Background
Ron is a customer located in Issaquah, WA. In 2020, our team installed a 9kW photovoltaic (PV) energy system at his property, utilizing Enphase IQ7 micro-inverters. This system was designed to meet his energy needs at that time.
Request for Expansion and Upgrade
Earlier this summer, Ron contacted us with a request to add between 8 and 12 additional solar modules to the west side of his roof. This area had previously experienced significant shading due to a tree, which Ron recently removed. With improved sun exposure, he saw an opportunity to increase his solar generation capacity. Along with expanding the solar array, Ron also expressed interest in adding a battery backup system to provide electricity during emergencies and power outages.
Proposed Solution
We explored several scenarios to address Ron’s request. Our goal was to not only add new PV modules but also to upgrade the system with Enphase IQ8plus micro-inverters. The IQ8plus is a grid-forming micro-inverter, which means it can operate during power outages, supplying power to the home and charging the battery using solar energy.
Get Your Energy Independence
However, Ron’s existing system, built with IQ7 micro-inverters, does not have grid-forming capabilities and cannot provide power during outages. Recently, Enphase announced its fourth-generation combiner/controller system with an IQ meter collar. This new solution enables integration of the legacy IQ7 system with the newer IQ8plus inverters and battery backup. It also allows the older IQ7 system to remain operational during power outages, supporting both battery charging and home power supply.
Installing and Commissioning
This project marked the first installation of its kind in Washington State. During commissioning, we encountered some firmware-related issues and needed assistance from Enphase technical support. Ultimately, Enphase was able to facilitate the integration and successfully commission the upgraded system.