Solar Edge Vs Enphase Power optimizers

[J.P.M.]

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.

Look at solar stocks in general over the last few months. As goes oil, so goes solar.

[Pomonabill220]

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.

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.

[donald]

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.

[ButchDeal]

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.

old document but it might help some here:

http://www.solaredge.com/files/pdfs/technical_comparison_microinverters_power_optimizers-na.pdf

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.

[FTR]

I was on the fence with SolarEdge and Enphase, but when I found that panel level monitoring was going to go away, or cost, and my cousin had Enphase and has had problems with his install (of only 5 years), SolarEdge was my final choice, and I am glad I did.

Having the inverter on the roof in the HEAT, I knew this was a disaster waiting to happen. Being an electronics eng., I knew that heat is the number ONE enemy of electronics, and the inverter generates heat by itself.

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.

[Pomonabill220]

You will have to get the installer to set turn on public access and to give you the API code for pvoutput.org

Thank you for that, ButchDeal! I will contact them Monday!

[ButchDeal]

Anybody? please?

You will have to get the installer to set turn on public access and to give you the API code for pvoutput.org

[Pomonabill220]

I have been lurking for a while, but decided to signup and make my first post about my system.
I had researched about 5 different installers/systems and decided to go with a SolarEdge SE5000, 20-250watt Qcell QPRo BFR-G3 250 panels with power optimizers.

My installer that I choose was great! VERY good contact, answered all my questions, did all the legwork.
I had to get my electrical service upgraded which included 2 new panels. I stuck by my guns and got 2 SquareD QO 250amp panels!!! Had to fight a little because they wanted to install Homeline, but I knew that QO was top of the line, and was familiar with them, and I got them.

I was on the fence with SolarEdge and Enphase, but when I found that panel level monitoring was going to go away, or cost, and my cousin had Enphase and has had problems with his install (of only 5 years), SolarEdge was my final choice, and I am glad I did.

Having the inverter on the roof in the HEAT, I knew this was a disaster waiting to happen. Being an electronics eng., I knew that heat is the number ONE enemy of electronics, and the inverter generates heat by itself.

I am a little disappointed that the most I have seen to date (excluding days with clouds) is only about 3.5Kw at high noon.
My layout is 11 pnls facing east, 4 facing south, 2 horiz (almost flat) at 7 deg., 3 facing west. Roof tilt is 27deg.

Also, my installer said that IF I wanted to get better monitoring rights on the web portal, I would have to become the installer and tell them when something failed.... so I plugged a USB cable into the inverter and am monitoring the inverter's data, can't log though....

I would like to know how to post a public link to my monitoring portal for all to watch, and signup to PVoutput.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Anybody? please?

[sensij]

One more thing about monitoring... SolarEdge updated their API this month to allow up to 300 calls per day.

http://www.solaredge.com/files/pdfs/se_monitoring_api.pdf

For those who want to do 5 min updates on PVOutput.org (288 calls / day), you can now.

They also added an API call to "Sensors", which supports adding a pyranometer, thermometer, or other devices to the inverter to make it a more fully featured data center.

[Naptown]

Panel level data is available, for a fee ($250, last I heard). The people saying it is going away are probably referring to the fact that it used to be offered for free, by default. Now, the installer pays for and enables it during activation, or if you self-install, you can take care of it yourself. If accurate monitoring is something you care about, in my opinion, the additional cost Enphase charges is worth the cost over the free monitoring from SolarEdge. However, for just basic status checks, either is fine.

More here:

http://www2.enphase.com/enlighten-he...ghten-manager/

Learn something new.

[Naptown]

I haven't installed one in years.
Your brothers would have been from the time when they still had it for everyone.
If you are the installer then you would get it. I believe they dumbed it down somewhat because of too many people callin in with issues that many times resolve themselves. ( communication between inverter envoy and Internet. )

[sensij]

Panel level data is available, for a fee ($250, last I heard). The people saying it is going away are probably referring to the fact that it used to be offered for free, by default. Now, the installer pays for and enables it during activation, or if you self-install, you can take care of it yourself. If accurate monitoring is something you care about, in my opinion, the additional cost Enphase charges is worth the cost over the free monitoring from SolarEdge. However, for just basic status checks, either is fine.

More here:

http://www2.enphase.com/enlighten-help/tip/how-do-i-provide-a-system-owner-with-enlighten-manager/

[GoingSolar]

I was on the fence with SolarEdge and Enphase, but when I found that panel level monitoring was going to go away, or cost, and my cousin had Enphase and has had problems with his install (of only 5 years), SolarEdge was my final choice, and I am glad I did.
Thanks!

Good afternoon! Can anyone point me to where there is anything documented on panel level monitoring going away? This is the second reference to panel monitoring going away but when I contacted Enphase they didn't know what I was talking about? Or maybe they were just playing dumb? They even sent me the info on setting up an account etc.

Not sure what the real deal is?

Thanks!

[Naptown]

I see you weren't around the last time the tax credits ended.

[donald]

I would be happy to give you a 30 year warranty as an installer.
Costs me nothing. Incorporated so when solar falls off the cliff at the end of 2016 I will dissolve the corporation
Oh and that 20 year warranty just turned into a year and a half warranty.
I doubt your installer has even been around more than 6 years.

More likely an established installer will just be slow in 2017. I assume most have avoided adding much overhead. A lot of residential solar has been installed with only 1/3 of the customer's price being direct materials and labor. This business practice will not survive the end of the ITC, which is a good thing.

The end of wind was forecast in 2012. It looks like a 3GW Wyoming wind project will be built without ITC.