Yes it looks like your getting some clipping, but not much really. I've seen many graphs of other "over paneled systems" with a long flat peaked flat line for over 2 hrs a day, and it was still the best economical choice for all year round and cost or regulatory limitations ect. Depending on your location and the orientation of your panels, real world solar output most of the time is not over 80% of the ideal tested rating anyway. The reason you got such a good deal on the IQ7's is the IQ8's had came out recently and suppliers were trying to get rid of the IQ7's. You made the right choice! Thanks for the video.
Economically, it's undeniably the right choice on hardware I used. Since I got the equipment for such a great deal. My goal is trying to figure out if it was the most optimal pairing. Eventually, I will get to test some other microinverters side by side to get real data on what my panels are actually maxing at. Then, determine the degrading at roughly 1% each year and figure out over a 20-25 yr period if one or the other would be that optimal choice. Only because I like doing that type of stuff 😁 Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
Hello Justin, While researching on this, I found Solaredge power optimizer with central inverter has all the good advantages which is not so Solar clipping and offering Solar monitoring too. The point is if I put 530 W solar panel and I attach it Enphase IQ micro inverter which has max output AC as 385 (highest one). I am missing 145 w output. Assuming 90% efficiency in conversion to AC it shouldn't lose much. If I go with Solaredge power optimizer with central inverter. Production on panel at peak generation point is optimized and then Central inverter of any brand has good conversion efficiency will do maximum output of at least 480 W. This way Solar clipping or controlling by the equipment can be addressed. By the way thanks for educating us on wiring and Solar installation information. I really like the inputs and ideas you are sharing. Thank you
That is all valuable and good information. I had considered going in that direction but could not get past the central point of failure on the centralized inverter. Also, I was not looking forward to installing EMT because DC required EMT. I'm not knocking Solaredge, I was just looking to simplifing the install because I had so much other things to learn. Also, I was very impressed with the support of Enphase which meant A LOT. I was learning as I went so to me that was priceless. Enphase offered free training online and as a DIY'er that was very helpful. I agree, if your going with very high output panels - 500+ watts then I'm sure enphase would be the way to go as of now. Plus, I'm not sure they would even be compatible. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
Thank you for your explanation. Real world experience. There are newer micro inverters on the market or soon to be available. Claiming to be less expensive than inphase and the other expensive micro inverter. The clipping issue is reduced or claimed to be eliminated.
I personally would pay for the service of enphase support. It's world class and that is worth the money for sure. Not sure how the newer companies will be until I actually get to work with them. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
That last sentence is very wobbly. If the max continuous outputs are the same with these other products, the clipping rates will be identical. Not reduced or eliminated.
Justin, with the clipping, would you ever consider cleaning the solar panels? If so, How would you go about cleaning them? I should should get my solar panels installed next week, I'm very excited.
I'll definitely clean them. I have all the equipment to do that and probably will make a video on how I'll clean mine sometime down the road. The rain does a great job cleaning them off but we have been in a drought for about 3 1/2 weeks with not a drop of rain. Congratulations on the solar project, so close! You will love it for sure! 🤘🏻
Ideally if you have a large enough amount of open flat land on a south facing hill, you can have enough solar panels to provide enough power to reach your charge controllers maximum limit on a cloudy day so when the sun comes out of course it'll be clipping but the output will be relatively constant as if it has a voltage regulator. Rather than the wild 5% 100% swing between cloudy and sunny days.
Should I? I'm not 100% sold on that without having side by side data from the same system, using different microinverters models. If given the opportunity I might make 1 of my 3 branches all IQ7A's and see how they perform vs the IQ7+'s. To determine which truly pair best. That's an expensive experiment though. I would love to see the outcome. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
You have a 1.28 ratio (dc to ac) instead of moving up to the more expensive iq8, why didn't you go with a lower rated panel? Say a 350w would have made it a 1.20 ratio. And if you really wanted 10kw worth just add another panel and inverter. The money saved on the lower rated panels would have probably covered the extra inverter and panel and with a more desirable ratio you would have ended up with less clipping for just a little more roof space.
