Note: Solar Choice is not a solar installer and has no financial or other incentives to promote eCactus or any other product brand.
Overview of Weiheng Group / eCactus – Company History
Weiheng Group (Jiangsu Weiheng Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd) was founded in 2017 and is currently headquartered in Wuxi City, China. The company manufactures and deploys a range of power storage systems and their residential solar battery brand is called eCactus.
The company manufactures their products in China and has established distribution channels into Europe and Australia. Currently eCactus does not have a local office in Australia and the only local address listed on their linkedin page seems to be for their accountant.
Recently, eCactus entered the Australian market establishing a distribution relationship with AustraEnergy. They currently offering inverter and battery systems designed for various commercial and residential applications.
eCactus battery models available in Australia
eCactus provides battery storage solutions designed for the Australian market, catering to the needs of both commercial and residential users seeking efficient and sustainable energy management. Currently, the only available series in Australia is the Agave series, which includes the Agave-SH and Agave-SH Plus sub-series for integrating solar power.
Agave-SH
The Agave-SH features an all-in-one design with a built-in single-phase inverter, which means it can be retrofitted to most existing solar systems. The inverter capacity ranges from 3.6kW to 6kW and can be paired with a nominal battery storage capacity of 5.12kWh or 10.24kWh.
The batteries are Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and have a depth of discharge of 90% which is typical of this chemistry.
With built in backup capability, and load shifting modes, the Agave-SH provides homeowners with flexible control over their energy usage. It also claims to be compatible with Virtual Power Plants which can earn homeowners more energy bill savings.
The battery is IP65 rated, which is better than some options on the market, and can be installed indoors or outdoors.
On the eCactus global website, there is also a Agave-SH Plus which features a modular and stackable battery solution that can be more easily added to over time. This doesn’t appear to be available in Australia yet.
Agave-SA
The Agave-SA is eCactus’s older version of the SH series. The battery only comes with an option for a 3.6kW single phase inverter which might be undersized for some residential homes.
All other main parameters remain similar, so we recommend customers look closely at the model they have been quoted. The Agave-SH models will offer customers the ability to take greater advantage of stored energy and the Agave-SH Plus model will offer greater flexibility in the future.
Compare battery quotes from local installers in your area now.
Australian Warranty Terms for eCactus Batteries
The eCactus batteries are warrantied by Weiheng. Their product warranty, which covers the battery against manufacturing defects, is 10 years. This is in line with most batteries available in Australia.
They also provide a performance warranty that specifies that the battery will retain 60% of its usable energy by the end of 10 years or will have discharged a total of 15.4 MWh (WH-BXB5.12) or 30.8 MWh (WH-BXB10.24).
| Product Model | Usable Storage Capacity | Minimum Throughput Guarantee | Minimum Throughput per Usable kWh |
| WH-BXB5.12 | 4.608 kWh | 15.4 MWh | 3.34 MWh |
| WH-BXB10.24 | 9.216 kWh | 30.8 MWh | 3.34 MWh |
The Minimum Throughput Guarantee of 3.34MWh ranks pretty well against alternatives on the market (see our battery comparison page for full ranking).
The main issue we have with eCactus’ warranty policy is that they have no local office and support for Australian customers. In general, this has lead to difficult outcomes for customers in the solar industry seeking to make a claim.
In the event of a product failure, customers are advised to contact the Chinese service center directly for assistance on a generic email or Chinese phone number. To be a serious player in the Australian market, eCactus will have to establish a local presence and a much easier pathway for customers to seek assistance.
For more eCactus warranty information, please click here.
Pros and Cons of eCactus Battery
Pros:
- Competitive price with built-in back up protection
- Competitive minimum through-put warranty
Cons:
- Do Not have a local office in Australia
- Limited size options and products
- Best model (Agave-SH Plus) is not currently available in Australia
So, Should I Buy eCactus Battery?
Weiheng’s eCactus residential solar battery is an emerging contender in the market. As such there are some downsides with their lack of local presence and a shorter track record with few installations in Australia to refer to.
As eCactus continue to release their latest products into the Australian market their battery solution will compare more favourably against other options.
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