There are microinverter systems and string inverter systems. DC optimizers are a more complicated string inverter system. A system is only as reliable as its weakest link and the string inverter is the weakest link in any DC optimizer system. Microinverters reduce system complexity and are easier to design and install.
Comparing
Inverters
Make the smartest choice in solar.
Enphase Microinverters
Microinverters or conventional? The choice is yours.
Microinverters, string inverters, and string inverters with DC optimizers -- oh my! With all the solar technologies out there and not a lot of straightforward information, deciding on the right solar option can be confusing. We're here to break down some key differences for you (in a way you won't need an engineering degree to understand). Once you've got it down,
you might find the choice is simpler than you thought.
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Why I Chose Enphase.
"With Enphase, we can offer our customers any size system for any situation -- zero export, shading, storage. Homeowners love it, and there is no comparison in quality and technology."
-- Tom McClelland
Hush Energy from Queensland
Don't let the little things drag you down.
Microinverters
Whether it's a leaf, dirt, or a cloudy day, obstructions happen. All the time, to every system. With microinverters, only the individual panel is affected, while the others keep performing to their fullest. At the end of the day, that means more solar power and greater energy savings from the same panels.
String systems
A string inverter system can only perform as well as its lowest-performing panel. So if shade or a pile of leaves hinders one panel's performance, every other panel operates at the same diminished capacity. That means every little obstacle has a big impact on your energy production -- and takes a bite out of your potential savings.
When safety counts, the choice is clear.
Low-voltage DC never exceeds 60 volts
DC-AC conversion happens on the panel level, so there's never any high-voltage power traveling through your system. In other words, you don't have to worry about the dangers lurking on your own roof.
Up to 1,000 volts DC on roof
In a string inverter system, there's a lot of high-voltage electricity working its way across your roof. That comes with potential hazards to both you and your installers, including arc-faulting and fire.
Keeping our communities safe,
one system at a time.
Organisations around the country choose Enphase knowing it meets even the strictest safety requirements.
Hear why Hamilton Zoo chose Enphase
An all-AC system means lower fire risk. Why put high-voltage electricity on your roof when you don’t have to?
Hear a service station's perspective
Enphase is faster to install. (88 minutes faster, to be exact.)
We've built our plug-and-play components to be easier and quicker to install. That's because we know that spending less time on the roof gives installers more time to devote to building their business.
A third-party study commissioned by Enphase in September 2015 found that, excluding racking, SolarEdge took 47% longer to install, and SMA took 68% longer to install.
Make truck rolls a thing of the past.
What happens when something goes wrong? If it's a string inverter system, it means the installer sends a truck to investigate in person. Making the trip, locating the problem, then resolving it -- by the time it's over, they've spent valuable manpower hours and dollars. With microinverters, smart monitoring lets the installer pinpoint the issue instantly from wherever they are, and often resolve it remotely. (Or if not, arrive at the site knowing exactly what to look for.)
Boom, problem solved; time and money saved.
Microinverters vs. DC Optimizers: Know the difference
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Enphase
Microinverters-
Flexible Design
- No string sizing
- Multiple configurations
- All-AC design -
Easier Installation
- Simple all-AC installation (no DC electrical work)
- No mounting a string inverter -
Greater Productivity
In independent studies, Enphase produced up to 3.1% more energy
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Higher Reliability
No single point of failure
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Greater Durability
- IP67 enclosure
- Ultra-reliable components -
Increased Safety
Low voltage DC never exceeds 60 volts
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String
Inverters-
Rigid Design
- String sizing
- Minimum system size is 8 panels
- DC and AC design required -
Complex Installation
- Added complexity with DC and AC electrical work
- Design changes in field are difficult -
Lower Productivity
Productivity varies by string length
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Less Reliable
Inverter is a single point of system failure
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Less Durable
- Inverter has IP14 enclosure
- Avoid installation in direct sunlight -
Not as Safe
Up to 600-1000 volts DC on roof
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String Inverters with DC Optimizers
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Rigid Design
- String sizing
- Minimum system size is 8 panels
- DC and AC design required -
Complex Installation
- Added complexity with DC and AC electrical work
- Design changes in field are difficult -
Lower Productivity
Productivity varies by string length
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Less Reliable
Inverter is a single point of system failure
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Less Durable
- Inverter has IP14 enclosure
- Avoid installation in direct sunlight -
Not as Safe
Up to 600-1000 volts DC on roof
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Hear it from other perspectives.
Installer Interview: Jim Jenal, Run on Sun
Jim Jenal, CEO of Run on Sun, explains how he makes the choice between Enphase and SolarEdge.
Read more
Independent study: What the engineers say
The independent labs at PV Evolution compared Enphase microinverters with Solar Edge string inverters in several key benchmark areas with this study. See what they found.
Download study
Real world challenge: Microinverters vs. string
One installer shares his story and his in-depth inverter selection process.
Download case study
