New 4.8KW installation in San Diego just finished

[J.P.M.]

Really? I've been waiting 8 days for SDGE to come out. The whole process has dragged forever...

Folks have had some luck calling them. What does the vendor say ?

[karlf]

Wow, just got the SDG&E's authorization letter (via email) to operate. So it took only 3 days (09/02 - 09/05) to pass city inspection, enable net metering and receive the authorization letter. They must have really gotten the process greased. Unfortunately I'm stuck at work. Have to wait until tomorrow to try it.

Really? I've been waiting 8 days for SDGE to come out. The whole process has dragged forever...

[Bikerscum]

Yeah, I understood you well. And agree with you the two are probably the same. How's your own installation? Haven't seen update from your thread for a while.

Installation done Wed., inspection coming Monday am.

I'll put up some pics in the other thread this weekend.

[thejq]

I was agreeing with you, guess I didn't say it right.

I thing the 5k unit is a V8 engine running on 7 cylinders.

For the $30 they give you the extra spark plug.

Yeah, I understood you well. And agree with you the two are probably the same. How's your own installation? Haven't seen update from your thread for a while.

[Bikerscum]

That $30 buys me a peace of mind and maybe some expandability if I ever need it. However small the difference is, SolarEdge thinks it's worth 600 watts more of power head room

I was agreeing with you, guess I didn't say it right.

I thing the 5k unit is a V8 engine running on 7 cylinders.

For the $30 they give you the extra spark plug.

[silversaver]

That $30 buys me a peace of mind and maybe some expandability if I ever need it. However small the difference is, SolarEdge thinks it's worth 600 watts more of power head room

It is too early to determine the answer. If he doesn't expand his arrays in next few years, lets see what happen..... 4.8kW DC arrays with 6kW inverter = Nominal power ratio: 131 %. Most of inverter manufactures recommending between 82% to 120%.

[thejq]

My guess is the extra $$ gets you a software change lol.

Given the evidence I see no reason to ever get the 5k over the 6k. In my case with panels facing every which way it'll never make a difference, but if you're close to clipping it sure could.

Cheers.

That $30 buys me a peace of mind and maybe some expandability if I ever need it. However small the difference is, SolarEdge thinks it's worth 600 watts more of power head room

[Bikerscum]

My guess is the extra $$ gets you a software change lol.

Given the evidence I see no reason to ever get the 5k over the 6k. In my case with panels facing every which way it'll never make a difference, but if you're close to clipping it sure could.

Cheers.

[thejq]

As promised.... looks the same to me...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4847[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]4848[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]4849[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]4850[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]4851[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]4852[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]4853[/ATTACH]

You're right. I don't see any visible difference, as I have expected. For $30 price differential, there shouldn't be any big difference. Thanks for confirming. Good luck with your installation!

[Bikerscum]

Here is the inside of SE6000A. When you get your SE5000A, we can compare.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4779[/ATTACH]

As promised.... looks the same to me...

inv1.JPG inv2.JPG inv3.JPG inv5.JPG inv6.JPG inv7.JPG inv4.JPG

[thejq]

The few system I look at using LG300 + M250 perform really well. Your system perform a little better can be due to the dirt, direction, vent shade and tile ...etc.

Time will tell. For example, my panels were facing SW 245 with 23 deg tilt, which performace really well from months of Jun to Aug comparing with South facing arrays. The good thing is at west coast, IMO the SW 210 to 220 were ideal especially with TOU plan.

I was told by my installer that SW is better than S. Now you just confirmed it too. Thanks.

[silversaver]

Thanks for the link. Yes, the LG300 along with SW 275W are quite popular in SoCal. Personally I think the LG300 + Enphase m250 is not a good combination. Your first link has the exact same number of panels as mine but my production consistently beat it but at least 15%. However this could be attributed to the orientation. Mine is SW (230 az), theirs is slightly SW (172 az). However I did see another one in Carlsbad, https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/...ems/3VqC414266 who has 17 panels (1 more than mine) and faces S (180 az) which should be the best. Their production is less than 1 KWh more then mine, and sometimes the same. In theory it should be around 2 KWh these days and a lot more in the summer. I think it's the result of clipping at 250W by the Enphase. Granted it's small, but over time it adds up, FWIW.

The few system I look at using LG300 + M250 perform really well. Your system perform a little better can be due to the dirt, direction, vent shade and tile ...etc.

Time will tell. For example, my panels were facing SW 245 with 23 deg tilt, which performace really well from months of Jun to Aug comparing with South facing arrays. The good thing is at west coast, IMO the SW 210 to 220 were ideal especially with TOU plan.

[thejq]

Thanks for the update. There are many system build with LG300 in your area

Here is the similar size system with Enphase inverters in you area.

https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/pv/public_systems/CHeL393492/graph/days

https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/...230/graph/days

Thanks for the link. Yes, the LG300 along with SW 275W are quite popular in SoCal. Personally I think the LG300 + Enphase m250 is not a good combination. Your first link has the exact same number of panels as mine but my production consistently beat it but at least 15%. However this could be attributed to the orientation. Mine is SW (230 az), theirs is slightly SW (172 az). However I did see another one in Carlsbad, https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/...ems/3VqC414266 who has 17 panels (1 more than mine) and faces S (180 az) which should be the best. Their production is less than 1 KWh more then mine, and sometimes the same. In theory it should be around 2 KWh these days and a lot more in the summer. I think it's the result of clipping at 250W by the Enphase. Granted it's small, but over time it adds up, FWIW.

[silversaver]

The system has been running for 2 days now. The production was higher than I expected for a 4.8KW. PVWatts thinks for September the production should be 583KWh (0.9 derate) or 19.4KWh/day. But my last two days' average was around 29.x KWh/day, granted the weather was good. So far over-sizing to SE6000A didn't seem to be a problem. Anyway, just for kicks, here is my public site.

http://monitoring.solaredge.com/solaredge-web/public?name=Carlsbad%204.8k

BTW, I had the inverter installed in the garage which has wood roll up doors, so the inside doesn't get too hot. But the inverter is hot to touch during peak operation. Is it normal? Should I install an external fan (on a timer)?

Thanks for the update. There are many system build with LG300 in your area

Here is the similar size system with Enphase inverters in you area.

https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/pv/public_systems/CHeL393492/graph/days

https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/pv/public_systems/9ZSH331230/graph/days

[control4userguy]

Oh, those are not conduits. They are 2.5" PVC water pipes for the solar pool heater. Yes, they look ugly, but I don't think there're many ways to route them, because of water and size.

Gotcha. Perhaps, discretely tap those for a misting system to aid in cleaning your PV system every so often