I Hope you put some more videos up like this. I'm thinking about taking the leap and putting together an off grid system around a couple of 24-85-29 forklift battery's. Hooking it up at the city power service entrance so I don't have to muck around fabricating anything.
Great video on how to connect the wiring from your solar panels to your combiner box and disconnect. I'll be using this info to hook up the wiring to my system, Thank you for making this video!
Great video! One thing to note and I believe it is NEC is your PV power input from the disconnect and production meter to your electric panel should technically be on the complete opposite side (diagonal) to your main grid feed breaker, for even power distribution on the busbars. It was hard to tell in your video but it looked like the PV 40a DP breaker was on the bottom left and the main breaker on the bottom right directly next to it.
Nice video. I have the same setup, but with 2-12panel rows and iq8+ inverters. I also put my combiner box inside, for less stuff on the exterior. I’ve been in operation for 3 months now. Was just curious on if you like your system, did you buy yourself or finance and do you do any maintenance? Thanks again.
Love the video. Thanks for a thorough walkthrough. Those conduit standoffs on the roof are suspect though. LOL. I see opportunities for water to pool at each one and subsequently cause failures. Might want to invest in proper flashed standoffs in the future.
We just won a storage auction with 14 trina solar tsm-280dd05a.05(ii) 289 watt panels with Enphase iq6 micro inverts installed on them. it also has the combiner box that looks just like the one in your video it has a label that says IQ combiner 3 on it. I need to buy all the mounting hardware and the disconnect and wiring with the q connectors. I need to figure out all the other stuff I need and how to do plans and such for approval. Looks like fun.
I have two strings coming into my combiner box with two empty available breaker slots. Can I add another string of same IQ7’s? Will the envoy automatically pick up these new micro-inverters?
Thanks for the video! I am trying to learn more to see if I feel comfortable DIY'ing my solar. I have a few questions about your install that deviated from my current and ever evolving understanding of what mine will need. 1) Why do you have a second meter (consumption meter that doesn't have meter installed on this video)? Doesn't the combiner box envoy provide that functionality? Is that a local power company requirement? 2) I know a solar disconnect is needed but does it need to be fused? I saw somewhere that a fused one is needed if you are doing a 'line side' tap but not if you are behind your panel (i.e. backfeed breaker into panel). 3) Curious why you ran the ground from your PV racks outside conduit down your house. Was that personal preference on this install or is that needed by code?
Nice to see good Questions here. 1) The system has been approved by the electrical inspector, but not the utility yet. When we get that approval, they will install a production meter. 2) Does not need to be fused, except as you say. Some parts are harder to get now. 3)Personal preference, just easier than trying to send it through the conduit.
I would have ran the ground underneath the panels , also you only needed one junction box . There is q cable that enphase sells that you can extend the circuits where you need them to go
I have older M250 inverters that apparently use the neutral wire to communicate with Envoy. I had one go bad and they sent me a new IQ7 to replace it. When I replaced it, the new inverter works, but the 14 old inverters on the same string stopped working. Any ideas? Thanks
I would complain to Enphase with your description of the problem and facts to support it. This is really interesting. Email me at jtn@gogreenenergyonline.com
There are old installations where the EMT carried the ground (indoor lighting), but the EMT should never carry the ground, especially on an outdoor rooftop installation!
So i'm trying to use this video for a similar setup here in the UK but we don't have combiners we have distribution boards and everything works a little differently, the biggest thing I cannot work out it why do you have 2 "hots" into the breakers? my enphase IQ inverters clearly have a live and a neutral :|
@@TurbineGuy I am truly baffled. Even the q clips on your previous video show positive and negative on them. And the q cables I have bought have blue and brown which indicate positive and neutral. I'm left more confused than before haha
Does not matter if the wires are different colors, they probably did that for the manufacturing process. I have never heard of a 120 volt enphase microinverter. I have m215's for 2011 or so on my roof.
Here is link to spec sheet for Enphase micro inverters for UK and Europe: www4.enphase.com/sites/default/files/downloads/support/IQ7-IQ7plus-DS-EN-UK.pdf
Thank you for posting this video, so I am not using a combiner box- I am running mine to the solar disconnect and then to the panel/breaker.. My question is the neutral, is the reason you had a neutral in the combiner box just for the envoy breaker? In other if words if you had powered the envoy from the panel in your house you would just have the 2 hots and ground going to your solar disconnect and then on to your main breaker? Thanks much!
