Enphase Energy System Explained: From Microinverters to Monitoring

[@gigyjose6134]

output of 480 va, how you will you connect this with topcon panel max power output is 480, there will be power clipping issues there will be loss when micro inverters are used

[@mjmeans7983]

Before my rant, I want to say that I do like the fact that PLC is used to communicate between the microinverters and the IQ combiner, thus eliminating a potential Wi-Fi malware attack vector into your local network. It isolates the performance and management into its own dedicated network. This is a great design choice. -- now on to the issues I have ... Why does the Enphase system require an account for cloud services? The explanation I've heard is that the microinverters require 'provisioning' to be compatible with the local utility provider. If this is true and the local power utility has some specific parameters such as phase limits, voltage limits, current limits, etc. then those details would originate from the utility itself, not from Enphase. There should be no reason (other than company choice) why Enphase NEEDS to manage this. The requirement for Enphase to do this seems disingenuous and thus seems to be an anti-consumer policy, possibly driven by an early design choice. Have they designed the system so that it cannot be provisioned without their service? Was that done so that they can enslave their customers into their walled garden with endless opportunity to change the landscape through unrestricted EULA updates (see the removal of the local API from the older model microinverters)? What happens if the internet goes down during a world-wide cyber event and the Enphase cloud servicer if unavailable for several weeks (an event like the one that nearly happened with the Crowd Strike debacle, or the possibility of a world cyber war)? It doesn't matter whether the cloud requirement is free now. There is no unbreakable contract that guarantees it will always be so and that includes penalties to the manufacturer if it fails to provide it. I refuse to buy a product that comes with a slave collar making me a slave to the manufacturer/seller. The public needs to be aware of these issues. It's not just Enphase making design decisions that are excuses for fundamentally anti-consumer purposes. The FTC needs new rules to prevent companies from doing this sort of thing.

[@PjotrII]

You are spot on, and I don´t have any extra knowledge of this case, but in general things are going crazy... My TV demanded that I create an account at Samsung (or my TV won´t work)???? I don´t want NOR DO I NEED an account - a TV should just WORK. My friend needed a PHONE (+LOGIN) to activate his refrigerator. Companies are taking advantage of consumers by unnecessary data.

[@peter-hr1gl]

I have an enphase system. I was 'sold' software at the time they did not have rolled out to support a generator. Took them a year to release their software from beta to support my generator and battery system. Hope their current software support is improved. I am not a complete fan. Have had microinverter issues each year the past 4 years (at least one failing each year). I like the fact the entire grid doesn't go down when one microinverter fails, but I did not expect multiple failures this quickly. I also have to pay my installer now to replace them and that's expensive. I also only bought a 3.3kWh battery to start with hoping to upgrade later with a 10kWh because I was told prices would drop in the next few years. So what happens? THey stop making that size battery and the smaller batter price GOES UP tremendously. SO now I can't effectively upgrade my system, plus due to how restrictive the 7 series micros are, I would have to redo all my wiring and array setup if I added a battery and the total battery storage size was less than my full array could support from a battery regen perspective. I don't know if my installer is to blame for all my issues, enphase, or both, but I am only partially satisfied with my Enphase system. I encourage anybody looking at them to be fully aware of how their system will work. I think the 8 series microinverters are better and I wish there was an economical upgrade path, but there is not (they should offer existing customers a deep discount to upgrade their systems to series 8, but I suppose EVERY component including the switch and battery would need to be replaced/upgraded). ANother thought as they may come out with a series 9 at some point and that will negate your entire 8 system from upgrade.

[@elevatedsciencesllc8089]

Honestly your comment is a perfect example of why DIY off grid solar is the only acceptable choice. DIY. DO IT YOURSELF. As an expert in this field I can tell you that you got ripped off...

[@ScottStingel]

and by the way, your installer gets a couple hundred dollars from Enphase whenever they replace a micro-inverter under warranty.

[@stevesmith-sb2df]

When the internet and cellular infrastructure are down, how do you monitor and manage the enphase battery charge and solar output?

[@dizzlethe7346]

You won't be able to off property, But if your router has power you still have "personal" network to manage systems like this w/o the internet or cellular.

