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Generators for solar systems
SPARK generators for solar systems — reliable power when the sun is scarce
Do you have an off-grid or hybrid solar system and worry about long spells of cloudy weather, winter or a grid outage? SPARK generators for solar systems are purpose-built to automatically supplement and charge battery energy storage.
Key features
Unlike standard portable generators, generators for solar systems are equipped with an input for remote automatic start (2-wire start / 2-wire auto start), exceptionally stable voltage regulation (pure sine wave or industrial 1,500 rpm alternators) and full compatibility with leading inverters (e.g. Victron Energy, Deye, SMA, Studer). They ensure that your battery bank never drops below a critical state of charge.
8 items
SPARK 8000iA
1,255.00 € incl. 22% VAT
- Voltage
- 230 V
- Max. power
- 6.5 kW
- Rated power
- 6 kW
- Engine start
- Manual + electric (push-button)
- Sockets
- 1× USB-A 5V and 1x USB-C 5 V, 1× DC 12 V/9 A car socket, 1× Schuko 230 V/16 A, 1× 3P 230 V/32 A
SPARK 6000iA
1,570.00 € incl. 22% VAT
- Voltage
- 230 V
- Max. power
- 6 kW
- Rated power
- 5.5 kW
- Engine start
- Manual + electric (push-button)
- Sockets
- 2× 5 V USB-A, 1× DC 12 V/9 A car socket, 1× Schuko 230 V/16 A, 1× 3P 230 V/32 A
SPARK 8000 DiA
2,095.00 € incl. 22% VAT
- Voltage
- 230 V
- Max. power
- 6.5 kW
- Rated power
- 6 kW
- Engine start
- Electric (push-button), 2-wire automatic start
- Sockets
- 1× Schuko 230 V/16 A, 1× 3P 230 V/32 A
SPARK 13000iA
2,995.00 € incl. 22% VAT
- Voltage
- 230 / 400 V
- Max. power
- 10.5 kW
- Rated power
- 9.5 kW
- Engine start
- Manual + electric
SPARK 15000/3 AVR
2,995.00 € incl. 22% VAT
- Voltage
- 230 / 400 V
- Max. power
- 11 kW
- Rated power
- 10 kW
- Engine start
- Electric (key)
- Sockets
- 2× Schuko 230 V/16 A, 1× 3P 230 V/32 A, 1× 5P 400 V/32 A
SPARK 9000 DiA
3,150.00 € incl. 22% VAT
- Voltage
- 230 / 400 V
- Max. power
- 7.5 kW
- Rated power
- 7 kW
- Engine start
- Electric (push-button), 2-wire automatic start
- Sockets
- 1× Schuko 230 V/16 A, 1× 3P 230 V/32 A, 1× 5P 400 V/16 A
SPARK 10000 DiA
4,195.00 € incl. 22% VAT
- Voltage
- 230 / 400 V
- Max. power
- 9.5 kW
- Rated power
- 9 kW
- Engine start
- Electric (push-button), 2-wire automatic start
- Sockets
- 1× Schuko 230 V/16 A, 1× 3P 230 V/32 A, 1× 5P 400 V/16 A
SPARK 20000iA
5,665.00 € incl. 22% VAT
- Voltage
- 230 / 400 V
- Max. power
- 18 kW
- Rated power
- 17 kW
- Engine start
- Electric
Buying guide:How to choose the right generator for a solar system (off-grid and hybrid)?
When a generator is connected to a solar power plant or battery storage, an ordinary generator often fails. Conventional AVR generators are simply not suitable for charging solar system batteries, as their voltage and frequency are not stable enough. Modern hybrid and off-grid inverters have extremely strict built-in monitoring controllers – if the generator's frequency or voltage fluctuates under load, the inverter rejects the input energy and battery charging does not even begin.
Comparison table:Inverter petrol vs. industrial diesel generator for solar systems
More = better
SPARK inverter petrol generators
- Voltage quality
- 100% pure sine (perfectly stable voltage for all inverters)
- Compatible with solar inverters
- Yes (no risk of the current being rejected)
- Cooling type / engine speed
- Air cooling (variable speed)
- Start
- Optional 2-wire automatic start
- Investment cost
- Low to medium
- Service life
- ~1,000 operating hours
- Suitable for
- Holiday homes, occasional winter battery top-ups, smaller systems
SPARK industrial diesel generators
- Voltage quality
- Precise industrial regulation (for the heaviest loads)
- Compatible with solar inverters
- Yes (for all industrial and domestic hybrid systems)
- Cooling type / engine speed
- Water cooling (1,500 rpm – long-duration operation)
- Start
- Integrated ATS and automatic 2-wire start
- Investment cost
- Higher (professional equipment)
- Service life
- 20,000 to 50,000 operating hours
- Suitable for
- Permanently occupied off-grid homes, farms, large battery storage systems
Service and installer insight:Why does an ordinary AVR generator fail, and which conditions are essential?
