SMA America has a HUGE Advantage

[@earthenergysolarelectric7472]

You are so informative, thank you for all the work you all do, it shows you are the leaders in the field.

[@billjohnson3344]

Good inverter overall - built like a tank, economical, and reliable. Have some roof vents that shade at parts of the day - negligible impact, Shadefix works well overall. If you can get away without rapid shutdown, less connections (and no electronics) on the roof - plus 2kW backup power output when the grid is down. But if you need rapid shutdown, hard to beat Enphase with panel level monitoring and elimination of single point electronics failures. I can see why they can't readily complete in that situation, but I'm very happy with the inverter for my needs.

[@ek8710]

Pulled a sunnyboy out of the local scrap yard, it powers on with mains and doesn't throw any errors, are there any ways of testing the unit on the bench with a DC power supply?

[@wendyanngarciaduncan3985]

What do you think about schneider inverter vs SMA

[@monamelte8466]

I have five 200w (20.23v) panels on my RV and a 48v system. Would an optimizer work well for me and, can I also add (6th) portable unit to the series? And lastly, if you feel that this is a good investment, which company would be best (link desired)? Thank you

[@sunshine5349]

no just park your RV in the sun. Optimizers use energy and therefore are a very small drain on energy production.

[@chrisrichardson8908]

Why dont other brands find issues with a system b4 .they go bad like the sma that to me is awesome. .I'm not a sma fan .but that is a huge advantage

[@Dragonmasterbuilder]

Aren't the warranties better with Enphase and SolarEdge? I thought the standard warranty is only 10 years, while Enphase is 25 years, right?

[@dalerolph]

Good question, the standard SolarEdge warranty is 12 year but it can be extended to 25 years. Most installers extended this warranty.

[@shroud1390]

SMA can be extended to 20 afaik. And it can be done at anytime.

[@gregcollins3404]

Enphase's warranty is just marketing . They don't last 25 years. They know they are going to be replacing those way before the warranty is up. Electronics on a hostile, hot roof? No thank you. And they don't pay for the replacement labor. Your poor (probably out of business) installer is going to be coming out one by one to replace those things in about ten years. Enphase promised from the beginning that microinverters would last 25 years in order to match the 25 year PV warranty and then announced last year they would replace for free all their gen 1 and gen 2 product.... And Solar Edge - I've already had to replace half of those my company installed. Warranties are just their way of convincing you the buyer that their poor product is reliable.

[@johnfitbyfaithnet]

Do the prices include installation?

[@dalerolph]

Yes they did

[@igypop.]

what you did not mention that is happening now, SMA brought back all electronics design and manufacturing inhouse to be more independent and in order to have a better quality control, so another positive..

[@gideonindrata1550]

i read the whitepaper.. shadefix is not an optimizer.. they did not use any mlpe for shadefix..

[@billjohnson3344]

Yes, this is incorrectly represented in the video. Shadefix is a software algorithm in the SMA inverter - nothing per panel.

[@jaysolar6111]

I'd pay more and go with Enphase. Don't let the lower price of SMA fool you. I recommend customers to do your own research.

[@Chris-ie9os]

What do you get from Enphase for the extra cost? IMO module level monitoring isn't worth paying 3x more...

[@sunshine5349]

I've done my own research and have determined you probably work for Enphase. If you have shading issues, use optimizers and it is still cheaper. And SMA gives you a 2000w back up power without needing an expensive battery when the grid is down. If you need Rapid Shut down, you will need to install an 18v battery to allow the 2000w backup power to continue.

[@datsuntoyy]

@@Chris-ie9os For us tekkies, yes it is. I like being able to monitor and control everything in my house from my phone.

[@sk8liftlive]

You haven't really contributed any useful information.

[@FernandoTRA]

Hello friends. Please check. Shadefix is not "optimizers" but an optimization system built in to SMA inverters. Just be careful what you say in the videos. Otherwise I'm all for SMA.

[@billjohnson3344]

Agree - video is incorrect - Pacific Sun Tech should correct. Also agree it is a good inverter, and the built-in algorithm does work well - without extra electronics on the roof.

