Inverter threshold.
Does anyone know whether smaller inverters are more efficient at low solar levels than larger ones.
My 5kWh SolarEdge inverter failed a few weeks ago & my installer has fitted a 3.68kWh inverter temporary to keep me going since there is a unbelievably long wait for a 5k model.
The reason I ask is, yesterday was my first day working again & the energy generated was considerably higher than I would expect for the amount of solar, when compared to high solar days in July with the old inverter.
Today is similar in that it’s now totally clouded over & I'm generating 20% of the system max.
Or am I imaging it’s better since I’ve gone five weeks without a working system.
Interesting- how big was the day one percentage difference? Could it just have been the older inverter being on its last legs?
I was interested as I’m prevaricating between inverter sizes + roof shading in autumn/spring here. If supply wasn’t an issue I’d go GivEnergy - but from what I understand their 3.6/5.0 inverters are the same hardware with a SW flag set differently - and this might explain “MPPT range” starting at 150v for both (I’m guessing MPPT range is the right attribute.
SolarEdge seems harder to pin down with the effects of optimisers. Found this in a review: “Since SolarEdge residential inverters operate at 350V DC (380V for the HD wave)”….in the context of min string sizes and optimisers needing 60v to 85v each.
Did they swap a non-SE inverter in? What make/model?
And general question to all - are there some inverters with lower thresholds to go for if you have shading? (I’ve been quoted Tigo optimisers, but still, I’d like to not make a mistake on the inverter)