Solis Inverter Review: Why We Fit Them
We fit Solis inverters as standard, so read this as an installer explaining a repeated bet rather than a neutral roundup. The case: Solis, made by Ginlong, is one of the world's largest inverter manufacturers, its units are among the most-fitted in the UK, the hybrid range keeps battery storage on the table for every install, the units we fit come with a 10-year warranty, extendable to 20, and there is a UK support operation when something needs a human. The trade-off is glamour: Solis is the reliable volume choice, not the boutique badge.
In This Guide
Who Solis are
Solis is the brand of Ginlong Technologies, a listed manufacturer that has grown into one of the largest string-inverter makers on the planet. Scale matters in inverters more than in most kit: an inverter is the component most likely to need warranty support within your system's life, as our inverter lifespan guide explains, and a manufacturer shipping at global volume with a UK support office is a materially safer bet over a 10-to-15-year horizon than a small brand that may not see the decade out. Solis units are correspondingly among the most commonly fitted inverters on UK roofs, which also means any competent engineer can work on one, spare availability is good, and the fault behaviour is well understood, all quietly valuable when your system is twelve years old.
The range, and what we actually fit
Solis makes everything from small single-phase string units to large three-phase commercial machines, but two lines matter for our installs:
- Hybrid invertersOur default on domestic work, like the unit pictured: panels and a battery port managed by one controller, which keeps DC-coupled storage available from day one, per our hybrid vs string guide. Fitted alongside Fogstar batteries, it is the engine of every package we sell.
- Three-phase and commercial unitsFor farms, warehouses and larger homes on three-phase supplies, the same brand scales up, one monitoring platform across the fleet.
How they behave in the field
Across the systems we run them on, from terraced-house singles to the workshop and warehouse units pictured below, the honest field report is uneventfulness. Commissioning is predictable, the battery scheduling holds reliably for time-shifting tariffs, the display gives an engineer real information on site (our fault codes guide is effectively a tour of it), and the monitoring platform does its job without drama. Inverters are the component we expect to revisit within a system's life; the brand that gives us the least reason to is the one that stays on the van.
The warranty position
Solis units we supply come with a 10-year warranty, which we register at commissioning, and it can be extended to 20 years for those who want cover matching the panels. Set against the honest 10-to-15-year service expectation for any inverter's electronics, the 10-year registered position covers the years where a manufacturing fault would show itself, and the 20-year option effectively insures the replacement too. We register warranties as part of commissioning, and our own 5-year workmanship guarantee sits over the installation itself.
Where Solis wins
- Manufacturer scaleOne of the world's largest, likeliest to still be answering the phone in year twelve.
- ValueVolume pricing without volume corner-cutting; it keeps our all-in packages where they are.
- Hybrid rangeBattery-ready across the board, single and three-phase.
- ServiceabilityUbiquitous in the UK, well-understood, UK support office.
The honest trade-offs
- No glamourNobody shows off a Solis at a dinner party; premium badges carry more cachet.
- Standard warranty needs registeringThe strong 10-year position relies on registration being done, so confirm your installer did it.
- Functional appMonitoring is solid rather than beautiful; ecosystem brands do slicker.
See what a Solis-powered system costs
Free survey, Solis hybrid inverter and Fogstar battery sized to your usage, one all-in price from £8,500. Design normally within 2 to 4 days depending on workload. Call 0115 773 7575, 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.
Book a feasibility assessmentFrequently asked questions
Are Solis inverters any good?
In our experience across the systems we fit and service, yes: predictable commissioning, reliable battery scheduling, informative displays and undramatic long-term behaviour, from one of the world's largest inverter manufacturers with UK support. They win on dependability and value rather than glamour.
How long is the Solis inverter warranty?
10 years on the units Spectrum supplies, with paid extensions available to 20 years. We handle registration at commissioning; if you bought elsewhere, check yours was registered, because the difference between 5 and 10 years of cover is one form.
Who makes Solis inverters?
Ginlong Technologies, a listed company and one of the largest string-inverter manufacturers globally. The scale matters practically: broad UK availability, well-understood units any competent engineer can service, and a manufacturer with the depth to honour decade-long warranties.
Do Solis hybrid inverters work with any battery?
They support a published compatibility list covering the major battery families, including the Fogstar units we pair them with. Compatibility is exactly why inverter and battery should be specified together by one installer rather than bought separately, so the pairing is a tested combination rather than an experiment.
Is Solis better than premium inverter brands?
It matches them where it matters, conversion performance, hybrid capability and reliability, and concedes cachet and app polish. Our comparison with the leading premium alternative runs the head-to-head in detail; for most homes, the difference in outcome does not justify the difference in price.
Related reading
- Solis vs SolarEdge compared
- Hybrid vs string inverters
- How long do solar inverters last?
- Solis fault codes explained
- Fogstar battery review
The inverter we stake our installs on
We are Spectrum Energy Systems, MCS certified (NIC200223), fitting Solis inverters across the East Midlands since 2011, warranties registered and backed by our own 5-year workmanship guarantee. Call 0115 773 7575, 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.
Get in touch