[@sunshine5349]

you FAILED to mention that SMA inverters give you 2000w 120v back up power when the grid fails. This back up power even works with RSD read the sma white paper for instructions. If they are mounted on ground mount then you save $600 to $1200 since no Rapid shut down is needed. This is the BIGGEST SELLING POINT, PLEASE EDUCATE YOUR STAFF TO BRING UP THIS FEATURE@!

[@dalerolph]

If you look at current SMA unit spec sheets you’ll see a small note *** that says units with Module levers rapid shutdown do not allow for the secure power supply to work. We wish this wasn’t the case

[@sunshine5349]

@@dalerolph wrong, re read my post. you need two 9v batteries in series to make it compatable with rapid shut down. ressupply.com/documents/sma/Secure_Power_Supply_Operation_with_TS4-R-O.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2lykiTx0iAANFZ1qzvO6-r6uiXGHlQBKy9Fe0nb5bE36nvcx0RXMycu9Y

[@robblack6115]

SMA is a good product with good pricing, however, in areas that experience real winter their SBS inverters don't allow generator backup like other brands.

[@dalerolph]

Only a handful of specialty solar inverters do. when comparing the three in the image none of them do so this is irrelevant since none offer that

[@peterjabidop7308]

@@dalerolph which solar company will you recommend in Sacramento or northern California

[@DileepKrsingh-sq8ox]

Please do anything For Indian customer

[@dalerolph]

Sorry, we’re a local business.

[@alexsoares9892]

Sorry still a single point of failure. Enphase is by far the best product of the 3. I know every market pays different prices for equipment, but how is enphase $122/panel more, i call bullshit. In my region with all components(epnhase inverter, cable, monitor, mounting hardware) included it costs $158 total

[@shroud1390]

Single point of failure? You mean just like the Enphase combiner box where all the micros combine? You mean the box that has only a 5 year warranty? enphase.com/sites/default/files/Enphase-Warranty-US-CA.pdf

[@shroud1390]

In the example of pricing the panels are 340w panels. You need to do the IQ7A to avoid clipping. Those are more expensive than the IQ7 and IQ7+. An inverter like the SMA doesn't cost more based on the panel wattage. Well solid companies will do the IQ7a with a panel like the G6+ 340w panel instead of the IQ7+ Their pricing seems solid.

[@alexsoares9892]

@@shroud1390 the combiner box is simply a subpanel.

[@shroud1390]

@@alexsoares9892 which is a single point of failure. if it is just a simple subpanel then why only a 5 year warranty? They have a 25 year warranty on the micros but only a 5 year on the combiner box?

[@alexsoares9892]

@@shroud1390 I'm not sure the arguement you are making here. In central inverter systems you have other points of failure (subpanels/disconnects) after the inverter(s).

[@Lawiah0]

Single Point Of Failure (SPOF)

[@shroud1390]

Single point of failure? You mean just like the Enphase combiner box where all the micros combine? You mean the box that has only a 5 year warranty? enphase.com/sites/default/files/Enphase-Warranty-US-CA.pdf

[@Lawiah0]

@@shroud1390 Is that what I mean?

[@shroud1390]

@@Lawiah0 usually when people say that they are referring to micro inverters and well Enphase is the most popular. I assume other companies have similar combiner boxes. Do you mean something else?

[@Lawiah0]

@@shroud1390 Nope, you nailed it.

[@shroud1390]

@@Lawiah0 Guess there is a first for everything! :)

[@DMMak1]

If enphase was so much better than SMA, how come SMA, absolutely DOMINATES enphase worldwide? Only unless you live in a rainforest with mostly blanket shade cover is enphase a better option. And if this was the case, why are you putting on solar with this much shade to begin with? And only if solar is being installed on a multi-level highrise, where it's extremely difficult to run dc cabling back to the electrical board, then maybe enphase has a case to be used. Otherwise, SMA pumps enphase on every other level.

[@dalerolph]

SMA has been around for nearly double the years as Enphase, and they have established themselves in the utility and industrial sector much better than Enphase or SolarEdge.