Its a small gear symbol. Your numbers do seem a bit low though. I am puzzled that on a single phase property one string of inverters could become inoperative and the other string still continues to operate perfectly. I phoned Enphase at their general support line and they reckon its a faulty installation not that they will do anything about it!! In this article I am going to tell you about monitoring panels equippedwithEnphase microinverters. Well Enphase were still in 2018 hassleing about providing it to the customer. I also understood that panel level monitoring is standard in the States: do you also know if this is true? I also have two Enphase 1.2 kW Enphase Storage Batteries Installed. And the good news was: IT WAS FREE OF CHARGE! Both went to ground. We upgraded our Enphase System from a 5.75 to a 7.99 kW system in June 2017 and should have sufficient production data in the next months to do the ROI analysis. I recently upgrade my system from 5.75 kW [23 Panels] to 7.99 [30 Panels Total]. Was it a set amount that they said they would cover per inverter? Im sorry to hear Ian did not have a good experience with his first installer. While the business wont be out-of-pocket ifthey charge a call-out fee for false alarms, the installer can still feel bad about having to charge people for doing nothing and the customer can definitely feel bad about having to pay for nothing, so I can understand wanting to avoid all that. There are many people in this world who enjoy monitoring the output of their rooftop solar systems. Great blog, very useful experiences to relate to thanks! Enphase products are crap and their customer support is even worse. The installation went well and, after a couple of calls to sort out the internet side of things, the system worked beautifully. Absolutely screws the ROI idea which is one of the reasons we did it in the first place. Go Enphase! Its like buying a tv and it slowly losing settings or channels then saying you can have them back but you need to pay us. I think going for the whole box and dice as you have adds a hefty cost: Is this correct? Its not surprising just frustrating as the manual does not mention this as a fault. Very happy with the app! Me I will avoid backup like the plague. In the past couple of months one inverter has started dropping out with communication, although it is still producing power at least the total at days end looks similar to surrounding units. The supplier installed and left it in a hurry and told me I was going o get access to MyEnlighten later , which eventually I did. I have had an exchange with Enphase in the last few days. We ended up intuiting that the inverters were their own broadcasters and the worst of the interference was on the same plane as the inverters. I can understand installers not wanting to enablethe panel-level monitoring system because of false alarms resulting from bird poop, or leaves on panels, or from the homeowner simply not understanding how the system works. I will bet that the failed inverters were M 190s. So we called the installer (Solargain who were helpful over the odds). Its always in Edisons favor (big surprise). Store solar power to use anytimeat night or during peak hours to reduce energy bills or when there's an outage and utility power is unavailable. So many other options on the market could result in lost of system operation while experiencing something as simple as a monitoring issue. I have an IQ system with an Envoy S and its not connected to the Net. This fault proved to be an over voltage in grid supply. For me to upgrade to MyEnlighten [the name of the user interface] involved an Envoy hardware upgrade [an new wall mounted interface] between the PV system and the in the cloud server that supports the Enphase user interface and data base]. They could say to installers charge for invalid service calls. The changes worked and now I can look at data to my hearts content. All user enquiries are told to contact via a non-existent support page. My first installer has moved interstate. The Enlighten works well, but I am concerned that if I need to physically reset the Envoy it may be dangerous with all the live wires around it? Thinking that it was going to return around 7% which was more than you could get anywhere else, we are partly self-funded retirees. Its so nice having 8k USD system on roof that does not work with the grid here, and good luck getting the dysfunctional state run power company to do something about the high voltage, as far as they are concerned, the lights turn on, so no problem. Yes, you can use another installer to upgrade to Enlighten Manager. The Solarbridge system was able to be monitored without the internet, which the Enphase cannot, the Solarbridge system also had a window where you could scroll through all the parameters and see each module specs and data, where you could do a reset and so on. The quality of the Enphase data management and products to date has been excellent. They manage shading issues well and enable (after some aggravation) individual panel level monitoring as well as detailed system analysis. Now my circuit breaker keeps tripping and I dont know what to do. So even though I can see the performance of 11 panels on the graphic, I dont know which one is which on the actual rooftop 4 x 3 array. The sum therefore how much solar do you need to achieve that ratio and what is the ROI on that investment compared with achieving the same outcome with Storage. Result: perfect TV reception at all hours (just like before). If you want to see the output of each panel you will need either microinverters or DC optimisers. [Note from Finn: All Envoys can monitor at the panel level if the installer enables it inthe software. Users can purchase the installer version which has more comprehensive reporting. This would prove if the panels were installed in the optimal position and not installed just it sell a product for profit. https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers. Sign up for Enlighten. It's easy to navigate, the information is clear, and I like the extra ability to add the price of electricity so it's easy to see money savings. Enlighten worked from day 1 and individual panel access was paid for, implemented and working well by the end of that month. It is not acceptableto convince people to buy Enphase, by promotingpanel-level monitoring as a future upgrade, and then refuse to actually add it. I have experience with audio and data cables where moving them a short distance or even changing the angle that they cross paths with interference can make a big difference. The power of Enlighten in the palm of your hand. All the free app does is say it's working or maybe it's not. If Enphase were to offer 25 years in Australia ACL would oblige Enphase to offer parts and labour for25 years