FOXESS H1 G2 5 kW hybrid inverter: specs and who it suits

Quick answer: the FOXESS H1 G2 we install is the H1-5.0-E-G2, a 5 kW single-phase hybrid inverter. It takes up to 10 kWp of solar panels across two MPPT inputs, charges and discharges a lithium iron phosphate battery, and backs up a dedicated circuit with 5 kVA (6 kVA for 60 seconds), switching over in under 20 ms. It suits single-phase homes with a modest roof, and we pair it with a 27.84 or 41.76 kWh CQ7 battery.

The FOXESS H1 G2 series runs from 3 kW to 6 kW (H1-3.0-E-G2 to H1-6.0-E-G2). We install the 5 kW model, which lines up with the standard 5 kW export limit for single-phase homes on Victoria’s networks. As a hybrid, it handles the panels, the battery and the grid connection in one unit, so a single box on the wall runs the whole system.

FOXESS H1 G2 specifications

These figures are from FOXESS’s Australian datasheet for the H1-5.0-E-G2.

What the numbers mean on your roof

Three ratings, three jobs. The H1 G2 can have up to 10 kWp of panels connected, can take in up to 7.5 kW of solar power at any moment, and can put out up to 5 kW of AC to the house and the grid. The gap is deliberate. Panels rarely reach their nameplate output, so a bigger array keeps the inverter busier in the mornings, afternoons and winter, and with a battery attached, part of the midday surplus goes into storage instead of being clipped. Without a battery, Australian guidelines hold the array to about 133% of the inverter’s rating; with one, FOXESS’s 10 kWp limit applies. Solar panel oversizing explained covers the rules.

Two inputs. Each MPPT (maximum power point tracker) runs one string of panels at its own best operating point, so the H1 G2 suits a roof with one or two orientations, such as north plus west. Each input accepts up to 16 A, and each string has to sit inside the 80 to 550 V window, which we check against the panels chosen at the site assessment. A roof with three or four usable faces points towards the KH series.

Battery and output. The battery port handles up to 40 A, and everything the battery supplies to the house passes through the 5 kW AC output. A bigger battery on an H1 G2 adds hours of supply, not more power.

Backup: the EPS circuit

The H1 G2 has an EPS (emergency power supply) output rated at 5 kVA, with a 6 kVA peak for 60 seconds to help motors and compressors start. When the grid fails, FOXESS’s manual says the system supplies emergency power from the panels or the battery, and that a battery is necessary for EPS mode. The switchover takes under 20 ms.

In Australia, FOXESS requires the EPS output to be connected to a dedicated load circuit, with the EPS and grid neutrals paralleled, so your electrician wires the circuits you choose into a backed-up section of the switchboard. 5 kVA covers a fridge, lights, internet and a few power points; it won’t run an oven, ducted air conditioning and a kettle at once. Backing up the whole house takes extra switching equipment; our guide to FOXESS backup covers what the EPS circuit can carry.

Metering: two CTs, and working with existing solar

The Australian H1 G2 ships with two current transformers (CTs), clamp-on sensors that measure current. FOXESS labels them “CT1: For Hybrid/AC. CT2: Grid tied inverter (if have)”. CT1 clamps on the main live conductor on the grid side, so the inverter can see what the house imports and exports. CT2 goes on an existing solar inverter, if there is one, so the H1 G2 can see that system’s output too.

That second CT is what lets the H1 G2 add a battery beside an older solar system rather than replacing it. Our guide to adding a battery to existing solar compares that route with replacing the old inverter.

Pairing the H1 G2 with a CQ7 battery

The H1 G2’s battery port runs from 80 to 480 V, which suits FOXESS’s high-voltage CQ7: a four-module stack has a nominal voltage of 230.4 V and a six-module stack 345.6 V. FOXESS’s compatibility list pairs the H1 G2 with stacks of up to six modules, so both sizes we install are available:

• the FOXESS H1 G2 5 kW system with 27.84 kWh (four modules), and
• the H1 G2 5 kW system with 41.76 kWh (six modules), for high evening use or longer outage cover.

Both stacks are fully usable, because FOXESS rates the CQ7 at 100% depth of discharge. Keep the roof in mind with the bigger stack: a battery only stores what the panels make beyond what the house uses, and 10 kWp is the most the H1 G2 can take.

Who the H1 G2 suits, and when to step up to the KH8

The H1 G2 suits single-phase homes with one or two roof orientations, room for up to 10 kWp of panels, and backup needs that fit in 5 kVA: the essentials rather than the whole house.

Step up to the KH8 if your roof has three usable faces, you want more than 10 kWp of panels (the KH8 takes up to 16 kWp), you want more backup (8 kVA, with a 10 kW peak for 60 seconds) and faster switchover (under 10 ms), or you expect big new daytime loads such as an EV charger. Our KH8 vs KH9.9 comparison covers the larger models, and the FOXESS battery systems guide maps the whole range, including the three-phase H3 Smart.

To see which fits your home, size a system for your home with Build Your System; we confirm the choice at the site assessment.

Frequently asked questions

How many solar panels can a FOXESS H1 G2 take?

Up to 10 kWp of panels, which is 200% of its 5 kW AC rating, when a battery is part of the system. That is about twenty 500 W panels, split across its two MPPT inputs within each input’s current and voltage limits. Without a battery, Australian guidelines limit the array to about 133% of the inverter’s rating.

Can the FOXESS H1 G2 back up the whole house?

Not on its own. Its EPS output supplies a dedicated backed-up circuit rated at 5 kVA, with 6 kVA for 60 seconds, and switches over in under 20 ms. Whole-home backup takes extra switching equipment, and even then the house can only run on what a 5 kW inverter and its battery can supply.

Does the FOXESS H1 G2 work with an existing solar system?

Yes. The Australian H1 G2 comes with two CTs: CT1 measures the grid connection and CT2 is for an existing grid-tied solar inverter. That lets it add a battery alongside older panels and an older inverter. We check the existing system’s age, condition and network approval before recommending this route.

What warranty does the FOXESS H1 G2 have?

FOXESS covers the H1 G2 for 10 years: 120 months from installation, but no more than 132 months from manufacture, provided an accredited installer fits it. A FoxPro extension can take cover to 240 months in total if taken up within 36 months of commissioning. We add our own 5-year workmanship warranty.