When adding a battery to your home, there are two primary architectures. The right choice depends on whether you are starting fresh or retrofitting.
DC Coupled Systems
In a DC coupled system, the solar panels and the battery share a single Hybrid Inverter. Solar panels generate DC power, and batteries store DC power. This means the energy flows directly from the roof into the battery without needing to be converted to AC first.
Pros: Highly efficient (fewer conversion losses), usually cheaper for new installations as you only buy one inverter.
AC Coupled Systems
In an AC coupled system, the battery has its own dedicated built-in inverter (like a Tesla Powerwall) and sits on the AC side of your switchboard, separate from your solar inverter.
Pros: The absolute best choice for retrofitting a battery to a home that already has a working solar system, as you don’t need to rip off the old solar inverter.