Nice job. I have my panels installed and can't get an electrician in Northern Michigan so this is helpful. I am confused about why you have a ground wire. Enphase Microinverters since 2014 don't need to be grounded. Are you grounding the racking? I have a metal roof and attached my panels with S-5 clamps and PV Kit holdowns. The roof doesn't need grounding. What do you suggest?
Yes, it is there to ground the racking for lightning, Unless your roof is grounded through a grounding rod, i would run the ground wire from the racking all the way down like I did through all the equipment and into the panel.
@@TurbineGuy Thanks. Since my entire roof is metal and the panels are all clamped to the roof would a ground cable attached to one clamp and run to the combiner box ground the roof and the panels?
How long is the Q cable or how many connectors are on each q cable? I've not been able to find this info. I've completed multiple systems with string inverters. First time lookin at microinverters. Great videos
@@TurbineGuy I finally got educated enough that the supplier sends the cable with one connector for each panel. One needs to specify the orientation of the enough connectors attached because the the portrait mode panels are more closely space than landscape. And the user trims as required - Great thanks. Which panel spec is used to determine the current per line?
Top of the Morning, another question- did you run #6 to all of the panels as well as racks for ground? I am upgrading my panels and all of the old 15 yr old panels that I had ground as above with weeblugs had pretty much lost any real contact due to galv. corrosion.. I am thinking about just grounding the frames/racks. Thanks Much and have a Solar day!
#6 ground if run outside the conduit, #8 is fine inside conduit. The mounting bolts for the modules are grounding bolts, so only need to grab the rails.
@@Jmunoz1675 Typically installed wiring the inverters through an IQ combiner box with an envoy communication module installed. The Envoy communicates and runs the programming for all of the Enphase equipment including the batteries, enpower switch and inverters.
My breaker panel doesn’t show a breaker for any solar. So what’s going on? I’m starting to think I got scammed and I’m powering the electric grid only, and not my house. It’s an Envoy system 240v micro inverter like yours in the video. Another question the way you hooked it up, in event the power grid goes down, will your system still energize the house directly without battery backup, or does your solar system shut down also?
Need batteries to run the system when the power is out. You could very well have line side taps if the breaker would have to be over 40 amps, which depends on how large your system is. Thus, no breaker in the panel.
Says the electric code. When a renewable system is installed and backfeeding a 200 amp panel, you can only add 20% more juice to the bus bar of the panel, 200x.2=40 amps, otherwise you can overtax the bus bar and burn it up, or your house down. If it is a system that would require a larger breaker, you need to install line side taps.
Extremely well done. Looks like a wonderful location there too. . .
Best video ever!. Thank you and Bless you!
Happy to help!!
Thank You Turbine Guy.
I Hope you put some more videos up like this. I'm thinking about taking the leap and putting together an off grid system around a couple of 24-85-29 forklift battery's. Hooking it up at the city power service entrance so I don't have to muck around fabricating anything.
Great video on how to connect the wiring from your solar panels to your combiner box and disconnect. I'll be using this info to hook up the wiring to my system, Thank you for making this video!
Absolutely helpful and awesome detailed video. Just what I was looking for. Thank you!
Great to hear!
Great video! One thing to note and I believe it is NEC is your PV power input from the disconnect and production meter to your electric panel should technically be on the complete opposite side (diagonal) to your main grid feed breaker, for even power distribution on the busbars. It was hard to tell in your video but it looked like the PV 40a DP breaker was on the bottom left and the main breaker on the bottom right directly next to it.
This is correct needs to be the furthest away from the main breaker , also I didn’t see proper grounding from box to box
what amp fuse do you use for the shutoff switch? Same as the breaker in the main panel?
I typically use a fuse the same size as the rating for the switch, 60 amp. But, you could use a smaller one if you want to.
Nice video. I have the same setup, but with 2-12panel rows and iq8+ inverters. I also put my combiner box inside, for less stuff on the exterior. I’ve been in operation for 3 months now. Was just curious on if you like your system, did you buy yourself or finance and do you do any maintenance? Thanks again.
Bought and installed myself, I sell turnkey and DIY solar systems
@@TurbineGuy do you do any maintenance? I know Enphase has auto updates, but ever hear of cleaning your panels? I’m in New England, weather varies….
Not really, rain and snow do a good enough job cleaning them off.
Amazing video. Very informative step by step. I am learning how to connect the system and this video is amazing.
Thanks. Trying to empower people to take care of themselves.
Nice Job Jay !!!
How about non fuse disco im trying to refresh have been injured and am spacing the way everything needs to be run 😅
Thank you for this helpfully video it is clear and to the point. Good Job!
Glad it was helpful!
This was so informative, I’m truly appreciate for this video. By chance could you put some more out for trainees?
