system that runs when needed. Under regular use, it’s quiet. During heavy loads or hot days, you might hear a light hum or airflow sound. Most users place it outside or in a garage, so this is not a problem.
- Powerwall 3 is very quiet. Tesla designed it for indoor or outdoor use, and most users say they can’t hear it at all. It’s fan-cooled, though, and that fan might make noise during hot days.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P also runs quietly. It’s often wall-mounted and placed out of earshot.
Installer Feedback
Some systems are much easier and faster for electricians to install. That can lower your installation price and reduce errors.
- SigenStor is easier than the others. It’s an advanced system that handles multiple energy flows (solar, EV, generator, battery). Installers need minimal time when installing this energy system. Components are stacked before commissioning, which can happen in about five minutes.
- Powerwall 3 is easier than older Tesla models thanks to its new Powerwall Dolly. But the system is still heavy and has a little more complexity to it than SigenStor. That limits flexibility and customisation.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P clips into existing setups and scales easily. It’s a clean option for upgrades to an Enphase microinverter system.
Customer Support and Warranty Claims
Even the best tech can fail. When it does, customer service makes a big difference.
- SigenStor is newer to the market, so there’s less public data on warranty support. Early feedback shows strong installer support and fast hardware swaps, but it’s too early to judge long-term performance.
- Tesla has had mixed reviews. Some users report long wait times and slow warranty claims. Others praise the app and tracking tools. Because Tesla handles everything through its own system, response times depend on your location and service partner.
- Enphase has a good record for support in Australia. It also gives long warranties (15 years) and handles claims through certified installers. Their platform is well-documented and easy to troubleshoot.
App Usability and Monitoring
You’ll spend more time in the app than with the battery itself. The app helps you see what’s happening with your power and manage settings.
- mySigen App has an advanced app that shows solar, battery, EV, and generator activity in one view. It uses AI to suggest ways to save energy. The app is still improving, but it’s powerful and full of features.
- Tesla App is one of the cleanest and easiest to use. It shows solar generation, grid use, battery status, and allows for backup control. It lacks deep customisation, but it’s great for everyday users.
- Enphase Enlighten App offers detailed data on each battery and each solar panel. It’s strong for users who like to see exactly what’s going on down to the panel level.
Supply Chain or Availability Issues
Getting the battery you want can depend on stock levels.
- SigenStor is newer to the market, so stock may vary by region. Some installers may have longer lead times.
- Powerwall 3 demand is high, and Tesla controls distribution tightly. This can lead to delays, especially during busy seasons.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P is widely available in Australia. Because it’s modular, you can often get part of your system now and add more later if stock is limited.
Grid Export Compatibility
In Australia, energy export rules matter. Some batteries let you manage export to get the most out of your feed-in tariff or avoid export limits.
- SigenStor has advanced grid interaction tools and can be programmed for export control. This is helpful if your area has export caps or shifting tariff rates.
- Powerwall 3 has grid export control features but offers fewer custom settings.
- Enphase supports grid export tuning and works well with most Australian utility rules.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about IQ Batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Much Does an Enphase IQ Battery 5P Cost?
Pros and Cons of Each Battery
Now that you’ve seen the details and real-life scenarios, this section will help you quickly compare everything. Below is a simple table with the key advantages and drawbacks of each battery based on performance, flexibility, and ease of use.
Comparison Table: Pros and Cons
Key Takeaways
Choose SigenStor if…
- You’re building a new solar system or doing a full upgrade.
- You want one clean system to handle solar, battery, EV charging, and generator backup.
- You want high output for full-home three-phase backup.
- You value future flexibility more than brand familiarity.
Choose Powerwall 3 if…
- You want strong backup power and high output in one box.
- You like Tesla’s app and ecosystem.
- You want a trusted brand with a clean design.
- You’re not too worried about modular upgrades later.
Choose Enphase IQ Battery 5P if…
- You already have Enphase microinverters.
- You want to start small and expand your battery storage over time.
- You want high efficiency and detailed energy data.
- You don’t need high power output or whole-home backup.
If you’re interested in solar batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, Are Solar Batteries Worth It in NSW? PSC’s Ultimate Guide for 2025.
Which Solar Battery Should You Choose?
You’ve seen the specs, the real-world use cases, and the pros and cons. Now it’s time to match the right battery to the kind of home and goals you have. No one battery is the best for everyone. The right one depends on how you live, what your home already has, and what you want to do with your energy.
Here’s a quick guide based on what matters most to you:
You Can’t Pick Wrong, but You Can Pick Smarter
All three batteries, SigenStor, Powerwall 3, and Enphase IQ Battery 5P, are solid choices. Each one will store your solar energy, help you save money, and give you more control over your home’s power. But the best battery for you depends on what you care about most.
The good news is you don’t have to figure this out on your own. PSC Energy is a certified installer of all three systems; we help homeowners every day choose the correct setup for their goals. We’ve seen how these batteries perform in the real world, and we’ll help you build a system that works for you, not just one that looks good on paper.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the federal solar battery rebate, also known as the Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, you might want to check out the following article titled, What the 2025 Federal Election and the Government Rebate Means for Solar Batteries in Australia.
FAQ: Which Solar Battery Fits You Best?
What is the best solar battery for Australian homes?
It depends on your setup and goals:
- SigenStor is best for complete energy control, off-grid options, and EV integration.
- Powerwall 3 is ideal for high-output backup and simple all-in-one installs.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P is best for modular growth and existing Enphase solar systems.
What’s the difference between SigenStor, Powerwall 3, and Enphase IQ Battery 5P?
- SigenStor: All-in-one system with hybrid inverter, EV charging, and generator input.
- Powerwall 3: Built-in inverter, high power output, and Tesla ecosystem.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: Modular, efficient, and ideal for Enphase solar users.
Which battery is best for blackout protection in Australia?
- SigenStor and Powerwall 3 both offer full-home backup with high power output.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P works for essential circuits but may not support large appliances unless stacked.
Can I add a battery to my existing solar system in Australia?
Yes. Both Powerwall 3 and Enphase IQ Battery 5P are AC-coupled and designed for retrofits. Powerwall 3 can also be DC-coupled along with SigenStor. This works best in complete system upgrades or new installations.
Which solar battery is the most efficient?
The SigenStor has the highest round-trip efficiency at about 97.5%.
What battery works best for going off-grid in Australia?
SigenStor is the top choice for off-grid homes.
It supports:
- Generator input.
- High-capacity scaling.
- Full-home backup.
Can I use these batteries with an EV charger?
- SigenStor has built-in EV charger support.
- Tesla Powerwall 3 can be used with the Tesla Wall Connector, their EV charger.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P does not include EV integration.
Which battery is easiest to expand later?
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P is modular; just add more units.
- SigenStor is expandable by stacking battery modules just as easily.
- Powerwall 3 can scale, but with more limitations.
How long do these solar batteries last?
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: 15 years or 6,000 cycles.
- SigenStor: 10 years.
- Powerwall 3: 10 years.
Do all of these batteries include an inverter?
Yes, all three have inverters built in:
- SigenStor: Hybrid inverter
- Powerwall 3: Integrated solar inverter
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: 6 microinverters
Which battery has the best app and monitoring?
- Tesla Powerwall 3: Clean, user-friendly app with solar and backup control.
- SigenStor: AI-powered app with control over solar, battery, EV, and generator.
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P: Advanced data tracking down to the panel level.
