Solar options for home in 2022.

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212 posts

Master Geek

#3369137 30-Apr-2025 11:54

VeNoMouSNZ:

What is your guys thoughts on enphase?

We have two installations on our site. One of 11.8kW with a 3 phase string inverter. The other with 14 Enphase IQ micros.

What do you need to know ?

Otautahi Christchurch

richms

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#3369142 30-Apr-2025 12:09

VeNoMouSNZ:

What is your guys thoughts on enphase?

They have powerline comms between the inverters and the gateway, and I believe that is why I have so many inverters showing whackky production amounts or just showing nothing for a couple of days and then a huge over production amount. I have no idea if the one that has not shown up for months is producing or broken, and it seems the only way to make them work reliably is to disconnect allmost all loads from power that might be interfering with it.

I like the idea of microinverters, but the cost is more than the panels they attach to, and the efficiancy gains of them dont really matter when you can just massivly overpanel a string inverter and then not have to worry about the export being counted as the total of all the microinverters. Main reason I wanted them is because of being able to not have to deal with conduit and DC cabling and big ugly boxes on the garage. When I do the shed I can stick a string inverter around the back where noone will see it and its out of the sun. Plus battery optons on hybrid inverters seem more affordable than a mains battery which needs the gateway and stuff.

I think microinverters had their place when panels were dollars per watt, not now they are multiple watts per dollar. Hopefully with trump tarrifs cutting out US consumption there will be better pricing on the China sourced panels, but I believe they have cut production since they had really pushed the price down.

Richard rich.ms

VeNoMouSNZ

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Wannabe Geek

#3369164 30-Apr-2025 14:00

fastbike:

VeNoMouSNZ:

What is your guys thoughts on enphase?

We have two installations on our site. One of 11.8kW with a 3 phase string inverter. The other with 14 Enphase IQ micros.

What do you need to know ?

did you also get the battery etc? what was your overall cost etc? what is your impression of the brand etc?

VeNoMouSNZ

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3369165 30-Apr-2025 14:02

richms:

VeNoMouSNZ:

What is your guys thoughts on enphase?

They have powerline comms between the inverters and the gateway, and I believe that is why I have so many inverters showing whackky production amounts or just showing nothing for a couple of days and then a huge over production amount. I have no idea if the one that has not shown up for months is producing or broken, and it seems the only way to make them work reliably is to disconnect allmost all loads from power that might be interfering with it.

I like the idea of microinverters, but the cost is more than the panels they attach to, and the efficiancy gains of them dont really matter when you can just massivly overpanel a string inverter and then not have to worry about the export being counted as the total of all the microinverters. Main reason I wanted them is because of being able to not have to deal with conduit and DC cabling and big ugly boxes on the garage. When I do the shed I can stick a string inverter around the back where noone will see it and its out of the sun. Plus battery optons on hybrid inverters seem more affordable than a mains battery which needs the gateway and stuff.

I think microinverters had their place when panels were dollars per watt, not now they are multiple watts per dollar. Hopefully with trump tarrifs cutting out US consumption there will be better pricing on the China sourced panels, but I believe they have cut production since they had really pushed the price down.

richard ltns bud , talk to you on fb ;P also, enphase stock is WAY down , they reduced staff 6 months ago due to sales etc

fastbike

212 posts

Master Geek

#3369179 30-Apr-2025 15:31

VeNoMouSNZ:

did you also get the battery etc? what was your overall cost etc? what is your impression of the brand etc?

No, I have a DC coupled battery on my string hybrid inverter.

The reason I went for the Enphase on the smaller installation is it is a slightly sub optimal site with some shading issues. I can see better performance through the day as shadows move across the roof (although the default granularity is 15 mins). It adds a significant amount to the costs e.g. each panels needs a micro inverter (approx $200 cf panel cost $150) plus a relay and gateway need to be installed at the distribution board. You also need to use their cable, and an AC disconnect needs to be installed at the roof. The advantages are maybe better performance in tricky situations (site dependant), safety (AC only on the roof).

