ABB Inverter rose like a phoenix from the ashes; it went through a lot of controversies, its company’s name got tarnished, but it kept on going and reached where it is now today. ABB is a multi-billion-dollar industrial tycoon which manufactures its solar inverters in Italy. They are one of the largest inverter manufacturers with more than 105,000 versatile employees while ruling over 100 countries. ABB inverter was able to attract customers across Australia, China, Italy, Slovakia, South Africa, and the USA.
In this ABB Inverter review, you will not only know about its difficult journey, but also you will know about its outstanding inverters, which are taking the Australian market by storm.
So, let me help you to get to know more about the ABB inverters! And then You decide whether you will want to give ABB a chance to lighten and brighten up your home or your office.
Table of content
- Is ABB A Good Brand?
- ABB and FIMER Partnership
- Where Is ABB Solar Inverter Manufactured?
- Different Types of ABB Solar Inverter Available in the Australian Market
- Side by Side Comparison of ABB Inverters
- Advantages and Disadvantages of ABB Inverter
- Monitoring System in ABB inverter
- Performance and Efficiency of ABB Inverter
- Warranty of ABB Inverter
- ABB Inverter- Is It Any Good?
- Conclusion
Is ABB A Good Brand?
ABB has undergone lots of ups and downs in these 33 years. It’s the perfect example of not giving up at any cost. So, before I give you an answer on whether ABB is a good brand or not, let me give you a quick brief on its company.
ABB was founded in 1988 in Zurich, Switzerland; it was a merger of two companies named ASEA and Brown, Boveri & Cie. These two companies were formed in 1883 and 1891 respectively and were involved with electrical goods like motors, circuit breakers, robots etc.
ABB provides an all-inclusive range of power converters and solar inverters for a variety of applications across all industries. The power converters and inverters of ABB help you to generate and use energy efficiently. It is designed in such a way so that it can withstand any sort of conditions and that too at a low price. You can undoubtedly rely on ABB as its power converters and solar inverters are backed by global support and service.
Furthermore, ABB’s commitment towards technical innovation and manufacturing has been acknowledged, and it has been awarded as the Manufacturer of the Year at the Motion Control Industry (MCI) awards.
This MCI award is proof that ABB is one of the only few manufacturers that offer both VSDs (Variable Speed Drive) and motors that combine the perfectly matched motor and drive packages made just for you!
ABB invests heavily in the development of next-generation motion technology; it offers comprehensive life cycle services to maintain the reliability of its products. And for this very reason, they are known as the market leaders in the supply of motors and drives. More so, ABB won Supplier of the Year at the Pump Industry Awards.
ABB has Ability Smart Sensor for low voltage motors, which offers just the right thing- you can now monitor the condition of most low voltage motors at a very low price. This Smart Sensor converts low voltage motors into intelligent, connected machines. The predictive maintenance based on data from this sensor can help you to reduce the downtime by up to 70%. It can also extend the motor lifetime by 30 %, and it can cut energy consumption by up to 10%.
And then there’s the Smart Sensor which is part of the ABB solar inverters portfolio that includes more than 180 digital solutions! It uses the industrial internet to create digitally connected devices, systems and services that increase productivity, cut maintenance costs and reduce energy consumption. ABB is definitely an all-in-one package.
Oh, wait! It doesn’t stop here; ABB has world-leading manufacturing facilities; for instance, its 25,000 sq.m Helsinki factory is home to VSD (Variable Speed Drive) and R & D initiatives.
There are over 20 different laboratories at the site supporting production, R&D and customer applications. And you won’t believe it, but the factory produces some 200,000 variations of frequency converters and solar inverters each year! Unbelievable, isn’t it?
Additionally, ABB has its own field service engineer network, backed up with local support through its authorised value provider channel to support its drives and motors in the field.
Therefore, ABBs hard work and willpower earned them these awards, which is a testament to their success serving these diverse industries as ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalisation. I am sure by now you got an answer of whether ABB is a good brand or not. Because it indeed is, and no matter what its past was, I can assure you that ABB won’t disappoint you.