I have 20,640W of QCells, 430W, G6! They were bringing in 22,500W last week on a cold sunny day. That is 109%. So, everyone saying their panels won’t produce more than 90%. You have low quality or used cells or inferior wiring job.
Pretty good deal. I got IQ7+'s for $80 on a lot of the ones I got. Plus the combiner box 3 for $300. I looked hard to get those deals though. IQ8+ only produces 5 more watts than the IQ7+. Those would probably clip a tad also. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
I still can't wrap my head around how maxing out an electrical component can be good. Think about a 15 amp breaker being pushed to the max day in and day out. Eventually, it fails under all that stress. I also disagree with the idea that microinverters like a IQ8 vs IQ8A would have much impact on production from earlier startups and later shutdowns. That is more a comparison that should be made between string inverters and microinverters in general. Just some things to think about. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
Hi Justin. There is a stress element like you theorize. Any inverter will (or should) state a max PV input or max DC to AC ratio. Those say the same thing. As with any gizmo, it shouldn't be operated out of parameters that are specified. About anyone allows a 1.3 to 1 ratio. Others are rated at 1.5. Another allows up to 1.67 Recently read about a 2 to 1. Running closer to the limit does seem to be iffy but the higher limit products must have heat sinks, higher capacity cooling fans, maybe some silicon carbide or other higher tech material that enables their higher performance. I wouldn't worry about running close to a limit but I wouldn't step an inch beyond it. About the startups and shutdowns, one popular inverter has a 120 volt input cut-in voltage which for its size is sorta high. Its competitor that cuts in at 75 volts will produce a little more in the early morning and late evening. @@JustinsProject
Looks like you are not clipping at all because the curve will have flat on the top. Also 7912w / 37 panels = 293w each panel produce. The IQ7+ cont peak is 295w. Just below.
"Max" peak output is 295w on IQ7+. Not continuous. Max continuous rating is 290w. See spec sheet on the IQ7+ and on the 2nd page you will find that: enphase.com/sites/default/files/2021-04/IQ7-IQ7plus-DS-EN-US.pdf?_ga=2.74521938.1559743086.1666902218-1253396370.1666293802
The IQ8+'s aren't much beefier than the IQ7+'s. 5w output is the difference. 😁 Now IQ8A's those babies would have been rocked out 🤘 on that roof. That's ok, I have a beefier wallet because of those IQ7+'s though 🤣 Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
@@SSMLivingPictures Awesome stuff! I remember the feeling of my panels coming off that truck. Although they about dumped them 🤣 I was super excited. Happy for you and be sure to keep us updated on your install. Congrats!
Immediately after my pv system was installed, I realised the IQ7+ micros (on 395w modules) were clipping and I suffered sleepless nights. It took over a year of observation and many hours analysing data from enlighten manager, to conclude that clipping “loses” are less than 1% of the annual output. Actually there is some evidence that the iq7+ when not clipping, produces more than the Iq7a and in that case I have increased output with the iq7+. We live in England where sunshine is not in abundance and the slope of our roof is 50 degrees which is great during the winter but reduces the pv output during the summer. Similar system nearby, with 30 degrees slope, produces 10% more in June, whereas we produce 70%more in December
Thanks for taking the time to watch and share your experience. Thanks for watching and commenting! Would love to have you part of my www.diysolarbuilds.com community. It's free to register, and I am looking for new people who love solar as much as I do.
Yes it looks like your getting some clipping, but not much really. I've seen many graphs of other "over paneled systems" with a long flat peaked flat line for over 2 hrs a day, and it was still the best economical choice for all year round and cost or regulatory limitations ect. Depending on your location and the orientation of your panels, real world solar output most of the time is not over 80% of the ideal tested rating anyway. The reason you got such a good deal on the IQ7's is the IQ8's had came out recently and suppliers were trying to get rid of the IQ7's. You made the right choice! Thanks for the video.
Economically, it's undeniably the right choice on hardware I used. Since I got the equipment for such a great deal. My goal is trying to figure out if it was the most optimal pairing. Eventually, I will get to test some other microinverters side by side to get real data on what my panels are actually maxing at. Then, determine the degrading at roughly 1% each year and figure out over a 20-25 yr period if one or the other would be that optimal choice. Only because I like doing that type of stuff 😁 Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
Hello Justin,
While researching on this, I found Solaredge power optimizer with central inverter has all the good advantages which is not so Solar clipping and offering Solar monitoring too.