Regarding cost my string inverter setup (excl battery) has a 5 year payback. The Enphase has a 9 year payback - so maybe a vanity project ?

The brand itself seems well made - but I do wonder if the world has moved on since they had the clever idea of doing the conversion at the panel. The question regarding warranties is how many brands will be around in 5 - 10 years if a warranty claim is needed. Crystal ball time ?

YMMV.

Otautahi Christchurch

fastbike

212 posts

Master Geek

#3369180 30-Apr-2025 15:32

richms:

They have powerline comms between the inverters and the gateway, and I believe that is why I have so many inverters showing whackky production amounts or just showing nothing for a couple of days and then a huge over production amount. I have no idea if the one that has not shown up for months is producing or broken, and it seems the only way to make them work reliably is to disconnect allmost all loads from power that might be interfering with it.

I've not had any comms issues, either between the gateway and the panels or the gateway and the mothership. I have 14 panels on 3 phases, not sure if that is relevant.

Otautahi Christchurch

richms

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#3369182 30-Apr-2025 15:49

fastbike:

richms:

They have powerline comms between the inverters and the gateway, and I believe that is why I have so many inverters showing whackky production amounts or just showing nothing for a couple of days and then a huge over production amount. I have no idea if the one that has not shown up for months is producing or broken, and it seems the only way to make them work reliably is to disconnect allmost all loads from power that might be interfering with it.

I've not had any comms issues, either between the gateway and the panels or the gateway and the mothership. I have 14 panels on 3 phases, not sure if that is relevant.

It might be better on the newer installs where they have to add the relay and other crap between the cable to the roof and the breaker and the gateway is connected there. My install is before that, so I just have a 20A breaker out the wall and up to the roof with an isolator then to the expensive cable with the special plugs, and the envoy plugs into a normal outlet.

I do keep meaning to try the envoy on a dedicated breaker and outlet, but the garage panel was done on the cheap so has no free space in it thanks to being all RCD and then 3 breakers after it for the normal circuits. RCBOs were insanley expensive and double-wide only for NZ when that panel was upgraded. No reason to change it till I upgrade the supply to the house which if I get a battery on the shed solar may not need to happen if it can do the needed 5kw export cap without a wire for a CT.

Richard rich.ms

Jase2985

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#3370235 3-May-2025 18:52

On the 1st of May we have had our system for a year now 😁

Recap on what we have here in Auckland

Fronius Primo 8.0 GEN24 Single Phase Hybrid Inverter + 24x REC Solar's Alpha REC420AA Pure Black solar panel (10.08kW) and a Fronius Wattpilot EVSE

16 Panels facing 297° and 8 Panels facing 117°

Years stats:

Total Consumption 18698.02 kW/h
Energy From Grid 11271.14 kW/h

Consumed Directly 7358.97 kW/h
Energy to Grid 4964.66 kW/h
Total Production 12409.72 kW/h

Average Production 34.04 kW/h
Self Sufficiency 39.10%
Own Consumption 59.68%

We has saved about $2800 there or there abouts.

Stu1

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#3370236 3-May-2025 19:10

Jase2985:

On the 1st of May we have had our system for a year now 😁

Recap on what we have here in Auckland

Fronius Primo 8.0 GEN24 Single Phase Hybrid Inverter + 24x REC Solar's Alpha REC420AA Pure Black solar panel (10.08kW) and a Fronius Wattpilot EVSE

16 Panels facing 297° and 8 Panels facing 117°

Years stats:

Total Consumption 18698.02 kW/h
Energy From Grid 11271.14 kW/h

Consumed Directly 7358.97 kW/h
Energy to Grid 4964.66 kW/h
Total Production 12409.72 kW/h

Average Production 34.04 kW/h
Self Sufficiency 39.10%
Own Consumption 59.68%

We has saved about $2800 there or there abouts.

Pretty impressive stats , your consumption is massive though , do you have a heated pool ? .

