Enphase IQ8 And IQ7 Microinverters: Living In (Perfect?) Harmony

Microinverter and energy storage manufacturer Enphase announced last week that Australian owners of IQ7-based microinverter systems can expand their solar capacity using IQ8 devices. Plus, news of a recent addition to the company’s Australian energy storage solutions range.

Mixing IQ7 And IQ8 Microinverters: The Solution

Following a launch earlier this year across North America, Europe and several other markets, software enabling the IQ8 and IQ7 to work together has been made available in Australia, India, South Africa, and the Philippines. For Australian homeowners with existing IQ7 systems, they’ll also be able to add compatible energy storage under a mixed microinverter scenario.

“With this upgrade and appropriate configuration, systems can seamlessly generate, store, and supply power during grid interruptions – supporting increased self-consumption, backup capability, and long-term energy independence,” says Enphase.

Previously, IQ7 microinverters couldn’t mix with IQ8 on the same IQ Gateway (formerly known as Envoy), or combiner box with built-in Gateway¹ due to the latest generation device using a new form of PLC (power line communications) that wasn’t backwards- compatible.

The situation would have frustrating for some of the one million households worldwide using the IQ7, as owners wanting to expand their systems were faced with three choices — running two systems with two Gateways, replacing all their micros with IQ8 units, or adding more IQ7 microinverters; which are still available in Australia.

How It’s Done

Enphase Software Version 8.3.5225, with Installer App 4.8 (and higher) allows both generations to interface with the same IQ System Controller 3INT or Gateway. The following video runs through the steps:

Considering Microinverters?

SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock has 34 Enphase IQ7 microinverters installed on the roof of his home. His opinion: great hardware, not so great software — but Enphase is still the only game in town worth considering for microinverter based systems.

Choosing an inverter solution is an important decision, with these devices being the real workhorse of a solar power system. While microinverters have their place, whether using them is right for you will depend on your circumstances. And expect to pay an additional 20-30% to the total upfront cost of a Enphase-based solar power system compared to one based on a single conventional string inverter.

One microinverter is needed for each solar panel; although there are some residential solutions that can support multiple panels, such as several Hoymiles models.

Learn more about choosing the right solar inverter solution for your home.

IQ Battery 5P With FlexPhase Launched In Australia

In other Enphase news, last month the company announced launch of the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase for customers in Australia.

Two Enphase IQ Battery 5P (right) + System Controller 3INT (left).

While the FlexPhase still looks the same as the original 5P², the latter only supports single-phase connections, whereas the FlexPhase supports both single-phase and three-phase applications — and with configurable variable power levels.

An all-in-one AC-coupled system, the 5P with FlexPhase starts at 5 kWh capacity and is expandable up to 70 kWh. Each 5 kWh unit can deliver 1.65 kW to 3.84 kW output in single-phase configurations, and from 0.61 kW to 1.28 kW per phase in a three-phase setup. The customisable power settings enable installers to meet local grid connection requirements while allowing more capacity to be installed per home.

Like the original 5P, the FlexPhase version includes six IQ8T‑BAT microinverters.

“Expanding the availability of the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase into Australia reinforces our commitment to delivering innovative and high-performance energy solutions that aim to help homeowners save more on their energy bills,” said Ken Fong, senior vice president of sales at Enphase Energy.

Enphase has had a presence in Australia since 2013, and Enphase microinverter and battery reviews from Australian customers have generally been favourable.