SunLux Enphase Storage
Is This Your Business?Author: Kaitlyn Short
SunLux was originally formed as a complete solar installation company in 2014. Company founders wanted to streamline the solar process while providing a more customer-centered solution, all at a competitive and affordable rate. The SunLux leadership each had over 10 years of solar experience prior to forming SunLux. Eventually, the company transitioned into some minor solar manufacturing, including the SunLux Enphase Storage system.
In addition to installing and distributing the SunLux Enphase system, the company also offers PV solar installs, smart home monitoring, EV charging services, and some roofing work depending on the client’s needs. While SunLux does not solely develop or manufacture the SunLux Enphase Storage system, homeowners will solely work with SunLux professionals from start to finish.
Unlike most solar battery manufacturers, SunLux does not deal with or employ any third-party resources, like additional contractors, to carry out projects and services. From solar sales, consultations, designs, to financing and permitting, SunLux will handle it all. The company also does not abandon clients when installation is complete. Continued monitoring, repairs, and upgrades are available to SunLux clients.
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The Good
- In-House Installations
- Extensive Warranties
- Professional System Monitoring
In-House Installations
SunLux keeps all work in-house and does not outsource any of services or solutions to third-party providers. This is a departure from the industry norm as solar battery manufacturers depend on third-party installers to put the storage systems in place.
SunLux clients can rest assured that all sales, design, and installation work will be handled by in-house SunLux professionals. All installers are trained and know the ins and outs of the system, so the chances of an installation error are drastically reduced. Clients will also only have to work with one company throughout the entire process instead of a direct sales representative and then a third-party contractor.
Extensive Warranties
With the SunLux Enphase Storage system, homeowners can expect to receive one of the most covered solar battery/storage units on the market in terms of warranty protection. The industry average in terms of coverage length is 10 years. That can be limited depending on the number of cycles the battery has undergone.
The SunLux Enphase Storage system boasts a comprehensive 25-year warranty including warranties on installation, parts, and maintenance. Through SunLux, customers can expect coverage for all hardware components, production output, and any installation work. Having three warranties fully covers the SunLux Enphase Storage system.
Professional System Monitoring
For the most part, once a solar battery has been installed, that is the end of the transaction between the manufacturer, installer, and homeowners. With SunLux, that is simply not the case.
Due to its limited service area, SunLux is able to offer continuous professional monitoring of all of its installed solar equipment. Instead of homeowners having to consistently check in to see how a unit is performing, the SunLux team will do it on the customer’s behalf. If there is ever an issue, SunLux will immediately alert the owner and will handle any repair, replacement, or maintenance work required as covered by the warranty.
The Bad
- Limited Service Area
- Comparable Solar Panels
- Undisclosed Metrics
Limited Service Area
The solar battery manufacturers that compete with the SunLux Enphase Storage system are, for the most part, global entities. If the solar batteries are not sold or distributed on a global scale, they are national at the very least. This is one of the looming limitations of the SunLux storage products as the company has a limited service area.
Currently, the SunLux Enphase Storage system is solely available to residents in select cities in Southern California and Central Texas:
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Outside of these cities, SunLux is unable to conduct business or solar sales as the company remains committed to keeping all aspects of its solar products and services in-house. This limits who can access the SunLux Enphase Storage system.
Comparable Solar Panels
Generally, storage systems manufactured by solar and renewable energy companies are designed to pair best with the suppliers’ accompanying solar panels and inverters. That being said, most will still work with other solar systems if connected by a professional.
The SunLux Enphase Storage system, on the other hand, solely works with certain solar panels. Comparable solar panels include tier-1 panel brands like Panasonic, LG, REC, and Q Cells.
Undisclosed Metrics
The exact specifications and performance metrics of solar batteries is generally disclosed to the public for a number of reasons. Most major solar battery manufacturers offer a spec sheet which goes into detail about how a client can expect a system to perform throughout its lifespan.
This data does not exist for the SunLux Enphase Storage system. The continuous power performance, depth of discharge, and even starting price are all unknown comparison metrics.
The Bottom Line
The SunLux Enphase Storage solution is a smaller, more targeted unit designed for specific climates. Since SunLux manufactures and installs the system, homeowners can rest assured that experienced SunLux installers will handle the entire process from start to finish.
In conjunction with Enphase, the SunLux Enphase Storage system is covered by three different extensive warranties protecting customers from a number of potential issues and maintenance needs.
Lastly, since SunLux is a smaller supplier compared to those in the solar battery industry, the company manages all system monitoring. Homeowners will not have to worry about consistently checking in to see how the system is performing because SunLux will handle all of that and alert the client if something is awry.
While there are a number of reasons to consider a SunLux Enphase Storage system, there are drawbacks to this storage solution as well. The company's service area is only available in Southern California and Central Texas. The system is also only compatible with certain solar panels and systems, which is something clients need to keep in mind. Lastly, there are a number of undisclosed metrics that most solar battery manufacturers release publicly for comparison and purchasing decisions.
Considering what the SunLux Enphase Storage system has to offer, a vast majority of prospective solar battery clients will not be able to access the system. It is also difficult to determine how it really stacks up against the competition because so much is unknown regarding the system’s performance.
