# Solar Systems North Queensland

**URL:** https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/solar-systems-north-queensland/568
**Category:** Solar Questions and Comments
**Created:** [July 31, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/solar-systems-north-queensland/568 "2019-07-31T23:09:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Jim1](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Jim1](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/u/Jim1)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/solar-systems-north-queensland/568/1 "2019-07-31T23:09:03Z")

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Hi - I have been recommended to look at Solaredge panels and inverter in NQ as they give individual panel monitoring (similar to Enphase, which seems less available here) albeit they are not microinverters.

I don’t think they are in your “top 10” so interested in your thoughts please.

Thanks Jim

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### Author: ![Marty](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/user_avatar/forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/marty/32/4032_2.png) [@Marty](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/u/Marty)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2019, 12:55am UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/solar-systems-north-queensland/568/2 "2019-08-01T00:55:19Z")

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Hi @Jim1, welcome and good question.

The question I think is more around the inverter rather than panel, so I updated the topic title to reflect that. It is a bit confusing because Solaredge is an inverter brand, but there are Solaredge branded panels that have the optimisers built in - however the panels are actually another brand. See our best inverter list here, Solaredge is number 2. We haven’t considered micro inverters on the list though, Enphase would be right up there if we did:

> **[Best Solar Inverters 2023 — Clean Energy Reviews](https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/best-grid-connect-solar-inverters-sma-fronius-solaredge-abb)**
>
> We review the best grid-connect solar inverters from the worlds leading manufacturers Fronius, SMA, SolarEdge, Fimer, Sungrow, Huawei, Goodwe and many more to decide who offers the highest quality and most reliable solar string inverters for...

I would be surprised if you were not able to find Enphase supplied where you are. It is worth reading this forum topic below. We have a lot of forum members that strongly believe Enphase is the best choice.

> [@Micro inverters (Enphase ) Vs Power optimisers (SolarEdge, Tigo)](https://perform.discoursehosting.net/t/micro-inverters-enphase-vs-power-optimisers-solaredge-tigo/224):
>
> I recently received this advice from a supplier I asked for a quote for my situation in a shaded area, regarding Optimisers Vs Micro inverters. reply is as follows: Using an inverter technology like SolarEdge with optimisers behind every panel, or even using a string inverter like a Fronius with TIGO optimisers behind every panel, still have a weakness when compared to Micro inverters. Optimisers work well when some of the panels are shaded, but in order to continue functioning, they always ne…

Do you have much shade where you are?

Cheers  
Marty

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### Author: ![Jim1](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Jim1](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/u/Jim1)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/solar-systems-north-queensland/568/3 "2019-08-01T02:54:49Z")

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Thank you to both of your very considered responses - shading will have minimal impact - it is more an issue of being able to see individual panel performance and thereby problem solve. So if I understand correctly, shading or dirty panels will negatively impact solaredge performance but I would be able to see each panel’s performance so I could address that?

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### Author: ![Svarky](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/user_avatar/forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/svarky/32/20_2.png) [@Svarky](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/u/Svarky)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2019, 4:12am UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/solar-systems-north-queensland/568/4 "2019-08-04T04:12:38Z")

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Hi Jim,

There have been some reports of unusually high failures from SolarEdge optimisers in area’s of very high humidity. North Queensland will have extreme humidity being in the tropics so I would probably avoid SolarEdge in your situation and go with Tigo or Enphase if you want panel level monitoring.

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### Author: ![Jim1](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Jim1](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/u/Jim1)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2019, 7:35am UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/solar-systems-north-queensland/568/5 "2019-08-04T07:35:31Z")

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Thank you very much Svarky - good to get that input. The enphase seems more expensive here and not so many offering it. I wonder what your thoughts would be of someone installing them for a first time - they are qualified sparkies. Thanks Jim

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### Author: ![Marty](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/user_avatar/forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/marty/32/4032_2.png) [@Marty](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/u/Marty)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2019, 10:24am UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/solar-systems-north-queensland/568/6 "2019-08-04T10:24:14Z")

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Hi Jim,

It’s probably not ideal if they have not installed Enphase before, but you have to start somewhere. Are they experienced solar installers as well as electricians?

The alternative is Tigo optimisers, they can be used with any inverter and offer panel level monitoring. They work well with SMA inverters, as noted in our SMA review:

> **[SMA Solar Inverters Review — Clean Energy Reviews](https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/2019/7/20/sma-solar-inverter-review)**
>
> Solar installers love working with SMA, particularly on large commercial jobs, we expect an increasingly strong performance by SMA in the residential sector going forward also. 

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### Author: ![Jim1](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Jim1](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/u/Jim1)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/solar-systems-north-queensland/568/7 "2019-08-04T22:01:59Z")

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Thank you Marty – seems they are pretty experienced installers – 40 reviews and 4.5 average in Townsville. I think I need now to go back to the drawing board and re-specify my needs and start over – my main preference for the individual panel reporting is just that, rather than overcoming shading. The enphases I have at another house are fantastic from that point of view. Jim

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### Author: ![Marty](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/user_avatar/forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/marty/32/4032_2.png) [@Marty](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/u/Marty)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2019, 1:31am UTC](https://forum.cleanenergyreviews.info/t/solar-systems-north-queensland/568/8 "2019-08-05T01:31:20Z")

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Ah ok, well do look into Tigo, because they are modular and actually allow panel reporting without paying additional for optimisation, which is an optional extra on each panel (as I understand it).