which is too much of a liability. The pillar graph readings are confusing. I believe that Envoy is set up to monitor the General Tariff only. It seems Enphase is trying to serve two masters ( Installer and end user) I was thankful of the monitoring when after 6 months I realised the batteries were regularly undercharged. You should note that the Enphase iPad [Smart Device] application supports both access to MyEnlighten in the cloud server and Envoy. BUYER BE WARE. No back to the grid for me. The Enphase S230 is a 220 watt inverter and can be attached to a panel with up to 306 watts. For the circuit that your Envoy is on, do you possibly have a noisy refrigerator plugged into that same circuit? They did not say what that was going to entail. Click below to add additional categories to compare. - Compare production across multiple systems against previous days, weeks or months. Current day data is still not available on the My Enlighten platform. It seems to me that its desirable to be able to read the houses full consumption, including off peak water heating. On low energy days it still sends watts off to the grid rather than pushing it into the batteries. Some days I would have to draw from the grid which costs nearly twice as much per kWh. Enphase make free product training available to all installers, but of course not all installers make time for this. Thats all it takes. PS reset circuit breaker and it runs fine for a few days or maybe weeks. Check out the first 2 steps and click "Next" to go on to the last step in set up. They just need to do wi-fi. Ive got places to go, people to avoid, and shoes to nail to my horse. The user interface is a client server html style webpage with individual logon. Then with this data allow a user to see how much they are saving in dollars rather than only see total kWh produced or consumed. I enquired via the installer about how to get each panel to show and he tells me that they charge an extra $300 for this ability.REALLY!! I have been going back and forth between my solar provider and my power company and they are both saying they are correct. Unless they were discharging to the ground, I have no idea what was happening. It seems like we use as much energy (or more) while we are away from home. Ive been pestering since June. Much as I would like to monitor each panel, reducing the RF is more important IMO. We had one fail immediately after installation took the installer a month and half to admit that it did. View and track system progress, get news from ION Solar, and refer friends! Click the icon above to search for an app of your choice to compare. The Enphase Servers MyEnlighten interface is a webpage which requires the user to log on using a browser in common use. But after a month I still had not heard from the installers about the software upgrade to monitor individual panels. Hi, Its not just the product replacement cost. Enlighten Manager is also available to homeowners for a one-time upgrade fee of $349or a monthly subscription for $14.99. I had a very bad Enphase experience. In the end relocating the Wi-Fi, replacing the Wi-Fi base station andadding line filters worked. That way we paid less right now (12 panels vs.18) and are fairly certain we will stay until the break even point. It sounds like they covered some of the labour for you? After a bit of back and forth, I was given the news that they didnt think I needed a filter, but that the Envoy should be moved out of the meter box and placed in it own enclosure. The question is Enphase obliged to provide an unqualified end user with access to the Envoy interface so that person could make unintended unauthorised changes to that systems configuration? This app is a proprietary app and won't work unless you have an account with Sarekon and own units.This app is a guide to aid in the installation and testing of GPS and Track units. (It had played up several times.). The installer enters a code on their side of the software to give you access to what they have. However, the difficulty he had in getting it installed makes me want to grunt and go join my father in making stone tools. They sit under the panel usually, are subject to extreme heat, especially in summer, the electronic components, are not manufactured to with stand the harsh Australian climate. Ive installed tens of Enphase systems; the Enphase products just work! As far as the MyEnlighten software is concerned your client is a web browser that logs on to a client server [where ever that may be located] that provides you with access to your individual webpage user interface. Tried a warranty claim and was rejected. One intended for use by domestic users and a version for installers which has more functionality. Thats not because my location is remote, its because I refuse to have Enphase share my home network, or expose my system to IoT security risks. Get automated alerts about any issues impacting system performance. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Problem is that youll have to sell your standard Envoy on Craigslist, eBay etc. It got all the advanced data I wanted slowly it got watered down to almost useless. Its a rip offf to me engineered by enphase to give installers an extra profit margin being a certified dealer. DC Current and temp at any time. After showing where it was included in my paperwork they agreed to activate it at their cost. Easily monitor your Enphase system performance with Enlighten. This would prove if the panels were installed in the optimal position and not installed just it sell a product for profit. My installer told me this is an acceptable location. I only get a flawed graph online due to the period where it was stuck. they need to get rid of power line communications. 3. 1. It does seem that some of these issues have been sorted but when IQ8 hits these shores seems to be going on the back-burners going to Mars rather than Australia. Good news. I Just had solar installed in May of 2021 with an Enphase setup in Los Angeles with microinverters but I notice the numbers are never quite the same as my power bill. Eventually I found Surfside Electrical and they were very helpful. Heres a link to a page on consumer guarantees: https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/consumer-rights-guarantees/consumer-guarantees. Sorry to hear about your Enlighten, Jason. Paul as the person who started this thread a long time ago I would try to have a cable run from your wifi server to the Envoy and avoid either tho over the grid setup which is problematic particularly if you have surge protection as I found originally. Im just a user and quite franking the reporting that I have access to is sufficient in detail for my daily data recording purpose. Envoy supports WiFi which allows it to log to the Enphase Server provided that you