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My biggest complaint is that they charge $2 per inverter per year to see the output of the inverters.  I have 21 inverters, so $42 per year, and the system only generates $500 per your in electricity per year.  That's almost 10% per year just to see the output.

I tried to search their web site to find out what they charge before I bought the things, but they had no info on what they charge.  It was only until after I had installed the inverters that Enphase called me to register the inverter interface, and only after I asked what they charge did I get an answer.  Unfortunately, with these inverters installed under the panels on my 2 story house, it would be very difficult to change inverter manufactures.  So now if I want to know the output, I have to pay them $42 per year!

kyocera 40w and 135w modules are the same nominal voltage (12).  they can be wired in parallel if the charge controller can handle the ampacity, and the balance of system equipment (combiner, controller, pv disconnect, pv output circuit wiring) can handle the addition.

this article may help regarding the confusion of voltage terminology as it relates to voc and nominal voltage.

http://www.altestore.com/howto/Solar-Power-Residential-Mobile-PV/Solar-Components/Solar-Panels-PV/Solar-Panels-PV-and-Voltages/a98/

cheers,

james
altE staff

I have a midnight solar combiner, and(4) Kyocera KC40T modules in parallel going thru the combiner with individual breakers for each panel, this all goes to the controller

just trying to continue upgrading my system incrementally and see that adding in a Kyocera KD135SX-UPU would be a good cost/watt value. the Voc & nominals are pretty close

which do you mean, different voc or different nominal voltages?  what equipment do you have and what are you trying to do?

in battery based systems, modules may be put in parallel where each string is protected by a series overcurrent device.  the do not have to be the same exact module, but they should be the same nominal voltage, and the charge controller and all other aspects of the system design must be able to handle the additional current added to it.

james
altE staff

when hooking up multiple types of panels. IE: different Voc / Nominal. It's o.k. to mix them when they are all in Parallel?

OR Just get all the panels to be very close with regards to Voc?

Don’t tie the generator to the charge controller, a generator will burn up a solar controller.

You didn’t say what model inverter you have, or are considering.  Some off grid inverters have a good charging circuit in them. You can run house loads and simultaneously charge the batteries from a generator.

Depending on the size of your bank and what inverter you choose, you may want to consider a large battery charger run by the generator.

Hello All
I am putting in my off grid system, it will be a 3kw wind turbine with a 3 kw solar system, set up to a battery bank.

I want to have a back up generator for those rare occaisions that there is no wind or sun. 

Should I have the generator hooked to the charge controller to charge the batteries or directly to an inverter to power the home.

Thank You

Al

Its 6:15 pm. Do you know where your batteries electrolyte is at?
http://www.engineersedge.com/battery/specific_gravity_battery.htm

Just bought and installed both. All is well except that the RM-1 doesn't show the actual amperage (solar Current) delivered to the battery. Very disappointing!

I can read cumulative "battery Amp-hours (Ah)" and "battery watts V/kA)" but I don't really know what they mean.

Can anybody give a hand!

Richard

Isn't that a bummer, John H.........Anything that is fun, or addictive is regulated or illegal?  I see formation of a new agency now......ATF+GSM (Alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and girl scout mints). Oh, well, we are still having fun with alternative energy and I think that's legal so far.  I did hear back from Southwest Wind Power Co., and they were very helpful with replacement parts.  The insulator failure was chalked up as an uncommon failure and not subject to design modification.  So, as they said in the old horror movies........"watch the skies and be afraid"  I don't believe in luck, only destiny. :-;  Jon C.