Sigenergy systems are suffering serious failures, with the company quietly scrambling to address a spate of melted plugs and poor terminations by throttling inverters to stop them overheating, running their own inspections of installs and offering to replace all affected components.
What Is Going Wrong With Sigenergy Installs?
Fires related to home energy systems are extremely rare but for months there’s been a problem quite literally smouldering behind the stylish plastic facade of Sigenergy products.
Inattentive electricians, using a slick, powerful new product, combined with a flawed design, have been producing bad connections.
The result is overheated terminals, melted plugs, burnt out wiring
and now a small fire.
The inverters that are overheating are ensconced in an aluminum case which should prevent any fire from spreading to the battery, but with Sigenergy keeping tight-lipped about a problem they have been trying to manage for well over a month at least, time has come to lance the boil. These plugs are a serious failure and customers need to know.
Fire Incident Linked To Sigenergy Inverter
While a few complaints and pictures of damaged equipment have appeared amongst industry channels, I think most have viewed or indeed hoped this is a minor problem with a small number of outliers.
When there’s literally thousands of installations you expect there will be some hiccups. Anybody can forget to tighten a screw, indeed a “hot joint” is a typical failure in any electrical installation.
However this article comes to you on the back of an eye-opening email sent to SolarQuotes. The abridged version reads like this:
“We write to lodge a serious formal complaint after a near-catastrophic fire incident involving our SIGENERGY Sigenstor Inverter EC 10.0 SP AU 10KW.
Around 2:00 a.m. on 3 November 2025, we were woken abruptly by a power cut which stopped my CPAP machine. We soon discovered an intense burning smell coming from the garage and found the inverter fans were running at full speed despite minimal load and room temperature around 20°C.
We saw visible flames from the inverter. After opening the garage door manually, we moved our EV outside.
Despite repeated flare-ups, the inverter continued to operate, and the fans did not stop. Even the attending fire brigade personnel struggled to locate an effective emergency shutdown mechanism. The system manual provided no clear guidance on emergency shutdown procedures, and the isolator switch was located dangerously close to the area of ignition.
After more than an hour of observation, and in the absence of any emergency contact for Sigenergy, the fire brigade advised us to monitor the system overnight. Only by holding down the red “reset” button was I able to fully shut the unit down.
Arriving later the same morning our installer technician stated, ‘This is the second one I’ve seen.’
This admission raises alarming questions about known product defects and potential systemic safety failures.”
The blue residue is fire extinguisher powder but the blackening shows where flames emanated from the fan grille
This Is A Known Problem
Sigenergy Managing Director for AU & NZ Will Hall told SolarQuotes that “the AC plug problem stems from installers not following installation guidelines, the issue is not due to a product defect” and only a “small proportion of systems have been affected”.
The problem has been bubbling away for some time: Sigenergy issued advice to installers over a month ago reminding them they are voiding warranty if they don’t follow official installation instructions.
They’ve even added a reminder in the commissioning app that installers must acknowledge they’ve made the correct terminations.
Affected Sigenergy Models
Hall told SolarQuotes that his company had found “the issue only applies to single phase 8/10/12kW energy controllers (inverters) which have a different style AC plug which requires the use of ferrules and crimping. To assist installers on future installs we have updated the AC plug on single phase 8/10/12kW inverters so that they are inline with our three phase inverters. This type of AC plug does not require the use of ferrules or crimping which removes the chance of installation error.”
While the 3 phase models look similar, they use a better termination design. Lugs are crimped onto the wires, which are then bolted down by studs and nuts, a method that has so far has proven durable.
The revised single phase connection will use the same lug and stud arrangement as the 3 phase units. Why didn’t they just do this from the outset? Well, Sigenergy are promoted as fast-to-install and while lugs are durable, they’re not as quick.
The difference between a properly prepared bootlace termination or a lug terminal isn’t much in the scheme of things, they’re both crimped but with different tools, and that’s the frustrating part.
Limits Imposed On Inverters Without Telling Customers
Numerous Sigenergy customers report that the company has limited their inverters without telling them. One affected user posted:
“Could we please have some basic customer communication regarding the current issue with the inverter limiting, including what the problem is and when it’s expected to be resolved? This ongoing bug is likely to have financial and performance impacts for users, and the lack of updates over the past 48 hours doesn’t reflect well on the brand.”
Those affected have only gotten an explanation when they reach out directly to Sigenergy:
“We recently discovered that improper installation could cause the AC plug to overheat and become damaged. To avoid safety hazards, we have limited the operating power of your inverter. We have performed a forced firmware upgrade on your system. This update will continuously monitor the system and protect the equipment and its components … your installer or a Sigenergy authorized service partner will contact you shortly to arrange a convenient time for onsite inspection. High-power operation will be restored after the inspection,” said a Sigenergy representitive in one response.
Hall told SolarQuotes that “all single phase 8/10/12kW inverters have received a firmware update which allows us to monitor each system proactively. If our system detects sustained full power output of the inverter, it will dynamically and temporarily reduce the AC output slightly to prevent the AC plug from overheating and becoming damaged. This will only affect a small number of installed 8/10/12kW single phase inverters and is simply a precautionary measure in case they have not been installed as per our installation instructions.”
Sigenergy Needs Transparency
Independent solar industry and consumer forums have seen a raft of complaints about burnt Sigenergy plugs. It’s a lingering aroma that’s not going away, but what stinks more is how sanitary the official Sigenergy channels are.
Over in installer support land, there is no melting or burning, nothing to see here. People I trust say they’ve posted to the official account only to find moderation disappears the issue while the support team rings up to solve problems directly.
It’s a powerful way to offer technical advice, no doubt. However it kills off trust, slows results by tying up factory technicians and doesn’t build broader community knowledge.
Other manufacturers use social media to allow an exchange of information between installers. With broad supervision to keep everyone correctly informed, it take less company time and offers faster peer to peer support.
You can’t hide anything from the internet but what I find amazing is that people still try. Sigenergy have repeatedly cracked down on discussions of price on their consumer page. Like that’s going to stop people.
Solutions Are Inbound
In Sigenergy’s defence, they have been proactive in coming up with a technical solution. In fact some installers have complained they had to take a day off to chauffeur the company’s engineers around to inspect installations.