The point is if I put 530 W solar panel and I attach it Enphase IQ micro inverter which has max output AC as 385 (highest one). I am missing 145 w output. Assuming 90% efficiency in conversion to AC it shouldn't lose much.
If I go with Solaredge power optimizer with central inverter.
Production on panel at peak generation point is optimized and then Central inverter of any brand has good conversion efficiency will do maximum output of at least 480 W. This way Solar clipping or controlling by the equipment can be addressed.
By the way thanks for educating us on wiring and Solar installation information. I really like the inputs and ideas you are sharing.
Thank you
That is all valuable and good information. I had considered going in that direction but could not get past the central point of failure on the centralized inverter. Also, I was not looking forward to installing EMT because DC required EMT. I'm not knocking Solaredge, I was just looking to simplifing the install because I had so much other things to learn. Also, I was very impressed with the support of Enphase which meant A LOT. I was learning as I went so to me that was priceless. Enphase offered free training online and as a DIY'er that was very helpful. I agree, if your going with very high output panels - 500+ watts then I'm sure enphase would be the way to go as of now. Plus, I'm not sure they would even be compatible. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
Thank you for your explanation. Real world experience. There are newer micro inverters on the market or soon to be available. Claiming to be less expensive than inphase and the other expensive micro inverter. The clipping issue is reduced or claimed to be eliminated.
I personally would pay for the service of enphase support. It's world class and that is worth the money for sure. Not sure how the newer companies will be until I actually get to work with them. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
That last sentence is very wobbly. If the max continuous outputs are the same with these other products, the clipping rates will be identical. Not reduced or eliminated.
2:15
Beautiful !!
I love it! Thanks 👍🏻
You got it Justin :) Keep rocking brother
🤘 Thanks for watching and comment! 👍🏻
Justin, with the clipping, would you ever consider cleaning the solar panels? If so, How would you go about cleaning them? I should should get my solar panels installed next week, I'm very excited.
I'll definitely clean them. I have all the equipment to do that and probably will make a video on how I'll clean mine sometime down the road. The rain does a great job cleaning them off but we have been in a drought for about 3 1/2 weeks with not a drop of rain. Congratulations on the solar project, so close! You will love it for sure! 🤘🏻
Ideally if you have a large enough amount of open flat land on a south facing hill, you can have enough solar panels to provide enough power to reach your charge controllers maximum limit on a cloudy day so when the sun comes out of course it'll be clipping but the output will be relatively constant as if it has a voltage regulator. Rather than the wild 5% 100% swing between cloudy and sunny days.
Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
Should you tell why clipping is also beneficial on the early sun and late sun cut off voltages.
Should I? I'm not 100% sold on that without having side by side data from the same system, using different microinverters models. If given the opportunity I might make 1 of my 3 branches all IQ7A's and see how they perform vs the IQ7+'s. To determine which truly pair best. That's an expensive experiment though. I would love to see the outcome. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
You have a 1.28 ratio (dc to ac) instead of moving up to the more expensive iq8, why didn't you go with a lower rated panel? Say a 350w would have made it a 1.20 ratio. And if you really wanted 10kw worth just add another panel and inverter. The money saved on the lower rated panels would have probably covered the extra inverter and panel and with a more desirable ratio you would have ended up with less clipping for just a little more roof space.
Very good points. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
how large is your building? what area does your solar system cover. . . i just looking at a possible project.
My building is a 36x56. I have several videos on that even one covering the total cost to build it. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
@@JustinsProject thanks. . . your informative videos have gotten me thinking of doing it myself.
I have 20,640W of QCells, 430W, G6! They were bringing in 22,500W last week on a cold sunny day. That is 109%. So, everyone saying their panels won’t produce more than 90%. You have low quality or used cells or inferior wiring job.
What microinverters are you using? Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
My IQ8+ were 159 each, $14 dollar difference. IQ8A are $223, not worth it.
