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OutBack FP1 w/ CS6P-250P http://bit.ly/1Sg5VNH -
Pomonabill220,
I'm curious about something. You said that heat is the number one enemy of electronics and having inverters on the roof is a disaster waiting to happen.
But you chose SolarEdge optimizers despite this, and are happy with the decision.
Can you please explain why? Wouldn't the heat eventually kill the optimizers too?
Then what happens if SolarEdge goes out of business before they fail? From what I'm reading here, you'd have a system with proprietary parts that are no longer available.
Then what?
I am deciding how to proceed with a potential solar project and am very concerned about long term reliability of the system and what my options / cost to to me to repair will be when they do.Comment
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old document but it might help some here:
here is another more technical : http://www.solaredge.com/files/pdfs/...ethodology.pdf
Capacitors are the first thing to go in older electronics, SolarEdge optimizers don't use them.OutBack FP1 w/ CS6P-250P http://bit.ly/1Sg5VNHComment
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Look at enphase stock (ENPH). I'm not sure all of what is involved in the decline, but there doesn't seem to be much confidence in their future.
They are poorly positioned for batteries. They have an installed base that has created a future warranty nightmare.Comment
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Well since the actual components inside the inverter where all the conversion is taking place, have a problem with heat, and the optimizer uses high temp components plus most of the power dissapation is due to the inverter, I thought that putting the "heat" off the roof would be better.
Also, my cousin has Enphase and is 20 miles away and has had several of his inverters fail within 3 years. This was my real world experience. Could just be a fluke though.
I also investigated the "enphase panel monitoring is going away" claim, and got many different thoughts from no more monitoring to $250 per year, and I didn't like that. It was very difficult to find a definitive answer, and you know enphase isn't going to really tell the whole story if you ask them.... it would hurt their sales.
As far as SolarEdge going out of business... what if enphase goes out of business? I would imagine if either case happens, there will be many many 3rd party people that would take up the slack.
Both SolarEdge and enphase are using proprietary parts, so your comment about being stuck with them doesn't make sense.
Either type of system has it's place, and it almost comes down to personal preference. I don't trust the installer/sales people nor do I trust the manufacturer as they will be biased. Real world experiences are how I based my decision, but bottom line is make sure you know what you want to do, and do your research based on YOUR personal "preferences". Do NOT rely on the sales jargon... after all they are in business to make money.
They will also be replacing the parts within their warranty period, so they aren't going to "push" something that is going to loose money.Comment
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Since april, solar edge has moved from 20 to 27.
Enphase has gone from 13 to 4.5 in that period.
ENPH is a third of the price where it started the year. The likely reason is loss of faith in their fundamental technological position. I think the chance of enphase being around to honor their vast warranty liability is small.Comment
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Consider why enphase now charges for access to single panel data.
Once a company offers "AC Batteries", the future isn't looking good. They probably can't even be acquired by another company. Who is going to want the warranty liability that comes with buying Enphase?
The stock is at $4.50, and there is no insider buying.
The future of microinverters is probably small installations only. Installer preference for microinverters is short sited. But I guess most installers won't be in business in five years anyways.Comment
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Looking at Enphase's most recent summary balance sheet, they have a single line called "Other Liabilities, Total" in the long term section. It is currently $49MM. It is growing ~$2MM/quarter, which is in the range of 2-2.5% of revenues. I would lay odds that this line is mostly or entirely attributed to the estimated warranty costs. It's in the long term section (more than one year), and it is 2-2.5% of revenues, which I think is rational and would satisfy their audit firm. I little digging beyond my quick look would probably say for sure.
At $4.50, down from $15, Enphase is getting pinched by SEDG's momentum, warranty concerns, sun setting of the great solar deals, lack of profits, news of battery incompatibility and the general market condition. That's a LOT of negativity.Comment
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Interestingly, real estate is the only place I'm comfortable holding long term esp in Coastal CA region where you can't build into the ocean and the weather is pleasant all year round. -- sorry I digress
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Personally I don't think getting solar is an investment where you expect the value to go up. To me it's a way to save money and doing something good to the environment.
As for ENPH, the longer they can't come up with their next generation of product (m250 was released in 2013!), the less faith I have in their sustainability. But I want them to succeed or at least survive to provide some alternatives to consumers to keep the prices competitive.16xLG300N1C+SE6000[url]http://tiny.cc/ojmxyx[/url]Comment
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Really, it's the electrolytic capacitors that ARE used in enphase micros and ONLY ceramic caps that are used in SE optimizers.old document but it might help some here:
here is another more technical : http://www.solaredge.com/files/pdfs/...ethodology.pdf
Capacitors are the first thing to go in older electronics, SolarEdge optimizers don't use them.
Electrolytic caps have a fluid in them that dries out with temperature and ceramic caps do not have anything that would dry out.Comment
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