Love the video. Thanks for a thorough walkthrough. Those conduit standoffs on the roof are suspect though. LOL. I see opportunities for water to pool at each one and subsequently cause failures. Might want to invest in proper flashed standoffs in the future.
That was before they came out with the conduit mount flashings. But, I agree.
Or just don't run conduit on the roof because its ugly and put it in the attic 😂
40 amp * 240 = 9k watt. How does a 15k watt push its output to the grid? Bigger breaker?
40 amp is the biggest breaker for a 200 amp panel. You would need to use line side taps: th-cam.com/video/KlemrZCiUa0/w-d-xo.html
We just won a storage auction with 14 trina solar tsm-280dd05a.05(ii) 289 watt panels with Enphase iq6 micro inverts installed on them. it also has the combiner box that looks just like the one in your video it has a label that says IQ combiner 3 on it. I need to buy all the mounting hardware and the disconnect and wiring with the q connectors. I need to figure out all the other stuff I need and how to do plans and such for approval. Looks like fun.
I can help you with that.Emailme:jtn@gogreenenergyonline.com
What model Enphase combiner box are you using? And what disconnect switch model are you using? Please and thank you.
I have two strings coming into my combiner box with two empty available breaker slots. Can I add another string of same IQ7’s? Will the envoy automatically pick up these new micro-inverters?
Yes you can add one more string. You would have to search for the new inverters for the online monitoring, but not if you simply want them to work.
Thanks for the video! I am trying to learn more to see if I feel comfortable DIY'ing my solar. I have a few questions about your install that deviated from my current and ever evolving understanding of what mine will need.
1) Why do you have a second meter (consumption meter that doesn't have meter installed on this video)? Doesn't the combiner box envoy provide that functionality? Is that a local power company requirement?
2) I know a solar disconnect is needed but does it need to be fused? I saw somewhere that a fused one is needed if you are doing a 'line side' tap but not if you are behind your panel (i.e. backfeed breaker into panel).
3) Curious why you ran the ground from your PV racks outside conduit down your house. Was that personal preference on this install or is that needed by code?
Nice to see good Questions here.
1) The system has been approved by the electrical inspector, but not the utility yet. When we get that approval, they will install a production meter.
2) Does not need to be fused, except as you say. Some parts are harder to get now.
3)Personal preference, just easier than trying to send it through the conduit.
I would have ran the ground underneath the panels , also you only needed one junction box . There is q cable that enphase sells that you can extend the circuits where you need them to go
I have older M250 inverters that apparently use the neutral wire to communicate with Envoy. I had one go bad and they sent me a new IQ7 to replace it. When I replaced it, the new inverter works, but the 14 old inverters on the same string stopped working. Any ideas? Thanks
I would complain to Enphase with your description of the problem and facts to support it. This is really interesting. Email me at jtn@gogreenenergyonline.com
There are old installations where the EMT carried the ground (indoor lighting), but the EMT should never carry the ground, especially on an outdoor rooftop installation!
Many electricians still run EMT for ground for solar
I like the Inspector Cat at 40 second mark
She keeps me on my toes.
@@TurbineGuy waaahahaha
So i'm trying to use this video for a similar setup here in the UK but we don't have combiners we have distribution boards and everything works a little differently, the biggest thing I cannot work out it why do you have 2 "hots" into the breakers?
my enphase IQ inverters clearly have a live and a neutral :|
Both wires coming from the micro inverter are hots, thus 240 ac voltage. 120 each line. There is no neutral coming from the micro inverters.
@@TurbineGuy I am truly baffled. Even the q clips on your previous video show positive and negative on them. And the q cables I have bought have blue and brown which indicate positive and neutral. I'm left more confused than before haha
Does not matter if the wires are different colors, they probably did that for the manufacturing process. I have never heard of a 120 volt enphase microinverter. I have m215's for 2011 or so on my roof.
Here is link to spec sheet for Enphase micro inverters for UK and Europe: www4.enphase.com/sites/default/files/downloads/support/IQ7-IQ7plus-DS-EN-UK.pdf
Thank you for posting this video, so I am not using a combiner box- I am running mine to the solar disconnect and then to the panel/breaker.. My question is the neutral, is the reason you had a neutral in the combiner box just for the envoy breaker? In other if words if you had powered the envoy from the panel in your house you would just have the 2 hots and ground going to your solar disconnect and then on to your main breaker? Thanks much!
Correct. Neutral is for the envoy. (did you sub my channel?(please))
Thanks for the reply, I will!
