Some solar help at home

[cmroseberry]

If you decide to use plastic glazing be careful about thermal expansion. I had a window pane addition project unravel due to this issue.

[trebuchet03]

Cool project

Thanks for linking that Enphase inverter

It's got the wheels spinning on alternative uses

[Ryland]

I suspect that your 70 watt panels still put out 70 watts, there isn't any sign of aging that I see from the photo, even our 25 year old panels put put nearly the rated output.

[trudder]

I have been looking into the Enphase set up for a few months now. I have several used BP panels that I would like to put to use. The problem is that they are different wattages. If my understanding is correct though the Enphase micro inverters don't care what the individual panels are rated at. What I am still a little confused on is the Enphase EMU. Did you need one with your installation? Is it required?

[Xringer]

I've heard of one system where the owner rewired his four panels to make the total
output voltage look like just two panels. So, he only needed 2 Enphase inverter units.

You really don't need the EMU, but it's a real nice gizmo to have.
Each of your Enphase inverters has a built-in AC-line communications device.
Each inverter can send it's status info (via 230VAC lines) into the EMU.

That status info tells you how well it's PV panel is working. How many watts it's producing.

The EMU has a network socket that you can plug into your router or directly into your PC.
Allowing you to read-it-yourself, or pay for an on-line Enlighten monitoring service that will
store status/power history data on-line.
ART TEC - Solar Power - Real Time performance stats

Go down the page and click on '7 Days'.. It's neat software..

[jwxr7]

Originally Posted by trudder

I have been looking into the Enphase set up for a few months now. I have several used BP panels that I would like to put to use. The problem is that they are different wattages. If my understanding is correct though the Enphase micro inverters don't care what the individual panels are rated at. What I am still a little confused on is the Enphase EMU. Did you need one with your installation? Is it required?

What are the working voltages of your panels? If they are a high enough voltage individually to be compatible with one of the Enphase inverters, then It would be OK to put then in parallel as long as they are all the same voltage and the combined power is within the specs of the inverter. If they are lower voltage, It probably wouldn't be a good idea to put panels of different wattages in series to increase voltage. Mine are each 12volts and are all in series to make 48v (which my inverter likes), but are all similar wattage. The max current of my array is also within spec of my model inverter. I don't use the EMU, I rigged up a Kill-A-Watt to keep track of power production. Check this thread out for more info on my set-up. my diy pv set-up - EcoRenovator

[Xringer]

Enphase is doing well during these hard times..

Enphase Energy Ships 100,000 Solar Microinverters

"[October 05, 2009]

Enphase Energy Ships 100,000 Solar Microinverters
PETALUMA, CA, Oct 05, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Enphase Energy, the leader in solar microinverter systems, shipped its 100,000th unit in September 2009, reaching this remarkable milestone just over a year after the product's launch in July 2008."