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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>After swapping a major manufacturer string inverter 4 times over a two year period, and not knowing why, I can say unequivocally that I don’t want to deal with that again. Talk about customer frustration... At least in a micro installation, the system remains functional when one microinverter goes down, and as you mentioned, people want to know what’s going on!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>One other factor is permitting and inspection. AHJ’s seem much more comfortable dealing with AC branch circuits. Calculating voltage drops (although still important for the installer in an AC micro installation) is far less important than DC voltage drop issues in the mind of the plan reviewer. The major factors AHJs look at in a micro installation are string quantities, interconnection wiring and circuit protection, and grounding.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I do agree with your smaller roof comment, too. We have mostly hip roofs on newer homes and they are all cut up into small pieces, especially in upscale neighborhoods where people have money to spend on solar energy products.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Jason Szumlanski<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Fafco Solar</span><span style='font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Keith Cronin<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 02, 2012 2:00 AM<br><b>To:</b> RE-Wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] String Vs Micro<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>As I look out on the market place here, it must be close to 100 to 1, micro inverter installations vs string on residential systems.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Don't know what the primary reason is, but I sense simplicity, as there are less "wrenches" out there, so to speak.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>The electricians and mechanical type folks I work with seem to get into a groove and just go for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Sure, sometimes their biggest challenge seems to be interference due to the communications signals, but that appears to be the only hurdle.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>The more companies I work with or talk to, say the additional cost of micros is worth it, as opposed to training someone on string sizing and the concern for DC wiring mistakes.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Perhaps its also due to the fact that we have smaller roofs and the need to be on multiple roofs, where other places around the country can put the system on one roof and be done?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>The perception of people that have micros seem to be bullish on the ability to know what is going on and when things are or aren't working and receive status.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Alot of the leasing companies seem to be shying away from micros and perhaps its cost or the future liability of sending wrenches out to swap devices?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>What are wrenches seeing elsewhere?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>Regards, Keith<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></body></html>