enphase s280 with LG315N1C-G4

[rsilvers]

Shading can also mean bird poop on a panel, or snow. I am new to this, but I can't see going SMA if EnPhase is the same price.

[ncs55]

Thats a pretty good information. Reading all the posts should I go with SMA or enphase? My installer mentioned that its going to cost me the same and its my decision.

If you do not have any shading issues The SMA is what I would want. You can get all of the data you need from the Sunny Portal. For me, it is not only the clipping to consider, which type will harvest more on cloudy or partially cloudy days should also be considered, IMO. I like the production that I see from high voltage strings vs micros on any given day though.

[ButchDeal]

I thought EnPhase was saying otherwise, but they do seem to just cite that one test from PVE.

Check their specs. Enphase inverters are 96.5% to 97% efficient CEC & max efficiency

https://enphase.com/en-us/products-and-services/microinverters

SolarEdge ranges from 97.5% to 98.3%

http://www.solaredge.us/files/pdfs/products/inverters/se-single-phase-us-inverter-datasheet.pdf

And the optimizers are 99.5%.
http://www.solaredge.com/files/pdfs/...tasheet-na.pdf
So even at lowest of 97.5% and 99.5% combine to 97.0125%. ( marginally greater than 97%) to 98.3% and 99.5% combine to 97.8%

[rsilvers]

I thought EnPhase was saying otherwise, but they do seem to just cite that one test from PVE.

[ButchDeal]

Are there any test results that didn't come from SolarEdge that show the SolarEdge as more efficient?

The specs from both clearly show that enphase is less efficient. The equipment is listed on CA specs and lists which also show it.
NREL has tested as well.

There are not even any tests from enphase showing them more efficient than solarEdge.

[rsilvers]

Are there any test results that didn't come from SolarEdge that show the SolarEdge as more efficient?

[Engineer]

Thanks, interesting info. Heat pumps aren't done around here for some reason, but solar water is popular (lots of sun).

[ButchDeal]

SolarEdge is not caught up to EnPhase on total output yield due to efficiency differences and is about 0.7% worse.

I think you are backwards on your solarEdge statement as well. SolarEdge has much better efficiency.
the blog claims results using a similar ion on pvsyst but no statement of simulation configuration.

[J.P.M.]

that pvsyst study is kind of bs. Declaring a 0.7% difference to be statistically significant in a model with substantially more error than that strikes me as disingenuous, at best.

fwiw, +1.

[sensij]

I saw data on clipping with M215 and 250W panels and it was about 0.7% power loss over a year. It may be the same with S280 and LG315 as that is about the same over-rating.

SolarEdge is not caught up to EnPhase on total output yield due to efficiency differences and is about 0.7% worse.

http://www.affordable-solar.com/solaredge-vs-enphase/

So I would be happy with S280 and LG315.

That PVSyst study is kind of BS. Declaring a 0.7% difference to be statistically significant in a model with substantially more error than that strikes me as disingenuous, at best.

[rsilvers]

I saw data on clipping with M215 and 250W panels and it was about 0.7% power loss over a year. It may be the same with S280 and LG315 as that is about the same over-rating.

SolarEdge is not caught up to EnPhase on total output yield due to efficiency differences and is about 0.7% worse.

http://www.affordable-solar.com/solaredge-vs-enphase/

So I would be happy with S280 and LG315.

[J.P.M.]

True, I've had solar water before and at first was surprised to hear it kicking on when it was apparently a bad day or time. Still I like this panel and inverter

I've got both. The solar H2O heater is about 30 + % net efficient on an annual basis (annual P.O.A. irradiance/annual net to storage, with all the solar H2O system piping losses included, but no tank losses, about 8 yrs. old, and running trouble free. The PV system is about 16+% or so efficient (annual P.O.A irradiance/annual system output) on an annual basis after 31 months operation. But, if I were doing it now, and in spite of being a big fan of solar thermal, in my location and situation, I'd probably opt for a heat pump water heater and supply the power to it with PV as the most cost effective and lower maint. method of DHW supply, again, for my situation only (no CH4 availability and a mild climate).

[Engineer]

True, I've had solar water before and at first was surprised to hear it kicking on when it was apparently a bad day or time. Still I like this panel and inverter

[J.P.M.]

One surprise is how good the LG315 to Enphase S280 combo performs at less than perfect conditions. I need more experience with the system before I can make any claims. The only issue we have had is getting the Envoy to communicate with all the inverters on both systems. They are physically separated by two hundred feet.

FWIW, in my experience, many folks who are new to solar look at such things and tend to a bit surprised at system output when it's sort of not real sunny. It's complicated but there' a lot of energy to be harvested under partly sunny skies.

If you go to PVOutput.org for your area, you'll be able to get a dart throw on system performance. Look for systems with similar orientation to yours. You'll probably find similar output per installed kW that's mostly independent of panel mfg. Example: Sensij and I have somewhat similar array orientations. Tilts are essentially identical. He's about dead south. I'm 195.75 az. He's got Canadian Solar. I've got Sunpower. We're about 25 or so miles apart. I'm a bit farther inland and higher elevation. Our daily output per installed kW is very similar for most clear days, like within 1-2 % or so, and usually still close for most of the rest of the days.

Edit: But a bit off topic, I'd add that the similarities in output per kW in the two mentioned systems are more anecdotal but documentable data that reinforces the opinion that Sunpower stuff, while good, doesn't produce any more power per installed kW than other equally good equipment - it just costs more - and probably much more than any possible, but at this time still unproven, notions that annual performance rolloff or alleged superior warranty can justify the often 20-30 % up front S.P. premium. BTW, and at the risk of a rhetorical question: If the stuff is so good, why is such a (claimed) superior warranty needed in the first place ? Even if warranty could be used as an excuse for overpricing, isn't that something like being insurance poor ?

[Engineer]

Early for me too but I noticed something similar. We've had a couple of bad days and it seemed like the LG315/S280 is performing really well. Anecdotal, but the Neon2 is supposed to have technology for working better in poor conditions

http://www.lg.com/us/commercial/NeON2/images/neon2-high-performance-weak-sunlight.jpg

http://www.lg.com/us/commercial/NeON2/neon2-performance.jsp