Thanks @bww129
That clipping does look very minimal, and according to Enphase it is compatible:
https://enphase.com/installers/microinverters/calculator
However, I do wonder about this myself. What does compatible mean? A strong argument for Enphase is that it will significantly outperform string inverters over the life of the system, but I don’t understand that if there is clipping every day.
Would be great if an Enphase expert could ‘enlighten’ 
us.
I downloaded the recent production report which has data for every 5 minutes from the past week, and plotted it using Excel. After removing the ramp up, ramp down, and plateau data points I applied a best fit parabola to see what extra production the system might theoretically be able to produce on a clear day. Turns out that it could potentially produce an extra 7.5kWh! That’s 11.8% of the 63.7kWh that the system produced that day which is a bit more than minimal…
And just to make sure this is possible, here are some additional numbers.
The peak steady state output was right around 7200W, which for 24 panels is 300W per panel or the maximum output of the IQ8+ inverters.
The 450W panels are rated for 338W nominal max power at NMOT, which is 8112W for 24 panels. That number is only 1019W shy of the theoretical 9130W peak from the best fit parabola. Factoring in the 97% inverter efficiency and the production might be capped at something more like 7880W. That translates to an additional “real world” output of about 3.85kWh (assuming I did the math properly). That makes the IQ8M (325VA max continuous) the better inverter choice because it could extract max power from the system. The IQ8A (349VA max continuous) would also be fine even though it’d be slightly overkill.
This is really useful insight, and indeed >10% clipping is more than minimal.
I can’t understand why Enphase doesn’t do a better job of giving users and installers tools to not just understand which models are ‘compatible’ but also which models will perform the best.
I find it hard to recommend Enphase based on improved performance when this level of clipping can occur.
What’s are you planning on doing with this info @bww129?
Marty
Like most people I relied solely on the expertise of our installer who based his recommendation on analysis from meteorological data to model the system output over the course of a year. It would have been best to analyze the solar irradiance at our location over the course of a month and then use that data along with the panel and inverter specs to come up with a better system model, but I haven’t heard of any contractors/installers that have the equipment or would take the time to do that because there’s no money in it. It’s easier for them to come up with a basic model that gives average results for most installations then just say the system exceeded their expectations.
Knowing what I know now, I would have spent the extra $500 for 24 x IQ8A inverters over the IQ8+ even if it only means that the system can produce a bit more output at peak times under good conditions.
If I were to change out the inverters is it as simple as disconnecting the system, swapping the inverters, and powering the system back up? Or are there some special steps that need to be done to initialize the new inverters? I’m not sure if it’s worth the effort if the contractor/installer needs to be involved because they’ll charge quite a bit more just for the labor.
As for swapping the microinverters out, this is far from simple. They are mounted beneath the panels, so you would need to remove all the panels to do so.
Marty
The inverters under the 10 panels on the roof are not easily accessible without removing the panels, but the inverters under the 14 panels over the deck are easily accessible with a ladder. It would be no trouble swapping those out assuming it is as simple as disconnecting the IQ8+ and reconnecting the IQ8M/A. Is that all that would need to be done? The 10 on the roof are on a 20A breaker, the upper 7 over the deck are on a 20A breaker, and the lower 7 over the deck are on a 20A breaker in the IQ Combiner 4. The max number of IQ8M/A inverters per 20A breaker is 11, so no issues there.
Sorry I missed this. Hmm, I’m sorry I don’t know if this is ok to do. It sounds like it, but I certainly wouldn’t want to give you bad info. I’m sure Enphase could tell you though.
No worries! In any case thanks for replying. I’d like to wait a bit longer and see how the IQ8+ perform in the fall before seriously considering swapping some of them out for the IQ8M or A inverters.
So, about those Qcell panels and Enphase inverters—it’s like having the A-team for your energy game. The concern you’re onto is called clipping. Think of it like having a giant water tank (your panels) and a tap (the inverter). If your tap can only handle a certain flow (295w), but your tank can go way higher (400w), you might not use all the water, and that’s clipping. It’s like having a powerful car but driving it in a speed zone.
Now, here’s the scoop: a bit of clipping is okay. It’s like not revving your car to the max all the time—it’s efficient. But if you’re worried, chat with your solar peeps. They can tweak things, maybe adjust the system, so you get the most juice without overdoing it. It’s like fine-tuning your music playlist for the perfect vibe. So, don’t stress too much; you’re on the right track to solar-powered greatness!
So my install states they installed a system that will produce 17.415kWh with an estimated 27,789kW over the year.
I have 43 405W panels with IQ7+ inverters though not sure what manufacturer for the panels.
It’s obvious the system is clipping at 12.5 kw which works out to 291kva (12500/43) per panel.
A few issues here.
I calculate clipping loss at 28%!
The IQ7+ Micros have a max output of 295VA (295W). The 405W panels can obviously produce up to 405W or even higher (in ideal conditions). However, once orientation and loss factors are taken into account, the numbers will be much different.
You could run your solar array specs through a solar calculator like OpenSolar and post the outcomes. I’m assuming the company that sold you the system did the same thing, but they may not have taken into account the clipping under ideal conditions.
