Support means a lot to engineers I sent my first overview of the solar system to solar edge for feed back, had no response. Then I looked in to Enphase and response was instant and it felt good.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

That's a valid point - I have contacted SolarEdge support personally, and they were helpful and fast to respond. But that was as an end user not an installer. We've approached this whole review from the perspective of end users actually and not installers, so perhaps that's an aspect we could look at in future videos - I've made a note!

Awesome results guys

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

9 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Hi Guys, Fun competition. I have both a Solar Edge array and Enphase array on my roof generating 10kW of energy. I am a greater fan of Enphase as it gives me more control over my system than does my SE system. I also have a 20kW Enphase battery array and a Tesla Y. Diarra, you could produce more energy if you used the the IQ7+ microinverter and we haven't even considered the IQ8 that can let you generate if the grid is down. The Enphase system I believe is about 10-15% more expensive than a comparable SE system but I believe it is worth it. I look forward to your future reviews.

@brainthesizeofplanet

Жыл бұрын

Enphase is cool tech, no doubt and it is a good product. However just like apple it limits it to their ecosystem only and in the long run that can be problematic - they would be more appealing if it could be coupled if a byd battery and so on. Also there is an availability issue with iq8, nowhere to be seen in Europe... On the technology side others are catching up Fronius and sungrow can also power ur home on a blackout and charge ur battery and have blackstart capabilities - so that's not exclusively to Enphase

@thatmushroomguy5904

4 ай бұрын

Anyone reading this now, enphase do not let you generate if the grid is down

The latest round of rate hikes (here in S. California) really make the west facing panels more valuable. Our peak is 4-9 pm and 83c (~70p) per kw. My array is perfectly south facing but it would be nice to pick up ~3kw during the highest rate period with west facing panels espectially since we still use AC here into the evening. We are able to cut all other useage during the peak except temps can rise to over 80F on hot summer nights.

This was comparing apples & oranges. In practice for the Enphase user, a SolarEdge system would have likely been significantly better. With multiple-sun angles, the peaks that give you panel-level clipping with Enphase, would likely balance out and not clip with the SE inverter.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

That was kind of the idea though, two totally different systems installed to try and generate about the same amount of power from the physical restrictions of our respective houses. I know it's not terribly scientific, but I found it interesting to compare and it fun to put together.

The most important aspects of solar inverters are: 1) reliability 2) reliability 3) reliability I have replaced half of the solar edge inverters I installed over the last ten years and have replaced many Enphase units we did not install. As a solar installer, I think it is way too risky to install electronics in a hostile, under array location where servicing involves a truck roll as they fail one by one.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

8 ай бұрын

That's useful to know thanks, it explains why the installers I spoke to when getting quotes were reluctant to install micro inverters.

Enphase rules and great customer service 😊.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

Haha whatevs, go team SolarEdge :)

The comparison is not really an apples to apples comparison. There’s roughly a 1% more efficient round trip conversion rate with SolarEdge because they use DC-to-DC converters. However, SolarEdge’s central string inverter is most definitely going to fail earlier because of it being a string inverter and not a micro-inverter. It’s going to be inverting more power and thus taking more wear and tear than the micro-inverters which will increase maintenance costs. Also, like they pointed out in the video, with the microinverters, you can slightly edge out on power production no matter what the roof plane is because it’s all about amount of useable light. The best approach to Enphase is to try to minimize the clipping from the DC conversion as much as possible but to not oversize the microinverter to the panel so that you get the full use of the microinverter.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

10 ай бұрын

Valid points... but best we could do without a proper control environment :) It's more to get a conversation started over a comparison with the solutions rather than being a precise kWh to kWh generation comparison. We'll try to update over time and we'll see if reliability really is different between them.

you should have provided the power generation graph throughout the day. I am sure the diversified pannels would have a better spread. Also, you should have provided your power consumption profile per day to see when we need the power: In the morning, in the evening or when.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

Comparing our power generation throughout the day is tricky because of the weather differences between our homes. However an averaged generation graph could have been useful, I'll take that. We thought that showing you the overall energy generation rather than power would be more useful because it smooths out most of those day-to-day differences. For most of this contest our usage profiles were fairly similar. We both had gas boilers for heater, an Eddi for hot water, and an electric car. However Diarra now has an ASHP (installed towards the end of that year) so his electricity usage profile is going to be very different to mine now.

