Is this a good Deal? 6.760 kW DC, SolarWorld/Enphase, Livermore CA for $3.86/watt

[albert436]

I've had dozens of optimizers go bad.

You mean like the SolarEdge ? Or other company's products?

[guy94568]

Do you mind PM me which installer you went with? TIA

Can"t PM Yet. Kurios

[abyebye]

Do you mind PM me which installer you went with? TIA

Do you mind PM me which installer you went with? TIA

Hello all and thanks for teaching me so much about PV systems! Below is the deal I received. I'm in Livermore CA. Is it a good one?

$3.86/watt DC (before 30% tax credit) Includes financing at 2.99%

Total System Size
6.760 kW DC Power (STC) / 5.738 kW AC Power (CEC)

Estimated Annual Production
10,728 kWh

PV Panel Description
Qty. 26 - SolarWorld Model: SW260 Mono Black

Inverters
Qty. 26 - Enphase Energy Model: M215-60-2LL-S2x

Thanks!

[chargers]

Chargers old chap, do you mean you live in what we refer to as North County ?

Your inbox will likely receive some messages with recommendations in any case. But not to worry, lots of solar going on here and no need to have a contractor from LA come down.

haha. Good ol' North County. Yes, I guess that's where I live now.

[tatumjonj]

Chargers old chap, do you mean you live in what we refer to as North County ?

Your inbox will likely receive some messages with recommendations in any case. But not to worry, lots of solar going on here and no need to have a contractor from LA come down.

I believe in another thread he said he lives in RB.

[albert436]

Chargers old chap, do you mean you live in what we refer to as North County ?

Your inbox will likely receive some messages with recommendations in any case. But not to worry, lots of solar going on here and no need to have a contractor from LA come down.

[chargers]

It seems ok-ish. I am getting $3.50/Watt faceplate in Los Angeles before incentives, with solaredge (I have shading, and solaredge's per-module electronics are simpler than full microinverters, so probably more reliable).

Any of those companies also service North San Diego?

Thanks in advance.

[solarix]

Panels rarely go bad. Out of the thousands I've put in, I've had one shatter it's glass for no apparent reason and one get hit by a 2x12. I've had dozens of optimizers go bad. If you have shading issues maybe its worth the risk to use optimizers, if not - I won't do it anymore.

[silversaver]

Say you have 24 panels in two strings feeding into each input of the inverter
One panel goes bad
There will be a big difference in production between the inputs.

I understand that. The inverter I had is SMA TL6000-US-12 with single MPPT, so the whole arrays drop..... Even with 2 MPPT, to track down the bad panel still PIA.

I can only base on instantaneous output of season to determine if any error....

[Naptown]

Say you have 24 panels in two strings feeding into each input of the inverter
One panel goes bad
There will be a big difference in production between the inputs.

[silversaver]

My theory is that central inverter circuits have a bit better conversion efficiency due to economy of scale which overcomes the losses due to mis-matched panels and dynamic effects.

How so? If single panel out, the whole strings are affect

[solarix]

My theory is that central inverter circuits have a bit better conversion efficiency due to economy of scale which overcomes the losses due to mis-matched panels and dynamic effects.

[Naptown]

In some jurisdictions we are forced to use either emphase or solar edge for the rapid shut down features.
I agree that with no shading issues a single string inverter is simpler and better long term.
Those who don't need it for shading seem to have a great need for panel level monitoring. With the dual mppt inputs of modern inverters a simple comparison of the two inputs is more than sufficient to detect problems.
Very unlikely that a two panels on two strings would go out at the same time.

[DanKegel]

I got a Xantrex inverter in 2008, still truckin'.

What do you suppose the difference is -- less clipping?

[solarix]

I put in one of the first SolarEdge (distributed inverter) systems in 2011, because I saw the beauty of the architecture and expected to see better performance. Due to circumstances of being a dealer, I already had a Xantrex system on my house, so split the array and put 12 panels on a 3.3kW SolarEdge and left half on the Xantrex. After watching the two systems compete for a few years now, I can report that the Xantrex old, central inverter consistently beats out the SolarEdge. Early morning - theSolarEdge gets a better start but the Xantrex goes ahead during primetime and doesn't lose it in late afternoon. I haven't tried swapping the panels around to fully test the theory, but I don't believe the hype about individual optimization being better any more (unless in shady situations of course)