Mindarie solar, battery and EV charging
Mindarie Solar, Battery & EV Charger Upgrade
Australis Solar upgraded this Mindarie home with 12.22 kW of AIKO solar, a Sigenergy battery system later expanded to 32 kWh, a 10 kW single-phase SigenStor Energy Controller and a 7 kW Sigenergy AC EV charger.
The project replaced an existing 6.64 kW Fronius and LG solar system and was designed around the customer's requested east, north and west solar layout, integrated EV charging and future battery expansion. Our Perth-based WA team later returned to expand the storage, replace the applicable controller through the manufacturer process, refine cable routing and recommission the system.
- 12.22 kW AIKO solar array
- 32 kWh final Sigenergy battery capacity
- 10 kW single-phase SigenStor controller
- 7 kW Sigenergy AC EV charger
Project snapshot
Mindarie System at a Glance
A staged residential solar upgrade combining a replacement PV array, modular battery storage and dedicated EV charging.
Mindarie, Perth
Residential solar, battery and EV charging upgrade.
6.64 kW solar
16 × LG NeON H+ 415 W panels with a Fronius Primo 5 kW inverter.
12.22 kW AIKO array
26 × AIKO Neostar 2P 470 W solar panels.
East, north and west
The customer's requested multi-orientation allocation was incorporated into the final array design.
13 TIGO optimisers
Applied where required to help manage differing roof orientations and potential shading conditions.
10 kW SigenStor 1P
Single-phase Sigenergy Energy Controller installed during the later project stage.
32 kWh battery system
Four 8 kWh Sigenergy battery modules following the later storage expansion.
7 kW AC charger
Sigenergy AC EV charger installed alongside the original solar and battery works.
Sigenergy power sensing
Power sensor / smart metering and WLAN monitoring were included for system monitoring and commissioning.
Controller and cable refinement
The later visit included controller replacement, revised terminations, cable-route refinement, testing and recommissioning.
Customer objective and design considerations
A Solar Upgrade Designed to Keep Evolving
This project required more than replacing panels. The existing system, roof orientations, battery location, future storage capacity and EV charging requirements all had to be considered together.
Customer objective
The customer wanted to move beyond the existing 6.64 kW Fronius and LG system and create a more integrated home-energy platform combining additional solar generation, battery storage and dedicated EV charging.
The requested solar layout used east, north and west roof areas so production could be spread across different parts of the day rather than concentrating the complete array on a single orientation.
Battery expansion was also an important consideration. The installation area therefore had to be reviewed not only for the initial storage capacity, but for the physical clearance requirements that could affect later additions.
For other Perth properties with older equipment, Australis Solar applies the same whole-system assessment before deciding whether equipment should be retained, expanded or replaced.
Explore Solar Upgrades PerthExisting system compatibility
Options for retaining the LG array were assessed before the decision was made to remove the original panels and Fronius inverter and install a complete replacement system.
Multi-orientation roof design
East, north and west roof areas had to be incorporated into a workable string and optimisation strategy rather than treated as one uniform array.
Battery location and expansion
Available wall and ceiling clearance was reviewed with future battery modules in mind, including investigation of compliant fire-resistant sheeting where required.
EV charging integration
The 7 kW Sigenergy AC charger formed part of the wider energy-system installation rather than being treated as an unrelated electrical accessory.
Long-term serviceability
When Australis Solar returned for the later expansion, conductor routing and entry points were refined to maintain suitable bend radius, reduce mechanical stress and simplify future servicing.
System design and installed components
How the Mindarie System Fits Together
The installation evolved in stages. The original upgrade introduced the replacement solar array, SigenStor platform and EV charger. Australis Solar later returned to increase storage capacity and move the system to its final 10 kW controller and 32 kWh battery configuration.
26 × AIKO Neostar 2P 470 W Panels
The 26-panel array provides 12.22 kW of installed PV capacity across east, north and west roof orientations.
Replacing the previous array allowed the new solar layout and Sigenergy architecture to be designed as one coordinated system.
Explore Solar Panels Perth13 TIGO Optimisers
Thirteen optimisers were incorporated into the array to assist with the differing roof orientations and potential performance differences across the installation.
Their use formed part of the site-specific array and string design rather than a blanket requirement for every panel.
10 kW SigenStor Single-Phase Controller
The final installation uses a 10 kW single-phase SigenStor Energy Controller to manage solar conversion, battery operation and energy flow.
The controller was installed during the later project stage as part of the battery expansion and controller replacement works.
Explore Sigenergy Systems32 kWh Sigenergy Battery System
Four 8 kWh Sigenergy battery modules provide the final documented 32 kWh storage capacity.
The system began with a smaller battery configuration and was deliberately revisited when the customer expanded the required storage capacity.
Explore Solar Batteries PerthSigenergy 7 kW AC EV Charger
A dedicated 7 kW Sigenergy AC charger was installed alongside the solar and battery system.
Integrating the charger during the wider energy project allowed its location, cable route and system interaction to be considered from the outset.
Explore EV Charger Installation PerthSigenergy Power Sensor and WLAN Monitoring
Power sensing and WLAN monitoring were configured to support system visibility, commissioning and ongoing operation through the Sigenergy platform.