Perhaps the installers were identified as having a number of failures? Can Sigenergy tell via remote monitoring?
I asked on October 27th and November 5th via direct email to the MD and support addresses and further enquiries made by my collegues, but a formal response only came in the early hours of the morning today after persistent demands from Sigenergy to hold off from publishing – representitives say they couldn’t communicate due to requirements from regulators.
In that response Hall said that “our engineers have attended sites where AC plugs have failed and they have determined that the system was not installed as per our installation instructions and we have documented evidence of this and supplied to the regulators.”
Sigenergy’s solution is to modify the design of the troublesome plug.
The rhetoric is that by using the same lug terminals (which feature in the 3 phase models) to connect the wiring, local installers will be more familiar and more likely to get the process right.
This is a 3 phase Sigenergy inverter terminations. Lug terminals take some time to prepare, just like bootlace ends for stranded cables.
The reality is that we haven’t heard reports of similar problems at the same scale among other brands, which makes me think it’s a flawed product from the outset.
Plugs on the left are fast, but a torque wrench on the right costs at worst couple of extra minutes.
Now there is a new design, some installers have flown new stock into the country to fix outstanding warranty claims, because customers have been waiting 7 weeks without resolution.
It’s not a good situation, but we’ve been assured further steps are being taken to address the problem.
This complaint comes from a long-established and very well respected installer, not a newbie who doesn’t understand the loads involved.
I Have An Affected Model, What Do I Do?
The limits placed on inverters are a significant safeguard, but if you still feel uncomfortable, the super safe approach is to follow the labels adjacent your single phase inverter and simply shut it down.
I wouldn’t suggest contacting your installer because they’re already busy, and like us, they have not been given much guidance.
I would however suggest lodging a support ticket.
Provided your installer has used the correct cable (usually black, expensive, multi-strand, flexible) and spent time following Sigenergy’s installation guide to the letter, the risk should be minimal.
However if they used hard drawn, 7 strand, orange circular cable, and reefed it around, bent tight behind the covers, in an effort that’s more aesthetic than technically compliant, it could be a serious problem.
Hall said that “we are going to work with installers and our service partner network to proactively replace all installed single phase 8/10/12kW inverters with the updated plug version which reduces the chance of installation error and potential issues with the AC plug. This will be a free replacement. As confirmed by the state regulators and authorities, THIS IS NOT A PRODUCT RECALL as there are no product defects. We are simply updating the design of the product to ensure that installers can install the product with minimal chance of installation error. Once the inverter is replaced, we will also provide the customer with an additional 2 year warranty on the inverter (at no cost) for additional peace of mind.”
Going forward, future installs will include the updated plug.
Update November 20: The ACCC has issued a recall for the affected inverters.
Installer Complaints About Warranty Work Payment
Sigenergy have a new and novel approach where they have farmed out technical support to a third party called Omnidian.1
Sigenergy haven’t provided a clear explanation, but Omnidian have contacted us to clarify how they work and they acknowledge complaints that installers can’t get the same person on the phone when they call back to follow up a problem.
Right now electricians are replacing inverters, as they should under consumer law, but some say they’ve been given no indication on when or even if they’ll be paid.
This must be sorted out, because more than anything, it will incinerate goodwill between Sigenergy and the people who should be their most powerful sales asset.
Victims Of Their Own Success
Sigenergy’s own support was amazingly responsive in the beginning, but as they’ve skyrocketed in popularity, technical and warranty support hasn’t followed the same trajectory.
Along with installation bonuses for installers, overseas trips for wholesalers and getting retailers to prioritise customer reviews, part of the aggressive marketing campaign asked SolarQuotes for a desktop assessment in 2024.
They flagged some issues with our writeup then and we welcomed the opportunity to edit for accuracy, but some requested corrections were a bridge too far.
When I mentioned a pair of brackets for every battery wasn’t perfectly simple, Sigenergy protested. Once we explicitly linked to the official installation video, they retrospectively edited that instead. So there’s no voiceover for the wall brackets now.
Ironically I’ve seen two systems literally fall off the wall owing to installer idiocy, which might not have happened if all the brackets were used.
Other Issues Emerging
Sigenergy are still relatively new to the Australian market but secured enormous market share in a short space of time with overwhelmingly positive reviews.
But cracks in their reputation are emerging, and not just with their plugs. There are problems with the AC car charger units as well.
- Commissioning new units on existing sites require phone intervention from support;
- Solar surplus charging doesn’t work when an external export limit is applied;
- Switching between single and three phase charging doesn’t work either.
More generally, Plastic covers don’t always fit properly, making a premium product look pretty ordinary, with the location of the screws causing headaches.
Warranty replacement units are hard to come by, some waiting 7 weeks plus.
Queensland GSD requirements are forcing the use of extra hardware, requiring extra work and return visits.
Building The Plane While It Flies
Sigenergy products boast an impressive array of features that have made them popular across the industry, but we’ll be reviewing their place on the SolarQuotes recommended brand list.
We’ll be closely monitoring the level of the response and whether the new design resolves this issue. One industry expert noted to us that while they’ve had an incredible takeoff, Sigenergy “seem to be flying the plane while putting it together.”
Had a positive or negative experience with Sigenergy products? Detail your experience on our Sigenergy review pages for batteries, solar inverters and home EV charging.
Footnotes
- Since early 2025 Omnidian’s role is limited to providing phone-based support to assist installers with initial commissioning on behalf of Sigenergy.
All warranty support work and warranty claims have been managed directly by Sigenergy.
Omnidian hasn’t provided any post-installation support for Sigenergy systems yet, but will collaborate with Sigenergy to support the inverter replacement programme going forward ↩
About Anthony Bennett
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This is bad, really bad,
derating peoples inverters without telling them there is a potential system problem ,
censoring /. filtering their discussion forums to hide the problem
failure to put out a safety / product alert
The ACCC should be all over them like a rash, and personally I think this mob are totally untrustworthy and I would not do business with them.
The Solar industry doesnt need cowboys like this giving oxygen to the anti renewables league.
Had an issue with current drop on a welder discovered a melting plastic connection block replaced it with a ceramic block and the welder performed better than new maybe ceramics should be utilized more in high current and high temperature situations ?
A burning main inverter breaker terminal was discovered in my SigEnergy 3 phase home gateway yesterday, and it has been manually shutdown by installer pending replacement.