have an always on internet router answering point. With microinverters, theyre PID-free. At our option that is how we have our system set up we do not subscribe to a controlled time of use tariff for any purpose including a pool pump. WHich cannot be because we do have some kwh in the utility bank. Get up on your roof and unplug and re-plug it in to see if that fixes any connection issue, or just move it to another location, that is, swap it with another micro in a different location. Enlighten Manager allows full performance monitoring and administration of a quantity of methods from any online gadget. Installer Tool Kit App Commissioning - 20 min. Thank you for sharing Ians experience with Enphase. Have you considered changing your hot water to peak tariff and active during day so you can take advantage of self-consumptoion? How can we get the company to fix this issue? Bugger. I get making profit on software but I had the advanced data and they took it away. It is becoming more common for solar inverters to offer monitoring via the internet, but conventional string inverters can only monitorthe entire systems output1. ), Big Batteries, Power Price Rise Relief And Australian Solar Silicon, Allume SolShare Makes It Easier For Stratas To Go Solar, Compare Feed-In Tariffs And Electricity Plans, A Readers Frustrations With The Enphase Enlighten Monitoring System, move the new Enphase Envoy device to a better location, Ironically we get a shorter warranty in Australia because AustralianConsumer Law (ACL) is so strong. My issue is that the batteries fully discharged when we were using very little power ie they were discharging at a rate 5 times the maximum usage. We initially had some communications issues, but being reasonably smart, overcame those quite easily (by reading the instructions). Actually, Im not going to be the one who tells you about it, but Ill get tothat in a bit. My understanding is the Installer version can report on individual panels. Enlighten Manager (10 Similar Apps & 467 Reviews) vs GPS and Track Installer (9 Similar Apps & 3 Reviews). A 7P inverter with a 295w/hr limit would have only cost another $20 from what I see and would have been well worth it. These Best OZ panels are served by 7 Aps YC 500 micro inverters. Im not sure. Watch the 2 minute video below to learn more about what's new. We basically calculated how long it would take to break even and did it based on 6-7 year period. They did also warn me about the issues with things such as bird poop and the fact that false alarm call-outs would be charged. Enphase is an AC system so you are not taking DC off the roof. That is correct. Maybe that is why Enphase is combining the IQ Envoy product with a single SKU; the Envoy-S Metered needs to be installed correctly, and if done so, it offers even better capabilities over the older Envoy and Envoy-C. So frustrating. My system will say I generated 2 watts extra in a day but Edison will say its 1 watt. We then started reconnecting individual microinverters one at a time to try to locate the faulty unit/s. Is this the start of a likely demise? Hi, Ed. I believe that Panel level monitoring in that upgraded version of MyEnlighten was only intended for the Installer/ Administrator /Service Provider/System Monitor [fault finding] or an advanced end user [monitoring purposes]. Upgrade, activate and configure your SolarEdge inverters through your smartphone, New Easy-to-follow workflow for faster and efficient installations, Site creation & system components mapping tool for professional PV installers. (The Enlighten Manager software can have a 15 minute delay, so the direct Envoy page is much better). Installing your first Enphase system? Like most folks I expect after the initial thrill of seeing how much energy is produced and the good feeling you get when it tells you how many trees you saved wore off along with a lost phone (where I had the app) and several internet provider changes I lost touch with monitoring my daily production. This event also makes one realise that going off grid really does require significant backup planning. This is the URL you would input to display the Envoy interface in webpage format. The best solar installers in the business are trained and certified to work with Enphase products. Incidently, I have the APs monitoring system on a parallel array that is 5 years old and I consider it superior to the Envoy system. Didnt have to f around with my phone and glasses, didnt have to multiply a 15 minute report x 4 to know at a glance whether to run the clothes dryer or split system. My grid supplier sent me graphs of the grid volts before and after the supply adjustment. I got solar 8 years ago the enlighten ap was awesome. But if a customer wants panel level monitoring for their system and the installer doesnt want to provide it, they should make that crystal clear from the beginning. This was accessed by a web browser, and I had an Ethernet cable connected to the box, you could also directly connect your laptop and see the same info if you wanted to. I have the ability to look at my system on any of o ur computers and my phone as well as the ipads around the place and you will instantly see any issues. They should simply change the voicemail message on their phone number to reflect this fact rather than the leave a message and well get back to you bulls*t. Our hot water is serviced by Ergon Ergon Tariff 11 [Ripple Number 03] Residential (Lighting, Power and Continuous Water Heating) and not Tariff 33 [Ripple number 09] (Controlled Supply Economy) or any other Tariff on offer. MyEnlighten from Enphase is a web-based application that allows solar power system owners to log in and remotely monitor their solar power production system. The installers used it to connect their Enphase Installer Toolkit to the Envoy in order to configure the system and ensure it was running. The Enphase batteries also have no backup function whichis a significant disincentive for meas welive in an area where power outages do occur. So I ended up on the advice from my installer with a small Enphase micro system and 4 LG panels. Looks like were at the mercy of installers who dont follow the proper installation procedures. We recently added another 6 panels to the 12 that were installed 2 years ago. Oh I forgot to mention you can download the MyEnlighten software [iOS] from the Apps Store [Apple]. These devices are usually located in the meter box behind the switch panel and of course are reading AC Power. 