[RE-wrenches] Enphase track record

[Drake Chamberlin]

I'm also concerned about the issues brought up here.  I have two 
possible projects that would benefit from Enphase due to the fact 
that the modules will go on more than one roof, with significantly 
different orientations.  In one case, there are shading issues as well.

Supposedly the Enphase units are selling fast.  Someone must be 
installing them.  They have been out long enough that there must be 
some data as to whether or not the units are surviving.  The long 
term will not be known until the inverters have been out for many 
years, however if they are having issues in the short term, then we 
know they have issues.

One idea that Enphase tech support said was acceptable was to mount 
the inverters in accessible groups.  The DC leads would need to be 
extended, and some loss would occur.  Also the inverters can be 
mounted in vented attics.  Having the inverters in a group in an 
accessible attic would make maintenance easier than tearing apart an 
array to get to a dead inverter.


At 02:00 PM 11/7/2009, you wrote:

>I put a temperature probe under the modules almost every job, and it 
>is always
>drastically lower than the module itself. A frying module at 130 might have an
>ambient temperature underneath in its shade of 89 degrees. the specifics are
>always surprisingly low relative to touching the panel and how your 
>face feels
>up there.
>
>Nick
>
>
>
>
>Can anyone think of a more brutal environment for a piece of electronic
>equipment than under a solar module which day in and day out experiences the
>elements and temperatures of 130+ plus F?
>
>
>
>Despite any so-called accelerated life-cycle testing and estimated mean time
>to failure probabilities, nothing takes the place of actual time cooking
>under solar arrays.
>
>
>
>Having seen my fair
>  share of controller and inverter manufacturers come and
>go out of business in 30+ years in the RE field, I'll be watching with great
>interest the great Enphase experiment unfold.
>
>
>
>And ever heard of the word "recall"?  Swapping a central inverter or two is
>one thing.  Imagine doing it with the X number of microinverters you
>installed six months or two years ago...
>
>
>
>But hey, other than my Eeyore-sounding words above, aren't Enphase inverters
>so cool with all that they can do?
>
>
>
>marco in Hawaii
>
>
>
>A while back there was a discussion about the reliability of Enphase
>inverters.  As I understand, they have been selling like hot cakes, so a lot
>must be installed.  Some sort of track record must be emerging.
>
>Has the promised reliability of these inverters been met?  Can they be
>connected to a rail, under a large array without worry that the unit will
>need to be dug out
>  and replaced?  Should the inverters be located in an
>attic or other accessible location.
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>
>Drake Chamberlin
>Athens Electric
>OH License 44810
>CO License 3773
>NABCEP TM  Certified PV Installer
>Office - 740-448-7328
>Mobile - 740-856-9648
>
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Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
NABCEP TM  Certified PV Installer
Office - 740-448-7328
Mobile - 740-856-9648  
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