Undersizing Inverters

[jupestar]

Are both inverters TL type?

the sma is a 4000tl. the fronius i think is the ig 3.6tl. although i have to admit i'm not as familiar with the range.

my dad has a ig 3.6tl. and although he has a chimney in the middle of his install so should in theory have a duel mppt. he nots changed it as he is getting good generation.

 

[Glen Powell]

OK the difference is the voltage start up range 188v for the SMA and 350 for the fronius so the SMA should win, I Know before anybody starts its the current that does the bizz but if they are similar installs in the same street I would expect the sunny boy to win.

 

[moggy1968]

I don't know, I've used Fronius IG3.6TLs quite a bit and even when it's well into dusk and the array is barely producing any current the voltage is still well above 350 on 16 panels (single string).
I know a customer whose 16amp limited inverter maxed out at around 3.7kW in the recent cold but very bright weather. This was a power one 3.6OUTD(16a). I haven't had similar feedback from the Fronius' we've used but it may be this is where the difference lies. I would expect the difference to start to balance out over the course of the year.

 

[Glen Powell]

This is why I love the powerone inverter, although production is slower than we need, or that demand is really high.

 

[SolarCity]

To be fair, you really can't go wrong with Power One inverters. It's an installer/designer's dream.

 

[moggy1968]

unless you want remote monitoring. I think SMA are hard to beat for that.
yet to find a satisfactory way to bluetooth power one

 

[SolarCity]

I agree with you on that. SMA have all the best features - Global Optitrac and the multifunction relays as standard is impressive.

 

[jupestar]

had to go back again this week (despite my protests) he requested i set up bluetooth for him to his laptop. his laptop was the 80's so couldn't be done (or i couldn't do it). gave him a sunnybeam! Anyway he is outperformng still, and his neighbour is visibly annoyed. if i was his neighbour i'd probably move house then have him gloating all over me. anyway this is the third time i've been back to this job... starting to annoy me. i still count me lucky stars and wonder what i would do if we were underperforming his neighbour...

 

[GaryM]

I've got a 4kWp (16 x 250W JA Solar) system with a Fronius IG TL 3.6 which I compare on a regular basis to another system around half a mile away from me, a 3.995kWp (17 x 235W Conergy) system with a SMA 4000TL.
Both south facing systems with no shading at all.

I've been generating more with my Fronius, apart from the past few days which have been very miserable.

PVOuput link to compare daily

PVOuput link to compare monthly

 

[Eco Deal]

correct me if I am wrong but a 4000TL SMA once set to G83 will be limted to 3.68kwp ????

just like a 3600TL ????

so in theory its the same so your not doing much diffrent really althought a 4000TL would be able to add extra panels later