PV Inverter wiring question

Piwoslaw · 06-25-24, 08:24 AM

Our 2.7kW PV system has 8 panels connected in series to a 3kW single-phase SolarEdge inverter. The existing panels are registered with the inverter during set up, so I can see each panel's output in real time in the SolarEdge app.

Due to their orientation and dropping efficiency, the panels' production never reaches more than ~2.2kW, so I'd like to add an extra 1-2 panels to boost output, but without registering them with the inverter for 2 reasons:

I don't want to hire a SE specialist for the job,
Changing my setup would force me to change my utility's tarif to one which is much less beneficial for me.

Question: If I just splice in the extra PVs in series, without setting anything up in the inverter, what will happen? Will the inverter just spit out the extra power, or will it refuse to work with the additional panels?
Any ideas?

MN Renovator · 06-29-24, 01:56 PM

My Solaredge never had the panels registered by the installer. They just connected the 12 solar modules and I watched the entire initial power up sequence, there really was no configuration. The installer turned on the breaker, outdoor disconnect, and the two solaredge switches, it went through the 5 minute waiting period and then we just watched for the 'OK' count or whatever it's called for the optimizer communication to show 12/12 for my 12 optimizer configuration.

My installer didn't bother registering the optimizer serials and it turns out many installers in my area don't because they think when someone sees a 20 watt difference with one module that they will complain about it when it's probably some dirt, bird crap, pollen, or standard module tolerance. I wish they did because in the winter when I clear snow off the modules, it would help to know if any one of them could use a little more clearing or to know how much is 'good enough'. Instead my installer put in an EGauge because it doesn't need to be connected directly to the Internet via wifi or an ethernet cable to the inverter making it easier for him. I'd rather have the SolarEdge interface I've essentially paid for and I even manually collected the serial numbers that come up within the LCD console on the inverter but haven't got my installer to register them.

..but to answer your question, pretty sure just make sure everything is in series properly and you should be good. I also think the install documentation is available on the SolarEdge website.

06-25-24, 08:24 AM	#1
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 964 Thanks: 189 Thanked 111 Times in 87 Posts	PV Inverter wiring question Our 2.7kW PV system has 8 panels connected in series to a 3kW single-phase SolarEdge inverter. The existing panels are registered with the inverter during set up, so I can see each panel's output in real time in the SolarEdge app. Due to their orientation and dropping efficiency, the panels' production never reaches more than ~2.2kW, so I'd like to add an extra 1-2 panels to boost output, but without registering them with the inverter for 2 reasons: I don't want to hire a SE specialist for the job, Changing my setup would force me to change my utility's tarif to one which is much less beneficial for me. Question: If I just splice in the extra PVs in series, without setting anything up in the inverter, what will happen? Will the inverter just spit out the extra power, or will it refuse to work with the additional panels? Any ideas? __________________ Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog.

06-29-24, 01:56 PM	#2
MN Renovator Less usage=Cheaper bills Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 940 Thanks: 41 Thanked 117 Times in 91 Posts	My Solaredge never had the panels registered by the installer. They just connected the 12 solar modules and I watched the entire initial power up sequence, there really was no configuration. The installer turned on the breaker, outdoor disconnect, and the two solaredge switches, it went through the 5 minute waiting period and then we just watched for the 'OK' count or whatever it's called for the optimizer communication to show 12/12 for my 12 optimizer configuration. My installer didn't bother registering the optimizer serials and it turns out many installers in my area don't because they think when someone sees a 20 watt difference with one module that they will complain about it when it's probably some dirt, bird crap, pollen, or standard module tolerance. I wish they did because in the winter when I clear snow off the modules, it would help to know if any one of them could use a little more clearing or to know how much is 'good enough'. Instead my installer put in an EGauge because it doesn't need to be connected directly to the Internet via wifi or an ethernet cable to the inverter making it easier for him. I'd rather have the SolarEdge interface I've essentially paid for and I even manually collected the serial numbers that come up within the LCD console on the inverter but haven't got my installer to register them. ..but to answer your question, pretty sure just make sure everything is in series properly and you should be good. I also think the install documentation is available on the SolarEdge website.