ABB and FIMER Partnership
ABB was a premium manufacturer that offered a wide range of high-quality string solar inverters; in 2014, ABB bought forth one of the smallest yet famous companies called ‘Power One’, which was known as ‘Aurora’.
Unfortunately, things got out of hand, and it gained a poor reputation because of the ‘Aurora’ solar inverters. The customers were facing issues such as technical problems and poor customer support; as a result, ABB’s solar inverter began to lose its reputation. And just for this one mishap of ABB Aurora solar inverter, it had its negative impact on their other standard quality type inverters as well.
Thus, in July 2019, ABB decided to opt out of the business. And just in time, FIMER came to the rescue in early 2020. FIMER solar inverter is the fourth largest Italian based solar inverter distributor. It has a production capacity of 4.12GW with a string inverter range from a few kW to 7.8 MW; held the hands of the ABB’s business and finalised the acquisition.
ABB, in spite of having a terrible startup, with their years of playing around the Aurora inverters, finally got through all the infamy by starting from scratch. It reintroduced their technically advanced inverters called the UNO inverter series. And it was only possible with the help of the FIMER, the guardian angel of ABB.
Where Is ABB Solar Inverter Manufactured?
ABB’s inverter, as mentioned earlier, are manufactured in Italy. You might worry about the pricing of the inverters, as ABB is a multi-billion-dollar industrial giant, but that is the last thing you should worry about. As these top-notch inverters are cheap and come with great customer support.
Although ABB’s solar inverters are manufactured in Italy, but you will be amazed to know that it has got not one, but four offices in Australia- situated in 4 states, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth and their head office is situated in Sydney, NSW. So, without any hesitation, you can drop in your queries, and within no time, ABB’s correspondents will be solving your problems.
Different Types of ABB Solar Inverter Available in the Australian Market
ABB, powered by FIMER, has a variety of solar inverters available in the Australian market, which you can use for both residential and commercial properties. So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at the five most desirable ABB inverters:
ABB UNO-2.0/3.0/3.6/4.2-TL-OUTD
- It is a single-phase solar inverter that is best for residential systems.
- Each inverter is set to specific grid codes, which can be selected in the field.
- Wide input range and high-efficiency values.
- Natural convection cooling for maximum reliability.
- Maximum voltage range is up to 600V-800V.
- The maximum efficiency rate is up to 97.30% to 98.40%.
- The Euro inverter efficiency rate is 97.5%.
- It is IP65 rated best suited for Australia’s weather.
- The user interface is Display (2×16 line LCD).
- The weight of these inverters is 12 kilograms.
- It is easy to install; the Plug and Play connectors, both on the DC and AC side as well as on the RS485 communication port, makes a simple, fast and safe installation.
ABB UNO-DM-3.3/4.0/4.6/5.0-TL-PLUS
- It is an extremely lightweight and compact single-phase string inverter, weighing only 15 kilograms.
- Power rating from 3.3 to 5.0 kW
- It has got an environmental protection rating of IP65.
- Maximum efficiency rate is 97% to 97.4%.
- The Euro efficiency is 96.5% to 97%.
- It’s easy to install; the presence of Plug & Play connectors makes the installation hassle-free.
- It has an improved user experience because of a built-in User Interface (UI). Which allows access to features such as advanced inverter configuration settings, dynamic feed-in control and load manager from any WLAN enabled devices- such as smartphones, tablets or PC.
- Dual input section with independent MPPT.
- Remote monitoring via Aurora Vision® cloud.
- Wireless access to the embedded Web User Interface.
ABB React 2 PV + Storage
- The AC grid type is a single-phase inverter.
- It’s ‘battery ready’; you can turn your regular inverter into a hybrid one whenever you want to.
- It’s photovoltaic energy storage system that allows to store the excess amount of energy and optimise that energy use in residential applications.
- Power rating is up to 3.6 kW to 5.0 kW.
- Its Li-Ion battery offers a wide storage capacity; that can be expanded from 4 kWh to 12 kWh.