Hi guys got bit stuck on Enphase manufacturers reference number on DNO notification I was given a number by Enphase which was termed as a reference used in Northern Ireland for g99 My inverter are iq7A if diarra remembers his notifications may be he can help.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

I'm afraid that for both me and Diarra our installers completed all of the DNO paperwork and submitted it on our behalf. I've checked my letter from the DNO and for me it just says "Installation of a Solar Edge SE368OH Inverter & Giv Energy Giv-AC3.0 Inverter - exporting 5.2kW only", so no special codes on the response at all.

@Osmanan777

Жыл бұрын

No worries thanks for reply 👊🏽

Its all horses for courses Each string on the emphase solution will terminate into junction box, which could be classed as a single point of failure Also, if a micro inverter fails, you need to get on the roof, get under the panel to swap it out. The Solar Edge inverter will be more accessible. And because the solar edge system uses optimers, it can handle shading and split roof configurations the same as Enphase. But the the real decider will be the performance and efficiencies when batteries are added. The solar edge system can allow a DC connected battery, meaning one DC to AC conversion for usage. Because the Enphase solution has AC coming from the roof, to store it will need an AC to DC conversion, and then to use the stored energy will required another DC to AC conversion. So SolarEdge beats Enphase in my view

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

I agree with your conclusion of course! Our conclusion so far really is that the differences between the two brands in terms of performance is negligible compared to other factors such as the layout of your roof. But still, it's a good conversation to have.

@Falcon408

Жыл бұрын

If solar edge optimizers go out, you have to get on the roof and under the panel. Just as you would with enphase micro inverters.

So 2000kwh in 6 months equates to about $200 where I live... meaning in 6 months I can pay for 2 months worth of electricity? Meaning you lose loads of money installing this system and then it pays for 33% of your monthly bill? What am I missing here?

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

Where we live (UK) electricity costs are currently about 30p/kWh, so 2000kWh = about £600 or $725 US. The prices are forecast to double over the next year too. It's not really losing money, it's a long term investment. Once installed, after several years (I think about 12 years or less given the current price rises for me) my system should break even. After that, it's energy-profit.

@iba7648

Жыл бұрын

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech given it still works after 12 years

The solar edge system has a single point of total failure correct?

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

Correct, yes - the string inverter. That is the main advantage of a micro-inverter solution in my opinion, removing that SPOF. There are pros and cons to both solutions though and we plan to go into those in a bit more detail in the next video scheduled for October.

@davidreece1642

Жыл бұрын

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech I'm thinking about an Enphase system so roll on October. Great vid guys.

Are you guys located in the same location?

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

We’re both in the UK but I’m in South Wales and Diarra is about 150 miles East (and a bit south) of me in Surrey

@RohitAdukia

Жыл бұрын

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech woah, so the weather could have a lot to do with your results to, no?

Thank you for your video. Really well done, and funny how you two "fight". But from a scientific point of view, of course, your comparison contains serious errors; this is not really the way to go; ideally the two inverter technologies should be connected to the same array on the same roof (same panels, same roof pitch, same direction etc.). And the power should be measured with the same meter. However, the result is to be expected. It probably doesn't matter which system you choose, the production performance differs only marginally over a whole year.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

2 жыл бұрын

Yup, totally agree, we could do this with a lot more scientific rigour. Sadly though, neither of us have the budget to undertake such a project (which would require a control too!) so have to make do with our own installations as-is. I have tried to get Diarra to buy an identical house to mine in my village so as we could test this but he just moans "something something Wales is too cold, something something have to put up with you more"

@RomanKuechler

2 жыл бұрын

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech My neighbor and I live in the same terraced house, so to speak; our roofs are the same size, have the same orientation (south-southwest) and the same slope. He chose SolarEdge, I chose Enphase. I can show the production output here (because they are publicly available anyway); However, it should be noted that these numbers were recorded *with their own and therefore different measuring systems* and should therefore be treated with caution(!): SolarEdge: 21 Panels: 6.930 kWp, annual production: 7.750 kWh = 1,118 kWh per watt Enphase: 18 Panels: 5.940 kWp, annual production: 6.815 kWh = 1,147 kWh per watt One sees; here too the difference is marginal.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

2 жыл бұрын

@@RomanKuechler That's pretty close. How did you find Winter vs Summer performance between the two solutions? Did one perform better during the cold season while the other caught up during warmer months?

