How The Microinverter Works; System Monitoring; Optimal Reliability; Ease Of Design - enphase M215 Installation And Operation Manual

How the Microinverter Works

The Enphase Microinverter maximizes energy production from your photovoltaic (PV) array. Each Enphase
Microinverter is individually connected to one PV module in your array. This unique configuration means that
an individual Maximum Peak Power Point Tracker (MPPT) controls each PV module. This ensures that the
maximum power available from each PV module is exported to the utility grid regardless of the performance
of the other PV modules in the array. That is, although individual PV modules in the array may be affected by
shading, soiling, orientation, or PV module mismatch, the Enphase Microinverter ensures top performance
for its associated PV module. The result is maximum energy production from your PV system.

System Monitoring

Indoors, you can install the Envoy Communications Gateway by plugging it into any convenient 120VAC wall
socket and providing an Ethernet connection to your broadband router or modem. After installation of the
Envoy, the Enphase Microinverters automatically begin reporting to the Enphase Enlighten web server. The
Enlighten software presents current and historical system performance trends, and it informs you of PV
system status.

Optimal Reliability

Microinverter systems are inherently more reliable than traditional inverters. The distributed nature of a
microinverter system ensures that there is no single point of system failure in the PV system. Enphase
Microinverters are designed to operate at full power at ambient temperatures as high as 65° C (150° F). The
microinverter housing is designed for outdoor installation and complies with the NEMA 6 environmental
enclosure rating standard:
NEMA 6 rating definition : Indoor or outdoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection
against hose-directed water, and the entry of water during occasional temporary
submersion at a limited depth, and damage from external ice formation.

Ease of Design

PV systems using Enphase Microinverters are very simple to design and install. You will not need string
calculations, and you can install individual PV modules in any combination of PV module quantity, type, age
and orientation. You won't need to install cumbersome traditional inverters. Each microinverter quickly
mounts on the PV racking, directly beneath each PV module. Low voltage DC wires connect from the PV
module directly to the co-located microinverter, eliminating the risk of personnel exposure to lethal 600Vdc
power.
6 Copyright  2012 Enphase Energy
M215 Installation and Operation
141-00012 Rev 04