Microinverters vs Hybrid

[Rybothornton]

Forgive me guys, I’m new and stupid. My amount of knowledge i have on DIY Solar is based on a book.

Here’s my plan. A10kw system that PVWatts says can produce 19500 per year (pretty good conditions) . I use 9200 kWh/yr but will be on California NEM 3.0. Dealing with a consultant that helps with overall system design, codes and permit applications. I’m targeting 22 Canadian Solar 460w TOPCons and the consultant is pointing me towards enphase microinverters and combiner for a Franklin 15kwh battery.

Ive heard things to be moving towards microinverters but would a hybrid inverter with the extra shutoff equipment be more cost effective? Any suggestions? (On anything I posted above, not just the inverter). Thanks in advance.

[solardreamer]

If you have no shading issues and don't care about panel level monitoring then the hybrid all-in-one's can be a significantly cheaper alternative and more open for integration and expansion. EG4 is a popular choice for hybrid AIO and batteries.

[Rybothornton]

Thank you

[sdold]

Welcome to the forum! I installed my own Enphase microinverter system, but only because I had some shading issues and could replace them myself if needed. If I had it to do over again and didn't have shading, I'd go for one big inverter in the garage or on the side of the house. I've heard too many stories of failures turning into big problems for customers where even if they could get a replacement for a bad inverter, finding a company to come out and replace it on a system they didn't sell is sometimes expensive and/or difficult. Installers (and manufacturers) say they'll be around forever, but many have folded, leaving their customers to fend for themselves.

Panel-level monitoring was fun to watch for about a month, maybe even less, but was soon forgotten.

[DanS26]

Two smaller matched inverters is better than one big inverter and also better than a whole passel of panel inverters. Simple....two matched inverters will do the system monitoring for you. Just periodically (at least monthly) compare outputs. Simple, effective and zero additional cost to the system.

[sdold]

Two smaller matched inverters is better than one big inverter...

That sounds like a good way to do it, because you get the simplicity of a string inverter system and the benefit of knowing when a panel has gone bad, and which group it's in, if you know how the inverter outputs normally compare. I'm surprised I haven't heard of that being done more often.

[DanS26]

I have been using a matched set of string inverters for over 14 years. You are right about being interested in daily and panel output for the first few months, after that it is like watching paint dry, grass grow and cars rust. A lot of micro inverters have been sold and still are with the "you can see individual panel output" sales pitch. That is a waste of money, even the shading argument is sketchy as it has been proven that string inverters hold their own against micros.

Lots of solar snake oil has been sold. You would have thought by now that the residential solar industry would have cleaned up the misinformation and fleecing of the customer. If micros were better then the commercial boys would be using them. People just need to use common sense.