@RomanKuechler

2 жыл бұрын

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech Unfortunately, I only have the yearly data from my neighbor, no monthly data. Too bad, I would be interested too. From a scientific point of view, my comparison still has some errors, e.g. we have different panel manufacturers and therefore possibly different temperature coefficients (but both have the same power of 330W per panel).

Talk my advice from a Solar Edge system owner. DON'T GET Solar Edge. My Solar Edge inverter failed after about 3 years. As of July 10, 2022 the company can't provide me a shipping date to replace the unit under warranty. Pretty simple to decide what is better a working Enphase system vs a failed Solar Edge inverter taking my entire system down. I should have done a review on reliability before I got my Solar Edge system. I got an expensive sun shade on my roof. Anyone else here having this problem? Maybe a class action suit?

@davidreece1642

Жыл бұрын

I'm definitely leaning towards Enphase system after reading your comment. Thanks for sharing.👍👍 I've only just realised that the inverter is the weakest link in any system. I hope you have your new inverter by now.

@brainthesizeofplanet

Жыл бұрын

This unfortunate. However statistically this isn't an issue as both design have relatively equal failure rates (there are some YT analysis on that), ur problem is related to the current supply chain issues - doesn't help but that's the reason. Could also be vice versa with a broken Emphases Envoy (or whatever that unit is called) system won't work without one either....

@brainthesizeofplanet

Жыл бұрын

Just buy another inverter at overpriced eBay prices and sell the replacement unit once it arrives at overpriced eBay prices 😉

I get a giggle out of all these blokes that have itty bitty solar arrays granted I do understand roof space restrictions is a thing considering I have 80 410w panels that are ground mounted 32.8 kwh capacity. Almost every one of these solar videos I watched when I was investigating doing solar and now that I have solar what gives me a giggle is I produce more kwh in one day than half of these people do in a whole year.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

I'm told size doesn't matter...

@Brad.W

Жыл бұрын

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech Aye mate. Agreed. I will admit as large as my system is I have had days when storms roll through that it was dark and cloudy and rainy that my production was next to nothing this year alone more than 70 days I've had barely any production because of cloudy overcast weather.

Need apples to apples systems and location.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

Yup I totally agree… but sadly it’s very difficult and expensive to get identical houses with comparable installations in the same locations so we’re doing the best with what we have available

Interesting video, and timely as I am looking to possibly replace my Sunny Boy inverter on my 10 year-old system. I have a home-made tracker (see video link below) which produces about 4400kwh per annum but suffers from partial tree shading during winter months. I have just been quoted £4500 to replace existing inverter with a Solaredge design, how would the price compare to using micro-inverters? (I do like the fact that the Solaredge comes with a 25 year warranty!) Short video of tracked array: kzread.info/dash/bejne/a3x2xNmaoperfaw.html

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

£4500 just to replace the inverter??? That sounds very steep. My 3.68kW SolarEdge inverter only costs about £700 so plus installation I'd expect it to be around the £1k to replace. Unless you are considering other components like optimisers and maybe new panels in with that cost? And I've watched that video, that's some serious engineering going on there! I wish I had the land to put something like that on.

@struck2soon

Жыл бұрын

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech Yes it does sound steep, considering the whole system was installed ten years ago for £7000. You guessed correctly, the price includes adding the optimisers to each panel. Not sure how much you paid for your complete inverter set-up with optimisers?

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

My whole system was about £10k for inverter, 10x optimisers, 10x 390w panels, Eddi/Harvi, GivEnergy AC-3.0 battery/inverter. I'm in the process of putting together a video about the costs and payback timescales so it's all fresh in my mind at the moment.

@struck2soon

Жыл бұрын

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech do you know what the inverter plus optimiser cost was? That is the figure I will need for comparison and also working out payback scale.

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

I don't exactly sorry, my quote was never broken down into that detail. I only know by looking up the products on other reseller sites. Roughly £700 for the inverter and £50 per optimiser was what I saw when looking back a year ago. That excludes installation of course.

Comparison between 2 different kWh/kWp locations, tilt and azimuth is not scientific, is it now lads?

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

It's as scientific as it needs to be to show that I'm winning :)

@6n7777

Жыл бұрын

@@SpeakToTheGeekTech Lolz

Why cheap Chinese modules and dear Chinese optimizers 😉

@SpeakToTheGeekTech

Жыл бұрын

Because big names, established supplies and known working smart connectivity. What would you suggest as alternatives for a similar budget and support ability criteria?