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In Southern California you won't experience significant clipping, if any, on a 7.3 kW system using a 6 kW inverter. The power ratio is 122%. From experience, significant clipping occurs above 125%. And minor clipping in year 1 will disappear a few years down the road. Your contractor's cost difference on a SolarEdge 6kW inverter vs. a 7.6 kW is $478 + tax. Personally if a customer requests an inverter upgrade, after we have already agreed on the system size, scope of work and contract amount, I wouldn't mark up this minor change at all, and especially not by 35%. I guarantee you that at $3.30/Watt he's not making 35% on the overall contract, nor should he.
Keep in mind the SolarEdge 7.6 kW inverter has two internal fans that will cycle on/off, whereas the 6 kW runs silent. If this will be mounted on a wall adjacent to a living space, not a garage, you will hear it.
If you want the most reliable system, and have no shading, go with SMA. They have a 30 year track record. SolarEdge and Enphase have 7 & 8 year track records. By adding more components (optimizers or micro's) to the system, you will have failures during it's life. That's inevitable. If you have no shading, there is nothing to be gained from the additional cost and complexity.
Keep in mind the SolarEdge 7.6 kW inverter has two internal fans that will cycle on/off, whereas the 6 kW runs silent. If this will be mounted on a wall adjacent to a living space, not a garage, you will hear it.
If you want the most reliable system, and have no shading, go with SMA. They have a 30 year track record. SolarEdge and Enphase have 7 & 8 year track records. By adding more components (optimizers or micro's) to the system, you will have failures during it's life. That's inevitable. If you have no shading, there is nothing to be gained from the additional cost and complexity.
Would love to get a great price like yours. Thanks 
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