Nice job. I have my panels installed and can't get an electrician in Northern Michigan so this is helpful. I am confused about why you have a ground wire. Enphase Microinverters since 2014 don't need to be grounded. Are you grounding the racking? I have a metal roof and attached my panels with S-5 clamps and PV Kit holdowns. The roof doesn't need grounding. What do you suggest?
Yes, it is there to ground the racking for lightning, Unless your roof is grounded through a grounding rod, i would run the ground wire from the racking all the way down like I did through all the equipment and into the panel.
@@TurbineGuy Thanks. Since my entire roof is metal and the panels are all clamped to the roof would a ground cable attached to one clamp and run to the combiner box ground the roof and the panels?
Please can you tell me if the Q-cable AC connectors are polarized?
They are not polarized. They each can be connected to either 120 leg
@@TurbineGuy Many thanks
How long is the Q cable or how many connectors are on each q cable? I've not been able to find this info. I've completed multiple systems with string inverters. First time lookin at microinverters.
Great videos
When I get the cable, it comes with all the drops together for a system, then I cut it to length for how many in that string.
@@TurbineGuy I finally got educated enough that the supplier sends the cable with one connector for each panel. One needs to specify the orientation of the enough connectors attached because the the portrait mode panels are more closely space than landscape. And the user trims as required - Great thanks.
Which panel spec is used to determine the current per line?
@@TheTucsonBG just portrait or landscape. The wires are sized for a limited number of modules on each string. Usually 13.
Top of the Morning, another question- did you run #6 to all of the panels as well as racks for ground? I am upgrading my panels and all of the old 15 yr old panels that I had ground as above with weeblugs had pretty much lost any real contact due to galv. corrosion.. I am thinking about just grounding the frames/racks. Thanks Much and have a Solar day!
#6 ground if run outside the conduit, #8 is fine inside conduit. The mounting bolts for the modules are grounding bolts, so only need to grab the rails.
Great, thanks much- things have changed a bit in the last 15 yrs as they always do..
What's the limiting factor for a branch? The wire size for the curren? Or the number of microinverters?
Number of microinverters.
Great video, Can these enphase inverters be used in an off grid setup?
yes they can. In fact, the IQ8's can form their own micro grid when the sun is up if you install an Enphase Enpower switch with it.
@@TurbineGuy Thank you for the reply. Can they be wired directly to a subpanel or do they need to communicate with the IQ system controller?
@@Jmunoz1675 Typically installed wiring the inverters through an IQ combiner box with an envoy communication module installed. The Envoy communicates and runs the programming for all of the Enphase equipment including the batteries, enpower switch and inverters.
My breaker panel doesn’t show a breaker for any solar. So what’s going on? I’m starting to think I got scammed and I’m powering the electric grid only, and not my house. It’s an Envoy system 240v micro inverter like yours in the video. Another question the way you hooked it up, in event the power grid goes down, will your system still energize the house directly without battery backup, or does your solar system shut down also?
Need batteries to run the system when the power is out. You could very well have line side taps if the breaker would have to be over 40 amps, which depends on how large your system is. Thus, no breaker in the panel.
what do you have connected to the 40 amp breaker on the inside?
40 amp breaker in panel is connected to the disconnect outside.
What kind of disconnect switch do you have. I see it is Siemens, but just wondering on the model. Thank you in advance.
GF222NRA - must be outdoor rated. (NEMA 3)
My enphase lights not coming on. What can I do to fix that?
send me an email: jtn@gogreenenergyonline.com with a description of the problem and pics if you think they are needed
Don't bond your ground with a wire nut. Per NEC code.
Nice
How did you calculate what gauge wire to use? I know it's based on distance of run and amps? Is there a calculator you can recommend?
Use an ampacity chart you can find online and oversize a little bit.
One thing even if you run EMT you must have a ground wire.
Are you from Minnesota? I’m looking at getting into solar
you can run emt out in the open like that in canada? what
for reference, in the video he says to think about running emt so you don't need the solid ground.
This is not Canada, and yes, you can.
Please refer to AC wires as hot wires not positive wires you may confuse non electricians.
Warning! Watch your fingers when showing your connections between theses breakout boxes.
Lord have mercy upon you when it is time for shingle replacement.
Would be the first time he ever did for me
You cant install bigger than a 40A Double Pole breaker in a 200Amp Panel? Says who?
Says the electric code. When a renewable system is installed and backfeeding a 200 amp panel, you can only add 20% more juice to the bus bar of the panel, 200x.2=40 amps, otherwise you can overtax the bus bar and burn it up, or your house down. If it is a system that would require a larger breaker, you need to install line side taps.
@@TurbineGuy I did not know that. Thanks for taking the time for that information.