It is currently unclear what the root cause is for my setup – installation was 6 weeks ago, and my inverter is larger 20T-48 model.
However with current issues SigEnergy have an opportunity to demonstrate what kind of company they aspire to be.
For SigEnergy: in our market you cannot invent and moderate your way to sustainable leadership. It can only be done however by excellent products, service, and transparent communications….
Your satisfied customers will be your biggest assets. Your unsatisfied customers will not be silenced.
Unless I’m mistaken a post about that was also quickly moderated out of sight.
incent and moderate was what I meant to say
I feel for the customers who have had to wait 7 weeks for a replacement, I know how frustrated I felt 7 weeks into waiting for a replacement Powerwall from Tesla. That was 7 weeks ago, and we’re still waiting, 14 weeks since it failed and they still don’t know where it is or when it will arrive.
Sigen released a customer statement overnight. They are replacing all 8/10/12 kW inverters (energy controllers). I can’t paste the full statement here due to the character limit.
The one I saw last night briefly posted as a message to and end user by mistake and quickly withdraw still lent into the narrative to blame installers, which is a load of rubbish. That does not add up. Yes, there will always be the odd installer that does the wrong thing. But you are never going to replace all your inverters because of that. Fact is connect is not good enough, and they know it. Why blame someone else and not take responsibility??
If they want to blame the plug, what about the 5kW inverters that have the same style plug?
As for “slightly” reducing the power output of the inverter, mine has been derated to nearly half its capacity. I can get no more than 6.7 kW out of my 12 kW EC.
Likewise. Seems odd that the 12kW inverters have been derated more than the 10kW ones.
I’ve been saying this since day 1.
Sigenergy is a scam.
They lie and lie and lie. All to win market share and then take the company public (which has already failed, pending their next attempt)
At the expense of who? Everyone else. The retailers who bought into their lies through creative marketing, then ditched proven products like Tesla and Sungrow. The customers who bought their systems and the whole industry who is constantly plagued with these stories.
Blaming installers for fires, turning down customers inverters without tell them, outsourcing service and failing on basic communication, controlling and censoring the online conversations ……. Absolutely outrageous and appalling behaviour!!!!!!
This must stop.
Couldn’t agree more. People are wild. Painful to see but reality of humans in 2025.
Scam might be a stretch, but the amount of hype has worried me from the start. And it’s not that there is a problem now that worries me, it’s that they seem to be blaming installers. Tesla are having problems too. And turned off some Powerwall 2s while they wait to be fixed. But they aren’t blaming other people.
SunGrow and Tesla both have disadvantages in some situations too. Although mainly with Tesla it’s the lack of 3-phase and Powerwall 2 and 3 not working together, both of which we are told are close to being fixed. And FranklinWH is meant to have a 3-phase option coming soon too.
But the censorship of conversation is the biggest red flag, bigger than the massive hype.
So much for the awesome fire suppression system they rave about right? Disappointed they haven’t escalated this to a voluntary recall which is what a more experienced manufacturer would do. I’m not sure how all of these installers are going to have the time to go and fix this. Regardless of what the manufacturer pays, it will take them away from new installations costing them more money.
I fully agree, Sigenergy should act like an adult, take its responsibility, issue alert to affected consumers rather than hiding it, actively recall flaw designed inverters. Otherwise, there will be no trust.
“THIS IS NOT A PRODUCT RECALL as there are no product defects.”
When saving face is more important than safety.
They won’t save face though, nothing like this can be kept quiet in this era.
This is a huge problem for Australian Sigenergy owners, they have become increasingly popular since the battery rebate came to be.
Thank you Anthony. Very much appreciate the transparency in this article. It is needed to improve accountability in this business.
Is it the case that had the company not throttled the inverters for safety, there would be outrage over a willfully tolerated fire risk? (Inconvenience is a nuisance, a threat of house fire not?)
But will equipment modification cure all installation mishaps? My battery connections, on cables as thick as your thumb, are hefty high-current lugs. But the installer forgot to tighten one lug bolt on the battery isolator. I later noticed a horrible burnt-plastic stink, and after a day he came over and we found the problem. Replacing the cooked isolator, chopping 5cm off the cable and crimping a new lug, made it all good. The installer wanted to provide a new cable, but I thought that wasteful, as the rest of the insulation was pristine.
Perfection would be ideal, after spending $74k including pre-rebate batteries, but life is the art of the possible. (Admittedly, a long wait would have raised my ire too.)
Maybe in-house installers would reduce the learning curve? Else added training?
I think the issue is more they are derating peoples inverters without telling them they are doing so or that there is risk, then allowing the people to think they have a system issue because all of a sudden their system isn’t working as expected is more the issue.
There should have been a public announcement in conjunction with the ACCC that there is a safety risk, and as a precaution they are derating affected units until they can be verified safe / made safe.
Same as Tesla who disabled peoples Powerwall 2’s without telling them.
We’re waiting to upgrade (contract signed) to a 10kW Sigenergy hybrid invert battery system., so fingers crossed. Our existing 3 year old Fronius inverter drastically reduced output due to a gecko getting into the cooling fan. It took so long for our installer to fix that I was on the verge of doing it myself.
Bad service and seriously prolonged rectification can really tarnish customer trust.
Sigenergy had better get their act together before our install.
Hi Rick,
If you get a Fronius GEN24 the fan on the front is easily accessed for cleaning with one switch and 4 x ¼ turn fixings.
They’re also much quieter than the older series snap inverter.
Even with a snap inverter, anyone who’s handy enough to remove 4 screws should be able to extract a gecko.
It breaks my heart to see so many of these first class units going to waste, especially when they can be coupled to a Gen24 (if there’s enough network connection capacity)
I have seen a review by an installer, that made quite clear that significant components inside the Sigenergy module, were not Australian standards compliant, and the installer appeared to make clear that the Sigenergy Gateway was not compliant with Australian electrical regulations.
Hmmm.
The extended, prolonged, wait for the Goodwe equivalent, appears preferable to the Sigenergy all-in one systems.
The timing of the above article is interesting, after I submitted a comment to the article at https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/stackable-battery-solutions/ , a day or so ago, with my post that has not been published (?) stating that, in the article about all-in-one stackable systems, Sigenergy was conspicuous by its absence.
