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Considerations for Single Inverter vs Dual Inverter (+/- optimizers)?

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  • Considerations for Single Inverter vs Dual Inverter (+/- optimizers)?

    What are the factors for deciding between 2 inverters with lower ratings vs 1 inverter with a higher rating? Do the factors change when it comes to a SolarEdge system with optimizers?

    Say for example that in a 10KW system 60% of the panels will face SE and 40% will face SW.

    What are the benefits of having a separate inverter for each orientation? Perhaps that the inverter is more efficient closer to the maximum rating and each inverter would spend more time in that zone if only a single orientation is involved? Any quantitative data on this?

  • #2
    Originally posted by sunnyguy View Post
    What are the factors for deciding between 2 inverters with lower ratings vs 1 inverter with a higher rating? Do the factors change when it comes to a SolarEdge system with optimizers?

    Say for example that in a 10KW system 60% of the panels will face SE and 40% will face SW.

    What are the benefits of having a separate inverter for each orientation? Perhaps that the inverter is more efficient closer to the maximum rating and each inverter would spend more time in that zone if only a single orientation is involved? Any quantitative data on this?
    Howdy sunnyguy,

    Well in the scenario you described I would use a SB5000 on the 6kW facing south east and a SB4000 on the 4kW of panels on the south west roof. The benifits of two inverters are with two you can still run two strings on each roof surface, that is often inportant, cheers remember opinions vary.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by solar pete View Post
      Howdy sunnyguy,

      Well in the scenario you described I would use a SB5000 on the 6kW facing south east and a SB4000 on the 4kW of panels on the south west roof. The benifits of two inverters are with two you can still run two strings on each roof surface, that is often inportant, cheers remember opinions vary.
      Thanks for your reply. I see that SMA inverters accept up to 6 strings and seem to operate at max efficiency at around 40% output rating. SolarEdge inverters seem that they might only accept 2 strings? Or maybe is just requires fused string combiners? So it seems like it may be beneficial to run 4 strings on a single inverter rather than 2 strings x 2 inverters where possible. Cost/W is more economical with larger inverters.

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      • #4
        I see now that the inverters with dual MPPT only go up to ~8kw.

        The solaredge design tool specs out 4 strings for their 10kw inverter just fine.

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        • #5
          Solar Edge have maximum per string 5250 W, and also a 6000W inverter you can have modules rated all the way to aprox 7500W. A solar which is rated at 300W will never ever produce that power when it's install on your roof , just in standard testing condition, but you can see maximum of 221W . Having 2 inverters size of solar breaker will be larger and you need larger busbar.
          If string inverter will have only one mppt you need 2 inverters in your case.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by solarfrank View Post
            Solar Edge have maximum per string 5250 W, and also a 6000W inverter you can have modules rated all the way to aprox 7500W. A solar which is rated at 300W will never ever produce that power when it's install on your roof , just in standard testing condition, but you can see maximum of 221W . Having 2 inverters size of solar breaker will be larger and you need larger busbar.
            If string inverter will have only one mppt you need 2 inverters in your case.
            Yes that makes sense. The new Fronius 8.2 primo 2xMPPT inverter says it can work with up to 12.7kW of panels. For 10.2kW that would be ~$0.20/W cheaper than a SolarEdge system.

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