Based on the experience of our service engineers and solar equipment installers, we warn against the most common risks when connecting a generator to a solar system:
Why are ordinary AVR generators not suitable for charging batteries?
Classic petrol generators with AVR regulation control the voltage mechanically by adjusting the engine speed (at 3,000 rpm). When the solar charger in the inverter suddenly draws a lot of power to charge the batteries, the engine speed fluctuates for a moment, and with it the frequency (deviation from 50 Hz) and voltage fluctuate drastically too. The solar inverter detects this as a grid fault and disconnects within a second for safety reasons. The result: the generator runs noisily, but the batteries stay empty. For reliable operation, you need a SPARK inverter generator with a pure sine wave or an industrial 1,500 rpm diesel generator.
2-wire automatic start function (2-Wire Auto Start)
Starting the generator manually is not practical with a solar system. A generator for solar systems must have a built-in module for remote starting. When the inverter detects that the battery is empty (e.g. it drops to 20% state of charge), it sends a signal to the generator via two wires. The generator starts automatically, charges the battery and switches itself off automatically once charging is complete.
Sizing ruleA battery charger is not an ordinary load!
Charging an empty battery via an inverter requires a huge and continuous amount of power. If your inverter has, for example, a 3 kW charger, you must not buy a 3 kW generator. The generator would run at 100% power throughout the charge, leading to overheating, voltage fluctuations and rapid destruction of the engine.
SPARK golden ruleChoose the generator so that the battery charging power represents between 30% and 70% of the generator's rated power.
Types of SPARK generatorsfor solar systems
Petrol inverter generators with automatic start (for small and medium-sized buildings)
- Intended use
- Holiday homes, smaller houses, mobile homes and occasional support in the winter months.
- Features
- They produce a 100% pure sine wave with zero voltage fluctuation, are exceptionally quiet, automatically adjust engine speed (Smart Throttle) and allow a 2-wire connection to the inverter.
- Operating profile
- For occasional battery top-ups, with an engine life of up to ~1,000 operating hours (air cooling, valve service every 100 hours).
Industrial diesel generators 1,500 rpm (for demanding and permanently occupied buildings)
- Intended use
- Year-round off-grid buildings, farms, high-consumption households and industrial solar systems.
- Features
- They are driven by water-cooled industrial diesel engines running at 1,500 revolutions per minute. Exceptionally low fuel consumption, outstanding voltage stability under heavy loads, a soundproof canopy and full integration with ATS and solar controllers.
- Operating profile
- For daily or continuous support of the solar system, with a service life of 20,000 to 50,000 operating hours.
Not sure which model suits your appliances?
Calculate the power you need or consult our engineering team — we will help you choose the right size and configuration of generator.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The reason is unstable voltage and frequency fluctuation. When a powerful charger switches on, ordinary AVR generators cannot stabilise the engine speed quickly enough, which causes the frequency to fluctuate (deviation from 50 Hz). The solar inverter has built-in safety limits and immediately rejects such irregular current. To charge batteries, you need an inverter generator with a pure sine wave or an industrial 1,500 rpm generator.
It is a contact input on the generator's control panel that allows the solar inverter to control the generator's operation automatically. When the batteries run down, the inverter closes the contact, the generator starts automatically and begins charging. When the batteries are full, the inverter opens the contact and the generator switches off automatically.
You must match the generator's power to the power of the charger in your inverter, not just to the battery capacity. If your inverter has a 70 A charger at 48 V, that means roughly 3.5 kW of constant consumption. Because the generator must not run at the limit of its capacity (due to overheating and voltage stability), choose a generator with a rated power of at least 5 kW to 5.5 kW (load between 50% and 70%).
Use the power calculatorNever! The generator must not be installed in the same room as the batteries or in living spaces, because of the danger of toxic exhaust gases (carbon monoxide) and high heat. The generator must run outdoors or in a specially ventilated plant room with a proper fresh-air inlet and exhaust outlet.
On petrol inverter generators, an oil change is mandatory every 50 to 100 operating hours, and the air filter must also be cleaned regularly. On industrial diesel generators (1,500 rpm), regular servicing is carried out every 250 to 500 operating hours or once a year.