SolarEdge minimum number of active panels to produce?

[dex]

How hard would it be to add some panels later to a Solaredge system? If I went with a 7.6kw inverter but only initially went with 18 x 280w panels (5kw) would it be difficult to add another 8 panels. Would it be better to go with a 5kw inverter since 24 x 280w would be less than the recommended "oversize" limit for the inverter?

It would be easy since you're using MC4 connections. A SE5000 would work but if it were me I would just go with a 6000 and give yourself a little more room for not much extra cost.

[sigfreund]

How hard would it be to add some panels later to a Solaredge system? If I went with a 7.6kw inverter but only initially went with 18 x 280w panels (5kw) would it be difficult to add another 8 panels. Would it be better to go with a 5kw inverter since 24 x 280w would be less than the recommended "oversize" limit for the inverter?

[ButchDeal]

You just need 8 modules per string and they can be shaded and still produce power. Bare minimum is 6 modules per string.

it will produce fine with even one west facing module and 7 east facing in the evening,

also the strings put put out about 350v but that can change depending on cercumstances to 400+V.

[sigfreund]

I am leaning toward SolarEdge but cannot find any info on when SE will start producing. Under extreme conditions if only a few panels are in the sun, how many are required to start producing? With micro inverters even if only 1 panel is in the sun it would be producing but since SE string "always" is putting out 350v it would stand to reason that a substantial number of panels would need to be illuminated. If I install my panels in 3 different sides of my house getting better sun at different times of the day would I be better off going with micro inverters if say SE requires half or more of the panels and in early mornings or later in the day I don't have the "minimum" number of panels producing. I am very roof limited and have some major shade issues I am trying to work around.