[RE-wrenches] Enphase v. string inverter

Darryl Thayer daryl_solar at yahoo.com
Sun Oct 10 05:52:02 PDT 2010


I have seen the top performing contractor in my area sell behind a chiminy and under a tree, claiming 10% more using Enphase than unshaded.    
Darryl

--- On Sun, 10/10/10, Jamie Johnson <jjohnson at spefl.com> wrote:


From: Jamie Johnson <jjohnson at spefl.com>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase v. string inverter
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Date: Sunday, October 10, 2010, 7:38 AM



Marco,


The last I heard the NREL was testing enphase vs. a string inverter, they were also suppose to test enphase vs. A competitors module level mpp tracking.  Not sure if that performance test is complete yet.  


I have seen 1 independent unshaded test ( potentially biased ) which IIRC showed enphase ~1% less than a string inverter, this seems to match the inverters CEC rating.


What we see around here is an over estimate of kWh production by the selling contractor using enphase, sometimes by 50+% greater than unshaded kWh estimates.


Performance guarantees with monetary compensation back to the customer if estimates are not met can be a good thing and improve the industry IMHO.


Jamie Johnson
General Manager
SOLAR POWER ELECTRIC TM
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer #031310-118
(941) 380 - 0098
www.SPEFL.com
Commercial & Residential
FL State Certified # EC13001765


Sent from my iPhone


On Oct 9, 2010, at 7:07 PM, "Marco Mangelsdorf" <marco at pvthawaii.com> wrote:






Does anyone know of any reports out there from a neutral, 3rd party which compares an Enphase array with an array using a string inverter with both arrays on the same unshaded surface?
 
Some Enphase peddlers here are saying that the energy harvest from an Enphase system is going to be better since they supposedly come on sooner and stay on later in the day.
 
One guy is actually saying that the Enphase inverters come on before the sun comes over the horizon.   Maybe from the same family that claimed that a-Si modules produced power from the moonlight.
 
Thanks,
marco
 

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