SolarEdge HD 5000 or 6000?

[jhuang0]

The solar installer has sized my system at 4.62 kW to generate about 7000 kWh a year. Normally they would pair that with a 5000 series inverter. They've offered an 'upgrade' to the 6000 series for $100 more. I know there is some loss of efficiency here, but I'm planning on buying/powering an electric vehicle in the 5-10 year time frame. At that point, I think I'd want to add additional capacity to charge the car for 10k miles or so a year. I've estimated that will require an additional 3,300 kWh a year, requiring me to effectively increase my capacity by 50%. I may even want more at that point as my family is growing.

Should I eat the additional cost of having an inverter too large for my system (and the inefficiencies that it will cause)? If I don't deal with it now, what will dealing with it in the future look like?

[Ampster]

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Should I eat the additional cost of having an inverter too large for my system (and the inefficiencies that it will cause)? If I don't deal with it now, what will dealing with it in the future look like?

I would go with the larger inverter especially if you are thinking of adding capacity. The Solaredge HD series have a very flat efficiency curve, Are they specifying the new HD Wave transformerless inverter? At least that is what I saw in reading the specs and verified during a long discussion about AC DC ratios on another forum, My AC to DC ratio is 1.5 to 1. Yours is less than 1 to 1.

[emartin00]

I would stick with the 5000. The SE5000H can handle up to 7750W DC on the input side. So even if you add another 2kW, you are still well within it's operating range.
And unless your entire roof is the same plane, and completely shade free, you likely wouldn't see much clipping.

[ButchDeal]

I would stick with the 5000. The SE5000H can handle up to 7750W DC on the input side. So even if you add another 2kW, you are still well within it's operating range.
And unless your entire roof is the same plane, and completely shade free, you likely wouldn't see much clipping.

This is poor advice. 7.75kw on a 5kw array will clip unless bighly shaddowed and/or multi azimuth.
since the solaredge inverters are so flat efficuency there is no reason not to upgrade . OP may want to go to the SE7600 with built in EV charger .

[discodanman45]

If you have or are planning on having an EV, I would strongly recommend the SE7600 with EV charger. I love mine and it doesn't require a separate breaker. It is a high quality charger and you have lots of freedom of how to use it. You can use just solar to charge the car, combo of grid/solar, or just charge it at offpeak hours from the grid. Pay the extra for the SE7600!