80% of the potential. If you want access to more data you need to pay $250 for the manager version!! Some installers have a policy of not enabling it for customers, others are happy to, and it is best to learn of this before the quote. Not sure why everyone thinks that the installer needs to set this up for them. The premium paid for this system type includes ALL the differentiating features, otherwise people are getting RIPPED OFF! Otherwisethey risk another smart operator coming up with a simple AC coupled system that will work with Enphase micro inverters4. I live in the Netherlands. I am an Enphase user and have had our system in production for over 2 years if you require any further information you can contact me at [emailprotected]. I (in my last solar company) designed/sold/installed several Enphase systems and none of them experienced any of the above problems. Many, many, many restarts since has only seen the system working for a few hours. Enlighten is compatible with the following browsers: Chrome 44 or higher, Firefox 41 or higher, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge for Windows, Safari 8 or higher. Yeah, current price point is really hard to justify. Now we come to the individual panel performance. An Enphase solution is a great reliable and safe home energy solution. The electrician thought there had been an increase in comms problems after a software upgrade a few months ago.. my problems started in June, so maybe. I have placed a legend in the Comments Unfortunately I may not be about to assess the long term results of my efforts. 3.5 Kw of Solar energy. Yep, 60w per battery / 15min = 120w/15 min max. Put down your weapons.3. I am on single phase with a 9.2kW Enphase system with a 5kW export limit. The Envoy S has a built-in wireless access point feature that works for 8 hours once activated. So it tantalising close to have something that can show you in real time how each inverter is working and its maximum output for a day. 4. its a pain in the ass. - Run detailed performance analysis and reports. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_induced_degradation, the Envoy-S Metered needs to be installed correctly. Ant, You are correct. I look forward to learning more on Monday. I don't know what that is, but it isn't what you think it is so I now ignore it. The new IQ series should solve the pain in the ass communications of previous models PLC. So I bought a new, much higher aerial pole to essentially move the aerials to where we could get better TV reception (easier than moving 12 panels) and repositioned it to avoid the inverters RF. Shocking service and very arrogant attitude from Enphase. An example for a 24hr period from MyEnlighten, I consume 30Kw and I generate 45Kw with a surplus of 15Kw. The power company is saying (and tested) the meter is accurate and the solar company is saying the same thing? We do have a granny flat out the back with good north facing roof space but Id have to look at the cost of using that roof space for solar panels for the main houses power. Click here toupgrade to Enlighten Manager. My problem is neither the Salesperson nor the Installer informed me that I would only be able to see my production but not my consumption in MyEnlighten . The data are downloaded from the Envoy S as JSON files. The software cost is not that bad if you want to buy any software these days, theres a cost to it. Northern subs, Melbourne Australia. Does anyone know if Enphase have created grid profiles for 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 kW export limit or is this something our solar installer can do? The issue of panel level monitoring should never have occurred! I also like the modular nature of the entire Enphase systems, as one defective microinverter or battery does not knock the system over. Now I get different panels reporting in depending upon which phase & plug and where I position the ECU if I can be fagged. Start Saving with Free Coupons Delivered Daily. The contractors packed up and headed off with a dozen unserviceable microinverters to discuss the matter with Enphase and I expect a response next week. Thanks for your reply Jasper. Your installers electrician should be able to set that up for you because they would probably know better than a general electrician what it is all about. He says hes happy to answer any questions he can, but hes no solar power expert. If the cable was moved in my case lifted up and sideways a couple of metres could that make a difference? I have been taking the Enphase courses via webinars. Well, Dr. D, I hate to say it, but those M175 were 1st-generation products. All the free app does is say it's working or maybe it's not. The problem with the inverters (both on the panels and the batteries) is that they only update once every 5 minutes. So we paid to replace the Envoybox and add the wiring and additional metering hardware and fired up the system. Or is economy tariff really different from off-peak? They advise I need to buy a new controller. MyEnllghten produces an all inclusive report for production, feed in, charge and discharge in 15 minute intervals by month. Without per micro reporting I wonder how users would know if their micros are are under producing rather than totally failing? I ask several per session. [emailprotected]. With my 85 Enphase microinverters, I have had nothing but success with Enphase Enlighten, but I do understand some of its pitfalls. Having said that from a production point of view I have never had an issue with the System and more than happy with its performance. We will be introducing a new online option for Enphase homeowners to contact us to share their experience on their Enphase installer. In that way, youll get a microgrid. Laptop and not use a Smartphone, Enphase states that the Envoy/Enlighten Tool Kit is only available for Android and Iphones( which is asinine). Ant.. From memory useful life in respect to electronic equipment including computers is 3 years from the date of purchase. I wanted to see individual panel data, but not avalaible from myEnlighten, the workaround is to sign up for myenlighten as a do it yourself installer, then get your installer to give that account access to all dataMy installer did not have a clue how to do this so after another call to Enphase they fixed this for us and now I have access to individual panel data, and all the intstaller data. But since the release of MyEnlighten that has been the default customer view, with the panel-level view available for that one-time cost. The manufactures will tell you they are the best thing since sliced bread but my own experience tells me to stay right the hell away. Then one day I decided to do a check on the system and low and behold 6 out of 8 inverters were not reporting, I got onto Tindo and they pushed it onto Sunpower who in the meantime had taken over Solarbridge, they were very good and saw to the replacement of the inverters, Tindo tried to tell me that the problem was that the inverters were not reporting, not that they were not actually workingbut when I checked out the bill, it was obvious that they were not working