Must inverters are one of several popular options for solar energy systems. But just how good are they and are they worth your hard-earned money? In this in-depth review, we look at who manufactures them, how much they cost, and what key features they have.
Table of Contents
Quick Review Summary
Price: $300+
Availability: High
Ease of Use: Medium
Country of Origin: China
Key features: Compatible with gel, lithium, and lead-acid batteries
Who Makes Must Inverters?
Shenzhen MUST ENERGY Power Co., Ltd has its headquarters in Hong Kong. Established in 1998, the company produces energy solutions including inverters, charge controllers, and solar batteries.
An SAA, CE, SONCAP, and ISO 9001-certified company, Must Energy is an authorized supplier for the Chinese government.
Are Must Inverters Any Good?
Must Energy produces hybrid, grid-tie, and off-grid inverters for residential and small commercial installations. While all inverters perform the same function, converting DC to AC energy, it’s important to note how grid-tie, off-grid, and hybrid inverters work the differences between them.
We cover the differences and other essential basics you need to know in our guide to solar inverters.
Must Grid-tie Inverters
Grid-tie inverters are used for systems that are connected to the grid. Unlike the off-grid and hybrid models, Must grid-tie inverters have a basic interface, relying on LED lights to communicate the status of the inverter.
Features
- Available in 2.5kW up to 15kW size
- High-frequency pure sine wave
- Wifi enabled for wireless communication and remote monitoring
- Built-in AC charger
- Built-in MPPT charge controller
- Overload and short-circuit protection
- Over-temperature and low-voltage protection
- High surge capacity
Must Off-grid Inverters
Off-grid inverters are used for systems not connected to the grid (no electricity connection). While Must has only four grid-tie inverters in its catalog, they have 16 off-grid models.
Features
- Available in 1kW up to 10kW size
- High-frequency/low-frequency pure sine wave
- Wifi enabled for wireless communication and remote monitoring
- Built-in AC charger
- Built-in MPPT charge controller
- Overload and short-circuit protection
- Over-temperature and low-voltage protection
- High surge capacity
Must Hybrid Inverters
A hybrid inverter is a combination of an off-grid and grid-tie inverter. This means they can be used for both off and on-grid systems. This versatility makes them a popular option for local solar energy installations.
Both off-grid and hybrid inverters are equipped with an LCD and controls for easier monitoring and configuration. They also have a built-in MPPT charge controller which saves you the inconvenience (and expense) of purchasing a stand-alone controller.
Charge controllers protect the battery in systems that have batteries. Here is a more detailed article on how charge controllers work.
Features
- Available in 2.5kW up to 12kW size
- High-frequency/low-frequency pure sine wave
- Wifi enabled for wireless communication and remote monitoring
- Built-in AC charger
- Built-in MPPT charge controller
- Overload and short-circuit protection
- Over-temperature and low-voltage protection
- High surge capacity
All Must inverters have an AC charger. This allows you to charge batteries using your utility-supplied electricity if you are on the grid. Hybrid inverters, however, offer the best value for money as they can be used in both off-grid and grid-tie applications.
Certifications
As mentioned earlier Must Energy is SAA, CE, SONCAP, and ISO 9001-certified.
SAA certification is for “regulated electrical equipment that has been proven to comply with the safety requirements of the applicable Australian/New Zealand standard.”
CE certification means a product “meets EU safety, health, and environmental protection requirements” and is issued before it can be sold in the European Union.
SONCAP certification is issued for goods imported into Nigeria.
ISO 9001 is an international quality management certification. It is a recognition that a product meets a defined quality standard.
Customer Testimonials
Below are a few reviews from customers who have bought a Must inverter from Takealot.
“Bought this Inverter and got my electrician to wire it up to my DB board. When load shedding started, I never even noticed. I decided to go the lithium route and bought a 5kwh battery – next year after my bonus I will upgrade to solar as this inverter supports solar.”
Gabriel (20 Nov 2022)
“What a versatile product this is. The various settings that allow you to switch between solar and electrical charging or both is a fail-safe that will never leave you in the dark. Connected to my dv board the device switches automatically between the different charging methods and instantly kick in when there is load-shedding so that you have no interruptions. What a dream. Can even provide power without batteries.”
John (21 Nov 2022)
“The product is good in terms of the quality etc. However, we used it for the first time yesterday. It only lasted 1hr 30min at night when everything was off except 2x fridges and a fish tank. I am still monitoring it. Hopefully, we missed something as this does not make sense.”
Nomakhushe (07 Mar 2023)
“I got this unit and had it professionally installed. We don’t even notice the change over from city power to batteries. The inverter is a hybrid and has solar capabilities, which is our next step in building our system. Can’t wait to use that part of the inverter. Excited.”
Mike Ross (19 Nov 2022)
Must Inverter Alternatives
There are a number of alternative inverter brands to choose from. The most common are:
- Mecer
- Phocos
- Growatt
- Schneider
- Synapse
- Victron
- Sunsynk
Final Thoughts
The biggest advantage of a Must inverter is its affordability. Compared to most alternatives available locally, Must is one of the cheapest inverter brands.
The biggest disadvantage is they are not as recognized a brand as say a Victron or Mecer inverter. They are still relatively new to the market and there isn’t as much hard data on performance, serviceability and lifespan.
With that said, if you are looking for a cheaper option that will get the job done, then this is the inverter for you.
Not sure if this is the best option for your home? Check out our guide on choosing the right solar inverter where we compare MUST with brands like Victron, Phocos, Growatt and Mecer.