Jase2985

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#3370240 3-May-2025 20:32

Stu1:

Jase2985:

On the 1st of May we have had our system for a year now 😁

Recap on what we have here in Auckland

Fronius Primo 8.0 GEN24 Single Phase Hybrid Inverter + 24x REC Solar's Alpha REC420AA Pure Black solar panel (10.08kW) and a Fronius Wattpilot EVSE

16 Panels facing 297° and 8 Panels facing 117°

Years stats:

Total Consumption 18698.02 kW/h
Energy From Grid 11271.14 kW/h

Consumed Directly 7358.97 kW/h
Energy to Grid 4964.66 kW/h
Total Production 12409.72 kW/h

Average Production 34.04 kW/h
Self Sufficiency 39.10%
Own Consumption 59.68%

We has saved about $2800 there or there abouts.

Pretty impressive stats , your consumption is massive though, do you have a heated pool ? .

Indeed, we do, it's turned on from early October to end of April. Also have an EV which used 2800kW/h

fastbike

212 posts

Master Geek

#3370317 4-May-2025 08:34

richms:

I do keep meaning to try the envoy on a dedicated breaker and outlet

I don't know if that would make a difference. Our envoy is in the distribution board but the power line (3 phase) is just wired straight to the busbar from the mains switch i.e. not connected at the side of the 20A breaker that goes to the roof.

Maybe it is a difference in the design of the inverters, mine are the new IQ8 series.

Otautahi Christchurch

richms

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#3370364 4-May-2025 14:17

fastbike:

richms:

I do keep meaning to try the envoy on a dedicated breaker and outlet

I don't know if that would make a difference. Our envoy is in the distribution board but the power line (3 phase) is just wired straight to the busbar from the mains switch i.e. not connected at the side of the 20A breaker that goes to the roof.

Maybe it is a difference in the design of the inverters, mine are the new IQ8 series.

I decided today to try unplugging everything non essential in the garage, and killed the breaker to the lighting circuits to see if that gets reliable comms with the inverters.

The thing is that since its all only 215w inverters on slightly oversized panels, putting any money into it would be a waste as the production is so low vs replacing it with more modern gear Im not sure what I will do if it does show that it is working just not communicating.

Richard rich.ms

Ge0rge

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#3370367 4-May-2025 14:28

Another option would be to hop up on the roof and disconnect all the micro inverters bar one. Work your way along plugging each one in and see the the total output increases by the corresponding amount with each connection.

I have six s270 units on my roof, they individually chose to report, or not, at their whim - and the only other thing on that circuit is the gateway unit. However, the gateway unit reports total export equivalent to all six producing power, so I'm not too phased.

richms

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#3370368 4-May-2025 14:50

Ge0rge:

Another option would be to hop up on the roof and disconnect all the micro inverters bar one. Work your way along plugging each one in and see the the total output increases by the corresponding amount with each connection.

I have six s270 units on my roof, they individually chose to report, or not, at their whim - and the only other thing on that circuit is the gateway unit. However, the gateway unit reports total export equivalent to all six producing power, so I'm not too phased.

Its a 45degree pitched roof so not something I will be climbing on myself. But an hour or so later and the never reports and the seldom reports ones are both showing production and back online, so I guess I will have to start to work out what device is causing the problems, and see if getting the engoy from being behind an RCD along with the other loads sorts it out at all.

Richard rich.ms

prob

225 posts

Master Geek

#3370382 4-May-2025 16:59

Stu1:

On the 1st of May we have had our system for a year now 😁

Recap on what we have here in Auckland

Fronius Primo 8.0 GEN24 Single Phase Hybrid Inverter + 24x REC Solar's Alpha REC420AA Pure Black solar panel (10.08kW) and a Fronius Wattpilot EVSE

16 Panels facing 297° and 8 Panels facing 117°

Years stats:

Total Consumption 18698.02 kW/h
Energy From Grid 11271.14 kW/h

Consumed Directly 7358.97 kW/h
Energy to Grid 4964.66 kW/h
Total Production 12409.72 kW/h

Average Production 34.04 kW/h
Self Sufficiency 39.10%
Own Consumption 59.68%

We has saved about $2800 there or there abouts.

What did it cost?

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