Pretty good deal. I got IQ7+'s for $80 on a lot of the ones I got. Plus the combiner box 3 for $300. I looked hard to get those deals though. IQ8+ only produces 5 more watts than the IQ7+. Those would probably clip a tad also. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
I forgot to mention I have the IQ8 inverters
Awesome! IQ8's are great. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
Some clipping is good. Means your system creates more early and late in the day. At least how I understand it.
I still can't wrap my head around how maxing out an electrical component can be good. Think about a 15 amp breaker being pushed to the max day in and day out. Eventually, it fails under all that stress. I also disagree with the idea that microinverters like a IQ8 vs IQ8A would have much impact on production from earlier startups and later shutdowns. That is more a comparison that should be made between string inverters and microinverters in general. Just some things to think about. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
You understand it more than many N8. Btw, your pic looks like me except I play left-handed and my hair undergoes a lot more "clipping".
Hi Justin. There is a stress element like you theorize. Any inverter will (or should) state a max PV input or max DC to AC ratio. Those say the same thing. As with any gizmo, it shouldn't be operated out of parameters that are specified. About anyone allows a 1.3 to 1 ratio. Others are rated at 1.5. Another allows up to 1.67 Recently read about a 2 to 1. Running closer to the limit does seem to be iffy but the higher limit products must have heat sinks, higher capacity cooling fans, maybe some silicon carbide or other higher tech material that enables their higher performance. I wouldn't worry about running close to a limit but I wouldn't step an inch beyond it. About the startups and shutdowns, one popular inverter has a 120 volt input cut-in voltage which for its size is sorta high. Its competitor that cuts in at 75 volts will produce a little more in the early morning and late evening. @@JustinsProject
@garyhiland6013 😆 that was in my younger days. That lil guy on my lap is 18 now. Take care my guy.
Looks like you are not clipping at all because the curve will have flat on the top. Also 7912w / 37 panels = 293w each panel produce. The IQ7+ cont peak is 295w. Just below.
"Max" peak output is 295w on IQ7+. Not continuous. Max continuous rating is 290w. See spec sheet on the IQ7+ and on the 2nd page you will find that: enphase.com/sites/default/files/2021-04/IQ7-IQ7plus-DS-EN-US.pdf?_ga=2.74521938.1559743086.1666902218-1253396370.1666293802
Most of my IQ7+ peak at 296w and can stay there for 3-4 hours. The rest peak at 295w
Should have got those beefy IQ8+'s baaaaby 😎🤣 Hah, kidding, makes perfect sense why you chose IQ7s. My panels come tomorrow!!!!
The IQ8+'s aren't much beefier than the IQ7+'s. 5w output is the difference. 😁 Now IQ8A's those babies would have been rocked out 🤘 on that roof. That's ok, I have a beefier wallet because of those IQ7+'s though 🤣 Thanks for watching and commenting 👍🏻
@@JustinsProject Ah yes the As, my bad. Im glad to hear your system is killing it. Can't wait to get up on the roof and start tossing mine up there
Short and informative! Great vid Justin on these solars. Keep ‘em coming!
@@SSMLivingPictures Awesome stuff! I remember the feeling of my panels coming off that truck. Although they about dumped them 🤣 I was super excited. Happy for you and be sure to keep us updated on your install. Congrats!
@@JustinsProject Will do
Immediately after my pv system was installed, I realised the IQ7+ micros (on 395w modules) were clipping and I suffered sleepless nights. It took over a year of observation and many hours analysing data from enlighten manager, to conclude that clipping “loses” are less than 1% of the annual output. Actually there is some evidence that the iq7+ when not clipping, produces more than the Iq7a and in that case I have increased output with the iq7+.
We live in England where sunshine is not in abundance and the slope of our roof is 50 degrees which is great during the winter but reduces the pv output during the summer. Similar system nearby, with 30 degrees slope, produces 10% more in June, whereas we produce 70%more in December
Thanks for taking the time to watch and share your experience. Thanks for watching and commenting! Would love to have you part of my www.diysolarbuilds.com community. It's free to register, and I am looking for new people who love solar as much as I do.