Note: Solar Choice is not a solar installer and has no incentives to promote Hoymiles or any product brand over another.
Hoymiles Review – Company History
Hoymiles is a global MLPE (Module Level Power Electronics) solution provider, specializing in micro inverters and storage systems. The company was founded in 2012 by Yang Bo and Zhao Yi, both power electronics experts from the Zhejiang University in Hangzhou. Hoymiles is still headquartered in Hangzhou, China and they company now have a team of over 1200 across the globe.
In December 2021, Hoymiles launched on the Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market under the stock code 688032. At the time writing the company has a market capitalisation of 20 Billion Chinese Yuan (AUD$4.2bn).
In 2015, Hoymiles launched its microinverters in the US, Europe, and Australia market,. Hoymiles have an Australian sub-branch of the global website and have an office in Melbourne.
A brief rundown of Microinverter
A solar system’s inverter is the point at which the DC electricity produced by solar panels is turned into grid-compatible AC electricity.
String inverters have traditionally been the standard in the solar industry. They convert power from a ‘string’ of solar panels connected together through a central inverter. The weakness of this design is the string of panels can only perform as well as the weakest link in the chain.
Microinverters, on the other hand, convert DC to AC electricity at each individual panel. This allows for monitoring and power regulation at the indiviual solar panel level which can offer some advantages. This is useful for homes that are located somewhere with shading from clouds, trees, or other buildings.
Key benefits of micro-inverters:
- If one solar panel fails or is shaded, it won’t affect the performance of the other panels in the solar array
- Micro-inverters can monitor the current, voltage, and power of each solar panel, enabling more detailed monitoring through the accompanying software
- Another benefit is micro-inverters typically operate with less than 60 volts of DC power significantly reducing safety and fire hazards.
- The technology also gives solar system designers more flexibility to tackle more orientations on the roof and even combine different types/brands of solar panels into one system.
In summary, micro-inverters will perform better than string inverters however they usually cost 20% – 50% more. Read more here.
Hoymiles Microinverters – Points of Difference
There are many inverters out there, what makes Hoymiles stand out?
The second largest micro-inverter brand
Hoymiles positions itself as the second-largest manufacturer of microinverters worldwide, following Enphase who are widely recognized as the leader in the field. Founded in 2012, Hoymiles has developed a substantial presence in the microinverter industry and has shown positive growth over time and offer a more cost-effective solution than Enphase.
Flexible compatibility with solar panels and batteries
Hoymiles microinverters are designed to be compatible with various solar and energy storage brands. Their website indicates that Hoymiles micro inverters can be paired with all mainstream solar panel brands ranging from 300 watts to 670 watts. Additionally, they offer detailed information on battery compatibility brands on their website, enhancing clarity for clients when planning retrofits or new installations.
See the full Hoymiles Battery compatability list here.
Hoymiles Microinverter Technologies
Hoymiles has gained approval from the Clean Energy Council in Australia for 31 micro-inverters, a necessary step for accessing the federal STC solar rebate, under the name of “Hoymiles Power Electronics Inc.”. Within the Australian/New Zealand market, Hoymiles offers the HMS Series, comprising 3 types of single-phase micro-inverters as of May 2024. They formerly offered HM series and HME series, but this Hoymiles Review will focus on the HMS series.
HMS Series
In Australia, Hoymiles offers three variants of the HMS Series micro-inverter: 1-in-1, 2-in-1, and 4-in-1. This means that one micro inverter can service 1, 2 or up to 4 solar panels. The 4-in-1 option includes 4 x maximum power point trackers (MPPTs) for each of the solar panels connected to the device so that each panel can operate independently.
As a result HMS series have a wide range of maximum output power capacities, ranging from 400W to 2000W.
The CEC peak efficiency rating is listed between 96.50% to 96.7% depending on the model, which is not far behind the Enphase peak efficiency rating of 97.3 to 97.5% for their residential sized solutions.
The HMS series features environmental protection with its IP67 (NEMA 6) enclosure and built in 6000V surge protection.
It’s important to highlight that these microinverters are exclusively compatible with Hoymiles gateway models DTU-Pro-S and DTU-Lite-S. The Hoymiles gateway serves the purpose of controlling the individual micro-inverters and connecting them to the internet for monitoring.
This series utilizes a new Sub-1G wireless solution, ensuring more stable communication with the Hoymiles gateway DTU. Unlike Wi-Fi, Sub-1GHz operates on the 868 MHz or the 915 MHz band, providing significantly longer range and superior interference suppression. Generally, Sub-1GHz wireless transmission covers 1.5 to 2 times longer distance than the 2.4GHz spectrum, making it particularly suitable for PV microinverters.
Hoymiles also have a HMT series which can cater to the 3-phase solar projects.
Hoymiles’ Warranty for Australian Customers
Similar to conventional inverters, Hoymiles microinverters also come with a manufacturer warranty.
The Hoymiles micro-inverters come with a standard 12-year warranty, which is above the industry standard of 10-years for inverters. The extra 2 years is a special warranty condition for Australia introduced in 2023 in hope to help them capture more market share. Customers can also purchase a warranty extension up to a total of 25 years.
It should be noted that the required gateway unit only has a warranty of 3 years, so this may need to be replaced within the lifetime of the micro-inverters.
Although it is not mentioned on their warranty document, Hoymiles do have a local office in Mount Waverley, Victoria who can support with technical issues and warranty claims. They can be contacted on 1300 534 768.
To request the replacement of an inverter, you must contact the Hoymiles Technical Service Center. E-mail: service@hoymiles.com
Read more details about Hoymiles warranty terms and conditions here.
Pros and cons of Hoymiles Microinverters
Pros:
- 12-year product warranty for the micro-inverters
- Compatible with various solar and battery brands
Cons:
- Being established in 2012 gives them a shorter trading history than most leading inverter companies on the market
So, Should I Buy Hoymiles Microinverters?
Hoymiles offer a more cost effective micro-inverter solution than the long-standing USA-based market leader Enphase. Technically speaking the Hoymiles micro-inverters stack up pretty well with some pros and cons depending on your circumstances.
The company has a shorter history and track record than some of the leading inverter brands, so there is less proof to the longevity of their products. Overall, while Hoymiles microinverters offer a cost-effective micro-inverter solution, potential buyers should carefully consider their specific requirements and the points raised in this and other Hoymiles reviews before making a decision.
Example of a Hoymiles Project
Location: Canberra, Australia
System Size: 100kW
Models: 60 units of 4-in-1 HME-1200 micro-inverters
Commissioning Date: 2022
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