Split Phase Inverters

Split Phase Solar Inverters: How to Pick the Right 120/240V Unit

A split phase solar inverter takes DC power from a 48V battery bank and solar array and turns it into the same 120/240V service a US home gets from the utility. That second leg is what lets you run a well pump, a dryer, a central air unit or a 240V EV charger from batteries.

This collection holds 32 inverters from EG4, Sol-Ark, Sungold Power, BigBattery and Rich Solar, from about $1,450 for an 8,000W Sungold Power unit to $6,415 for the Sol-Ark 18K. Most are hybrid designs that accept solar, battery, grid and generator input in one box.

How to choose a split phase inverter

• Continuous output. Add up the loads that can run at the same time. A cabin with a fridge, well pump and a few circuits fits a 6,000W unit like the EG4 6,000W 120/240VAC Off-Grid Hybrid Inverter. A full house with central air is closer to the 12,000W Sol-Ark 12K or the 18kW Sol-Ark 18K, which lists 36kW of surge for 10 seconds to start HVAC compressors.
• Solar input capacity. Each inverter has a PV ceiling. The Sungold Power 8,000W takes up to 11,000W of panels, the Rich Solar NOVA 12K takes 12,000W, and the EG4 FlexBOSS21 accepts 21,000W across three MPPT trackers and five strings.
• Grid-tied, off-grid or both. An eg4 split phase inverter such as the FlexBOSS18 works grid-tied or fully off-grid and ties into EG4's GridBOSS hub. The BigBattery APEX-6.5K keeps a dedicated grid input and a dedicated generator input so both can back up the batteries. If you only need off-grid, the Sungold Power units cost less.
• Parallel expansion. The EG4 6000XP parallels up to 16 units and the Sungold Power 8,000W parallels in split-phase or three-phase, so you can start with one and add a second later.
• Where it will live. The EG4 12kPV 8,000W All-Weather has a NEMA 4X enclosure for outdoor mounting. Most others belong in a garage or utility room.

Popular picks in this collection

Sizing tips

• Put your appliance list and ZIP code into the Solar Kit Calculator first. It returns inverter watts, battery kWh and panel wattage together, which keeps the three in proportion.
• Check the open-circuit voltage of your panel strings against the inverter's PV limit. The Sungold Power 8,000W lists 500V Voc; cold mornings push string voltage up, so leave margin.
• Match charge current to the bank. The Sungold Power 8,000W charges at up to 200A, which is more than a single small battery should take. Two or more batteries in parallel spread that load.
• A split phase hybrid inverter with a sub-15ms transfer, like the EG4 6000XP, keeps computers and routers from rebooting when the grid drops.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need split phase if I only run 120V loads? Not strictly, but a 240V-capable unit lets you feed a standard US breaker panel directly and balance loads across both legs. If a well pump or dryer is ever in the plan, buy split phase now.

What is the difference between a hybrid inverter split phase model and an off-grid one? Hybrid units like the Sol-Ark 15K and FlexBOSS18 can connect to the grid, charge from it and in many cases export to it. Off-grid units such as the APEX-10K run loads from battery and solar with a grid or generator input only as a charging source.

Can a split phase grid tie inverter work without batteries? Most models here are battery-based and expect a 48V bank. Treat the battery as part of the purchase, not an option.

Every inverter ships free to the mainland US from our brand partner warehouses, usually within a few business days, with 30-day returns. Call us with your panel count and battery plan and we will confirm which unit fits before you order.