Does a Signature Solar "18kPV" Kit Come With 18 kW of Solar?
Summary
No. "18kPV" is the model name of the EG4 inverter. Kit KIT-E0007 ships with eighteen 450 W or 460 W panels, which adds up to roughly 8.1 to 8.3 kW. The inverter's nominal output is 12,000 W, and the product page separately says it supports "up to 8kW of solar input."
What is in the box
The Kit Contents list on the product page reads, in substance:
- One EG4 18kPV hybrid inverter
- One IMO DC disconnect, 2 pole, 4 string
- Two 100 ft rolls of 10 AWG copper PV wire, red and black
- One to three EG4 WallMount All Weather batteries (280Ah or 314Ah), each with a conduit box
- Eighteen Peimar 450 W mono PERC panels or eighteen Aptos 460 W bifacial panels, or no panels at all
The page shows $10,293.37 against a list price of $11,650.39, before panel and battery choices change it. Racking, breakers and a combiner box are not on the list. The only hint is one line saying additional components may be required for your installation.
The two battery options are described with different yardsticks. The 280Ah unit is listed at a Total Energy Capacity of 14.3 kWh, the 314Ah unit at a Recommended Useable Energy of 12.86 kWh. The larger cell shows the smaller number, so the two figures cannot be compared side by side.
Next to the store's off-grid kit
| KIT-E0007 (18kPV) | KIT-E0013 (6000XP) | |
|---|---|---|
| Name and type | Whole-Home Weatherproof Power Kit | Off-Grid Solar Kit, kit type "Essential Load Backup" |
| Inverter rated output | 12,000 W | 6,000 W |
| Panels | 18 × 450 W or 18 × 460 W | 10 × 450 W or 12 × 440 W |
| Array total | about 8.1 to 8.3 kW | 4.5 kW or about 5.3 kW |
| PV wire | 2 × 100 ft | 2 × 50 ft |
| DC disconnect | Included | Not listed |
| Sale price (list) | $10,293.37 ($11,650.39) | $6,606.31 ($7,109.31) |
The 6000XP page gives a recommended PV input of 8,000 W and a maximum PV input voltage of 480 VDC, so the bundled panels come to 56 percent (10 × 450 W) or 66 percent (12 × 440 W) of that recommendation.
"18kPV," "12kPV" and "12000XP" in the kit names are all model numbers. Among the Home Backup Kits, one of the few names that states an output is BNDL-E0008, "12kW Output & 30.72kWh Storage," and that bundle has no panels in it.
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Sources
- Signature Solar — EG4 Whole-Home Weatherproof Power Kit {KIT-E0007}
- Signature Solar — EG4 Off-Grid Solar Kit | 6000XP and Indoor Wallmount [KIT-E0013]
- Signature Solar — Home Backup Kits
- Signature Solar — Off-Grid Solar Kits
We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.