Hmmm.
Hi Bret – just checked and approved your other comment, apologies for the delay on that.
Thank you, Max.
Did people even read what Anthony wrote….. let me summarise….
1) if the product is installed IAW the OEM instructions there is no issue.
2) if the installer uses the wrong AC cabling then there will be an issue if not already.
3) the OEM has identified that not withstanding 1) there is an even better connector type that has over time showed less risk of badness IF your installer failed and did not do1)
4) the manufacturer has taken the position that reduced AC output is preferable to fire reduced house…i personally agree with this position, and its why my 12kw system was outside from day 1.
5) the OEM didnt communicate well despite having the perfect means to ensure the message gets out. They should be caned for that as it was a simple thing to do and they did exactly that with installers, just not end users.
Australians are inherently suspicious and not communicating is obviously just one step removed from exposing ones genitals in public..
Andy S.
“1) if the product is installed IAW the OEM instructions there is no issue.”
How then do you explain the incident depicted in last photo in the story? The installation guide for the 12kW SP specifies 16mm^2 cable, yet the internal cabling is only 10mm^2 and has charred. Clearly a safety issue and the installer cannot be blamed for this.
In this era of misinformation on the internet, without seeing any actual photos or labels, it’s hard for me to believe that this is real.
Hi Kevin,
I assure you the bloke who found this burnt out plug, and the 10mm² wiring inside the unit is one of the most experienced, well qualified & well respected electricians we have in this industry.
Actually thats pretty eady to explain… cable size required is a function of 2 factors current carry capacity and resistance per m which causrs the current carried to turn into heat. If the run length is small then the resulting resistance is small. The length is known and will never change inside the box. Outside howrver 1 installation might only need 1m of length, anither 30m… 10mm^2 may well be appropriate for1m and totally unsuitable for 30m. To make it simple and to protect themselves they call for 16mm^2
Btw current carry capacity of 16mm^2 well exceeds 12kw as does10mm for short runs..
As to the charing… the connector or the connector wire interface failed and went high resistance. Probably the terminals themselves achieved temps of glowing hot… the cables, be they 10 or 16mm on both sides are probably equally damaged from heat conductance….. or in fact given that the interface that failed is on the 16mm side it could be that that cable was even more damaged rhan the internal one.
Also worth pointing out that the internal cables are cooled by fan…. i really dont see the internal cable size as any issue at all, it is part of the system that sigenergy has total control over….unlike the external where thwy have to engineer in sifnificant safety margins….
We had our Sigenergy 12kW inverter fail mid September and it took repeated emails to both the installation company and sigenergy to get it replaced. This took around 4 weeks and then I have the problem with the inverter and Amber not communicating which still hasn’t been fixed.
I have also had one of the four batteries fail a week ago. I have raised a ticket for the replacement of this but so far crickets. I’m not a happy customer.
Is this 12kW inverter, single phase or three phase?
I am aware that in the Datasheet for the Sigen Energy Storage Systems, Sigenergy have the 12S-48 system, which is a single phase all-in one stackable system with 12kW/48kWh capacity, but, I am, not aware of it being CEC approved, and, I do not know that any grid allows 12kW single phase inverter capacity (although, I content that we should be allowed single phase inverter capacity that matches the grid connection fuse – 63A – 14.5kW).
12S is CEC approved these days.
WA actually does allow up to 15kVa despite the misinformation spread.
I have 5kW solar and 10kW BESS myself and know someone with a 12kW Sig approved. They do fight it, both of us took around 90 days to get it approved.
”
4.3.2
Site Generation Limit Downstream of Connection Point
The site generation limit downstream of the connection point shall be used where the aggregated
nameplate capacity of all inverters and inverter energy system exceed the site generation limits of Table
4.1, Table 4.2, or Table 4.3 as applicable. This includes any combination of AC coupled BESS, DC couple BESS
or other IES (PV or other energy source). The site generation limit downstream of the connection point shall
be the same as the AS/NZS 4777.2 soft limit for the generation limit control function.
”
Source – “Basic Embedded Generator (EG) Connection Technical
Requirements
Public
12 June 2025”
So, I am wondering how (whilst they are not widely implemented as yet) V2H and the HOEM devices impact on the maximum capacity for allowed inverters on single phase grid connections.
Also, from the above citation, I am surprised that we do not have more available single phase inverters (and, all in one stackable systems), >10kW.
“I am surprised that we do not have more available single phase inverters (and, all in one stackable systems), >10kW.”
One particular aspect to this; whilst it is digressing from the subject of the above article, is that the manufacturers of single phase inverters for single phase grid connections, are discouraging the adoption of BEV’s by householders with single phase grid connections, by not providing single phase inverters up to the maximum allowed capacity of 15kW; both in separate hybrid inverters, and, in the inverter components of all-in-one stackable systems.
For a BEV, household wall mount single phase A/C chargers are available with capacity of up to 7kW, but, taking that out of the currently (mostly) maximum inverter capacity of 10kW, does not leave much PV power available for the household load.
So, with 10kW hybrid inverters for single phase grid connections, the optimum BEV A/C charger appears to be a 15A one, charging at about 3.6kW to meet household load needs.
It’s a 12kW single phase. I’ve just been on the phone to Sigenergy and they were very helpful and said they would address the issues I have in house so that things are fixed in a timely manner. We’ll see what happens
Hopefully now people start to see through the aggressive marketing and recognise Sig for what it really is.
It’s supposedly “highly rated,” yet there’s zero proof of long-term reliability to back that up.
Kind of says it all, the 6 sensors only carry a 2-year warranty, while the gateway has 5 years. That alone should raise questions. TThey don’t even trust their product.
But most people don’t look at it that way. They just want the newest shiny thing that’s hit the market. Which is CRAZY when your home is your biggest asset, anyway.
Sig is literally a scam and its right infront of you.
With all the freebies to incentivise installers, is anyone surprised this dodgy company received a silver medal in best battery 2025?
With same going on for other new to the market companies in the pv panels category, do you think it is time to stop using installer ratings to rate products?
After reading about the conduct of the company on here it seems they are probably fairly active in a few facebook groups keeping their image all shiny as well.
Can’t see how you could consider any product from a company that seems to rate PR ahead of support.
