Which is more reliable, Panel Optimizers versus Microinverters

[bcroe]

If shade is not a problem, a simple string setup has only a fraction
as many connections, and no electronics on the roof. More
complexity equals more failures. Bruce Roe

[Mike 134]

My own opinion about the failure of electronics on a roof based on what the automotive industry has done is no worries. Here's why,
Take the various IC chips, resistors, PC boards, etc. used in autos and solar and put them in two piles on the table without their enclosures. I'd bet a hardware engineer would have a tough time guessing how each pile is used in an industry.
The electronics in a car have a more hostile environment than those on the roof. Both have temperature extremes, but the cars range happens over minutes of time not days (think of those mounted within the passenger compartment or under the hood) plus constantly subject to vibration and shocks that the rooftop never sees.

Just my 2 cents

[peakbagger]

A friend is looking at 6 KW array located way up on top his barn that is built into hillside. Its three stories up metal roof with plenty of pitch. It really doesn't have any significant shading but could get winter snow buildup. No need for RSD so my suggestion is skip anything under the panel and just wire the MPPT circuits so that the lower more snow prone panels are on the same circuit. His installer is recommending the microinverter route (which to me is a cop out to make their job easier). My friend tends to be very much into reading and recording daily production and I have told him that there is probably a good chance that at some point one or more of the electronics under each panel will die prematurely and swapping them out will be a major issue despite assurances to the contrary by the installer. As a fall back my suggestion is go with a string inverter and optimizers as they are simpler and less failure prone. Am i correct on my assumption that optimizers should have a lower fail rate than micros?