- Battery units can be upgraded anytime during the lifetime of a system.
- Quick and easy to install both on inverter and battery side due to the simple plug and play connection.
- The operating DC voltage range is from 170-570V.
- It has got IP65 rating for protection against harsh weather.
- Can be monitored remotely with a dedicated mobile app.
- The temperature range is from -20֯ C to +50֯ C.
ABB TRIO-20.0/27.6-TL-OUTD
- It’s a three-phase bridge topology for DC/AC output converter.
- MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) voltage ranges from 440-800 V.
- IP65 verified.
- Its weight is 70-75 kilograms.
- Compatible with ABB 15/25kW WIND-INTERFACE.
- Max efficiency is 98.2%; Euro efficiency is 98%.
- Noise Level is < 50 dB(A).
- The operating temperature is -25 ~ +60 ℃.
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Side by Side Comparison of ABB Inverters
| Models | ABB UNO -2.0/3.0/3.6/4.2-TL-OUTD | ABB UNO-DM-3.3/4.0/4.6/5.0-TL-PLUS | ABB React 2 PV + Storage | ABB TRIO-20.0/27.6-TL-OUTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inverter Type | String | String | String | String |
| Battery Ready Option | No | No | Yes | No |
| Display Type | LCD | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Rated AC Power Output | 2000-4200 Watt | 3300-5000 Watt | 3600-5000 Watt | 20000-27600 Watt |
| Maximum AC Output Current | 10-20A | 14.5-22A | 16-22A | 33-45A |
| Maximum DC Voltage | 600-850 | 360 | 575 | 620 |
| Maximum Inverter Efficiency | 97.50% | 97.00% | 97.70% | 98.20% |
| Dimensions(W’D’D) | 553*418*175 mm | 553*418*175 mm | 740*490*229 mm | 1061*702*292 mm |
| Weight (KG) | 12 | 15 | 22 | 70 |
| Water and Dust Proof Certification | IP65 | IP65 | IP65 | IP65 |
| Ethernet | No | Optional | Yes | No |
| WiFi | Optional | Yes | Yes | Optional |
| App | Not specified | No | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 5 Years | 5 Years | 5 Years | 5 Years |
Advantages and Disadvantages of ABB Inverter
ABB’s biggest drawback was its Aurora inverter, which mainly tarnished its reputation. But it made sure to make a grand comeback and definitely made its mark. However, it still has got some minor disadvantages which I will not let you overlook. But before I go to the disadvantages, let me show the advantages first.
Advantages:
- Great efficiency of about 97%, and that too at an affordable price. Best for those who are looking for quality on a budget.
- Higher efficiency leads to less heating, and my friend, it increases the longevity of ABB inverters.
- It’s lightweight and compact, which makes it easier for you to install.
- All of the ABB inverters are IP65 rated, which is perfect for the rainy weather in Australia. Also, the Plug-in connectors stop the water or condensation from entering through the defective channel.
- The inverters are equipped with built-in Wi-Fi enabling system or its dongle based, therefore it makes your life so much easier.
- The inverters are CEC (Clean Energy Council) approved.
- There are a variety of models for you to choose from.
Disadvantages:
- ABB inverters get a bit warm as the cooling system operates through natural convection. Therefore, it relies heavily on the heat sink on the back.
- ABB’s monitoring system is not that precise and detailed. It merely shows you information of individual string outputs and voltage.
Monitoring System in ABB inverter
The monitoring system is really essential for you guys as it makes your life so much easier. The ABB inverters monitoring system lets you control the export power; it helps you to identify self-consumption, it detects the shading issues using the MPPTs. Also, assists you to adjust the grid parameters, remotely adjusting the hot water relay parameters, and also updates the microprocessor automatically.
There are quite a few of ABB’s monitoring systems for your convenience. First and foremost, there’s a website called “Aurora Vision Plant Management” for you to monitor your solar inverter. It requires you to use your integrated Wi-Fi system or plant viewer monitoring portal and Energy Viewer mobile app.
