Is it worth it to pay $250 to have the Installer License account for Enphase IQ Envoy

[Epiphany2000]

Lvb, I just noticed that my production data from yesterday is showing up on My Enlighten. Today shows nothing. It seems like there is a data processing backlog on Enlighten's servers.

[Lvb]

Lvb, I just noticed that my production data from yesterday is showing up on My Enlighten. Today shows nothing. It seems like there is a data processing backlog on Enlighten's servers.

Yup. It updated at midnight yestersay for Sat's production. However, nothing was updated for this morning yet.

[Lvb]

I don't think it works exactly this way. I believe you need to have tax liability to apply the credit against, not necessarily an amount owed. Not allowing you to take the credit simply because you don't owe taxes seems wrongheaded to me. If you overpaid your taxes by $1000 and then you applied a tax credit of $5000, I suspect that Uncle Sam's (figurative) reaction would be, "Thanks for the interest free loan. Here's a refund for $6,000"

I agree that anonymous sources are often sketchy, but I'm going to cite one now.



Source - https://joinmosaic.com/how-does-fede...x-credit-work/

So, let's say if my total taxes i have to pay for 2018 is $25000, and filing income tax (without claiming the 30% solar tax credit) give me a $3000 refund.

then my solar is $21000, 30% of that is about $6700. So claiming that on the income tax filing, my refund would be $3000 + $6700 = $9700 refund for 2018??

[Epiphany2000]

So, let's say if my total taxes i have to pay for 2018 is $25000, and filing income tax (without claiming the 30% solar tax credit) give me a $3000 refund.

then my solar is $21000, 30% of that is about $6700. So claiming that on the income tax filing, my refund would be $3000 + $6700 = $9700 refund for 2018??

That is my interpretation, yes. I'll be in a similar boat for this year's taxes, as my wife and I have a lot of deductions in addition to the solar credit.

[J.P.M.]

I don't think it works exactly this way. I believe you need to have tax liability to apply the credit against, not necessarily an amount owed. Not allowing you to take the credit simply because you don't owe taxes seems wrongheaded to me. If you overpaid your taxes by $1000 and then you applied a tax credit of $5000, I suspect that Uncle Sam's (figurative) reaction would be, "Thanks for the interest free loan. Here's a refund for $6,000"

I agree that anonymous sources are often sketchy, but I'm going to cite one now.



Source - https://joinmosaic.com/how-does-fede...x-credit-work/

Talk to your accountant.

[Lvb]

Lvb, I just noticed that my production data from yesterday is showing up on My Enlighten. Today shows nothing. It seems like there is a data processing backlog on Enlighten's servers.

Just checked my Enlighten app eight now and i see the "My Envoy" tab again. Are you experiencing it too?

look like they remove update my firmware too. Last night, Envoy showed my firmware day as last updated Nov 17, 2017, just now, the firmware date is Aug 28, 2018.

[Epiphany2000]

I typically just use the website. Which app are you using? On Google Play, I see My Enlighten, Enlighten Manager and Installer Toolkit.

[Lvb]

I typically just use the website. Which app are you using? On Google Play, I see My Enlighten, Enlighten Manager and Installer Toolkit.

As site owner we only have access to My Enlighten.

[Epiphany2000]

I have the same access. I can't seem to get into of the diagnostic tools, however. It just lags ("Please wait, loading").

I can also access the same interface by simply entering the local IP of the envoy in my browser.

envoy.jpg

[Lvb]

I have the same access. I can't seem to get into of the diagnostic tools, however. It just lags ("Please wait, loading").

I can also access the same interface by simply entering the local IP of the envoy in my browser.

envoy.jpg

I just found out that while you're on the Local Envoy interface, when accessing diagnostic tools/Wifi/Ethernet configuration, the login is:

Username: envoy
Password: last 6 digits of your Envoy Serial Number.

[Steve C]

Regarding whether or not it is worth paying the $250 for additional monitoring access...I too considered this option about 3 years ago after installing an Enphase microinverter array. My answer would be "no", as the interest tends to wane. Checking production every day soon turns to checking a couple times a week, then just on the casual whim. I've read this is a common tendency among solar owners. Your bigger concern will be getting your better half to turn off electronics (lights, tv's, etc.) he/she is not using. You will likely hear "But honey, we have solar!". It's a slippery argument. Good luck trying to explain!

[Lvb]

Regarding whether or not it is worth paying the $250 for additional monitoring access...I too considered this option about 3 years ago after installing an Enphase microinverter array. My answer would be "no", as the interest tends to wane. Checking production every day soon turns to checking a couple times a week, then just on the casual whim. I've read this is a common tendency among solar owners. Your bigger concern will be getting your better half to turn off electronics (lights, tv's, etc.) he/she is not using. You will likely hear "But honey, we have solar!". It's a slippery argument. Good luck trying to explain!

Hahha... you're totally on point!!! Judy after 2 weeks and my wife started not to turn off any lights. She just leave them on as she walk away... for now, i check the energy production almost 3, 4 times a day.

i have 7.26kw system size and can only get between 26 to 30 kwH a day now. What's about everyone else?

I'm wondering how much i'd in the summer time.

[J.P.M.]

Hahha... you're totally on point!!! Judy after 2 weeks and my wife started not to turn off any lights. She just leave them on as she walk away... for now, i check the energy production almost 3, 4 times a day.

i have 7.26kw system size and can only get between 26 to 30 kwH a day now. What's about everyone else?

I'm wondering how much i'd in the summer time.

Run PVWatts and model your output. Just read the help/info screens a couple of times before you start and use a 10 % system loss parameter instead of the 14 % default number the model uses. Get the array orientation model inputs close to actual and after a few runs you'll have all of your output questions addressed.


PV system output is like the weather. Day/day output will vary a lot, or a little. Long term trends like cold weather in winter or less PV output in winter are to be expected. Just know that the model is NOT a predictor of performance. It's a tool for modeling long term ( Like 10 years or so) output for purposes of system design.

As the model's help/info screens will tell you, actual monthly or 30 day system output will probably be +/- 30% of model output for the same period, probably closer. Yearly actual system output will probably be within 10 % +/- % of model output, probably somewhat better.

Sort of like the difference between climate and weather - Climate (model output) is what you expect. Weather (actual weather dependent system output) is what you get.

[Lvb]

Lvb, I bookmarked this page over a year ago for the useful information it contained, specifically post #181. Your Welcome


[URL="https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/5439/enphase-data-access/p6"]Enphase Data Access - Page 6

Thanks for that info. I tried but got stuck at step 6: when i tried to add my email that was signed up as self installer, it gave me an error "The user cannot be granted access to this system. This system has a maintainer on record." and won't let me grant access to that new account. Any idea?

[Lvb]

Thanks for that info. I tried but got stuck at step 6: when i tried to add my email that was signed up as self installer, it gave me an error "The user cannot be granted access to this system. This system has a maintainer on record." and won't let me grant access to that new account. Any idea?

Nm, I found a work around. I think Enphase knows about the steps above to get access to Enlighten Manager, so they fixed it. However, I found a glitch in their fix.

So I reverted step 6 first (adding a new user to your system). Then go back and do step 1 to 5. Then step 7, when i log into the new account. I now have Enlighten Manager.

Hope this will help other fellas.