Cut/paste from email sent 4 days before my install was delayed until replacement inverter arrives
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Great article, well done guys.
As the until very proud owner of a TP 25kW Sigenergy Energy Controller whilst i am slightly re-assured that the TP plug is apparently less prone to failure, I am looking with some concern at the fat AC cable used. To the untrained eye this cable appears to be exactly as described above i.e. “orange circular cable….bent tight behind the covers, in an effort that’s more aesthetic than technically compliant”.
Should i be concerned? The fat orange cable is labelled 4C x 10 mm2 (4 cores 10mm2 diameter presumably).
Dont worry I am sure SIG will do another China trip for the installers to keep them happy. When in doubt, send them to China!
Wow, Mark from MC Electrical has the right to feel pretty smug right now.
He’s been (arguably) very conservative about Sig products, and the chickens are starting to come home to roost!
So many people so desperate sing the praises of sig energy, including solar quotes whilst other people said it needs to prove itself in the market.
Looks like those hesitant were correct
Apologies if this is obvious, but how can i tell if my invert has been derated? No new messages on the sigenergy app, currently my batter is full and my solar curtailed. Going on holidays tomorrow, should i disconnect my battery?
Hi Peter,
As we understand it the throttle is applied dynamically.
So if conditions are good and the yield ramps up to full rated power, it will back itself off to 80%
Should be ok but if you’re risk averse then simply switch it off. There must be labels on the system explaining how.
This article is timely as I have had a few companies promote and quote me for Sigenergy SigenStor 3 phase battery/inverter…despite the release of this article. I don’t want to get burnt by faulty products and have been reassured that through quality installation, this is preventable.
Sorry for my ignorance but Can I assume that by sticking to the Sigenergy 3 phase inverter/battery, this would be safe ?
Hi Andee,
There’s been no reports to my knowledge that 3ph units are affected.
The faulty single phase plug design is in fact being replaced with the lugged connection used in 3ph units.
There are a raft of issues with a many of the ‘all in one’ style units, we stopped installing any of them a few years ago and only focus on our bespoke systems. Much safer for emergency shut downs ie: huge clearly marked battery breaker 2m away from the battery bank with clear access for homeowners and emergency services alike. We also now include a Lithium battery blanket and an F500 fire extinguisher as part of our standard mid to high range systems, with an option for small scale systems as well. And yes we do actually train the homeowner in the use of both. There are endless all in one systems on the market with new additions weekly it seems, they are without a doubt the worst thing to install from my perspective, locked in to vendor service contracts that pay less than a car park attendant, insanely long wait times for any help from the vendor etc. All in all you get what you pay for, and they are cheap..
“Saved by the bell?”
I have been pondering over three Sigenstore install quotes for a few weeks. I was initially hesitant because of concerns the Chinese Communist Party could control my system and shut it down in a future trade war with Australia. I was reassured by public opinion that Sig had changed their ‘phone home’ software such that I could disconnect the communications link and my system would keep running.
Okay so my quotes are for the three-phase version which is not DIRECTLY involved here. However the bigger picture of Sig’s alleged whitewashing mentality is very revealing. Today’s excellent SQ blog by Anthony Bennett (and the 35 comments so far) has put me back on the skeptical bandwagon. Time to sit back and see how this plays out before pulling the trigger on a $ 50k install.
“I was initially hesitant because of concerns the Chinese Communist Party could control my system and shut it down in a future trade war with Australia. ”
Whether we like it or not, most of what we buy, now – foods, electrical devices, etc, are made in China.
This includes white goods (electric stoves, fridges, washing machines, etc), cellphones, televisions (your smart television is monitoring your habits), computers, etc.
Most can receive/transmit data (and receive software and operating commands in “upgrades”, etc), without the user having any control of it.
Australian governments require unrestricted Internet access to PV systems inverters, to allow external interference with users’ systems.
We cannot do much about it.
It is the policy of Australian state and feral governments, past and present, that manufacturing, and, control, of products, should go offshore.
We are stuck with it.
When an industry-related issue is turned into a racial one, I think the whole matter has gone off track. Everyone is discussing the quality of the product, but you’ve started bringing racism into it.
Almost everything we use nowadays comes from China. Although it’s not something we’re necessarily proud of, the sad truth is that Australia no longer has a manufacturing industry capable of supporting the normal daily needs of its people.
Kelvin, please don’t confuse racism with politics. My argument is with the politics of the CCP. Not Asians. Not even Chinese.
Plenty of great products we import to Australia are made in Asian countries that are not CCP-controlled. LG, Samsung…
“Plenty of great products we import to Australia are made in Asian countries that are not CCP-controlled. LG, Samsung…
”
See
https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/product/samsung-85kg6kg-smart-washer-dryer-combo-wd85t4046ce/
Samsung appliance –
“country of Origin
Origin China ”
The brand on a product means nothing, regarding where it is manufactured.
It is like the Goodwe EHB inverters that, when they were being sold in South Africa, under the Goodwe brand, were (advertised as) being sold in Australia, under the General Electric brand.
Volvo cars? Made in China. MG cars? Made in China. Tesla cars? Made in China. “British” car brands? made in China.
USA nuclear submarines for Perth? Tip them upside down, and, do they have a Made In China sticker on the bottom?
Whether we like it or not, China appears to now be pretty much the most technologically advanced country in the world, with the governments of the “Western” countries having outsourced technology and manufacturing.
Kudos to my installer who warned me about Sig as the new and unproven kid on the block. Still the quote I accepted included both a single-phase 12 kW inverter and a Sig battery stack. Got a call from him today about this, needless to say, he felt vindicated. We’re revisiting the quote to potentially change to SunGrow. Installation was planned for the week of the 24th, and it could still go ahead as planned. Thankful to SolarQuotes for delving deep into this and other issues!
Are you able to say who your installer is
Hmm, this is a bit concerning given I’ve recently signed two agreements (one commercial and one domestic) for rather large (48kWh//25kW and 40kWh/12kW) Sigenergy systems to replace solar only Fronius systems. They haven’t been installed yet. I was until now thinking I was getting a system that had come with a lot of recommendation from installers and users. Now I’m suddenly not quite so confident….
Fronius inverters are known to last 20+ years. They’ve been around for 80+ years. Why move away from Fronius to a company that is effectively a startup, especially as you can only claim the battery rebate once per site.
