LG 280 Watt and Enphase M215 make a great combination

[snic]

Right, we hit a "sweet spot:" the NY agency that gives rebates to solar installers (NYSERDA) provides something like a little over $1 per watt installed, with a maximum of $5,000 - so our 4.5 kW system comes very close to maximizing that rebate. With a larger system size, the net cost per watt would by higher because of maxing out the rebate; with a smaller size, the rebate would be smaller while the dealer's fixed costs would prevent the gross price from being much lower (so again, the cost per watt would end up being higher).

Interestingly, we didn't size the system based on that calculation. Instead, it was what would fit on the roof, plus the limit that NYSERDA has on system size - it can't be sized to produce more than 110% of previous year's electric usage; we are actually going to be very close to that in an average year. In all, it seems like this will work out very well - once it's finally installed!

[SunEagle]

16 x LG 285s, with enphase M250 inverters. Not sure what else you want to know? Total before credits is about $24K, about $9K after credits.

That is a great price. $5.25/watt before credits and $2/watt after. Good deal.

[snic]

16 x LG 285s, with enphase M250 inverters. Not sure what else you want to know? Total before credits is about $24K, about $9K after credits.

[silversaver]

All on one roof facing almost due south, at about a 30 degree angle (latitude near NY city).

Do you have the M215s for the rest of your system yet? Or are you going to go for M250s?

My contractor told me the LG 280 watt panels are no longer being sold. They are upgrading me to LG 285 watt panels and throwing in M250s, all at no extra charge. Seems reasonable.

I'm wondering what price/system that you are getting. I have been recently quoted on a system with 22 x LG 285 pairing with M250s, but the price is crazy high.

[t5800512]

It's also cool that you are getting upgrades for at no additional cost.

Yes, I have everything to complete my system, including the M215's and the LG280 Panels, and the racking system. The original plan was to install the whole thing earlier this year. But it got hot and I had to stop. As it was, it took me a weeks, up at first light, and working until I was ready to drop each day. This way, I have a project for fall.

How many panels are you getting? I know you told me before, that I have slept several times since then. It is great that you can get them all on south facing roof. That way you will get the most out of them.

[snic]

All on one roof facing almost due south, at about a 30 degree angle (latitude near NY city).

Do you have the M215s for the rest of your system yet? Or are you going to go for M250s?

My contractor told me the LG 280 watt panels are no longer being sold. They are upgrading me to LG 285 watt panels and throwing in M250s, all at no extra charge. Seems reasonable.

[t5800512]

Cool, your installation is getting really close now! The price on the M215 microinverters has dropped to around $100. And you can now get the LG 290 panels for what I paid for the 280's. Is the price locked in on your contract, or will you see savings of the price drops.

I still have not seen any clipping. I have seen days when most of the inverters hit 224 or 225 watts. But no flat topped bell curves (yet). My systems highest output day was 22 KwH's. I have typically been seeing around 20 KwH's per day. My peek A/C wattage is right at 3 KWatts.

Enlighten, which used PVWatts, shows me at being 110 percent of expected output. And that is after a 5 hour electrical outage that really dropped that number way down. I think it was 123 percent before the outage. Funny what zeros to to an average calculation.

I had read that the LG panels are known for producing higher than their rated wattage. But I sure did not expect those kind of numbers. So, I'm still extremely happy with my system.

I'm still waiting for the heat to break so I can install the last half of my system. I'm still not sure where I'm going to put them. I checked on the cheap carport I have been talking about and found it would be $2500+ to have someone put it in. I still have not ruled that out, but I will not call it cheap any more. I can put it up myself for about half of that. I may end up going that direction since I don't mind the work (as long as it is under 100 degrees).

I'm starting to like the idea of facing some of my panels west in order to extend my output curve farther into the PM hours. I want to do that because my PV system and my Summer A/C usage are not in sync. My PV output had dropped off while my A/C continues to run long into the late PM hours. According to PVWatts, I will loose about 10 percent of the output facing them West. In the past, I have been reluctant to give up that 10 percent. But I'm starting to believe broadening my PV output curve will be worth the losses.

Will all of your panels be south facing? Sorry, I can't remember.

[snic]

Enphase 250s are starting to ship. My contractor said I'd be getting them for my installation, which should happen around the end of September.

[extreempv]

I don't think the clipping your seeing is as pronounced due to the high temperatures. I suspect it will be more obvious spring / fall when you have clear skys but a bit cooler.

There is the Power One Micro inverters available in both 250W + 300W versions. For future installs with 280W - 300W panels I'd suggest the 300W versions.

There is also the new SMA 240W Micro Inverters. These have a different twist - with the separate Multigate which allows for about 50% fewer components in the panel mounted micro inverters. This should provide higher reliability as fewer components are subjected to the heat under the panel each day.

Ken

[Naptown]

Enphase has announced the 250.
I get their announcements
The 250's should be starting to become available soon if not at wholesalers already.
I can check tomorrow on availability

[t5800512]

Hi Bonaire, that is good information. Thank you for your response. My panels are much more flat than yours, so I'm not sure how much better they will be off-summer. Time will tell.

I still have 13 panels and inverters to install. It is just too hot now, and I'm not exactly sure where to put them. I have covered all my only south facing roof, and my other roof (besides facing the wrong direction) is all shade challenged. I'm seriously thinking about putting up a carport over my rear driveway for a place to put the second part of my system.

[t5800512]

Hey Sinc, the M250 micro inverters had not been announced when I was doing my project. I thought enphase was over due for an announce because the other manufactures already had 250 watt inverters. If I had not already purchased mine, I probably would opt the M250 since the price is not that much more.

[bonaire]

The curves look more like spikes now due to a fixed angle array. The sun will rise behind the array and also set behind it. The angle of the sun through the day causes the mid day shorter and sharper curve. In winter, the angles are better and your curve will be wider with me 225w clipping. In June and July, a fixed angle for my location is 12 degrees if I wanted the best production. My arrays are at 35 and 39 degrees and do better in the next three seasons.

[snic]

Yea, my calculations kept telling me I would be fine with the M215 inverters, but I was still nervous about it. My upgrade option was to the 250 Watt Power One inverters, and they were more than I wanted to spend. Now I'm very happy with my decision.

How much more were the M250s? I found someplace on line that quotes them for just $23 more than M215s. Not sure why it wouldn't make sense to go with M250s?

[t5800512]

Yea, my calculations kept telling me I would be fine with the M215 inverters, but I was still nervous about it. My upgrade option was to the 250 Watt Power One inverters, and they were more than I wanted to spend. Now I'm very happy with my decision.