Micro Inverter for single-panel DIY installation

[Quintas]

Hi everyone!
It it possible to buy a micro inverter that can operate completely stand-alone, and does not require any kind of gateway or


There are cheap Chinese ones available on eBay, but I was really looking for something good and reliable. Can anyone advise?

Hi sheep.

I'm in the same boat because I want to install 2 or 3 pannels, in a three phase grid.

I found your thread and it's been very usefull because I asked Enphase the same thing and got no reply.

The ABB microinvertres are being sold in Portugal without the CCD-Concentrator Data Device, included in DIY kits, ready to plug in an outlet socket. I phoned ABB and they told me the CDD is only needed for the initial configuration and can be removed afterwards. ABB says that "in principle" there will not be the need to reconfigure the micro again.

I also phoned an ABB micro seller that claims the same thing. They configure the micro before they ship it to the client. He says they install/sell ABB since 2008 that way and had no problems so far.

The most popular micro here now is the Involar, a chinese brand, cheaper also because it doesn´t need its gateway, not even to an initial configuration. It has 25 year warranty, but who knows if they will be around if you make a claim in the long run. The portuguese electrical company is now installing those kit's with Involar micro's and they give the same 25 year warranty, and their contract says the warranty is from themselves, it doesn't bring the Involar name in. So we hope that will be good for whoever buys Involar in Portugal, althought their importer for Portugal is a company not really known.

There´s also APS, chinese, and I read somewhere their micro's have some issues.

About your pannel shading, perhaps you could put a picture of it. Who knows other users can help you with any crazy ideas?

Regards, Quintas

[sheep]

And I strongly suspect that units shipped to addresses in the US or to US distributors have the default US 120/240 single phase 60 Hz profile set by default.

This would be my guess too. The inverters probably all come out of the factory configured for use in the US, and they are then reconfigured for other countries as necessary and the relevant suffix added to the part number.

[inetdog]

I apologise for the delay in reporting back on this, but I have only just obtained the answer from Enphase.

All of their documentation states that their Microinverters will NOT start until they have been configured and enabled by the Envoy communications gateway.

The first two people I contacted at Enphase just re-asserted this (what turned out to be incorrect) information.

I finally found someone at Enphase who gave me the real answer:

Hope this information is useful to other UK users

And I strongly suspect that units shipped to addresses in the US or to US distributors have the default US 120/240 single phase 60 Hz profile set by default.

What I am not clear on is whether the units will sense the presence of the three phase 208Y/120 trunk cable and switch to that or just work because the 208 and 240 settings have an overlapping voltage range or will have to be reconfigured to work properly.

[sheep]

Hmmm. Maybe they are factory-configured for use in the USA, and need to be reconfigured by the gateway for use in other countries? I'll ask Enphase.

I apologise for the delay in reporting back on this, but I have only just obtained the answer from Enphase.

All of their documentation states that their Microinverters will NOT start until they have been configured and enabled by the Envoy communications gateway.

The first two people I contacted at Enphase just re-asserted this (what turned out to be incorrect) information.

I finally found someone at Enphase who gave me the real answer:

Dear (sheep),

I apologise for the delay of our response, unfortunately (name deleted) is no longer working with Enphase.

Today we are shipping microinverters in UK
- without the preset grid profile and in this case you will need an Envoy to set the grid profile (G83/2 or G59/3)
or
- with the preset grid profile and in this case you will no longer need the Envoy to set the grid profile.
Note:
In both instances you will need the Envoy to monitor the microinverters.
When you order microinverters from distributors be shure that you have the -UK in the end of the product code like in the following examples: M215-60-230-S2-UK or M215-60-230-S2-UK (that meant they are preloaded with the grid profile)

If you have other questions or you need further assistance don't hesitate to email me back, or please contact Customer Support at: (0)1908 828928.

Best regards.
Eng. (name deleted)

Hope this information is useful to other UK users

[sdold]

Gateways are an upsale item and not needed. It is just a ball and whistle to get deeper in your pocket.

Especially if you pay for the "Enlighten Manager" monitoring at $249, which I as the installer luckily didn't have to pay for. The Envoy gateway was fun for a week or so as I showed my friends and neighbors how I am generating "free power", but after that it became about as interesting as a new water softener or any other home appliance, which is what my system really is, after all. It will be great for troubleshooting, but a stick with a mirror is a lot cheaper.

[myfriendSUN]

but it's still a good feeling.
This is very true.