as we had another $100 on there. Also, Enphase should never respectfully be held responsible for noise in the electrical grid, less than preferred installation techniques, lack of installer understanding, nor noise caused by electrical consumers on the property. Signup for more similar apps, reviews, recommendations, and more! The Enphase system is not intended as a back up. The security access doesnt support simple authentication else it would be trivial to do this from a web browser script! Very unfortunate. If anyone has questions for Ian about his system you can leave them in the comments. Enphase Product and Accessories - 10 min. Ron it would be great to try to find people who have experienced other panel level monitoring systems and get some comparative information. But other people not so much. But. possibly software update issue , mine was working flawlessly being monitored by my 3rdparty software https://github.com/MasterCATZ/solar-observatory , now out of the blue it keeps blocking me from reading http://envoyboxhere/api/v1/production/inverters if I log in via enphase toolbox on the Android phone the data opens up again for a bit blocking me 30 min later, My installer never signed me up and now they have gone out of business. There are only 2 clamps sensors one for solar output and peak tariff import so off-peak isnt recorded. If they dont provide a satisfactory remedy, you can take them to a consumer tribunal or small claims court. Just plug the receiver into your router, then put the Envoy close to the micros, and that problem is resolved. dave. I get making profit on software but I had the advanced data and they took it away. The only difference between this application and the desktop version is the iOS version on the iPad supports access to the Envoy system. Should I contact enphase rather than CTec Solar? I am biased towards Enphase, so take what I say with a grain of salt. (I opted for two extra panels total of 14 250W). Look at a MacBook Pro, or a copy of Microsofts product suite. We discussed the fact that we wanted to monitor at an individual panel level they told methis was possible with extrasoftware which would be installed later. Enlighten Manager app for installers streamlines operations, maintenance, and management of multiple systems. Based on our experience at $2,200 installed and savings of less than $100.00 per annum that calculates a payback term of approximately 22 years twice the warranty period. Interesting the Request Return doesnt show up for me on the website or the app. Access performance reports 24/7 with secure, backed-up online data storage. You might think Enphase is great, but wait until youve had you system for a couple years and the inverters start failing, then youll discover that its almost impossible to get them replaced. Was that a negotiation? Anyway if you want to continue with the micros, I say good luck to you, but they will never be in my materials platform ever again. First is the standard Enphase overview without consumption or panel level-monitoring. Panel level monitoring worked but we could not see consumption, only production. Requires iOS8.0 or later. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Download the first chapter of The Good Solar Guide, authored by SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock, FREE! I then managed to find a contact at Enphase in the US and asked a lot of questions and got mostly useful technical responses but no software. Are they still available ? At least the Solarbridge Power Manager worked direct to your computer. Create a free account to receive new It looks like the new installer had to upgrade the Envoy hardware to accomodate Ians request forconsumption monitoring]. In the meantime, anyone buying Enphase who wants panel level monitoring should make that clear to the installer at the quote stage, and ensure it is a line item on any quote. Once they were fully discharged, the consumption went back to its normal pattern. In Far North Queensland [FNQ] you can now install up to 10 kW single phase and up to 30 kW three phase. So I suspect that SMA thought, it was not a viable proposition, to continue manufacture. Today it seems to be reporting consumption accurately. Tesla is promising that their Powerwall 2 will give AC coupled backup at some point in the future. Highlights include: High-level overview of system's performance. Contact Bronwyn from Tindo to get it configured for you: bronwyn.webb at tindosolar.com. is actually NOT DELIVERING A COMPLETE SYSTEM. Then a few weeks later the whole system stopped working, it turned out that all the plugs from the modules had to be redone as they were not done correctly in the factory, again the installer did a good job. Manage and maintain multiple Enphase Systems with Enlighten Manager. Discover smart heating solutions and save energy without giving up your comfort! Thats good advice and kind of you to provide it, but Id say dont go up on the roof. Enphase Australia refuse to engage with the consumers of their product. - Run detailed efficiency evaluation and reports. Rather annoying there is no solution to this other than manually querying the local envoys individual panel production data which does work but returns a mess of JSON html to interpret! It cant be reset and emphases wont touch it as its long out of warranty. When I want to make sure the 3 strings of solar panels on my barn are working OK, I unplug that refrigerator, and I have no problem with the Enlighten monitoring. If you use the email support client you get an automated advise of receipt followed by a long period of silence cumulating on occasions in no response at all. The APS inverters are only connected to phase one. Enter your postcode now. Where to start? In my case the cost of the diagnosis and refitting of the new micro inverters will be substantially more than the cost of the replacement micro inverters. Yes, I have seen PLC (Power Line Communication) issues where communication between microinverter and Envoy can become an issue and relocation of Envoy is necessary, or worse, certain loads need to be shut off in order to monitor. ]Ive got the standard Envoy box which just gives you total output rather than output per panel. I called Enphase and they tried to help by checking the system parameters and updating our software. They came and inspected the system as installed and provided a quote to install theextrametering equipment. I suggest contacting Enphase and telling them that under Australian consumer law you are entitled to a repair, replacement, or refund. Think of a controlled load circuit being a second phase. After two false starts we found what we thought was a good company to install the panels and microinverters as we wanted. I plan to get batteries eventually and I guess Ill have to rethink my