Everything You Need to Know About the New Sunny Boy 3.0–5.0 Solar Inverter

What makes the successor of the world’s best-selling string inverter, the Sunny Boy TL, so special? The new Sunny Boy is more than just a PV inverter. Thanks to the first integrated SMA Smart Connected service, it’s a package that offers true ease and comfort. Find out here how this can benefit you as a PV system operator.

 

What’s new about the Sunny Boy 3.0–5.0?

With the new inverter, we’re making life as simple as possible—in the truest sense of the word—for everybody involved. Your solar power professional can quickly install the 16-kilogram device (only half the weight of its predecessor) and simply commission it via WLAN using a smartphone or tablet. And thanks to the first integrated SMA Smart Connected service, we provide a package that offers true ease and comfort. We spot irregularities right away, and the installer can quickly come to you to rectify the problem.

The inverter also features all the necessary interfaces and logs, enabling you to enhance your system at any time with any number of SMA solutions. After all, customers who install a PV system today might like to save even more on their electricity costs tomorrow with intelligent energy management. The EEBUS standard interface already allows you to integrate many household appliances into the intelligent energy management system making it possible for you to use your self-generated solar energy even more efficiently. And by adding a storage system, you can even become completely independent from your electric utility company.

 

What exactly is SMA Smart Connected?

Inverters are the heart of every PV system. And just as you get your heart checked regularly and professionally by the doctor, your inverter also appreciates a regular check-up to make sure it’s running smoothly. Because we have been continuously developing our inverters for over 35 years, we know them inside out. We want everyone to benefit from this, which is why we offer a free expert check as part of the SMA Smart Connected service. We monitor your inverter automatically around the clock so that you don’t need to do anything else. Any anomalies appear immediately on our screen, whereupon we analyze the problem and provide you and your installer with the corresponding diagnosis. This saves you from having to conduct time-consuming root cause analysis on your end and the installer can resolve the issue faster.

If your inverter needs replacing, we will automatically and quickly send you a new device. And if the process is not as fast as expected, we will compensate you for any yield losses. SMA Smart Connected means minimum downtimes and maximum energy yields—so that you can focus on what’s really important in life.

 

Free and automatic monitoring—where’s the catch?

SMA Smart Connected is our quality promise to our customers. We want to deliver a solution that works simply and straightforwardly, gives PV system operators maximum energy yields and provides installers with the best possible service quality. After all, why should they waste their valuable time with lengthy diagnostics, extending the time your system is not producing precious solar energy when we know all along where the problem lies? This is why we share our knowledge, to ensure more efficient servicing and maximum system yields.

 

Is my data safe?

SMA treats personal data with the utmost care. We use and process your personal data solely within the limits of the statutory provisions on data protection and data security applicable in the Federal Republic of Germany. You can find information on exactly what data we record and how it’s used here.

 

It goes without saying that cyber security is also a top priority for us. IT and information security are right at the top of our agenda. Of course, we comply with the highest security and international data protection standards to prevent possible cyber attacks. Beginning in the product development stage, our interdisciplinary team ensures that our system solutions are secure in accordance with the latest security standards. You can also activate the remote updates function to ensure that device software in the field is kept up to date through automatic remote updates. And our 24-hour technical support, including global emergency service, also guarantees maximum security and reliability of our solutions.

 

How do I activate Smart Connected?

Your installer simply activates SMA Smart Connected when commissioning your system in Sunny Portal. Of course, you can also disconnect your system from power yourself via Sunny Portal and activate SMA Smart Connected by checking the corresponding box.

 

smart-connected-02_en_ext

 

Will the Sunny Boy still be up to date tomorrow?

Your Sunny Boy is always up to date thanks to automatic inverter updates.

We have also integrated important interfaces to ensure that its functions can be enhanced at any point in the future. This allows you to turn your PV system into a fully fledged storage system, for example, using just two additional components: the Sunny Boy battery inverter and the SMA Energy Meter. Thanks to WLAN, additional wiring is not even needed in most cases. Using the Sunny Places Community Portal, you can get an overview of your system data at any time and discuss issues with other PV system operators or experts. And if you would also like to experience the benefits of intelligent energy management, you can simply expand your system with the Sunny Home Manager. Your system featuring the Sunny Boy can be reconfigured into an all-inclusive package comprising intelligent energy management and storage systems at any time, enabling you to save as much as 80% on your electricity costs.

 

Where can I find additional information?

Anyone who wants to become a PV system operator will find more information about the new Sunny Boy on our product page and on our info page. Our SMA solar professional partners will be happy to advise you on installing a PV system with Sunny Boy.

 

Have we still not answered all your questions? Then feel free to use the comments function and ask us your question regarding the new Sunny Boy.

 

This article was published in 2017. As we are constantly developing our solutions, there may be newer or additional options for the tips and techniques in this article.

10 Comments
  1. Ian Turnbull
    Ian Turnbull says:

    Hi,
    I have a technical question regarding the output data of my Sunny boy inverter model SB5.0-1AV-40.
    installed November 2017.
    When I log into the inverter and check the output.
    An output wattage is quoted every 5 minutes in the daily data.
    Is the output wattage quoted the actual value at that instant in time, or is it the average of many integrals calculated over the previous 5 minutes of output accumulations??
    In anticipation of an answer.
    thanku for your help.
    regards Ian T.
    Australia.

    Reply
  2. Toh Guen Keng
    Toh Guen Keng says:

    Hi,

    Can please advise the following queries regarding Sunny Boy inverter:
    1. If the inverter is installed 1000m away from the Main Switch Board. The inverter output voltage is rated 400V and the Main Switch Board is at a stable voltage of 400V. Due to the long distance cable length between inverter and MSB, there will be voltage drop across the cable. If that is the case, will Sunny Boy inverter adjust the output level above 400V such that the voltage level at MSB remain at 400V?

    2. If the AC side is 385V or 415V and the output of Sunny Boy is rated at 400V, will Sunny Boy inverter adjust the inverter output voltage to 385V or 415V in order to synchronize to the AC side?

    Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Edna Ferrer
    Edna Ferrer says:

    Hi,
    Can you please confirm if SMA tripower 8kw inverter that is “ Made and assemble” in Germany available Australia? I just noticed all SMA ads specifically mentioning Germany and not assembled in China. I’ll appreciate your help.

    Reply
    • Anke Baars
      Anke Baars says:

      Hi Edna,
      Our current Sunny Tripower 8 kW (STP8.0-3AV-40) type inverter is designed in Germany, produced in China and is available in Australia.
      Kind regards,
      Anke

      Reply
      • ishtiaque
        ishtiaque says:

        HI Can u confirm whhc models of SMA inveters are made/assemble in CHina? what about SHP75?

      • Christiane Keim
        Christiane Keim says:

        Hello ishtiaque,

        The inverter requested is not assembled in China.

        Sunny regards
        Christiane

  4. ha
    ha says:

    Hi,
    can you confirm the country of manufacture for the SunnyBoy?
    I’m looking at something about 4kW in size.
    thanks,
    Harry

    Reply
  5. Neil Bertram
    Neil Bertram says:

    Hi
    I’m installing the new sunny boy 5.0 for a customer and am interested in the data logging capabilities to tell what size battery would be needed in the future for this customer. Is this possible and if so how. Do we need to install a smart meter as well or will the new unit be able to.
    regards Neil Nkb Electrics

    Reply

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