Accurate sensing is important when solar production, battery charging, household demand, grid interaction and EV charging need to operate within one energy system.
Final configuration takes precedence
The original project began with a 5 kW controller and 8 kWh battery. This rebuilt case study uses the later documented 10 kW controller and 32 kWh battery capacity wherever the finished system is described.
Problems and Australis Solar solutions
Design Decisions That Shaped the Final System
The value in this project was not simply the equipment selection. Each stage required an assessment of the existing installation, roof, battery position, electrical routing and future system requirements.
Retain the existing LG and Fronius system or replace it?
The existing 6.64 kW system was operational, and options were considered for retaining part of the LG array while adding new AIKO panels elsewhere.
The existing equipment had to be considered against the proposed inverter architecture, new array design, monitoring requirements and the customer's broader performance and expansion objectives.
The final project proceeded with removal of the 16 LG panels and Fronius Primo inverter and installation of a complete 12.22 kW AIKO and Sigenergy system, simplifying integration between the new equipment.
Solar needed to operate across east, north and west roof areas
The customer's requested roof allocation created different solar orientations rather than one uniform north-facing array.
String allocation, differing production periods and potential shading differences had to be considered when positioning and electrically grouping the panels.
The 26 AIKO panels were distributed across the requested roof orientations, with 13 TIGO optimisers incorporated where required by the design.
Future battery expansion depended on physical clearances
The customer wanted to preserve the ability to add battery modules, but the available wall and ceiling clearances constrained how much vertical space could be used.
The installation area was reviewed against the applicable battery clearances and manufacturer requirements, including whether compliant fire-resistant fibre-cement sheeting could improve the usable installation envelope.
The installation team was engaged to assess the required materials and work so future storage expansion could be approached with the relevant clearance and fire-protection requirements considered rather than simply stacking additional modules.
The later system stage required controller replacement
When Australis Solar returned, the project included a 10 kW single-phase controller within the manufacturer recall pathway applicable to affected units.
The specific controller, Sigenergy support ticket, AC connection and required manufacturer rectification pathway had to be confirmed before the replacement was completed.
The controller was replaced in accordance with the applicable manufacturer process, with the new AC connection and terminations completed and documented before testing and recommissioning.
View the official Sigenergy recall informationLater works exposed opportunities to improve cable routing
The battery expansion and controller works required the external routing and equipment-entry arrangement to be reviewed again.
Conductor bend radius, mechanical stress and future access had to be considered rather than leaving the previous cable path unchanged.
Conduit and entry points were reworked to maintain suitable bend radius, reduce mechanical stress and improve long-term serviceability. After the controller replacement, the installer export limit was 1.5 kW and the customer was advised that the setting could be adjusted between 0 and 1.5 kW for this installation.
Installation gallery
Mindarie Solar, Battery & EV Installation
Genuine Australis Solar project photographs showing the array layout, equipment integration and later battery expansion.
Project FAQs
Mindarie Solar, Battery & EV Charger FAQs
Answers based specifically on the documented equipment and work completed at this Mindarie property.
What was installed at this Mindarie property?
The finished project includes 12.22 kW of AIKO solar using 26 × 470 W panels, 13 TIGO optimisers, a 10 kW single-phase SigenStor Energy Controller, 32 kWh of Sigenergy battery storage using four 8 kWh modules, Sigenergy power sensing and a 7 kW Sigenergy AC EV charger.
Why was the original Fronius and LG solar system removed?
Australis Solar assessed whether the existing 16 LG NeON H+ panels and Fronius Primo 5 kW inverter could be retained. The final design instead removed the 6.64 kW system so the replacement AIKO array, Sigenergy controller, monitoring, battery storage and future expansion pathway could be integrated as a coordinated system.
Why were panels split across east, north and west roof orientations?
The customer requested an east, north and west allocation. Australis Solar incorporated those roof areas into the array and string design, with 13 TIGO optimisers used where required to help manage differences between orientations and potential shading conditions.
How did the battery system change after the first installation?
The original project began with an 8 kWh Sigenergy battery and 5 kW controller. Australis Solar later returned and the documented final system was expanded to four 8 kWh battery modules, providing 32 kWh of storage, with a 10 kW single-phase SigenStor controller.
Does this Mindarie system include blackout backup?
Blackout backup is not confirmed in the supplied project scope. No Sigen Gateway or nominated backup circuits have been documented for this case study, so the system should not be described as providing blackout or whole-home backup unless that equipment is separately confirmed.
What happened with the Sigenergy controller recall and export setting?
During the later project stage, Australis Solar replaced the applicable controller through the manufacturer and Sigenergy support process, completed the revised AC connection and terminations, then tested and recommissioned the system. After replacement, the installer export limit was 1.5 kW and the customer was advised that the setting could be adjusted between 0 and 1.5 kW for this installation.
Tailored Perth solar design
Planning Your Own Solar, Battery or EV Upgrade?
A similar system should be designed around your Synergy bill, actual daytime and evening usage, roof area, orientations, shading, existing panels and inverter, switchboard, electrical supply, battery requirements and future EV plans.
Australis Solar is Perth-based and WA-owned, operating since 2008 with accredited in-house installers and licensed electricians. We design, install and maintain custom solar, battery storage, blackout backup and EV charging systems around the property rather than a standard package.
