What is the difference between DC and AC coupled solar?
| DC coupled | AC coupled | |
|---|---|---|
| How it connects | Panels feed the Savant inverter directly | Panels have their own solar inverter, which feeds the house |
| Savant limit | Up to 17 kW per unit | Up to 12.5 kW |
| Typical case | New solar installed with the battery | Existing solar, or microinverter systems |
| Rapid shutdown | SunSpec certified devices; Savant has tested APSmart and Tigo TS4-F | Part of the existing solar design |
What happens to solar in an outage?
A grid-tied solar system shuts off when the grid goes down. With a battery that can run the house on its own, solar keeps working: the battery carries the house and solar recharges it during the day. Savant modules decide which circuits stay on, so a sunny day can stretch the battery much further. More on this in battery backup without solar.
What does solar plus Savant do on a normal day?
The app shows production and use side by side. Savant says the system can offset peak utility rates and lets you set conditions for power sources. Savant's EV charger can be set to charge from solar when installed with a Savant Smart Panel. In Massachusetts, a battery can also earn ConnectedSolutions payments for helping on summer peaks. See Massachusetts battery incentives.
Who does what on a solar project?
Your solar partner designs and installs the panels. A licensed electrician makes the battery, inverter and module connections. We design the Savant system, coordinate with the solar installer on coupling and rapid shutdown, and set up the app and energy scenes with you.
