Solar – Central vs Micro Inverter

[Clifford]

I will get solar panels for my house soon.
I came across this during my research:

https://www.sullivansolarpower.com/about/solar-power-blog/daniel-sullivan/dangers-of-micro-inverters

Any thoughts ?

Thanks.

[Hobie]

I too am poking around learning as I want to install solar soon so I know nothing :).

First, the article cited is 2012. Lots have changed since then.

Next, seems strings are better if the whole array sees same amount of sun all day. If some shading, then micros can tune the array better. Also, being able to ID specific panel problems and performance is a big plus with micros.

Seems each has their place.

[moneymaker]

I prefer the micro myself and that’s what we went with. Over 2 years with absolutely no problems using Enphase micro-inverters.

[svelte]

There is a third option: power optimizers.

Attached is a diagram I made to help me understand the difference when I did my research in 2015. I went with power optimizers to help simplify the setup when/if I decide to add batteries down the line. It remains to be seen whether I really needed to do that, as I’ve heard of some battery setups that simply plug into your standard wall outlets now, so I may have overplanned. Time will tell.

[img_assist|nid=25992|title=Power Optimizers vs Micro Inverters|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=466|height=347]

Other good articles:

Enphase vs SolarEdge

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/To-Microinvert-or-To-Power-Optimize-That-is-the-Solar-Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_optimizer

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/microinverter–dc-optimizer-market-surpasses-2-gw-capacity_100014661/#axzz3VtDqIh3h

https://www.energysage.com/solar/101/microinverter-power-optimizer-options

[moneymaker]

Optimizer looks like a central inverter to me. I’ve read there are panels that backfeed into a standard wall plug. Next thing you know people will be running them from the roof down through open windows like I’ve seen people do for their satellites. Scary!

[svelte]

[quote=moneymaker]Optimizer looks like a central inverter to me.
[/quote]

I guess you could look at it as if the solution on the left is a central inverter + power optimizers.

[quote=moneymaker]
I’ve read there are panels that backfeed into a standard wall plug. Next thing you know people will be running them from the roof down through open windows like I’ve seen people do for their satellites. Scary![/quote]

You’d still need a DC-AC conversion in there somewhere.

Sounds similar to the batteries plugged into a wall plug that I was talking about. I’m gonna hang back on that one – I’m not a beta-tester kind of guy. 🙂

[biggoldbear]

If you really want to get some good information and recommendations, I would start at this forum:
https://www.solarpaneltalk.com/
And check any installer here:
http://www.solarreviews.com/

I got a great recommendation from the forum and the person/company we went with was very knowledgeable and they did a great job for a great price. Thanks to the sunny weather, we’ve overproduced by ~10-15% from what was estimated so far this year.
I ended up going with the power optimizers, but each setup is different. It was nice being able to talk with a sales person who actually know what he was talking about when discussing the options.

[meadandale]

The part of your system most likely to need replacing is the inverter. Would you rather have 20-30 of them or just one?

Micro inverters only really make sense if you have shade over parts of your system at times during the day.

I got my system from Sullivan and I have a single inverter.

On another note, this month was my true up and I got a $200+ credit from SDG&E. 🙂

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