After reading this report, I immediately reached out to all my friends who have installed Sig systems. All of our units have been running smoothly without any issues, which makes it hard for me to believe the problem lies with the product itself. To be sure, I also asked the installer who worked on my system whether such an issue could happen to mine. He assured me confidently, “Don’t worry, absolutely not. Our installation quality is top-notch and strictly follows the installation manual.”
He also told me that in Australia, with tens of thousands of Sig systems already installed, 99%—or even 99.9%—of them are operating perfectly fine. With statistics like that, it’s quite clear where the real problem lies.
Hi Kevin,
Many installers aren’t willing to push back & complain about this problem because they’re heavily invested.
ie If you’re carrying $500,000 in stock when a recall throws your pre Christmas install pipeline into disarray, you won’t pain a target on your back by complaining to the manufacturer.
We dont know how many units are out there, or the percentage of failures, because it’s another detail Sigenergy are keeping secret.
What? No faulty flux capacitors?
“Australian governments require unrestricted Internet access to PV systems inverters, to allow external interference with users’ systems.
We cannot do much about it.”
We can always do something about authority over reach and that is don’t comply. When enough people stop complying the ‘rules’ can be forced to change. Buy a system that will still function without internet access and once up and running remove internet access. If that will affect your warranty then you have a decision to make; will you bow down to over reach or will you stand up to it and pay a price for freedom if you have to pay for a repair?
“will you bow down to over reach or will you stand up to it and pay a price for freedom if you have to pay for a repair?”
That is why, when the time comes that my very good and worthwhile Solar HWS comes to its End OF Life, I am intending to seek to have it repaired, rather than submitting to the dangerous ban of domestic hot water.
And, if it cannot be repaired, depending on the gas storage HWS into which it feeds, and its status, I will probably seek a water heater known as a copper (that most who read this, will probably be to young, to have encountered), to supply hot water for the house, to ensure a safe supply of hot water for the house.
I’ve already contacted my installer about this issue and requested clarification, but I haven’t received a response yet.
Is it appropriate or allowed to “name the installer” here so we can understand which installers are — or aren’t — following the correct procedures?
How about linking this article on your review pages?
Thanks Beth,
Great idea, I’ll forward it on to be looked at.
Cheers
It seems necessary given there seem to be no bad reviews on there
Yes Beth,
I’ve been critical of how sanitary the Sig support channels are.
I think they have been prioritising installer and end user feedback to SQ but ironically there are now reports that installer incentives (free stock provided you sell more units) haven’t been paid.
Is this just an Australian issue or International?
I’ve checked my 10kw Sigenstor inverter which was installed about 2 weeks ago. The install was done by a very reputable company with Sigenergy Gold installer status.
The cable is 10mm2 multi strand black flex cable as per manufacturer installation specifications. I’ve checked the the cable and connector with a non contact infrared thermometer and it’s just over ambient temperature in the garage at 31degC.
There seems to be only Aus owners commenting in the community section of the mySigen app about inverter throttling. Also noticed that they seem to be on either Amber or vpp and trying to export high amounts of power. I’m wondering if there’s a combination of factors causing this connector problem with certain Sig owners.
Would love to know what the root cause is before get our DNSP smart meter install and change retailers to Amber. We’re currently running in self consumption mode and not really taxing the system.
Hi Kev,
I’ve seen one problem reported in the UK.
However as much as Sig are throwing installers under the bus, this is a product design failure.
I have photos of full sized 16mm² cable, with appropriate bootlaces, installed by professionals and they’re burnt.
I think the Sig firmware update that debates the inverters is a good enough solution until they get the replacement units installed.
As I understand it you’ll be contacted to organise a time for the inverter to be swapped.
Haunt Sig for details.
I’m disappointed they haven’t come forward with more for me to tell you.
Hmm, wondering what this will mean for those of us still waiting for installs to be done? I.e. if this will delay it until the new year and therefore miss the biggest rebate deadline?
Also wonder what the impact will be on installers bottom line? And if things like this are what sends some of them bust! Already had this happen with my current (solar only) system.
I’m an installer using Sigenergy and the tone of this article feels off. I remember the author posting in the Sungrow installer group, “Watch out, Sungrow — Sigenergy are going to cut their lunch,” while installing Sigenergy himself. It’s fair to ask whether this shift comes from a bad experience or simply a preference for other products.
We’ve had two failures, both serious, but neither install met Sigenergy’s strict cable, bend-radius or ferrule requirements. Before calling this a product-wide fault, it would help to know how many failures occurred on installs done exactly to spec.
Other major brands have had burnt terminals, firmware issues and weak components too — this isn’t unique. Sigenergy has responded fast: firmware safeguards, redesigned AC plug, installer compensation and 12-year warranty from replacement
This reads more like stoking alarm for clicks, possibly biased by preferred products, than balanced reporting.
Dan,
Good engineering is to design products to be ‘idiot resistant’. In this case ‘installing exactly to spec.’ should be straight forward. Strict bend radii, strict cable types, etc will lead to the sparkies at the pointy end of the job becomming fatigued. Fatigue leads to sub-par workmanship.
Better design would be larger connectors [with beefier contacts] and more space to route cables [hard copper OR flex] with sweeping, non-critical bends.
Pre solar days there are millions of DIN-rail breakers out there handling 63a or greater loads. Do their terminals fail as often as Sig’s SP boxes? Do they require ferrules on cables? Do they require specific cable types? [Other than the right sq mm copper.]
In terms of balance, I expect that a person who claims to be an installer, in posting material relating to a particular brand of product, would properly identify both the person and the business that does the installation, and, the state in which the installer is located.
Especially, when the person is advocating a particular brand of product.
After all, it is all about openness and accountability, isn’t it?
…
Now this article got me very intrigued and worried. I have 12kw SP Sigenergy Inverter installed 29/09/2025 with 32kw batteries. Beside the news of the recall it has been working well and I started noticing the throttling down from 07/11. Which has been explained why.
How can I ensure my AC cable used is a compliant. and what is the immediate risk if an Orange Cable is used( I have photos how can I attach them on here). My installer is saying the cable is perfect. But he used an Orange cable.
What is the immediate Risk , I have 3 people with medical condition and not mobile in the property. I want to make sure there is no immediate risk.
