SGPWOSAY 5000W DC 48V UL1741 Pure Sine Wave Solar Inverter,100A MPPT Solar Charger and 40A AC Battery Charger, 120V AC Output Solar Inverter Charger Manufactured by SunGoldPowerCo.,Ltd

What I installed and why

I put the Sungoldpower 5kW inverter-charger to work as the heart of a 48 V off‑grid/backup system feeding a small critical‑loads subpanel. I chose it because it’s UL1741 compliant, integrates a 100 A MPPT solar charger and a 120 V pure sine inverter in one chassis, and can later be paralleled for split‑phase or three‑phase. On paper, it strikes a practical balance between capability and price; in practice, it mostly delivers.

Setup, wiring, and first power‑up

Physically, the unit is substantial but manageable for a single person with a wall‑mount. DC battery lugs, PV input, AC in/out, and communication ports are clearly labeled. I appreciated the dedicated RS485 port for battery BMS communication; pairing with a 51.2 V LiFePO4 pack took a bit of register mapping, but once configured, charge limits and status exchanged reliably.

One important design detail: the MPPT wants a relatively high PV string voltage. The operating window is wide (up to 500 V input), but the controller won’t wake from a low‑voltage string. I initially had legacy strings around 80 V; the controller saw the array but wouldn’t charge. Rewiring into longer series strings to land in the ~120–450 V MPPT window solved it immediately. If you’re coming from a low‑voltage MPPT, plan your stringing accordingly and mind cold‑weather Voc.

AC side installation was straightforward. I wired the inverter’s AC output to a dedicated critical‑loads subpanel and brought a generator into AC input for charging/assist. Transfer between sources is quick enough that my electronics didn’t blink.

A note on packaging and finish: mine arrived with a small scuff on the housing but no functional issues. The sheet metal and internal bus bars feel solid; terminal hardware is decent for torqueing down 4 AWG and similarly stout conductors.

Interface and configuration

The front panel menu gives you access to charge priorities, output modes, and limits. You get four charging modes (AC priority, Solar priority, Solar only, and Hybrid) and four output modes (PV priority, Utility priority, Inverter priority, and Hybrid output). There’s also a time‑of‑use scheduler—handy if you want to favor PV during certain windows and switch to grid/generator later.

The UI is utilitarian. The LCD and indicator LEDs use a pale green backlight that’s hard to read in bright daylight; indoors it’s fine. The manual covers the basics, but some options could use clearer explanation. Expect to spend a little time learning the logic of priorities and the interplay of charge limits, cutoff voltages, and transfer setpoints.

PV performance and charging

With a ~3 kW array (rewired as two high‑voltage strings), peak solar charge power was strong and stable under clear skies. The integrated MPPT was quick to find maximum power and didn’t hunt excessively with passing clouds. In mixed loads—running a fridge, networking gear, lighting, and a window AC—MPPT kept battery charging rates high as long as PV headroom existed.

Between the 100 A solar charge capability and a 40 A AC charger, recovery after cloudy days is flexible. I limited AC charge current to keep a small generator happy; the inverter respected the limit and ramped smoothly. The combined “Solar + AC” mode is useful if you want to max out charging during a short generator run.

Inverter output and surge behavior

As a 120 V single‑phase inverter, the sine output was clean across typical household loads. Computers, TVs, and a larger refrigerator were unbothered. Motor starts on shop tools and a 1/2 hp well booster were fine.

Air conditioning is the real test. With one 15k BTU RV‑style unit (no soft‑start), starts were generally successful but occasionally nudged the inverter into a brief overload warning on hot restarts. Once running, it held steady. Two such AC units simultaneously was beyond its comfort zone. If your loads include high inrush devices—two big AC compressors, deep well pumps, or large air handlers—plan either for soft‑start kits or stepping up to the 8–10 kW class, or leverage the parallel/stacking capability.

Noise and thermal management are acceptable. Under heavier loads and during hot charging, fans spin up and are audible but not intrusive in a utility room. The chassis stayed within expected temperatures with reasonable clearance.

Grid/generator assist and backup

Hybrid operation works as intended. In Utility priority, it behaves like a UPS with pass‑through and charging; in PV priority, it squeezes solar before sipping from grid/generator; and in Hybrid output, it will blend sources to support loads above inverter capacity. Transfer is fast enough for most electronics. The AC charger’s limit setting is invaluable with small generators.

One caveat: UL1741 compliance is a big plus for inspectors, but this is not a net‑metering export inverter. It’s designed for off‑grid, backup, and self‑consumption without backfeeding the utility. If you need permitted export to grid, you’ll want a different class of equipment.

Expandability and multi‑unit options

The promise of this platform is its growth path. Up to six units in parallel gets you to 30 kW and unlocks 120/240 V split‑phase with two or more, or 208 V three‑phase with three or more. I didn’t parallel units for this install, but planning for a future second unit to gain split‑phase is straightforward: communication cables, correct addressing, and a proper distribution panel. If you already know you need split‑phase now, start with at least two.

Battery compatibility is broad. Beyond standard AGM/gel/flooded profiles, the user mode lets you set custom absorption/float parameters, and the RS485 link can integrate with lithium BMSs that speak the right protocol. I found voltage calibration to be accurate and the 40–60 V charge window adequate for LiFePO4 profiles.

Efficiency, standby, and day‑to‑day use

Day to day, the inverter is efficient enough that I didn’t feel penalized by conversion losses. Standby draw is modest; the unit sips power when idling and wakes as loads demand. The combination of high‑voltage PV input and strong MPPT makes it easy to wring watts from a winter sun angle, as long as your strings are specced for the voltage window.

Programming once and leaving it alone was my goal. After a week of tinkering with charge priorities and voltage thresholds, it settled into a routine: prioritize PV, hold batteries above a user‑defined floor, and only tap the generator when needed. It’s a set‑and‑forget appliance once you understand the menu map.

What could be better

• Documentation and menu labeling could be clearer, especially for first‑time hybrid inverter users.
• The display’s pale green illumination is hard to read in bright rooms.
• High starting loads can expose the limits of a 5 kW, 120 V inverter; plan soft‑starts or a higher‑power unit for multiple compressors.
• The MPPT’s higher start voltage demands careful PV string design; low‑voltage arrays won’t cut it.

Who it’s for

• Off‑grid cabins, shops, and RV bays needing a robust 120 V backbone with integrated solar and generator charging.
• Home backup systems feeding a critical‑loads subpanel, with the option to scale to split‑phase by adding a second unit.
• DIYers who want flexibility across battery chemistries and appreciate a high‑voltage PV input to keep string currents low.

If you need immediate 120/240 V split‑phase from a single box, or plan to run multiple large air conditioners without soft‑starts, you may be happier starting with the larger models in the family or paralleling from day one.

Recommendation

I recommend the Sungoldpower 5kW inverter‑charger for small to mid‑size off‑grid and backup systems that are primarily 120 V and have typical household loads, with occasional motor starts. It’s a capable, UL‑listed all‑in‑one that charges aggressively from solar, plays nicely with a generator, and offers a clear path to expand into split‑phase or three‑phase later. Budget extra time for PV string design and initial configuration, consider a soft‑start for big compressors, and be aware the display isn’t the easiest to read in bright light. With those caveats, it’s a reliable, value‑minded core for a modern 48 V system.