Sunsynk 5.32kWh Battery: Price, Specs & Is It Big Enough?

Sunsynk is a leading manufacturer of solar storage batteries and featured in our list of the best solar battery brands available in the UK.  If you’re interested in having a Sunsynk solar battery integrated into your new or existing solar panel system, this guide is for you.

Below, we’ll be explaining in detail whether the 5.32kWh unit from Sunsynk is suitable for your property. 

We’ll cover topics such as: 

Alongside this guide, we also have a page covering the Sunsynk brand in detail here. 

Cost, Specs & Features 

(Source: Sunsynk)

How Much Does a 5.32kWh Sunsynk Battery Cost?

Typical installation costs for a 5kWh solar battery are £3,000-£4,000 when it's fitted alongside a new system. Installers are already on-site completing your solar panel installation, helping to keep costs low.

Choosing to install your Sunsynk battery at a later date is an option, but it's likely to come at a higher cost. Expect to pay anywhere in the region of £3,500-£4,500. 

Materials make up just under £2,000 of the install, with many online retailers selling the 5.32kWh Sunsynk battery in the region of £1,650-£1,850.

Due to the volume of batteries we buy, we’re able to pass on substantial savings to our customers. A typical 5.32kWh battery installation only adds on £2,495 to the price of your solar panel setup.

If you're not sure which brand or size battery you need, you can speak to one of our solar battery experts here. 

Alternatively, use our clickable solar panel quotation tool here. There, you'll be able to get estimates on a solar panel setup, inclusive of a solar battery from leading brands such as Sunsynk, Sigenergy, Tesla and Fox ESS.

We also have a big guide covering solar storage battery costs here.

Capacity & Usable Power 

Sunsynk's 5.32kWh battery is at the lower end in terms of actual size. For medium households, or those that consider reasonable amounts of electricity, it's likely a battery in the region of 10-15kWh is likely to be more suited. 

Although listed as a 5.32kWh battery, like all lithium batteries, you won't want to drain this battery completely; this can damage it and reduce its lifespan. 

Expect the Depth of Discharge (DoD) to be approximately 90%. So, whilst the battery does hold 5.32kWh, the usable capacity is actually closer to 4.8kWh.

Put simply, you'd expect a 5.32kWh Sunsynk battery to cover electricity usage on the evenings for a low electricity consumption household. Assuming your solar panel system is powerful enough, you can then draw electricity from it (and charge your battery) during the day time. 

Lifespan & Warranty

Thanks to LiFePO4 cells, you'll get a lot more cycles out of newer Sunsynk batteries than older models. They also have a higher Depth of Discharge, so you've got more usable energy for each charge cycle.

The newer 5kW batteries are typically good for 6,000+ cycles. This is likely to represent around 15-years of daily cycling.

The warranty on all Sunsynk batteries is well above standard. You'll get a 10-year manufacturer's warranty which doesn't just cover major faults, it also covers capacity retention and a performance guarantee.

Stackability

The biggest worry when investing in a solar battery, is you don't end up with one that's big enough. 

Whilst it's always best to fit the exact size battery you need on day 1 because it reduces costs, Sunsynk's batteries are stackable. So, you can trial your solar panel system using 1 x 5kW battery and add more batteries to your system at a later date. 

Not that you'll need to, but you can stack up to 32 Sunsynk batteries, meaning you could have a total storage capacity of 170kWh!

How Long Does It Take to Charge a 5.32kWh Sunsynk Battery?

You'll empty a 5.32kWh battery on a regular basis, so the big question is, how long is it going to take to recharge?

There are two main factors that affect the time taken for your battery to recharge: 

• Size of your solar panel system
• How clear the sky is

The bigger your solar panel system, the faster it will charge your battery. And as solar panels are most effective in direct sunlight, how cloudy the sky is makes a huge difference. 

Typically you'd expect the following, based on a sunny and clear day: 

If you're looking to charge your battery as a backup and use on-grid electricity, expect it to take 2-3 hours to charge.

Savings & Payback Period

Whilst many people like the idea of a solar storage battery to ensure they've got power during an outage, lots of others see this as an investment. 

A typical 5kWh solar storage battery is likely to save £250-£350 per year.

However, for those who aren't using the full capacity of their battery, they have an opportunity…

Typically, electricity suppliers charge lower tariffs for "off-peak", which is usually overnight. So, you can set your battery to charge overnight on the lower tariff and use the electricity during the day time. 

Using this setup, some properties are able to save up to £400 per year thanks to their solar battery. 

In terms of payback period, expect it to sit anywhere from 6-10 years. For the average property saving £250 per year, they'll see a payback period of approximately 10-years. 

What Can It Power

The Sunsynk 5.32kWh battery only has 4.8kWh of usable power. It's designed to be used in low electricity consumption homes and in homes where multiple high consumption appliances aren't used at once. 

Essentially, this helps to relieve some of the pressure of high electricity bills, rather than removing your electricity bill completely.

In general, you'd expect a 5kW battery to power the likes of a:

• Fridge freeze
• Lights
• TV
• Wi-Fi router
• Laptop and mobile phone chargers

All of these devices and appliances draw very little amounts of electricity. So, they can be powered alongside each other. 

Whilst you'll be able to use some higher wattage appliances, you won't be able to use them at the same time. And, the more high wattage appliances you use, the quicker your battery is going to drain. 

High wattage appliances are generally those that produce heat such as: 

• Kettle
• Microwave
• Electric oven or hob
• Dishwasher
• Washing machine

Put simply, the average home is much more suited to a 10kWh or larger solar storage battery, than a 5kW.

You can get quotes on a solar battery from 5kW-15kW using our clickable solar panel quote tool here. 

Is One 5.32kWh Battery Enough?

A single 5.32kWh battery isn't enough if you want to go off-grid. Whilst it will provide some self-sufficiency, it's nowhere near big enough to provide enough electricity for the majority of UK households.

In general, you'd need a 15kW battery in order to be completely self-sufficient. The only exception would be extremely small properties that are also low electricity consumers. 

The positive here is that the Sunsynk batteries are stackable. So, you can start with 1 battery and add more as you see fit. 

Typically, we'd suggest starting with: 

• 1 battery: small, low electricity consumptions households
• 2 batteries: average UK household
• 3 batteries: large, high electricity consumption households

In Summary: Should You Buy A 5kW Solar Battery?

A 5kW battery is limited. With 4.8kWh of usable storage, this is an entry level unit. 

Best suited for: 

• Small homes (studio flats)
• Low evening electricity consumption

Limitations: 

• Not a full household backup (you'd need a 10kWh or larger)
• Won't power multiple high wattage appliances (dishwasher, kettle and microwave)

In reality, the average UK home will need 2 x 5kW Sunsynk batteries, or a single 10kW battery. These are stackable, so you can install one to start, then add up to 31 more over time. 

Whilst storage is limited, even a small 5kW solar battery will provide you with some level of self-sufficiency and energy bill savings. 

You'll get over 6,000 charge cycles from a typical Sunsynk battery, meaning it will last for over 15-years. And for 10 of those years, it will be covered under warranty. 

• Get prices on your solar panel setup using a 5kW battery here
• Speak to our experts here if you have any questions
• For further reading, check out our big guide to 5kW solar batteries here