Placing solaredge inverter inside or out?

[newsol]

I'm just curious if it is better to place the inverter inside or outside? The summer gets to about to about 100 and inside the garage doesn't get too hot. The placement of the inverter would be on the north side of the building where it will be in the shade. any input would be much appreciated. thanks

[alienwulf]

Put mine on the outside in the shade but if the garage stays cool I would go for the garage. If only no rain and cleaner.

[HX_Guy]

I put mine outside on a north facing garage wall because my garage gets crazy hot (garage door faces west). Be aware that the fans in the inverter get pretty loud...I can hear my inverter from inside the garage even though it's mounted outside.

[thejq]

Put mine inside the garage. Easier to monitor and run wires. More vandalism proof just in case.

[easye]

I have two solar edge inverters in the garage. Never heard them inside though. I feel better having them inside.

[newsol]

there are no fans in the solar edge se3800 inverter i am getting. the installer did mention about a hum it produces but i doubt i will worry about that. I guess inside it is. There are some vandals around the neighborhood so i just want to be on the safe side. Will the inverter get pretty hot during peak times to where it will heat up the garage even more? thats is my only other concern.

[HX_Guy]

there are no fans in the solar edge se3800 inverter i am getting. the installer did mention about a hum it produces but i doubt i will worry about that. I guess inside it is. There are some vandals around the neighborhood so i just want to be on the safe side. Will the inverter get pretty hot during peak times to where it will heat up the garage even more? thats is my only other concern.

It absolutely gets hot, as in 140ºF+ and you can feel the heat radiating off of it.

If outside, would it have access to the street? Mine is outside but behind a side gate.

[thejq]

Will the inverter get pretty hot during peak times to where it will heat up the garage even more? thats is my only other concern.

Depending on the ambient temperature, it can get a little hot. You can measure it with a thermometer once you have it installed. If it gets above 100-110F, you should consider installing an external fan. I put a computer case fan in between the inverter and the disconnect box blowing upwards for the hottest days, and it worked quite well.

[MikeInRialto]

are there any disadvantages to putting it inside the barrage vs outside?

[HX_Guy]

A disadvantage to putting it in the garage could be if the garage gets very hot normally, it'll get even hotter with the inverter in there which could cause the inverter to start derating power if it's past it's normal operating temperature range.

[Rocksteady2R]

Any inverter does better inside, but the advantages are minimal. in the industry, they're generally discounted because of the additional time/costs/issues with breaking through the structural envelope.

If you're outside location is on the north, then that's great, really. inverters get put in the sun all the time, and they're designed to withstand it, to a degree. but keeping electronics cool is always a boon.

caveat: it has been a long time since I"ve bothered to look for/read a paper on the topic.

[newsol]

Thanks for all the input. I appreciate it.

Any inverter does better inside, but the advantages are minimal. in the industry, they're generally discounted because of the additional time/costs/issues with breaking through the structural envelope.

If you're outside location is on the north, then that's great, really. inverters get put in the sun all the time, and they're designed to withstand it, to a degree. but keeping electronics cool is always a boon.

caveat: it has been a long time since I"ve bothered to look for/read a paper on the topic.

Would the inverter be more prone to moisture problems being outside and would rain cause an issue? I'm sure the wind will blow a lot mist around the inverter.

[HX_Guy]

Any inverter does better inside, but the advantages are minimal. .

Not sure how you can make that statement to be true for all environments.

Take Phoenix for example...I don't see how an inverter would do better inside of a west facing hot garage vs outside on a north facing wall. The garage will always be hotter than the outside air...add in a heat generating inverter, and it'll be even hotter.

[newsol]

my garage will be east facing. The outside placement would be on the northern wall. So either place would be optimal for the inverter being inside or out.

[HX_Guy]

my garage will be east facing. The outside placement would be on the northern wall. So either place would be optimal for the inverter being inside or out.

In that case I would probably do it inside the garage, I mean why not? It'll be out of the elements which is an advantage, even if these units are outdoor rated.