Not sure when it went up on the www site - I just noticed it today during lunch.
They say available in May. Here are the highlights:
My Thoughts:
Overall, everything *should* be faster to install. If they can get the overall price down then this is good for customers. Lets see if they really execute and have product ready in May.
They say available in May. Here are the highlights:
- IQ 6 inverter up to 330W 60 cell only panels, 0.96 amp output. Cannot be used with existing Envoy system. Efficiency is 97%.
- IQ 6+ inverter up to 400W 60/72 cell panels, 1.17A amp output. Cannot be used with existing Envoy system. Efficiency is 97%.
- New cabling. 2 wire only. Just L1 and L2. No grounded conductor (neutral) and no EGC. New terminators also.
- New AC combiner boxes - called Q Aggregator. Up to 3 strings can be directly connected to it. Field drillable for conduit. Uses quick lever type wire connects to connect #12 - #4 wire. Has EGC lug for up to #4 wire and bonds to metal bracket connecting to rail. All UL listed.
- New Envoy system. NOT compatible with existing Envoy/S. Only works with IQ 6/6+ inverters.
- Other misc accessories for this new system.
My Thoughts:
- Price? No idea. Enphase must get the price down to be competitive with the DC optimizers.
- Why is the IQ 6 not a 1 amp output? From the data sheet the peek output is also lower than M250's. I would also have thought the IQ 6+ would have a higher output instead of current limited to 1.17A given they are focusing on higher output 72 cell modules. No support for some of the new high cell count modules.
- Two line cable should be lower cost, lighter, easier to cut and install. Hope the price is lower than their existing setup. I'm guessing they feel that unbalanced loads between L1 and L2 are no longer an issue thus no need for neutral. Thus I can't see any way they can work with 3 phase commercial setups - thus this must be a residential only product.
- New cable does not have an EGC in it, and microinverters do not need an EGC - fully ungrounded.
- I liked the data sheet on the Q Aggregator. That would have saved me a bundle in both cost and time on my custom junction boxes with polaris grays and brackets and all custom bonding I had to do since my brackets were not UL listed. I really like that they understand some folks need to run long distance from these and thus support up to #4 with the quick connects.
- New Envoy - not compatible. I'm guessing that they moved to a more modern power line communication protocol - that should be a win for customers given all the noise issues they have currently. We will see. However given that these Envoys are so freaking expensive already - they could have kept a backwards compatibility with the old power line stuff. Maybe the new units will be significantly lower price (I don't think so). Sort of reminds me of when apple dumped the old connector to move forward.
Overall, everything *should* be faster to install. If they can get the overall price down then this is good for customers. Lets see if they really execute and have product ready in May.
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