Gateways are an upsale item and not needed.
This is my most favored part. I can see my panel performance online at any time as far as my best friend SUN is out there.
If you don't need monitoring and analysis functions you don't the gateway.

My system made 13.2 KWH today up to 1:20PM.
The only thing I cannot see is the net meter reading.
It would perfect if I can see that from the gateway.

[Sunking]

Gateways are an upsale item and not needed. It is just a ball and whistle to get deeper in your pocket.

[sdold]

[B]When I got home after work I found out that 15KWh were pushed back to the grid already.
The Envoy was NOT installed yet.

It's a pretty good feeling, huh? Like a truck has just dropped off a load of money in your driveway. You have to try to forget that the load of money is only a dollar or two, and that you've already paid for the truck, but it's still a good feeling.

[myfriendSUN]

My 16-panel Enphase M215 microinverter system put out nearly full power the first day I fired it up, as confirmed my my smart meter. I hadn't even taken the Envoy gateway out of the box yet.
The same thing happened to my 32-panel Enphase M250 sytem.
I was not at home on the day the utility came to replace their meter with a bi-directional one.
My wife turned on the system right after the meter replacement.
When I got home after work I found out that 15KWh were pushed back to the grid already.
The Envoy was NOT installed yet.

[kwilcox]

Good idea. I never even bought a gateway for mine. I use a TED 5000 to monitor output. I can pm you a link to my array construction journal if you like since I can't post it here. Its a pictorial journal that shows how my array was built.

[sheep]

My 16-panel Enphase M215 microinverter system put out nearly full power the first day I fired it up, as confirmed my my smart meter. I hadn't even taken the Envoy gateway out of the box yet.

Hmmm. Maybe they are factory-configured for use in the USA, and need to be reconfigured by the gateway for use in other countries? I'll ask Enphase.

[sdold]

That's not what I was told by Enphase Energy Technical Support.

Here's their reply to my query:



This was also confimed by my local dealer, who told me that the micro inverters will not start until they have been configured by the gateway.

My 16-panel Enphase M215 microinverter system put out nearly full power the first day I fired it up, as confirmed my my smart meter. I hadn't even taken the Envoy gateway out of the box yet.

[sheep]

I understand. Good luck finding the inverter. If you do bring back the data so others may know.

Of course, I will report back if I find anything

The only one I have found so far is a cheap Chinese one on eBay (item number 191276952174 for example). It appears to be a "real" micro inverter, but it's probably rubbish.

As mentioned above, the Enecsys (Gen2) and Enphase micro inverters cannot be enabled without a communications gateway.
Enecsys Gen1 micro inverters are factory-configured and will work without a gateway, but are no longer available.

[SunEagle]

I don't live in the USA.

The "plug-in" type inverters are not true micro inverters, even though they are often described as such by their sellers - they will not start on a single 250W solar panel even in full sun - I know, I've tried. It attempted to start, immediately dragging the panel voltage down, then cut out almost instantly, only re-trying several seconds later. I left it connected to the panel in full sun for several hours and it never managed to start. They are designed to be connected to a larger array. A true "micro inverter" designed to be attached to a single panel should give some usable output even when the panel is shaded.

The problem is not the location of the panel - it's finding a genuine micro inverter that will operate without requiring a very expensive communications gateway to enable it.

I understand. Good luck finding the inverter. If you do bring back the data so others may know.

[sheep]

If you live in the USA you will not be able to connect a single 250watt panel even using a legal UL listed grid tie inverter. Most grid tie systems are a bit larger and require approvals from the local Utility and code enforcers.

The Utility will also not approve any of those cheap inverters that "plug into" a house receptacle. Those are not UL listed, usually junk and will fail or worse cause fires.

The problem you have is the shade hitting the panel. It might be more beneficial to find a better place so it gets more sunlight.

I don't live in the USA.

The "plug-in" type inverters are not true micro inverters, even though they are often described as such by their sellers - they will not start on a single 250W solar panel even in full sun - I know, I've tried. It attempted to start, immediately dragging the panel voltage down, then cut out almost instantly, only re-trying several seconds later. I left it connected to the panel in full sun for several hours and it never managed to start. They are designed to be connected to a larger array. A true "micro inverter" designed to be attached to a single panel should give some usable output even when the panel is shaded.

The problem is not the location of the panel - it's finding a genuine micro inverter that will operate without requiring a very expensive communications gateway to enable it.