So I had a system installed a little over a month ago and am not thinking I should have gone bigger as the output does not look to be enough. When I did this I knew it was going to be undersized but its what I could afford to pay cash for so that is what I did.
Its a grid tie with a net metering agreement with the power company (Detroit Edison) so if I change the inverter I will be breaking the agreement and I will loose the net metering. I am currently grand fathered in for 10yrs as I got in just before Michigan changed the laws.
Solar Edge SE5000HD 16XJKM310P-72 panels for 4960W with Solar Edge optimizers P320's in a single string.
zip code 48141 230deg and a 40deg tilt fixed roof mount
Having it for most of july and that being the highest radiation month per PVWATTS at 682kwh actual average for 31 days should have had me at 616kwh so its close.
Over the last 45+ days, most days peak at about 3.8kw and have only had 3 days get to 4.1kw
It is mostly shade free, only very late in the day on 2 panels from the chimney
I have room to add one more row of panels up to 8. roof currently has 2 rows of 8 in a single string.
So the million dollar question is, should I add another row?
I am more than capable of installing this my self/help
Per the inverter specs I can go to 155% of the 5000 so up to 7.75kw
I also cant exceed 5700W on a single string even though they allow up to 25 panels. so it will have to be on its own string
I also have to have a minimum of 8 panels on a string.
I would prefer not to mess with the dealer installed string as they do monitor it.
8 more 310 panels (+2480) on a 2nd string would bring me up to 7440kw
Based on the 3.8kw current max looks like I would peak at about 5.6kw without clipping but I know I will.
Also while max per PVWATTS is 682kwh I do have 5 months below 450kwh
How bad is clipping for the inverter?
Is there a way to model the 7.75kw system with clipping at 5kw?
Is it going to be worth it in the long run
Thanks
Its a grid tie with a net metering agreement with the power company (Detroit Edison) so if I change the inverter I will be breaking the agreement and I will loose the net metering. I am currently grand fathered in for 10yrs as I got in just before Michigan changed the laws.
Solar Edge SE5000HD 16XJKM310P-72 panels for 4960W with Solar Edge optimizers P320's in a single string.
zip code 48141 230deg and a 40deg tilt fixed roof mount
Having it for most of july and that being the highest radiation month per PVWATTS at 682kwh actual average for 31 days should have had me at 616kwh so its close.
Over the last 45+ days, most days peak at about 3.8kw and have only had 3 days get to 4.1kw
It is mostly shade free, only very late in the day on 2 panels from the chimney
I have room to add one more row of panels up to 8. roof currently has 2 rows of 8 in a single string.
So the million dollar question is, should I add another row?
I am more than capable of installing this my self/help
Per the inverter specs I can go to 155% of the 5000 so up to 7.75kw
I also cant exceed 5700W on a single string even though they allow up to 25 panels. so it will have to be on its own string
I also have to have a minimum of 8 panels on a string.
I would prefer not to mess with the dealer installed string as they do monitor it.
8 more 310 panels (+2480) on a 2nd string would bring me up to 7440kw
Based on the 3.8kw current max looks like I would peak at about 5.6kw without clipping but I know I will.
Also while max per PVWATTS is 682kwh I do have 5 months below 450kwh
How bad is clipping for the inverter?
Is there a way to model the 7.75kw system with clipping at 5kw?
Is it going to be worth it in the long run
Thanks
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