A Sigenergy System Built in Two Stages at Federal: 48 kWh, Then a Second Stack: Case Study

A rural property at Federal, the small village in the green hills between Bangalow and Lismore, built in two stages. Stage one: 18 all-black AIKO panels (8.37 kW), a 12 kW Sigenergy controller and a 48 kWh battery with six modules. Stage two, seven months later: a second 12 kW Sigenergy stack with another battery module, a backed-up board in the carport, EV charger control and a generator inlet.

Our own in-house team designed and installed both stages, in December 2025 and July 2026.

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Stage one: a big battery in the workshop (December 2025)

The property has a home, sheds and a workshop on a green hillside. Stage one put 18 all-black AIKO panels on the roofs and a tall SigenStor stack (a 12 kW controller and six battery modules, about 48 kWh) inside the workshop, between two protective bollards and against a dark backing board.

• Solar: 18 all-black AIKO Neostar panels (465 W each), 8.37 kW
• Energy controller: a 12 kW Sigenergy single-phase SigenStor controller
• Battery: six Sigenergy battery modules, about 48 kWh (48.36 kWh)

Stage two: more power where it was needed (July 2026)

Seven months after the first install, stage two added:

• A second 12 kW Sigenergy inverter stack on a new floor mount, with one more 8 kWh battery module
• A 30 m backed-up supply to the carport and a new 12-pole board there for the backed-up loads
• EV charger control: the existing Tesla charger now runs through a smart load device and contactor, so the Sigenergy system can switch it and monitor it
• Smart load control for the hot water, with one ready for a future pool pump
• A 15 A generator inlet on the Sigenergy smart port, with its own circuit and comms cable
• Four DC cables in the trench to the main house, ready for more solar later

The household opened and closed the trench themselves before we arrived, as agreed on the site visit.

Why build in stages?

Not every household wants or can do everything at once. A modular system like Sigenergy lets you start with the core (solar and a battery) and add inverter power, storage and smart loads when it suits. Other jobs in the area: 20.9 kW of Jinko solar and a Sigenergy battery at Federal and a 32 kWh battery added to existing solar at Federal.

How every job like this runs

1. Free energy assessment from one or two recent power bills, or a quick phone call on 0483 903 020.

2. Custom design sized from the household’s real usage, with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate and solar STCs taken off at point of sale. We handle the paperwork. See your rebates or try the battery rebate calculator.

3. Face-to-face site visit before install day: compliant battery position, switchboard and RCBO check, and agreement on what stays on in a blackout. No surprises on the day.

4. Install, usually one day, by our own electricians. No subcontractors. Then monitoring set-up, grid connection and a sign-off call.

Warranties

Every new install from us now comes with a 10-year battery warranty, 10-year inverter replacement, 25-year panel performance and our 25-year workmanship warranty on our installation work. Equipment is covered by the manufacturer warranties.

The federal battery rebate steps down on 1 January 2027 and again on 1 July 2027, based on install date. If a battery is on your list, it’s worth getting your assessment done early.

Questions we get asked

Can a Sigenergy system grow after it is installed?

Yes. Sigenergy is modular: more battery modules, and even a second inverter stack, can be added later, as this household did seven months after the first install. See is Sigenergy worth it.

Can my EV charger run from the battery system?

It can be wired so the Sigenergy system switches and monitors it. Here a smart load device and contactor control the existing Tesla charger, fed from a new backed-up board in the carport. See charging your EV from solar and battery.

What is a generator inlet for?

If the grid is down for days and the sun is not out, a generator can plug in to run the house and charge the battery. See EV chargers in a blackout.

Can cables for future solar go in now?

Yes. On stage two, DC cables were laid in the trench to the main house so more panels can be added later without digging again.

Thinking about solar and a battery?

We’re based near Mullumbimby and install across the Northern Rivers. See Bangalow and solar and batteries in Lismore, or compare Sigenergy, GoodWe and Sungrow, Solax and Tesla.

Get a free energy assessment · or call 0483 903 020

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More from Sun Connect Solar: your rebates; battery rebate calculator; customer reviews; FAQ; recent installs: 6.65 kW solar and 9 kWh Sigenergy battery, Mullumbimby · Solar and a 24 kWh Sigenergy battery, Mullumbimby area · 8.4 kW Jinko solar and 24 kWh Sigenergy battery, Ocean Shores · all recent installs.