[@erikowren7894]

@@dizzlethe7346how often do you loose both internet and cellular service? Just wondering 💭. Maybe get starlink if you keep having that issue.

[@DakillaChi]

So is the battery behind the controller ac or dc coupled

[@arieldorantes3450]

Each battery have their own micro inverters, so its ac coupled

[@yp77738yp77739]

Hello Could you provide some advice please. Have a design requirement for 20 *440w system with iQ8s and 2 enphase 5kW batteries. 1 supplier which specified IQ8MC and a different supplier specified IQ8AC, the quotes are within a couple of dollars of each other. Assuming all other things are equal, which of the 2 inverters offers me the better performance please? If I listen to your guidance, I should be asking them why the aren’t specifying the IQ8H for the 440w panel, right? Or, it really doesn’t make any noticeable difference, we have a shading factor of 0.65 so in all likelihood the chance of a panel output greater than 300 W seems unlikely.

[@JamesBrown-ux9ds]

I missed the possible integration of my EV into your system? For to become charged or jused as a range extender for my home for instance over the dark winter weekends when at home during wintertime? (Having charged up free of costs at my workplace.) (And if I would like to charge my EV out of my home storage, for instance it should be able to provide 60kwh to my vehicle within three to four hours - in case I can't wait over night to have the car rechargered at 6, 8 or 11 kw.)(6kw x12h=72kwh of course, slow speed recharge)

[@ibenglish]

What if I purchase a 500 watt panel? I did not see something for this. Do you have to have a combiner box to use microinverters?

[@htsyami]

Doesn’t make sense to only buy one panel with a microinverter

[@ibenglish]

@@htsyamithey are separate questions and the microinvertor examples do not cover a 500 watt panel. The second question pertains to if you have to have a combiner box to use the inverters. I never asked about a single panel by itself

[@elevatedsciencesllc8089]

So let me get this straight. Each panel needs it own microinverter and the microinverters are about $200 each after shipping...? Ok... But I can go to SS and get a pallet of panels around 9kwh and an eg4 6000xp inverter for like $4000. With this setup I can charge at 8kw and discharge at 6kw. Pair another EG4 for an extra $1500 making my total $5500 and now I can charge at 16kw and discharge at 12 kw. That 9kw pallet is probably about a 26 panel pallet...so to put a microinverter on each panel I would be spending 26x200=5200. Plus the cost of the pallet of panels. And that's to be able to charge and discharge at a lower rate. So why would anyone do this?

[@elevatedsciencesllc8089]

And I'm pretty sure modern MPPT's already have a mechanism built in to deal with a single panel being shaded so the whole array is not wasted...do they not? I swear that hasn't been an issue for many years...are we taking old innovations/ideas and recycling them here as if they were new?

[@dizzlethe7346]

@@elevatedsciencesllc8089 Mppts don't have them built in, Some VERY pricy panels do but SS doesn't sell them and the cheapest I can find is around 1K each 560 panel. Really this is mainly for high shade/cloudy areas. Or for roof placed panels so if a panel ever goes out your whole system doesn't an you have time to get it fixed. IMO if you have a ground mount tho these are only good for shade and even then the DC to AC ones like this... Is not what I would go with

[@dizzlethe7346]

@@elevatedsciencesllc8089 You can find DC to DC ones that can REALLY help you out. I have sunpower (EG4 stepchild) DC to DC ones that lower volts of my panels and up the amps so I was able to put more panels on a string w/o maxing my voltage on my MPPT. So now on extreme cloudy rainy/snowy days I still pull power when I didn't b4. But my inverters where only like $80 and Aptos sells ones near what I got for the same just doesn't have a 25yr warranty. They also don't let you set the voltage drop/amp uptick like sunpower does. But neither does the new sunpower so...

[@elevatedsciencesllc8089]

@@dizzlethe7346 that's strange, I have arrays that get partially shaded in the morning but still product decent wattage when a panel or two is shaded, not full output of course but it doesn't seem like one panel is just cutting off the rest of them...

[@elevatedsciencesllc8089]

I just use EG4's and whatever panels SS is selling cheap

[@mintakan003]

This seems more suitable for a professional install, than DIY. It means one has to buy into the Enphase ecosystem. (Also, specific training if one wants to DIY with Enphase.) For the DIY'er, a DC coupled system allows for more generic flexibility in mixing and matching from different vendors (esp. in case of supply chain problems). Something to consider, depending on one's goals.

