enphase s280 with LG315N1C-G4

[rathiram]

My installer recommends enphase s280 (max cut-off at 280w) with a LG neo2 315w panel. I am not sure if this is a good combination, my concern is that the enphase inverter could cut-off at 280 W and may not be able to use the panels 315w max. output. Is my understanding right?

[solar pete]

Howdy, dont worry abou it .....its a rare day when a panel ever reaches its nameplate wattage, sure its possible you will clip a bit of power a couple days a year but what the installer is telling you is right, cheers.

[JFinch57]

Enphase has a paper on using larger panels than the inverter's rating. The added power in lower light before clipping far outweighs the lost power when it clips.

[ButchDeal]

Enphase has a paper on using larger panels than the inverter's rating. The added power in lower light before clipping far outweighs the lost power when it clips.

no it doesn't far outweigh or even a little if compared against a decent inverter. SolarEdge for example would have the same low light capabilities AND not clip.
They just don't have a high watt inverter and want to continue to sell it.
The S230 is undersized already and the S280 will be in a few years.

In the above situation the S280 is well sized for the 315W modules, there will be little clipping.

[randomuser]

My installer recommends enphase s280 (max cut-off at 280w) with a LG neo2 315w panel. I am not sure if this is a good combination, my concern is that the enphase inverter could cut-off at 280 W and may not be able to use the panels 315w max. output. Is my understanding right?

That's the design nearly every installer says I should use. It's almost like wanting to buy a car and every dealer sells a white Camry. Is there an over stock of these 2 components?

[bvmm]

Howdy, dont worry abou it .....its a rare day when a panel ever reaches its nameplate wattage, sure its possible you will clip a bit of power a couple days a year but what the installer is telling you is right, cheers.

Agreed. Here's a picture of the best days over 2.5 years for a 250W panel matched to a M215 microinverter. The few orange dots are when the inverter was producing 215W or more (very few). To read the image: left to right = morning to night. Top to bottom = Jan 1 to December 31.

[rathiram]

Thats a pretty good information. Reading all the posts should I go with SMA or enphase? My installer mentioned that its going to cost me the same and its my decision.

[bvmm]

I have had no complaints about the performance or reliability of the Enphase microinverters ... and I love all the data it provides. I have no experience with SMA.

[JFinch57]

no it doesn't far outweigh or even a little if compared against a decent inverter. SolarEdge for example would have the same low light capabilities AND not clip.
They just don't have a high watt inverter and want to continue to sell it.
The S230 is undersized already and the S280 will be in a few years.

In the above situation the S280 is well sized for the 315W modules, there will be little clipping.

https://enphase.com/en-us/support/technical-brief-sizing-solar-modules-microinverters

[ButchDeal]

https://enphase.com/en-us/support/te...microinverters

this study comes up a bunch. What is under discussion is using the same size modules 315w with a large enough inverter to not clip vs enphase options that might clip.
The study is talking about the opposit. given a set size inverter, say 250w going with a larger PV module of say 315w would give more power even though it clips than going with a smaller pv module of say 280w. this is true BUT not what is discussed.
My and other peoples point is that if you are going to go with larger module of 315W you get more power with out clipping, which is true and in many cases costs less.

[Crich006]

I just installed 300 watt neon 2 panels with s280 inverters. I am very happy with both. So far I haven't clipped, but the days are still getting longer. In my opinion, based on the performance, 315's plus s280's is a good match.

I'm in southern California where the sun is intense and it looks like the inverters could handle another 10 watts or so per module before they cap. This probably means that you will clip initially, but the power lost is so miniscule as to be negligible. There is a very short period of time in the day when the panels will reach there limits. Don't forget also that the panels will lose 2% or so the first year and then .3% thereafter. So within the first year you will probably not have any risk of clipping and your panels and inverters will be perfectly matched.

I have 20 panels and s280's and I have been averaging 36 kwh per day, which has exceeded my expectations. The s280's have a better overall efficiency than optimizers and they respond better than a central inverter. Plus, the panel level monitoring and other features are very nice additions.

[jrfiero]

I have a system with LG 315s and Enphase S280s, came online in February. I started clipping at 280 on March 3, and today clipped from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., primetime. I asked the installer about this discrepancy and got a poor explanation. I didn't realize the inverters could be the issue until they came today to replace one and I realized they were 280s. I paid extra for the high efficiency panels and don't think I'm getting my money's worth. I guess I'll read that study from Enphase, but I don't expect much because it comes from them.
Harwich, MA (Cape Cod)

[ButchDeal]

The study you are referring to is interesting but from the point of view if "if you are going to install our inverters, you would be better off to with larger modules and clipping than with out clipping and smaller modules"
But for most consumers the logic is ass backwards. If you are going to pay for and install high efficiency modules, you are better off with a larger inverter which they don't sell. the S280 is new and their largest inverter.

[sensij]

I have a system with LG 315s and Enphase S280s, came online in February. I started clipping at 280 on March 3, and today clipped from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., primetime. I asked the installer about this discrepancy and got a poor explanation. I didn't realize the inverters could be the issue until they came today to replace one and I realized they were 280s. I paid extra for the high efficiency panels and don't think I'm getting my money's worth. I guess I'll read that study from Enphase, but I don't expect much because it comes from them.
Harwich, MA (Cape Cod)

Don't worry, the clipping will probably stop as summer comes in and temperatures go up. The amount of energy you are losing is likely to be insignificant in the grand scheme of things.. if you know the azimuth and tilt of the array, PVWatts can help quantify what that loss might be in a typical year. The efficiency of those panels is paying off every non-clipped hour of the day, more than compensating for any clipped energy.

[jrfiero]

Don't worry, the clipping will probably stop as summer comes in and temperatures go up. The amount of energy you are losing is likely to be insignificant in the grand scheme of things.. if you know the azimuth and tilt of the array, PVWatts can help quantify what that loss might be in a typical year. The efficiency of those panels is paying off every non-clipped hour of the day, more than compensating for any clipped energy.

I'll have to wait and see. Re the temps, we rarely have 90* days here, and usually have a breeze. I see your point "The efficiency of those panels is paying off every non-clipped hour of the day," but I'm skeptical of "more than compensating for any clipped energy." The number of clipped quarter-hours shown in MyEnlighten is increasing steadily (I note you say they won't). Just wish an inverter capable of inverting the entire DC output had been used. I'll run PVWatts again, can't remember the result, I do know the azimuth and angle (155, 22).

[sensij]

I'll have to wait and see. Re the temps, we rarely have 90* days here, and usually have a breeze. I see your point "The efficiency of those panels is paying off every non-clipped hour of the day," but I'm skeptical of "more than compensating for any clipped energy." The number of clipped quarter-hours shown in MyEnlighten is increasing steadily (I note you say they won't). Just wish an inverter capable of inverting the entire DC output had been used. I'll run PVWatts again, can't remember the result, I do know the azimuth and angle (155, 22).

When you run PVWatts again, pay special attention to the advanced parameter "DC to AC ratio". You system is sized at a ratio of 315 / 280 = 1.125. You can compare that to a ratio of 1.0 to see the amount lost to clipping. With your equipment, I would run the model at 8% loss and premium panels.

I didn't say that your clipping has or has not yet maxed out. Power output *will* decrease as temps rise, and the temperature at the panels is much higher than the ambient air, especially if they are mounted on a roof. From what I've seen, clipping for 3-4 hours in mid April will pretty much subside by June, but there is nothing wrong with waiting and seeing.