PowerAll all-in-one or a separate inverter plus rack battery: how do you decide?

Direct answer: Choose the all-in-one for a single supplier, a simpler install and a fixed 5 kW system, and the separate route for flexibility in inverter size, brand and capacity. The decision turns on power needs, expansion plans, who services each part and the warranty path, and it should be confirmed in writing for your market.

What PowerAll publishes: the PowerAll page lists one to six 51.2V battery units, from 5.37 kWh to 32.25 kWh, weighing 87 kg to 362 kg. Its integrated inverter is listed with 5 kW AC output and an automatic switch time under 10 ms in UPS mode. It has an MPPT solar input (PV 120–500V, 0–80A, MPPT range 120–450V), AC charging up to 2,100W and a 10-year warranty. It is for indoor use at IP40.

The battery side is limited to 100A continuous charge and discharge per the table, about 5.1 kW at 51.2V nominal, so the battery and the 5 kW inverter are roughly matched. The page lists a maximum of six units in parallel. A separate-inverter system built from PM-LV51100-3U modules lists up to 64 in parallel, so it scales further, and the inverter can be larger or three-phase if your home needs it.

The separate route adds choices: inverter brand, power rating, grid-code settings and solar input can be selected independently, and a faulty inverter can be replaced without touching the batteries. It also adds work: matching voltage window and protocol (see our post on paralleling PM-LV rack batteries for checks on adding units), and more than one party in the warranty chain.

Compare costs and responsibilities, not just kWh price. For each option, ask who does the installation, who is the single point of contact for faults, how the warranty splits between inverter and battery (the page states 10 years in the specification table but not which part it covers), what monitoring is included, and how an upgrade would work. Floor space, cabinet weight and ventilation matter too.

Not published for PowerAll in the table we read: a certification list for the complete system and for your market, and the inverter’s grid-code approvals. Ask Redway for both before ordering, because grid operators and insurers may require them. For sizing the battery from your daily loads see our related posts in this section.