Thoughts on Solar

Thanks for the kind words, TJ.

Great article Jim….love the technical details which exemplify the quality and value of Enphase products. IQ8 is a game changer for sure; the competition’s inverters just do not have the intelligence or response time that an IQ8 has. Awareness of just how important that response time is when the grid fails and the “energy system” takes over is not well-known. Many will purchase inferior systems and then be upset when their internet router resets, PC crashes, and other sensitive devices fail when grid power goes down — brown-out or black-out. Spread the word!! Enphase evangelists are like the Apple evangelists of old, and I know you’re one of the best! Best, TJ Roberts

We did talk about sizing, and I wrote about that in my earlier post - find it here:

Let’s Talk Ensemble!

Thanks, JD, we are super excited!

Lindsay - pricing was not discussed during the training except to reference the online system estimator tool that Enphase has online. It gives a rough cost estimate, but that is all that it is since every install here will be different!

As for the ratio of IQ 6/7 to IQ8 in the Encharge system, I published a table in my previous blog post: Let’s Talk Ensemble!

Essentially the limit is the peak output current of the IQ8’s (which is 150% of continuous) must meet or exceed the output current (continuous) of the PV array.

Hey Jim, nice post! Did they talk about compatibility and sizing of AC Coupled systems? How many IQ6 and/or IQ7 inverters can couple to the Encharge units?

Jim Jenal - I have met very few people who live, eat, and breath solar the way you do. The Run on Sun team is full of solar champions and we were so excited to host you the other day. We cannot agree more – “Bring on the Beta!” Thanks, JD Dillon (Enphase VP of Marketing)

Hi Jim great start to roll out of Ensemble…. did pricing get discussed at your training in Fremont? and recommended ratio of IQ8s to existing IQ7/6s systems to provide a robust system?. Ive heard both 1:1 to 1:1.58 Thanks again

Thanks for the kind words, I’m glad you found this informative.

We are expecting to do our first install around the beginning of March and we have two clients signed up so far… with more in the wings!

Thank you for this article. It was informative and well written. You stated this was a beta Ensemble. Did they tell you when the production product would be available? Also, have any of your customers placed an order yet?

Bill - would need to know the specifics as to each device. The question is whether the peak output from the combination of the array (limited to 5.025 kW max - but normally some significant deviation down from that during the day), plus the peak output from the inverters in the storage system, is sufficient to handle the in-rush peak power requirement of the devices. Jim

If you just want to keep furnace going in winter and A/C in summer using 15 LG 335s with new 100% IQ8 roof array installation can one or two 3.3kWh suffice?

Proud to call this man my mentor! I can’t vote for him, but I can endorse him. Go long-tails!

Srikanth –

I’m glad this was helpful. Here’s the explanation, it is called “anti-islanding” and it is an important safety feature. Think of it this way - let’s imagine that the grid is down because a tree fell over a power line and snapped it. The utility de-energizes the grid surrounding the fallen wire and sends a crew to re-string it. But, there is your solar system producing power and possibly feeding excess energy back to the grid… where you have now energized that fallen wire that was supposed to be off! Yikes.

So to prevent you from being that island of energy, your inverter(s) will shut off when the grid goes away.

Solar systems with backup storage have to include a transfer switch that isolates your microgrid from the main grid in order to meet code.

Hope that helps…

Jim

Hello Jim, Firstly, thanks a lot for the explanation you provided. I was trying to search on Google as to why there was a discrepancy between what the electricity company shows for my energy credit Vs what my panels were generating and I found your blog! You saved me a lot of time! I have one basic question bugging me. If the Solar Panels are feeding my home first and only the excess power is going to the grid, why is that I lose power when there is a power outage during the day (with Sunny clear sky)? Thank you….Srikanth

Thank you for the kind words, I’m glad you found this helpful.

I am sorry to hear of your plight – from who did you lease the system? If it was sized and installed correctly, even as a lease, you should not be spending more than before you got solar. Are you sure the system is working? Without real data it is hard to give you more direction.

As for stopping payments on the lease, you should consult with a lawyer before you do that. You don’t want to damage your credit rating on top of your other troubles.

Good luck - Jim

Hi, Jim - thanks so much for this site and your clear, informative explanations. At the risk of adding to the barrage of complaints you’re fielding, through no fault of your own, I’d like to say that my bill has gone up significantly since having solar panels installed. I pay $88/month toward ownership of the panels, which will happen in a total of 20 years, and pay $250 a month toward PG&E; I started doing this after my first shocking “true up” bill. I’m now about to have my annual true up bill deducted, to the tune of $1200(!). This all adds up to $438 a month. Before solar, my goal was to reduce my bill from the average of around $200. I’m baffled by this. I’m aware that some of it has to do with PG&E’s rates going up, but I have the impression they do some kind of mathematical voodoo with the bill. Do you understand it? I’m tempted to stop payments on my solar panels and ask them to take them back. Is that a thing? At least I’d eliminate that expense, and possibly eliminate whatever it is that has caused my costs to skyrocket. I do what I can to decrease energy use (big house with granny unit). This is all very disappointing; I wanted to go “greener,” but I find the whole mess bewildering. I’d appreciate any thoughts you could share. Thanks, Jim.

I am sorry to hear of your situation - as the comments above attest, it is not uncommon. One positive development lately - all solar contracts in CA are now required to disclose the total amount to be paid.

I leased my system from Sunrun on Jan 2011. They said rates for So Cal Edison have risen about 7% per year, so my 20 yr contract provides a 2% a year increase. I now pay more to Sunrun $.29 per KWH, than if I was on So Cal Edison. Talked to them, after a two month wait for a response, and they said my usage decreased by 25%, therefore they could not reduce my $.29 rate. This was obviously misleading representation by SunRun. DON’T LEAASE OR BUY FROM THEM.

Just looking around at some 15kVA dry-type distribution transformers, and they are floor mount units starting at 170lbs. A 25kVA unit was 230+ lbs. I suppose in worst case scenario calculations, with one leg carrying the entire load (160A), the 25kVA unit would be about as large as you would need. But that’s a large piece of equipment that will need a home.