For a Perth home running a SigEnergy SigenStor system, SigEnergy offers two ways to charge an electric vehicle. One of them is genuinely different from almost anything else on the market. Alongside a conventional smart AC charger, SigEnergy makes a DC charging module. It charges the car directly from the solar system’s DC power. It is also built to send energy back the other way. This review explains both options. It covers why the DC option matters in Perth. It also covers one important caveat about bidirectional charging in Western Australia.
The short verdict is that for a SigenStor household, the SigEnergy chargers offer the tightest possible integration. The DC module offers the most efficient way to turn surplus solar into driving. This is true if the household understands what is available today and what is coming later.
Two Chargers, One Ecosystem
Both SigEnergy chargers are designed to work as part of a SigEnergy SigenStor solar-and-battery system. Rather than as standalone boxes. Both are managed through the same mySigen app that runs the rest of the system. The difference between them is how they deliver power to the car. One converts to standard AC like any wall charger. The other keeps the energy as DC all the way from the panels to the car.
The SigEnergy AC Charger
The AC charger is the straightforward option. It is a smart wall charger that integrates natively with the SigenStor system. It uses the standard Type 2 connector fitted to every electric vehicle sold in Australia. Because it is part of the SigEnergy ecosystem, it coordinates cleanly with the solar and battery. It charges from surplus solar. It schedules around the lowest-cost tariff periods. All of this is controlled in the mySigen app. For most SigenStor homes that want tidy, smart AC charging inside one system, it is the sensible choice.
The SigEnergy DC Charging Module
The DC charging module is the standout. Rather than converting solar from DC to AC and back again on its way to the car, it charges the vehicle directly. It uses DC power from the solar and battery system. It is offered in a 12 kilowatt version, which suits most homes. A 25 kilowatt version is available for faster charging. It uses the CCS2 connector for DC charging. It is an add-on module to the SigenStor rather than a standalone wall box. So it is specific to a SigEnergy home.
Keeping the energy as DC matters because every conversion between DC and AC loses a little energy. By charging the car straight from the system’s DC, the module captures more of each unit of solar. This is most valuable for surplus the home cannot use itself. That surplus would otherwise be exported at the low DEBS feed-in rate of a few cents. On a system that is export-limited under Western Australia’s connection rules, it can be capped as low as 1.5 kilowatts depending on the inverter. Sending it straight into the car turns energy that would have been given away. Or never generated. Into kilometres of driving.
Bidirectional Charging: The Promise and the WA Catch
The DC module is also bidirectional. This means it is built to send energy from the car back to the home. This is known as vehicle-to-home. Or to the grid, known as vehicle-to-grid. In principle, a parked electric vehicle becomes an extra battery. It can help power the house through the evening peak.
It is important to be straightforward about this. True vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid charging is not yet available in practice in Western Australia. The hardware is ready. The standards and network approvals are still catching up. A bidirectional-ready charger is therefore a capability to be prepared for. Rather than to rely on today. It will pair naturally with a home battery when it does arrive. For a household drawn to the DC module, its everyday value right now is the efficient, direct-from-solar charging. Bidirectional operation is future headroom.
Side by Side: AC Charger and DC Module
| Feature | SigEnergy AC charger | SigEnergy DC charging module |
|---|---|---|
| How it charges | Standard AC, via a Type 2 connector | Direct DC from the solar and battery system, via CCS2 |
| Efficiency | Standard AC charging | Higher, by avoiding DC to AC to DC conversion |
| Power options | Smart AC wall charging | 12 kW or 25 kW |
| Bidirectional | No | Yes, vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid ready (see WA note) |
| Form | Wall charger | Add-on module to the SigenStor, not standalone |
| Best for | SigenStor homes wanting tidy smart AC charging | SigenStor homes wanting the most efficient solar charging and future headroom |
Who the SigEnergy Chargers Suit
Both chargers are designed for homes running a SigEnergy SigenStor. That is where they make sense. Their advantage is the native integration with that ecosystem. Within a SigenStor home, the AC charger suits a household wanting simple, smart charging in one app. The DC module suits a household that wants the most efficient use of its surplus solar. It also suits a household that wants to be ready for vehicle-to-home when it arrives. A home running a different system, such as Fronius, Sungrow or Tesla, will usually be better matched to that brand’s charger. A proper system design settles the kind of decision.
How Positive Energy Solutions Can Help
Positive Energy Solutions is a SigEnergy Gold Installer. The team designs and installs SigenStor systems and their chargers properly. We match the AC or DC option to the home. Every charger is installed by our accredited installers. It is signed off to Positive Energy’s completion standards. Installation is on its own circuit, to the current wiring rules and Western Power requirements. The system feeding it is backed by a 10-year installation workmanship warranty and Positive Energy Protection, powered by Omnidian. So it is monitored for performance from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the SigEnergy AC and DC chargers?
The AC charger is a standard smart wall charger that integrates with the SigenStor system. The DC charging module charges the car directly with DC power from the solar and battery. This is more efficient because it avoids converting energy from DC to AC and back. It is bidirectional-ready. The DC module is an add-on to the SigenStor rather than a standalone unit.
Can a SigEnergy charger power my home from my car?
The DC charging module is built for it. It supports vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid. So a compatible car could help power the home. In practice, true vehicle-to-home charging is not yet available in Western Australia. The standards and network approvals are still being finalised. So it is best viewed as future capability rather than something to rely on today.
Do I need a SigenStor system to use these chargers?
Yes. Both chargers are designed to work as part of a SigEnergy SigenStor solar-and-battery system. The DC module in particular is an add-on to the SigenStor rather than a standalone wall box. Their main advantage is the native integration with that ecosystem.
Why charge from DC instead of AC?
Every conversion between DC and AC loses a little energy. The DC charging module charges the car straight from the solar system’s DC power. So it captures more of each unit of solar. This is most valuable for surplus the home cannot use. It would otherwise be exported at a low feed-in rate.
Charge Your SigenStor Home Efficiently
For a Perth home built around a SigEnergy SigenStor, the SigEnergy chargers keep everything in one system. The DC module offers a genuinely efficient way to turn surplus solar into driving. The right choice depends on the home and how it uses energy. This is what a Positive Energy Solutions consultation is designed to match.
Talk to the local team about a SigEnergy charger for your Perth home: request your quote from Positive Energy
About the Author
Jason Wiktorowicz
Sales Manager, Positive Energy Solutions | Perth, WA
Jason has been at the centre of Western Australia’s energy transition for over a decade. As Orchestration Lead on Project Symphony, WA’s largest virtual power plant pilot, he worked on the system. As Stream Lead on Project Encore, he worked on the project. He worked directly with AEMO, Western Power and Energy Policy WA. He helped shape how distributed energy resources connect and operate on the SWIS. That work included developing and rolling out CSIP-AUS. It is now mandatory for all new WA grid connections. He also led Emergency Solar Management. It was the first program of its kind in WA. He led VPP for Schools, which provided direct market benefits through Supplementary Reserve Capacity. He led REBAR, the WA Residential Battery Rebate scheme.
At Positive Energy Solutions, Jason leads sales with a focus on system design accuracy and long-term performance. Positive Energy Solutions installs solar and battery systems, EV chargers and heat pumps. We hold partner accreditations with Fronius, SigEnergy, iStore and SunPower.
10-year installation workmanship warranty. Positive Energy Protection, powered by Omnidian, performance monitoring included on all systems.