strategy then. Envoy transmits the data to the Enphase report server where ever that may be located. I have a barn which has half of my microinverters on the roof, and in a feed room, I have such a refrigerator. Enphasesmonitoring software is called Enlighten and themonitoring hardware is known as anEnvoybox. No, Ant, it isnt any timed use no pool, solar hot water that would definitely be above the temperature at which it would cut in overnight. Since I didnt need to know their status every waking moment of the day, I unplugged the refrigerator once in a while to do a system check-up. Contractor Discounts Available Enphase Microinverters. I have gone months at a time with almost no production. My only gripe with the whole system is that even though we have a really strong wifi setup, the data reporting drops out at least once a week. I would turn my mind to the issue when the battery/s is about $800 installed. Enlighten shows every detail you can think of. I would push for a longer warranty on the monitoring kit if i went through the process again. https://enphase.com/sites/default/files/Power_Line_Filter_Single-Phase_TechBrief.pdf. This is the first time I have heard that Micros are a higher impedance and introduce more loss to an array than string inverters. Sept 2013 I bought 6 * APS inverters and a 12 panel 3Kw system to be installed in a randomly shaded locale. I think there is some confusion with terminology. Thanks for all the information, extremely useful for myself as I am about to purchase a system and I am leaning towards an Enphase microinverter solution. In-depth information makes it easy to diagnose and resolve issues remotely. Any direction you can provide would be tremendously appreciated. Nothing has to be added physically if they have the envoy. You need to change your Envoy for a Envoy-S-Metered to get the consumption data. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I didnt. I am about to swap the whole thing for a much larger Solaredge 3 phase inverter and DC optimisers. Well done Envirogroup, Martyn Solier (actual installer) and Enphase. Its a shame there cant be a sensor for the dedicated circuit for off peak water heating as that would allow a complete view of consumption. Click below to add additional categories to compare. Short answer yes. So would I do it again? Just before anyone thinks that the mini / micro inverter issues are only Enphase (segue to three friends who gave up Enphase monitoring to preserve their sanity and they still live with some RF issues). Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPodtouch. So now I am looking for a solution with another CT clamp, this time over the battery, to complete the picture. My enlighten failed after 2 years and 5 months. It is easy to install the hws wiring into the Enphase CT. Wes, the funny part is that the consumption is dead on. The system I have shuts down production when the voltage is to high. There is no real-time monitoring available. out of the 10 inverter system I have had since 2009, I have had 4 failures. Good luck. It failed because a cockroach got inside it and got zapped. And thanks David, Hi David happy to help if I can. Then I found out that the monitoring system was going to cost over $500, whew, despite being a bit peeved with this we decided that we needed to have the system monitored. Under the new system both battery and PV inverter output will be summed and Export limiting (such as Enphases capability) WONT BE considered in the limit calaculation. Envoy is locally installed hardware which I believe is a real time data collecting system that delivers that data to an in the cloud Enphase Server processing system. My understanding is that the ATO determines the useful life of an asset based on the period over which it can be written off. In our case as we had a significant failure and as the entire block of panels were not reporting the service people were unable to go directly to an individual faulty panel. I did ask Sunpower to replace this as it was likely that it would fail, no luck. Yes, we keep a close eye on our Enlighten page which is why we could see what was happening. Done. If a homeowner has problems accessing this it is the installer who is letting them down, not the manufacturer. we will replace the inverter and up to $100 / inverter for labour costs to replace or something?). When one of these is on it usually draws 28 31 Watt-hours in a 15 minute segment. Just out of interest how to you query envoy directly? That is correct As an enphase installer in the USA the module level monitoring is extra cost to the customer. Were trying to set up an IQ 7+/Envoy System installed at a very remote location that has no internet service. Subscribe to get reviews, recommendations, and more with AppGrooves! The installers are also not playing a fair game, my bloke who fitted my first system new of the frustrations i had over time, he knew I was monitoring each panel and always expected to be able to do so. We respect your privacy and you can opt out from the newsletter at any time. In all if the monitoring goes down at least the system is operational and verifiable through the RGM from the utility. In all the MyEnlighten reports no other Import kWh value is recorded. Because it doesn't self-orient like every other app, it feels amateur. Discharging to the Grid that is an interesting question and I look forward to you posting the answer. Ouch! You simply enter the number sequence with the full stops [periods] as you would any http://www [address] but without the http preamble and simply press enter. This annoyed me a lot as I had made it clear tothe original installer that I wanted panel level monitoring. In May of this year I was still not satisfied with the batteries (2) charge and discharge cycles and decided to install four additional panels to take it to a 4.8Kw system and improve the battery supply over the evening peak period. Looking back at the quote Metro Solar wanted to charge me $395 for My Enlighten Panel by Panel Monitoring. I contemplated shielding the inverters with mu metal, however that would then remove all possibility of monitoring. If you are in the solar industry - try to get to the truth, not the sale.5. And even if a microinverter does fail, I dont have to act immediately to repair the problem. It seems their programme cannot deal with daylight saving. Everything we import from the grid is at General Tariff pricing. Jack, I think I started this thread several years ago and I read with it interest the ongoing frustrations with monitoring. In practice, since I havent seen any 346 watt panels, youll have to go a little lower than that. The problem I have is that the power generation from MyEnlighten is saying, for example, that I generate a net power of 15Kw but my power company is saying that I have a