Unfortunately with this system you and your family are not safe. Best to check with your installer.
I did check with the installer he said the ac cable ia perfect. So I am asking is it OK to use the orange cable for AC?
Hi Fred,
Sheath colour doesn’t always indicate what the cable inside is insulated with.
PVC is often orange and should be adequate provided it’s not badly bent.
Higher quality XLPE is generally softer, more flexible and black in colour.
The sheath will be marked anyway if you can see it.
This is concerning. I have a 12kw SP inverter on 32kw batteries installed 29/09/2025.
If has been working with no issues. I have used a supposedly a Sigenergy installer.
After reading thia post I went to check the connections (i have photos but could see how to attach them here). I can see the installer has used orange thick cable for the AC plug.
I asked the installer and he said AC cable is fine.
I have 3 people in the house with medical conditions. Although I want my system to be fully compliant but my immediate concerns in safety.
What do you advise.
This is an image of the cable and AC plug https://ibb.co/4wn8M5Zz
Hi Fred,
You can see that in order to stay behind the cover, the orange cable has to make a pretty tight turn as it exits the plug.
This bend radius probably isn’t compliant but I imagine they’ll come and fix it with a new inverter and possibly reroute the cable out through the cover.
Thanks for replying. I just want to understand if the orange cable is OK to use. As my gateway is about 5 meters from the inverter. Many people I spoke to said it is stronger cable.
I the cable is an issue I will make sure the installer changes it. He reckons the cable is perfect.
Hi Fred,
Main thing is that the cable is the right size.
It needs to have 10mm² or 16mm² cross sectional area according to Sigenergy.
That must be verified by the electrician who signs off on the compliance.
Thanks Anthony for replying
one more question.
My cable is “CU 2C+E 16mm² XLPE 0.6/1kV Orange Circular XLPE160E 2x16mm²+E” . Is this Cable suitable as an AC Cable for the 12KW Single Phase Sigenergy inverter?
I appreciate the response.
Hi Fred,
That translates to copper, 2 core, plus earth in 16mm² cross section with cross linked polyethylene insulation, rated for 600/1000Volts.
XLPE is better quality than standard PVC so I’d be quite comfortable using that cable.
10kW System with 32 kW battery – System is absolutely flawless and I am not concerned. Was installed April this year
Wont be going to Sungrow, or Tesla for something as easy to fix as this.
Some comments on here are clearly biased AF
Extremely glad I didn’t buy a Sigenergy battery. I was considering it along with a SolarEdge battery as I have a SolarEdge hybrid inverter. Went down the SolarEdge route even though it was more expensive for lesser capacity. And made in the USA.
We’re in SA with 48kwh of batteries with 10kw inverter. Install was around 4 weeks ago and for the first two weeks discharge was at 10kw. This dropped to 7.5kw after a couple of weeks, presumably remotely throttled for the reasons in this thread which I understand. However, for the last few days the rate has further dropped to 4.3kw. Anyone else seeing drops of 50%+
Hi John,
I haven’t heard of that much throttling however as I understand it Sig have come up with a dynamic response.
The load is monitored and allowed to run at full output sometimes. Instead of just a hard limit, they back off to prevent overheating after a certain number of minutes.
Please keep us posted.
How about issues regarding the larger inverter sizes – 20, 25, 30KW?
Have there been issues and what is the position regarding their replacement?
Hi Tze,
There’s been no reports to my knowledge that the larger 3ph units are affected.
The faulty single phase plug design on the 8, 10 and 12kW units, is in fact being replaced with the lugged connection used in 3ph units.
Crickey, How long is that going to take??
Should we all invest in an extra large electrical, powder) fire extinguisher in the meantime time?
Anthony, given Sig’s reticience in giving details, have you tried contacting the Office of the Technical Regulator or fire services to find out how many fires there have been? In SA, First Arrival Officers at an electrical fire are required to notify Fire Cause Investigation giving full details of the installation, including Brand and model numbers. These notifications are used to quickly identify if there is a systemic problem.
For MFS (Metropolitan Fire Service) media enquiries, journalists can contact the MFS Media team by phone at 08 8204 3770 or by email at [email protected].
I’m sure the other metropolitan based fire services around the country have similar procedures.
Thanks Terry,
I’ll shoot them an email now.
Cheers
While I can understand that this could happen to any business, I don’t understand why the hush hush. Hall’s facebook group has suppressed any posts asking about the issue, which to me feels counterproductive.
Yes, and deleting or keeping posts out, not approving (as gate keeper / moderator) about the issue. I find that the most concerning element.
I wonder if ACCC is aware?
There seems to be a general misunderstanding out there about what’s in a SigenStor energy system. Even amongst people that own them going by some of the comments and questions on the unofficial and official sites. The fire suppression system is built into the individual batteries as are all the other safety features as per Sigenergy own product sheets.
https://www.sigenergy.com/uploads/en_download/1739154247982553.pdf
The overheating is related to the energy controller/inverter at the top of the stack.
The fire suppression system wouldn’t come into use in the current situation. The batteries have heat insulating and dissipating properties and heat sensors as well. I’m not aware of any residential inverter on the market currently or in the past that has a fire suppression system built into it.
It appears the ACCC are aware of the situation
published 19/11/2025
https://www.productsafety.gov.au/search-consumer-product-recalls/sigenstor-ec-80100120kw-sp-au-energy-controllers
Forgive me if I’ve missed it among the many posts but a burning question that I’d like answered is: of all of these fires, how many were put out by the sophisticated (?) multi-level fire prevention system built in?
One photo shows the blackened fan where flames were seen and the blue tinge (not on the fan) of some fire-retardent? Were these flames extinguished by this internal system?
My understanding from original letter (from home owner), copied in above, that the home owner used a powder fire extinguisher. So, I guess we don’t know what if any of the built in Sygenergy fire retardant systems activated, and if so, worked as ‘advertised’?
Fire protection system is in the battery modules, not the solar inverter.
Given the lack of external damage it would appear the fire remained contained inside that module and did not spread to the batteries. If the entire stack went up I would assume a photo/mention of that would have been made.
Most of the other instances probably did not result in an actual fire. Circuit protection tripping or voltage alarms on the actual unit as plug failed.
