One micro-inverter per solar module. Envoy allows you to monitor each module through the Enlighten website.
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The Enphase Micro-inverter system is a fully integrated device that converts the DC output of a single solar module into grid-compliant AC power. This integrated system maximizes energy harvest, increases system reliability, and simplifies design, installation and management. This is the first commercially available inverter for residential and commercial solar PV applications that uses one inverter per solar module with MPPT and a unique way to watch your power production for each solar module. Welcome to a new generation of solar power grid-tie inverters!
Models include the M175-24-208-S, M175-24-240-S M200-32-208-S and M200-32-240-S Micro-Inverters.
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How Enphase Energy Differs from a Standard Solar Energy System
Traditional solar energy installations deploy a single centralized inverter to convert the DC output from multiple solar modules into AC power. The Enphase Energy Micro-inverter system is a fully integrated device that converts the DC output of a single solar module into grid-compliant AC power. This provides significant benefits over traditional solar energy systems:
| Traditional System | Enphase System | Benefits |
| Single centralized inverter | One Micro-inverter per module | • Eliminates concern about where to place a large inverter. • Reduced wiring time. • Eliminates need for DC switching points. |
| Single MPPT for array | Individual MPPT per module | • Maximizes harvest per module. • Increased resilience to obstruction, shading, inter-row shading, and obstacles such as dust or debris. |
| Uniform, co-planar module installation | Mis-matched, non-coplanar orientation possible | • Roof area can be maximized. • Configuration flexibility for varying module brands and ratings. • Modules need not be collocated. |
| String design | Branch circuit design | • No string design required. • No single point of failure. • Degradation of one module does not affect other modules. |
| Third party per-inverter monitoring | Integrated Enlighten™ per-module monitoring | • Continuous per-module performance monitoring for optimized harvest. • Performance variance detection, analysis, and diagnostics. |
The Enphase Micro-inverter system is the first commercially-available Micro-inverter system for residential and commercial solar PV applications.
The Enphase System includes the following two additional components:
Communications Gateway
The module performance information generated by each Micro-inverter is collected by the Enphase communications gateway called the Energy Management Unit (EMU). This is also known as the Envoy. The EMU then transmits this data over a broadband internet connection to the Enphase Enlighten™ website.
Enlighten
The Enphase Enlighten website analyzes the per-module data collected by each Micro-inverter. Enlighten automatically detects any shortfall in energy production, identifies possible causes, and suggests solutions to correct the problem. The Enphase Enlighten website is constantly monitoring and managing every module on every installation.
Links to Enphase Inverters:
| • | 175W, 208V | M175-24-208-S01/2 | ||
| • | 175W, 240V | M175-24-240-S01/2 | ||
| • | 200W, 208V | M200-32-208-S01/2 | ||
| • | 200W, 240V | M200-32-240-S01/2 |
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About Enphase
Why did Enphase Energy get started?
Enphase Energy was started to address the challenges associated with the traditional solar energy model:
• Maximizing the energy harvest of an array of modules.
• Having a single inverter for an entire array creates a single point of failure.
• Complex design decisions must be made in sizing DC series and parallel strings.
• Limited monitoring and analysis and no per-panel visibility.
General Features FAQ
What is a Micro-inverter?
An inverter is a power converter that converts direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). Traditionally, this has meant one, centrally-located inverter converting all of the DC current from the entire PV array. A micro-inverter is a much smaller version of the central inverter where there is one per PV module. The DC gets converted to AC at the point of the PV module. AC power then travels upstream through an ordinary branch circuit, and to the service panel.
What is a Micro-inverter system?
A Micro-inverter system is a federation of multiple micro-inverters all along a branch circuit, and/or within multiple branch circuits, which are all converting DC to AC, all injecting their current upstream, and reporting back to Enphase regarding their individual power-production statistics.
What is an EMU?
The Energy Management Unit is the communications gateway device which relays power-production statistics from the Micro-inverters to the Enlighten™ website.
How do Enphase Micro-inverters differ from PVAC units?
With PVAC, the inverter and module are a single unit and are sold and installed as such. In contrast, the Enphase Micro-inverter is architected as a standalone inverter. This modular design means the Enphase Micro-inverter offers the flexibility to work with most off-the-shelf solar modules.
Can Enphase Micro-inverters work in off-grid environments?
Enphase Micro-inverters have only been tested to work in grid-tied installations.
Can Enphase be used in both Residential and Commercial solar deployments?
Yes. Enphase micro-inverters are designed for 240VAC residential, as well as 208VAC three-phase service.
What solar modules is the Enphase Micro-inverter compatible with?
The Enphase Micro-inverters (Model M175 240V and Model M175 208V) work with any 24V nominal module up to 210-215W STC. Enpahse Solar Inverters (Model M200-32-240-S and Model M200-32-208-S) work with any 32V nominal solar module. Type 1 and Type 4 (Solarline 2) MC Connectors are available.
