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I have read Enphase prefers Surge Protectors be installed. Where are they installed and about how much does that add to a "grid-tied" system. I opted for the 4C for future growth, I see I will get 5 years of cell service as part of the kit, how much does the sell service cost after the included 5 years of service?
Hi Thomas, thanks for commenting. We apologize for not getting an answer sooner. Please contact us at solardistribution@baywa-re.ca and we'd be happy to answer your questions!
How much does the Sunlight Backup feature add to a Grid-Tied system I'm planning with my contractor now based on IQ8A Inverters? Might add batteries next year.
Ive got questions (last point will be the most important to SE re batteries): 1) Doesnt the "clipping" value-prop means the installer screwed up sizing the inverters. I just dont see silicon cells exceeding 22%. 2) MIs dump all the DC generated per panel into a central source as AC, inc underperforming ones. What does SE's PO system do with the DC from an underperforming panel? 3) Enphase offers a 25yr warranty ergo 25yrs on all DC to AC power. What is the warranty on the SE central inverter (yes, I caught the sorcery of "inverter" as optimizer, and "up to..." which I suspect means 25yrs on SE's POs at panel, but what about the actual inverter in the box?) 4) OMG! 70% capacity after 10yrs? That's terrible! Granted, that's 70% with unlimited cycles, but that kinda use-case seems to be more of an outlier. I wanna know how it compares using industry-STANDARD warranty measures. Because the SE warranty uses a stand-alone value so it can insert the marketing-magic "unlimited" word it's kinda meaningless. Speaking of "industry-leading" those leaders are using LFP (li-ion phosphate) vs your Li-ion NMC, which the internet tells me has a much lower cycle life vs LFP, and LFPs have a much higher run-away temp vs NMC (ergo safer). Isnt LFP the industry-leading tech? And... going back to where I started, I dont get the "dont wanna normally oversize by 200%" statement. If the inverter is properly sized or oversized wouldnt that mean there's no clipping? Also, I think what you're saying behind all the marketing magic words is that by design a DC-coupled solution means all the DC generated at the panel goes straight into the battery (ergo, the round trip efficiency value-prop), and ergo.... I dont know what you mean by "normally dont wanna oversize by 200%) Is something else happening at the inverter? You're not masking a DC-AC-DC-AC conversion that's happening in some quasi-black-box, right? 5) IMPORTANT*** So Im (was at this point) trying to install a Tesla Powerwall and PV at my home. But apparently in ONTARIO the dumb bureaucracy see AC-coupled batteries as POWER GENERATION, ergo installing a battery means I CANT install >5kW of solar cause they see the Tesla as generator of 5kW (net-metering for homes is max 10kW in Ontario for 99.9% of use-cases), which seriously kills the financials for going solar. Is this the case with SE DC-coupled batteries? Oh, and much thanks to BayWa & manufacturers for putting up these product presentations. They are extremely helpful!
Hello, If you'd like, we could have a sales person contact you to discuss these questions in more detail. You could also contact us through solardistribution@baywa-re.ca. Thank you!
Ive got a question. I recently learned certain hydro utilities in Ontario are counting the continuous power output of batteries as energy generation (Tesla AC batteries in particular), which eats up HALF the max net-metering capacity max (thus making solar very cost ineffective). Is Enphase also being knee capped this way?
Wait... does anyone ask why Enphase doesnt support an off-grid config? Cause as the account rep stated, the system doesnt need a grid connect to operate. Granted "remote commmunities" are niche markets by definition, but still... As for the product marketing genius who came up with "Sunlight backup", like really? You guys sell THAT, but not off-grid solar array/PV system?
Enphase systems focus on "grid tied systems that can be at times also off grid". If you want a system that is fully off grid then cheaper to buy just a 12v off grid solar panel system. Enphase probably has something upcoming for large third countries (say off grid houses in Africa, and India) but it’s clearly not their priority right now.
Glad that I found this video as I have been more confused than ever when new device name popped up, for example IQ Gateway when I read IQ Envoy all the times.
I have a proposed system design issue and I'm not comfortable with the response that I was given. I tried to learn more about the Enphase system architecture so I thought I could get some clarity from this introduction. This video is great but I still didn't get the answers to my design issues. Thought I would send out this comment and see what happens but it seems that nobody has responded to the 12 comments submitted before me. I'm I screaming into the wind here?
Hi Kevin, thanks for reaching out! Regarding system design, it would be best to reach out to our team who can either help you themselves or point you towards someone you can! Contact them at solardistribution@baywa-re.ca
I need something to power everything off grid on my 40 acres I want to get out of government control No electric bill No water. Bill No gas bill I don’t care about cost
So with a small battery backup, it is not essential but recommended to have essential load panel and one IQ loads controller? Key point not essential......
The onus is on the homeowner to ensure the ISP equipment and home network equipment has backup. For instance UPS is common to ensure at the instant power is out, power is maintained while the backup home systems kick in. One shouldnt rely on an the enphase supplied modem to maintain access.
Over the last few years we've had extended power outages in Ontario that also caused days long internet outages. This means that accessing systems via the internet may be impossible for days when you need the access the most... is it possible to connect to the modem within the IQ combiner via an ethernet cable or wirelessly in such circumstances?
to clarify further, does the presence of the modem in the combiner allow that system to serve as an intranet so we can access the system locally via a laptop or desktop?
Absolutely geeking out over my DIY Sol-Ark 8k install this month. Phenomenal product, insanely flexible, and shockingly good CS support. Called several times with questions and had a live person on the phone within minutes everytime. Would not hesitate to recommend and buy again.
Q: At 43:30, we are in a Grid Down situation, and you've just seemed to say that the system is 100% Off if the Load Demand inside the home exceeds the Load Output available via the solar panels, and that hopefully the homeowner has decreased the load demand (presumably by turning off various appliances or circuit breakers. Did I understand that correctly? It seems to me that a fantastic system would be able to prioritize at the breaker level which items (e.g.: refrigerator) get power 1st, 2nd, 3rd... until the Load Demand does exceed what the solar panels can provide, and then everything downstream of that (4th, 5th, etc) is shut off. So, sun comes up, first thing it does it power the refrigerator. Sun gets stronger, and some lights can come on. Sun gets stronger, and more items can automatically come online. Then, as the sun goes down, the refrigerator/freezer is the last to lose power. Does Enphase provide this type of functionality? Am I correct in understanding that if the Demand exceeds Available power that NONE is supplied to the home? If so, then that seems tricky that a homeowner must be running around trying to balance the load manually. I must be missing something. Please comment, explain. Thanks. Great webinar, by the way. I'm getting a lot out of it, thank you!
Hello my friend, i just started watching so they may have answered your question. But yes, Enphase makes what they call a “Load Controller” for when the power is out. The IQ8s I believe are the only system you would install it on as it works with their unique backup AC production during total power outage. Just look up Enphase Load Controller. It only allows absolutely critical circuits to stay energized when the sun is out. (And of course no battery backup). Bill
What about a 5th system type (use case), for those individuals who live in an area with poor net metering laws? Using a grid tied system with batteries, for distribution of solar produced power, for a 24 hour cycle!
I think the cellular modem is gonna be a no go for a lot of people. If I can get the app to work with my WiFi the I should still be able to check system status.
This was really useful. I'm an (hopefully) soon to be user trying to get my head around all the terminology for the IQ8 family. I do have some questions: I don't live in the US, am I still to have a mobile connection module to my Combiner 4? Why is a mobile connection obligatory? If i want to measure everything locally (say via Home Assistant), would I need to report to the cloud?
