SMA teams up with Tigo to compete directly with Solaredge

[DaveDE2]

Fyi, I just got this in an email from The Power Store:


Hello Installers,

As you may know, SMA came out with new 5kw & 6kw -40 Sunny Boy inverters earlier this year.
Since then, they’ve come out with a whole lineup mirroring their older TL-22 inverters.
These new -40 inverters will have:

• integrated monitoring
• integrated dc disconnect
• 2000w secure power supply
• 3 mppt’s

With the edition of these new inverters, SMA has teamed up with Tigo to come out with an optimizer solution to compete directly with SolarEdge.
I am not 100% certain on the functionality of these new Tigo systems, but we will have formal training from SMA mid-way through August.
What I do know is that we will be able to optimize the entire array or a single module.
This is huge for arrays with shading issues that are cost sensitive.

[DanKegel]

2000 watt secure power supply is nice, old one was 1500 watt, I think.

Is the idea you add the optimizers only on strings that really need them?

[DaveDE2]

Yes, that is one advantage. However, this whole idea may just be a band-aid.

https://matter2energy.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/optimizing-optimizers-tigo-vs-solaredge/

[DaveDE2]

Yes, but it seems this whole idea may just be a band-aid. I've tried to post a link to a supporting article on this but the system won't let me.

[DaveDE2]

http://tinyurl.com/ho2vede

[SunEagle]

DaveDE2

Please be patient. If your post doesn't go through the first or second time don't keep trying especially if there is a link attached. It won't go through until one of the Mods approve it. But next time if I have to go through 7 of them I just might permanent delete them all.

[DaveDE2]

understood

[silversaver]

I'm sure TIGO system add on would be nice, but how about the $$$$? The new SMA has 3 MPPTs, I don't think TIGO would be a nice add on - unnecessary.

[Qtips]

A big plus with Tigo is that it can be selectively deployed on only those panels that have shading issues. You'd still need to install a gateway and a MMU for the optimizer to function.