Power optimizers

[PVman]

I am working on the design for my future PV on-grid system (apprx 3kw). I was originally planning on Enphase 215 micro inverters but I have heard from a few other people talk about SolarEdge's Power Optimizers. Unfortunately, aside from SolarEdge's website I do not find a lot of info. They claim to have produced and distributed 3 million products. Does anyone have experience with these? Or any good information on them? Thanks.

[vtkahns]

Solaredge

I am working on the design for my future PV on-grid system (apprx 3kw). I was originally planning on Enphase 215 micro inverters but I have heard from a few other people talk about SolarEdge's Power Optimizers. Unfortunately, aside from SolarEdge's website I do not find a lot of info. They claim to have produced and distributed 3 million products. Does anyone have experience with these? Or any good information on them? Thanks.

I am going on 3 years with a solaredge optimizer system and have had no problems with it (they did have a field fix on a daughter board due to a latch up issue that occurred ONE day and it just never turned on .. and even offered to pay me the $ for the power I did not make.. I was ok without the $5 )

I have no shade but do have snow and when it varies on drifts on the roof or how it melts (if it melts).. I am glad the panels are independent. I cannot give any comparison to enphase but I have been perfectly content with the system, their portal, etc. My biggest problem, I think, is that arranged in a portrait orientation, the panel has to nearly be 100% clear before I make significant power from it. So snow melt even when 98% of the panel is clear is giving me little output. I had thought this to be the case before they were installed but I was discouraged from doing them landscape for some reason, perhaps difficulty of the install. I have never tried to clear them.. have no ladder or long rake.. so I just watch while I lose out on sunny winter days. December / January were awful from that perspective (36% and 49% currently) .. Worst months in 3 years.. Oh well.. at least its not a bad Summer month.

I have posted some other posts on my installation here I believe...

[lalaw]

I am working on the design for my future PV on-grid system (apprx 3kw). I was originally planning on Enphase 215 micro inverters but I have heard from a few other people talk about SolarEdge's Power Optimizers. Unfortunately, aside from SolarEdge's website I do not find a lot of info. They claim to have produced and distributed 3 million products. Does anyone have experience with these? Or any good information on them? Thanks.

Hi PVman,

I was also comparing the SolarEdge Optimizers to the enPhase Micros. Seems to me that the Optimizers may have slightly better performance, at a cost of expected lower life of the inverter. Does that jibe with your research? What did you end up choosing?

[russ]

Hi PVman,

I was also comparing the SolarEdge Optimizers to the enPhase Micros. Seems to me that the Optimizers may have slightly better performance, at a cost of expected lower life of the inverter. Does that jibe with your research? What did you end up choosing?

How do you come up with that? Not really accurate.

[lalaw]

How do you come up with that? Not really accurate.

Sorry for the naivety, but let me explain the rationale as I've been explained.


Microinverters - basically miniaturized string inverter. Same complexity as a string, although some suggest that higher reliability due to smaller workloads. Warranties tend to agree (e.g. 25 years vs 10 for a string), but comments on this forum seem to indicate some level of dissatisfaction with Enphase. Only useful for certain circumstances (e.g. shade, which I have a bit)

Optimizers - slightly more efficient (97% vs 96% if I recall correctly -- probably no observable difference), simplified design at the panel level. Still relies on a central inverter, although a simpler one (at least in the case of SolarEdge). The inverter still has an expected life of 10-12 years, based on their warranty. Potentially more points of failure (optimizers + inverter), although one might speculate the simplified function of the optimizer means it might be more reliable


Anyway, the above is high I understand things, but definitely do not profess to be an expert so would love further education.

[russ]

Sorry for the naivety, but let me explain the rationale as I've been explained.

Enphase - Considerable track record - no real negatives unless you talk about the labor part of the warranty.

Solar Edge - Far less track record - changes in warranty yet to come? who knows?

The comments here that are relevant are from Naptown and LucMan - maybe another installer or two - many comments from others are WAGs and even a few SWAGs.

Logically you want the least components on the roof that you can have.

[Naptown]

My track record on both
Solar edge, none other than a good pitch and a USB drive with their name on it. I really can't comment
Enphase Have had way too many failures on the M190 Actually to the point of replacing an entire install
(20 panels) with the 215's
There have been no failures so far on an M215.
I still use Enphase but not as much as before. I will use them in a scenario where a chimney will produce partial shading at some parts of the year. If i have say a building that will cast a shadow starting at 2:00 in the afternoon and spread west to east over the whole array they won't do much more than a well designed string layout would do. Since the advent of multiple mppt input inverters the need has gone down and it is hard to justify the expense when not needed.
Since they are charging an additional $250 on top of the Envoy cost for module level monitoring they have become even more expensive for this feature.
My 2 cents