SolarEdge vs APsystems

[coolslidder]

I have received proposals from two different companies to install solar panels on my house. The prices are pretty much equivalent, but the equipment is different.

Vendor A: 7kW system: SolarEdge Inverter and Optimizers, Canadian Solar 350 W panels - cost: 17,550
Vendor B: 7.2kW system: APsystems microinverters, Canadian Solar 300 W panels - cost: $17,000

Which one would you go with?

[Paul Land]

I have received proposals from two different companies to install solar panels on my house. The prices are pretty much equivalent, but the equipment is different.

Vendor A: 7kW system: SolarEdge Inverter and Optimizers, Canadian Solar 350 W panels - cost: 17,550
Vendor B: 7.2kW system: APsystems microinverters, Canadian Solar 300 W panels - cost: $17,000

Which one would you go with?

Pick Vendor with the best track record you should have minimum of 3 bids on apples to apples system. Ask for 5 references and go see projects up and running 1yo- 5yo and older try to talk to vendors customers if there are willing to. This Rule applies to any Const, Project.

[Mike90250]

If you have no shade issues - skip the microinverters..

[coolslidder]

If you have no shade issues - skip the microinverters..

Why is that? What if I might have shade if some neighbors trees grow bigger or something? Shade isn't an issue now but maybe it will in 5-10 years?

[J.P.M.]

Why is that? What if I might have shade if some neighbors trees grow bigger or something? Shade isn't an issue now but maybe it will in 5-10 years?

Buy (or download a free version of): " Solar Power Your Home for Dummies". Your questions will be answered there.

[Paul Land]

Why is that? What if I might have shade if some neighbors trees grow bigger or something? Shade isn't an issue now but maybe it will in 5-10 years?

Micros are the way to go if you got the money.
Whats better then 20 power centers and you have a problem with 1 easy to find and replace. It's completely "Plug-N-Play"

[SunEagle]

Micros are the way to go if you got the money.
Whats better then 20 power centers and you have a problem with 1 easy to find and replace. It's completely "Plug-N-Play"

It might be plug and play but the up front cost doesn't make sense unless you need them. You also increase the potential equipment shutdown by now having 20 points of failure instead of 1.

Shade is the best reason for micro's or optimizers otherwise a string inverter is easy and lower cost.

[Paul Land]

It might be plug and play but the up front cost doesn't make sense unless you need them. You also increase the potential equipment shutdown by now having 20 points of failure instead of 1.

Shade is the best reason for micro's or optimizers otherwise a string inverter is easy and lower cost.

Exactly. We made up 12 panel/micro station in lab with designed in simulated shorts triggered with PLCs. As a diagnostic exercise for students. It was fun simulating single and multi-failure.

[bcroe]

There are plenty of reasons to avoid micros if you can. Here using them would require burying
about 4 times as much copper for 700 feet, instead of utilizing the existing wire. Having the potential
radio interference spread all over half an acre instead of at one manageable location would not make
me happy. And, and, ... Bruce Roe

[SunEagle]

Exactly. We made up 12 panel/micro station in lab with designed in simulated shorts triggered with PLCs. As a diagnostic exercise for students. It was fun simulating single and multi-failure.

If the micro's are easy to get to (like on a ground mount) I would say at least it could be a plug and play. But imagine if those micro's are under panels up on the roof and you have to get to one in the middle of the array. That would be some work to replace.

Lab tests are usually a little easy to maintain since they are not really a permanent installation. They are really just gathering data or training someone on the system.

A real life installation can be a little more frustrating to trouble shoot and repair.

[Paul Land]

If the micro's are easy to get to (like on a ground mount) I would say at least it could be a plug and play. But imagine if those micro's are under panels up on the roof and you have to get to one in the middle of the array. That would be some work to replace.

Lab tests are usually a little easy to maintain since they are not really a permanent installation. They are really just gathering data or training someone on the system.

A real life installation can be a little more frustrating to trouble shoot and repair.

I agree 100% with on ground/rack heres a 45 degree roof with 33 m.i.

45 roof.jpg

[JSchnee21]

Definitely SolarEdge over APsystems. But be sure to choose the best SolarEdge installer in your area (one with a good track record and a lot of experience with SolarEdge). Don't go with an installer who doesn't have much experience with SolarEdge. If you really want Micros (not sure why you would) then go with Enphase.

As others have pointed out, if you have zero shade (no and in he future) then a conventional string inverter might also be an option -- but if your local code requires rapid shutdown (if it doesn't it will soon) then go with SolarEdge.

Also consider installing consumption monitoring and Ethernet to the inverter while you're at it