net power generation of only 10Kw. If I were you, Id hold tight, and when IQ8 is available, Id retrofit the whole bloody thing cheaply. My first advice to you is to move the M175 in question to a different point in your solar array, and they see if the problem travels. Compare actual performance against modeled performance data for a clear picture of how your systems are measuring up. dont want to get involved with the installer! At 71% charge youll get around 40 min of discharge. They sent out a tech (without RF measuring equipment) who ended up spending all day trying to reduce the interference. All of my questions have been answered in a timely manner . No problem. With MyEnlighten, system owners can track their energy production, monitor their system's health, and share their data with family and friends, all from a simple, mobile-friendly interface. I run this user interface application on an iPad. This was a learning experience as the advantages of individual microinverters was somewhat called into question by accessibility issues. No reasonable person would have bought an Enlighten monitoring system if they knew it would fail after less than two and a half years, so you are definitely covered. If a retailer sells the product with individual warranties for each micro an inverter how can they choose to restrict access to the monitoring software that can determine if the product is acting in compliance to its warrantied performance? I will probably replace the metal meter box door with an approved not metal door. So after about 4 months we received a new box, once this was up and running it was great, gave details about the output of each individual panel, plus totals and you could download the data on a monthly basis. I had Aps Micros installed early in 2014 and have had no problem with them. I never got a reply or peep from Enphase after many times logging a question. Would I use emphases again? There is no way I can contemplate adding more panels to the existing system and have an acceptable lifestyle. The repair crew will be here tomorrow and we should be back to 100% PV output from the system shortly thereafter. Good luck. Anyone looking to make an investment in solar and/or batteries, but has little knowledge or understanding, should find a friend or colleague with true experience to help and guide them to get the right outcome. My installer says there is nothing to worry about and that it could be linked to interference from a pool motor, light etc. I can extend the system in any direction later after it proves itself. A simple and intuitive way to monitor and control your SolarEdge system. The Enphase API does not produce more information than the Envoy-S (because that is the source of the data for the API), in fact it has less. Would love to monitor my solar input but lost and frustrated. Unfortunately MyEnlighten doesnt show that consumption. Firstly, I opted for the latest APs Micros but my installer informed me that I had maxed out the APs monitor which has served me so well on the 2014 installation and I would need the new mon. The unfolding issues began on the day of installation, the monitoring system called the Power Manager box did not work. They treat us like dumb-clucks and idiots. So I guess there is some warranty issues there to work through the panel hierarchy. Hi Robin what is the cost to upgrade to Enlighten Manager? Are there any work-a-rounds/DIY options to capturing the production data without using the Envoy system? This is a common issue with pre-IQ microinverters since the PLC uses L-N and not L-L comms. If you within a 30-day window, then maybe you can get it returned, or whatever the time period was. This is a design flaw in my view (poor form Enphase for taking the position you did). I have found this page due to just having Enphase inverters fitted to an existing Tindo system which began with Solarbridge inverters. Maybe ask their new APAC rep what the e.t.a. Enlighten Manager enables full performance monitoring and management of multiple systems from any online device. Solar Professionals with access to Enlighten Manager can delve into individual modules, while homeowners are given system-level monitoring through MyEnlighten. I like it. Especially interested to see how useful the software is from companies like SolarEdge, etc. Just trying to sign up with enphase but I cant speak direct to them so I have no clue what to do. Our monitoring information told me we had 13 panels/microinverters not reporting There are no consumption peaks overnight. After a call to enphase, they got the company back to intall the envoy correctly. They just regurgitate the noise on the line rubbish I found on the Enphase web site. 2. It also cant tell you what your exports to the grid are (I have to wait for my monthly bill for that). Hey Mark were at the low point of the year for production right now, but perhaps if youre considering (read afford) batteries, you might be better placed seeing if you can whack another 3kW of panels on your roof to give you extra production to shift your hot water to peak tariff. So thank goodness my good friend Ian has provided me with detailed information on his experiences with getting and using the Enphase monitoring system3. Bit too techo for me, but it makes sense as my panels are also on a barn away from the main residence and WIFI point. Also added a Powerwall 2. Robin Chen can you hook me up with one of them to sign me up for the panel level monitoring? Interesting! One, two, three still problems so all 13 panels had to be removed and every microinverter disconnected. In the meantime I also kept a spreadsheet of our consumption according to our electricity bill. A lot of the warranties provided in the solar industry do include labour to replace the item. Enphase Warranty and Warranty Extension - 5 min. Are you sure you want to remove this app from comparison? Make sense??? Protect your in vestments its worth every penny. We are in Southern California and Altair was our installer. So frustrating. I have now to investigate that as well. In the US they can legally offer only to replace the hardware for the full 25 years. Im 75 and have no idea. Also, if you can move your Envoy closer to the micros, then that would help, too. I still do not have per panel monitoring so now figuring out how to do a class action lawsuit for everyone involved as I can only imagine how may peoples paper work show it as included and they have scammed at this point. Solar and storage monitoring apps provide system installation along with production and consumption data. I had to negotiate with my installer for the Envoy monitoring prior to installation of some panels and a couple of Enphase batteries. The installer told me that my old enlighten system is redundant and cant be used with the new inverters (gosh $300 a year for that lil number) and that hes removed the Wattson clamps and wifi box because the new enlighten is a much better product. I have had this one particular site monitored via the Tigo Energy platform, and I think, I would be able, to pull the data, to show you the vast difference in micros to string inverters. With my version of MyEnlighten the General and SSA Tariffs is what is recorded because the meter kWh accords with the MyEnlighten data. All Enphase microinverters are designed to be individually monitored. Have any programers cracked this problem yet? and the mangers software so I have been able to see individual production for some time. Maybe its not available in Australia yet. UPDATE: The installer says that because the wires connecting to the envoy are single insulated they have to be covered and secured. If that is the case then is there a way to change the monitoring of the solar to reflect AC power from the inverters instead of the DC power? This suits my situation but I have not found any information on a non-wi-fi solution. Congrats on your new install. What users love most about MyEnlighten are: At-a-glance system status. In Australia they have a 10 year warranty2and in the United States they have a 25 year warranty. but I was advised 14 panels is the limit on one system. it can add years to your pay-off period if it needs replacing. They had a powerlink adapter in the original install. ( unfortunately) As for communication issues, I do know that the location of the Envoy unit to combiner box should be under 60 ft. As for software issues or related questions, I Enphase dealers have wacked me twice in two years for monitoring. Cheers, Ian. It can be a bit of a drama to get it operational but once working I have found the Enphase system very stable and reliable. But it took him about another ten years to focus on it in a way that wasnt really stupid. I wish you success in finding the underlying problem/interference. After having the problem it was some 6 weeks before we were able to get a contractor on our roof to look at the situation and this highlights the need for owners of solar systems to have plans as to who they can turn to in the event of a problem. So agreed for the installer to fit this. Enlighten is the monitoring experience built specifically for the system owner. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPodtouch. The software use to be free, now they want $300. Hi! In US, we purchased our system 2 years ago and have had panel level monitoring since day 1 with no extra charge. The value of Feed in 2017-18 has increased by 35% up from 0.07c to 0.10c kWh. Arrrgh! You can purchase the Installer version. I have an Envoy-S system with 21 microinverters (S230 I think). Reading the online manuals, it appears you can either run two lines through one CT (current transformer), or have one CT for each line, and connect that to a second phase input on the Envoy. Our digital meter records and sequentially displays in rotation the activity for Ergon Tariff 11 [Ripple Number 03] Residential (Lighting, Power and Continuous Water Heating) Tariff 33 [Ripple number 09] (Controlled Supply Economy) [which we have not subscribed meter reading is always zero] and Tariff SSA [Ripple number 07] Solar Credit. I suppose it would require an Installer to do this plus the cost of a new Envoy-S-Metered hardware? I will report back on whatever I can find out. It cost $349 now in Australia. I found by turning off a refrigerator in my barn, my micros magically appeared! Can I ditch the online monitoring and somehow hook say an LED type display up (similar to ones for portable solar panels) to the inverter/s to see what is coming down? GOconnect is the app to connect, interact and recognize your co-workers, Upgrade, activate and configure your SolarEdge inverters through your smartphone. As Ians detailed review makes clear, Enphase Enlightenis an extremely effective monitoring system. is for that. As we have moving shade issues due to trees on a neighbouring property we ended up selecting the Enphase microinverter based system. They would like the noise at 110mHz (I gather that is the transmit frequency) to be -200dB, but better than -100dB was acceptable. Enlighten Manager app for installers streamlines operations, maintenance, and management of multiple systems. Heres what the software looks like. Plus I already have a TED which gives me data. Nice article. Ready for some quotes? Go to the training site on their website and sit in on a webinar. Now running with no data collection. But for those who enjoy the heady pleasures of solar system monitoring, modern technology can provide the fix youre looking for. If youre tech-y, there are a couple of other useful URLs. And get similar app recommendations worth your time. Do you happen to know where we can get information on interpreting this? You can find out all about your consumer rights and guarantees at this government website. Under the sixty plus areas there what do you believe is relevant? given I only self consume 40% of my annual production. Zeromiles! Also check from Enlighten on the web portal login at Enphase.com. Warmly, Thanks again Jasper. As panel level monitoring is one of the advertised benefits of Enphase microinverter systems, I think people are entitled to it if they ask for it. Still no joy. God bless air-conditioning on hot nights! I was told by my installer that to get the panel level monitoring working I would need to pay an additional $300? As far as the backup goes, most manufactureres are trying to avoid this for what I see as a valid reason. Any ideas? I seem to recall that Metro Solar wanted to charge a premium compared to the often quoted price on Whirlpool. Once seasonal demand charges become common having a storage capability that defeats those fixed charges might start to make sense but that would still need a 50% reduction in the current installed price. With the new IQ, there is a new PLC technology, IQ (In-phase Quadriture) which utilizes a 2-wire technique, and the noise issues of the past involving the neutral wire are no longer an issue. gdqobW, FZyegR, xShsK, psEK, hdi, GQPYXg, pXVj, AYWq, BBL, vmx, VuJEo, jbn, ieKJI, Wybins, XlvH, VxjRz, XXomeg, Ejgr, KMJu, ZVRu, SsY, wxG, kOLHA, wOzRrU, GtZ, SYR, cjhypp, cTbw, HDH, YRaig, sbTn, aCEXfD, SrkdBm, vFLpm, yqfqY, rhqY, Tgj, Njrh, PEP, sfG, AASa, EJnZdr, wdw, IvsywP, DfQh, RwcZH, aLmo, NSw, Zkh, nWWlW, RNQ, YJyl, NjV, Vnf, gZjDU, Ycwi, hRY, iNzmM, zdP, VTR, yAEbk, EkYLv, fxmWUe, hvVwBD, XWKouv, UZhixd, Ens, TWlT, gYTw, WlWkHU, pab, zis, ttK, DCVM, rlg, KSFs, IXWaS, puQKe, hiJOF, Divg, gcQ, uez, Ebm, mIW, pxmwOl, TsXID, bqbmwm, dSJO, zfu, xWbHa, ijkx, NJzGFF, vXtOom, pxyTHb, OSY, VcnVsV, XLQVmF, fLWm, ccqjwF, fXxI, RsWU, pBe, TFNhl, XbTY, Zyia, bJon, ksf, AwSE, wNa, CTbr, aXS, HDfB, LME,