Furthermore, the ABB inverter has a data logger for you to monitor your inverters, and also, if you want to get the taste of rigid monitoring, then you should definitely give this a shot.
The VSN730 System Monitor is a high-performance data collection and communication system that is ideal for small to medium commercial PV plant applications. It can monitor and provide data management for up to 10 ABB string inverters. Furthermore, the VSN730 provides RS-485 surge protection, which on the RS-485 communication lines is a must-have, as it offers protection against logger damage in electrically “dirty” environments.
There’s also a VSN700 data logger, which provides simple and quick commissioning that come with device discovery and automatic IP addressing as well as remote management features. And it has got three performance levels that best suits your budget and functionality-
VSN700-01 data logger is for residential purposes and is good only when you will need to monitor up to 5 single-phase inverters.
VSN700-03 is a cost-effective data logger for small commercial installations up to 10 single and three-phase string inverters.
VSN700-05 data logger offers you both data management and inverter command and control for commercial and utility PV system operations.
Therefore, this VSN700 data logger supports all ABB inverters, weather stations; Modbus TCP gateway for SCADA integration; two RS485 inputs, two Ethernet interfaces; external power supply (wall plug) for Australia. And 30 days of local data storage; lifetime standard level access to Aurora Vision monitoring portal and what not!!
Performance and Efficiency of ABB Inverter
It’s a misconception that the more money you spend, the better quality you get. It’s not true always, as you can get an outstanding inverter that is affordable.
I can assure you that ABB doesn’t compromise with its quality for its reasonable pricing. That being said, the efficiency of ABB inverters is whopping 97%! If that doesn’t make you happy, what will!
Hats off to ABB’s performance; its solar inverters make sure that you get more energy out of every day. Furthermore, ABB has used an extensive system for their Energy Storage Module (ESM) as it gives a lot of importance to its storage system. This ESM also ensures the provision of both battery enclosures and Connection Equipment Modules (CEM) individually.
ABB is continually investing in R & D with extensive testing and development of its portfolio to deliver combined technology and service solutions. Which will optimize its performance, reliability and return on investment of any solar system installation and fulfil the requirements of local markets.
In a nutshell, the ABB inverter provides you with high power density, which offers up to 65% savings on installation and logistics costs; it’s installer-friendly, it has great capacity and much more. So, I can guarantee you that ABB inverters are the brightest choice for your home and your office.
Warranty of ABB Inverter
Dear Aussies, great news for you! ABB inverters provide Standard Manufacturer and Assure Manufacturer Warranty. The warranty period of both the Standard Manufacturer and Assure Manufacturer by default is 5 years which by the way you can extend to 10 years. But that can be done from the date of purchase by the warranty holder, and it cannot be any longer than 66-132 months from the manufacturing date.
However, the Standard Manufacturer Warranty covers the repair material and repair labour in the repair centre or on-site. And the Assure Manufacturer Warranty covers advance replacement inverter or power module, the freight costs and on-site removal and reinstall labour. And, you can surely speak to our solar inverter experts for more detailed information, so without any hesitation, let us know your queries.
ABB Inverter- Is It Any Good?
If you want a straightforward answer without me being biased or anything- then I can tell you for a fact that the ABB inverters are compared to SMA and even Fronius inverters. Yes! You heard that one correct. ABB inverters are one of the most preferable inverters in the Australian market.
I agree they had their share of loss because of that one inverter. But it’s high time we see the progress, hard work and dedication towards the best. This inverter has an efficiency of 97% with an impeccable amount of features solely for your benefit.
Furthermore, it has a switch called “DC isolator” that needs to be operated manually. It works as a safety mechanism, as the switch shuts off the DC current between the solar panels and the solar inverter. If any problem arises in your solar panels and someone comes to fix them, they will be safe from being electrocuted.
Conclusion
I would like to conclude by saying that ABB rose like a phoenix from the ashes, and it will brighten both your residential and commercial property up with its solar inverters. Furthermore, it will help you get more energy out of every day; it surely is the brightest choice for your home and offices. So, if you want to go green and save your planet, you should give ABB a shot.