From an industry engineering perspective, the core concern is not whether every installer followed the manual perfectly, but whether the AC terminal design provides adequate tolerance for real-world variability. Mature high-current equipment must remain safe even when cable stiffness, bend radius, ferrule type or conduit routing aren’t “laboratory perfect.” When small deviations lead to high-resistance joints, thermal runaway or melted plugs, it indicates margin is too thin. Silent derating without a public safety notice further undermines confidence. Transparent root-cause analysis, published corrective actions and clearer communication with end users and regulators would go a long way toward restoring trust.
Our 10kW plug was one of those that melted 3 weeks ago so we have been paying full price for electricity since then. Under Australian consumer law are we entitled to reimbursement for the extra cost?
It would certainly be an interesting conversation with your installer…
Right to Compensation
If the failure causes reasonably foreseeable loss or damage, you can claim compensation in addition to repair, replacement, or refund.
Paying wholesale electricity prices for weeks because your battery failed is likely considered a foreseeable financial loss, especially since the battery was installed to reduce reliance on grid power. The ACCC explicitly states businesses must compensate for such losses when caused by their failure to meet consumer guarantees. [accc.gov.au]
The recall is now there: https://www.productsafety.gov.au/search-consumer-product-recalls/sigenstor-ec-80100120kw-sp-au-energy-controllers
What consumers should do
1. Consumers should ensure their systems are connected to the internet so they can receive a firmware update. This allows Sigenergy to update and monitor each system proactively and temporarily reduce the AC output if the product is operating at sustained full load. This prevents the AC plug from overheating and becoming damaged. All affected products that are online have already received the firmware update.
2. Consumers will receive a free replacement product that has an updated AC plug. Consumers will be contacted by their retailer or Sigenergy Australia service partner to arrange replacements.
3. Sigenergy will also provide affected customers with an additional 2-year warranty on the product.
For more information, consumers should contact Sigenergy Australia Pty Ltd via email at sigenservice.au@sigenergy or visit htt
We had a 24kWh battery with 10kW inverter installed a couple of weeks ago, so this was somewhat concerning when I read it. However – I went with a recommended installer, rather than cheapest quote, and spent a bit of time watching and talking to the installers, so I am confident they’ve done right by me.
I also sent them the link to this article, and had a call-back within 10 minutes to have a chat with me about it.
Pretty much ALL of the larger brand of batteries have had technical issues, so I don’t really understand the pile-on that’s happening here. Whilst Sig appear to have tried for a bit of a “social media blackout” on the issues, which is not a good thing, I can understand WHY they might have initially thought that a good idea… being an “up and coming” company, having bad press can take a lot of wind out of the sails of their progress.
They have, however, now notified owners via the app, and are actively monitoring and remedying the issue. I’m ok with how it’s been handled
They released info on the product change in late October, and this document also shows the 3-phase AC plug being modified (though not involved in the ACCC recall).
https://mckerchercorporation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sigenergy_PCN2025018_AC_Output_Interface_Upgrade_1_.pdf
Looks to me as failed connection on inside. There could be easy fix to just crimp new connection plate by installer or authorised service man. No need to replace whole unit.
But I agree censuring information is real NO NO. We are going to install our first one next week and already waiting for replacement.
Fingers crossed it will arrive in time and no problems with it.
Watch this:
https://youtu.be/7eSljHPmD0A?si=FCO5VQFtb6hA-BjL
It’s the most balanced representation of the situation I’ve found so far.
Some of the emotional and inaccurate comments in this and other forums are pretty sad. Kicking anything or anyone while they are down may boost your bottom-line in the short term but brings the whole industry down.
That’s not balanced at all, it’s an apologist view from someone who has spruiked the product. It’s embarrassingly unbalanced,
Concerns about fires from a product that was clearly not ready for market is not ‘kicking someone while they’re down’
If there was a serious fire risk the ACCC would have directed all units to be powered down asap. Instead the risk was assessed and the inverter throttling rolled out combined with a replacement program prioritising systems not connect to WIFI. Yep the initial poor comms and dig at some installers (but there are some shoddy ones due to unprecedented demand) was not good. And yep the throttling is cost borne by the customer. However, some of the emotive language online not based on facts generates unjustified fear. This not the first nor last big recall so let’s not turn the industry into Hunger Games.
Oh you only want a ‘serious risk of fire ‘ for this to be taken seriously? Seriously?
Some of us in electrical engineering disciplines are required to do FTA (fault tree analysis) as part of design to ensure customers are never exposed to serious risk that could result in injury or death. I’m told repeatedly that you can’t just sweep these things under the carpet and expect everything will be fine! Seems not everyone is on that page…
Guys,
Risk is a combined assessment of likelihood and impact. Do you really think the ACCC would tolerate a company or remediation plan that does not meet an acceptable risk profile?
We need to stop the hysteria and bush lawyer judgements or you are just damaging the reputation of the whole industry and by default your bottom-line whether a Sig fanboy or otherwise.
Hi Steve,
You’ll note this comes from a hat that is happy to attack the messenger while simultaneously, and without attribution, ripping off the images we have gathered, sought permission and edited into something useful for the viewing public.
He runs a business that completes with SolarQuotes and his “advocacy” for the industry includes starring in an ACA segment that sensationalises the fear of a supposed sun tax, while ignoring the cheap solution available to fix the issue of export charges. One so simple it renders the point moot.
ie He squibbed it for clicks.
https://youtu.be/o1Awo9GQrH4?t=326
Scott you know that’s not what I said. A fire risk, serious or otherwise, needs risk assessment following an FTA. Please read my comment again that you responded to.
Tired of checking back here to find no new information on the Sig matter, only reactions to reactions to reactions to reactions? I too am guilty. Talk about flogging a dead horse.
It happened.
People initially didn’t know why, or where else it was happening or if it had already happened elsewhere, in the same or related manner or could, would, might, happen again, and who to blame and reached out to find answers.
They found several different ways of dealing with the fact that it happened and defined it accordingly.
I will leave it to others to continue reacting to every interpretation of what happened, why it happened, whether it shoulda, coulda, woulda happened differently if when etc
We humans can learn from mistakes but can each only step in the same stream once.
Sad, but human, that digital expression is dismissive, corrective and argumentative to the point of annoying any of varying viewpoints.
Who first said belief is in the first instance the wish to believe?