[@SignatureSolar]

You raise some valid points! While Enphase systems are designed with professionals in mind and do require familiarity with their ecosystem, many DIYers have successfully integrated them with the right training. Enphase University offers great resources to help you get up to speed if you decide to go that route. (Enphase University: enphase.com/installers/training/authorization-storage-overview) Ultimately, it really comes down to your specific goals and comfort level with installation. If you have any questions about options or need guidance, feel free to reach out!

[@bobjohnson4512]

do a video on surge protectors.

[@SignatureSolar]

Thank you so much for your suggestion!

[@jbaidoo2000]

I hate my Enphase grid tie system that ADT Solar installed. When the grid goes out, it takes days for the gateway meter to start working again after power is restored, which is usually a few minutes or hours. Mind you, all this time it is not communicating, all your solar production doesn’t get reported to the power company and so you end up depending and paying for all your usage with zero credit. It has happened to me four times since I got the system installed in March 2024. I am currently on the fourth time and the system has not been reporting since October 3rd 2024 at the time of this writing. Talk about a waste of money and investment. I paid over $40k for this 25 panel 10kw system, and ADT solar went out of business. I called Enphase directly and the tech was no help. My system is still down. If I was to do it again, I’d go non-grid tied with battery backup. I am going to try to engage ADT solar again if anyone will answer the phone. There is a law suit brewing.

[@danejones4288]

Contact Enphase and ask them to diagnose the problem remotely. This is nothing Enphase related, sounds like something was installed improperly.

[@slacayo]

I have an Enphase system and has been rock solid. Two 5P and 16 410W Silfab panels for about a ~6.6kw system. What was purchased a few months is probably out dated. Those that might be on the fence just do your homework. Couple of things…. Depends if where it’s manufactured maters. Enphase is made in the U.S.A. so you’re helping American workers. So yeah….might be a little bit more expensive. At the times Tesla ghosted me in middle of process so when with local California roofer and solar installers. So would have gotten power wall 2 an older platform where Enphase compared to 5P was just better overall. Regardless, going solar is awesome. Free energy

[@herbfst]

Can this system be installed without a net metering agreement in NJ?

[@dizzlethe7346]

That depends on your area/county and how you use it. Some let you some don't, My home needed a NM agreement and a FK ton of permits. While my sisters needed none of it even tho we are 5 streets away, because her property was zoned "rural". If I needed it as a "backup" system that I HAND switched I could have gotten away with no agreement Just tossing that out.

[@bobcole3852]

More people are realizing that selling back to utility is not a good idea and lengthens ROI. Batteries are the answer. If you gave me microinverters I'd give them away or sell them to some sucker

[@notme5909]

Good stuff...

[@curtisramsey2219]

Shes awesome. It looks expensive and does it pays off

[@user-ei3ml8jo1s]

Wouldn’t touch Enphase. Solar Panel DC> AC, AC>DC to Charge Battery, DC>AC to Discharge Battery. DC coupled battery systems are more efficient. Solar DC, Battery DC, Invert to AC once.

[@jamesmterrell]

Uggg. So is this new system compatible with the system I bought 2.5 years ago (Dec 2021)? My installer was Lumio. 30 panels (Canadian Solar HiDM5 All black CS1Y-395M) with IQ7PLUS-72-2-US microinverters, Encharge 10-1P-10A battery and the magic boxes that go along with it. One of the things I hope you fixed are the shoddy cases for the equipment. I have complained to Lumio several times but I still can't open my controller. Bottom line: 1. How many boxes do I need to replace to use the new battery? 2. Is Enphase planning on building a version that holds up to 4 batteries? I was planning to add three 5P's to my existing Encharge 10-1P-10A battery. You should be able to do all the connection in one piece of equipment. Much cleaner (look at LOT better) and less labor ($$$$) to install. 3. Do i have to replace all my 30 IQ7 microinverters to IQ8s? 4. Are Enphase and Span improving their interface to provide consistent information to the application without recalibration? Thank you.