Enphase IQ8+ Review: Is It Worth It?

The Enphase IQ8 series is the latest addition to Enphase’s line of microinverters, and it comes with a compelling promise: backup power without solar batteries. That hasn’t been done before in the solar industry, so we're reviewing the IQ8+ in more detail to see what it’s really capable of.

Until now, homeowners looking to protect against grid outages have needed to invest in a battery bank for local backup power (or just compromise and live with the occasional outage).

In this article, we’ll review the Enphase IQ8+ from the ground up, covering its new backup power feature and comparing its speedy capabilities to its predecessor, the IQ7.

"The IQ7s have been a huge hit because of their reliability, ease of install and durability," says Spencer Rosen, a regional sales manager at Enphase. "The IQ8s reap all the benefits of the IQ7, but with a speed that's a thousand times faster."

Enphase IQ8+: Quick Specs

• Common solar panel pairings: 235 - 440 watts
• Peak efficiency: 97.6%
• Warranty: 25 years
• Max DC input voltage: 60V DC
• Max continuous output voltage: 290V AC
• Works with: 60/120-cell and 72/144-cell modules

New to the Enphase IQ8: Sunlight Backup

Let's talk more about the latest feature of Enphase IQ8: Sunlight Backup.

Here's how it works. If the grid goes down, IQ8 systems can provide limited and conditional home backup by pulling electricity straight from the solar array. 

See Sunlight Backup in action with a demo from Enphase labs:

Of course, Sunlight Backup comes with a slate of limitations – namely, that backup power is only available when the sun is out (hence the name). Additionally, Sunlight Backup scales with the amount of sunlight hitting your panels.

This means that at night, you won’t have backup power at all. At dawn and dusk, you’ll have a limited amount of backup power available because solar irradiance is lower.

These graphs from Enphase’s IQ8 demo presentation explain the concept nicely:

On completely sunny days, IQ8 systems will have access to the full capabilities of the solar array. As sunlight gets less intense during the winter, the available backup power drops accordingly.

Same goes for cloudy days, where backup capabilities fluctuate as clouds pass overhead:

Overall, the IQ8 gives homeowners access to at least some backup power without spending a cent on batteries, which makes this microinverter a very appealing choice for many homeowners.

Shoppers who are interested in the IQ8s should be aware of the limitations and set realistic expectations for their system’s backup capabilities. Sunlight Backup is a wonderful perk that provides spot backup under the right circumstances, but if you want coverage at night or during severe weather events, you’ll still need a full battery bank to take on the task.

A few additional notes worth mentioning about Sunlight Backup:

• If you try to use more electricity than is being produced by your array during an outage, your Sunlight Backup system will trip and shut off temporarily. If this happens, the IQ System Controller will attempt to reboot the system several times throughout the day.
• Enphase recommends that no single load should use more than 30% of your solar array’s output.
• An IQ Combiner is required to enable Sunlight Backup mode. While this part comes at an additional cost, it is a small fraction of the cost of adding a battery bank. (If you just want grid-tie solar and don’t care about Sunlight Backup, both the IQ7s and IQ8s work well for that!)

Lightning-Fast Processing Speeds

The new IQ8 is branded as “grid-agnostic,” meaning that it can function with or without a connection to the utility grid. This is made possible by the IQ8’s faster processing speeds, which can react to electrical loads being added or removed from the system within 20 nanoseconds!

That’s fast enough that your system can create a stable local AC microgrid to process the output directly from your panels. Essentially, the system creates a small local power grid on your property, so electricity doesn’t need to be sent to the utility grid for DC to AC conversion.

Other Benefits of Enphase Microinverters

While Sunlight Backup is unique to the IQ8s, both the IQ7 and IQ8 offer powerful and flexible options for homeowners looking to go solar.

Here are a few other reasons why the Enphase IQ series surpasses other inverters:

Shade-Tolerant and Failure-Resistant

The IQ series microinverters attach to each solar panel in your system. Microinverters isolate the output of each panel, allowing them to produce independently from the rest of the array.

The distributed nature of microinverter systems (with each panel assigned to its own inverter) has several advantages. Because each panel can be monitored and controlled independently, the system is more resilient to failure. If the output from one panel drops, the rest of the array can keep producing at full capacity. This can limit the impact of shading, or help isolate a malfunctioning panel from the rest of the array.

If you expect your roof to be partially shaded, both the IQ7 and IQ8 will help you get more production from your panels.

Flexible System Design

In string inverter systems, strings (or groups) of panels are restricted to a certain size based on the electrical characteristics of the inverter. In these cases, strings of panels will need to be installed together and facing the same direction to be most effective.

If you have a small or odd-shaped roof, it may not be possible to fit a string of 6-12 panels on the same roof surface. The IQs solve that problem: since each panel + microinverter pairing is like a mini self-contained solar power system, there are no restrictions on string sizing or layout. Each panel can be installed at its own angle or orientation without impacting the rest of the system’s output.

Modular and Expandable

In addition to lifting layout restrictions, Enphase energy systems allow for more flexible system sizing and easy expansion in the future. 

With all-native Enphase components available for both grid-tie and backup power solutions, it’s easy to start with a small system and add more functionality down the line.

There’s no expensive rewiring or complicated inverter coupling involved. Simply route the new components into your existing IQ Combiner and System Controller.

The flexibility of Enphase systems means you don’t have to wait to go solar. You can start small, with 25-50% offset, and begin rolling back your bill and contributing to a greener future. And it's always possible to add more panels and reach 100% offset when you’re ready!

Backup-Ready

Enphase microinverter systems can easily be expanded to include partial or full-home backup with the addition of their IQ3 / IQ10 series batteries.

If you need overnight backup or live in an area vulnerable to outages, Enphase's backup power systems give you greater control over your energy generation and usage.

The all-native Enphase components make installation as simple as possible, whether you're installing a new system or expanding an existing one.

Check out our overview of Enphase Energy Systems to see how to include backup power with your solar kit.

25-Year Warranty

Perhaps the most appealing part of the IQ microinverters is their 25-year warranty, designed to match the performance warranty on most solar panels. Currently, nothing else in the industry compares.

While string inverter systems cost slightly less up front, those savings are usually negated when it’s time to replace your warranty halfway through your system’s lifespan. That said, IQ microinverters are a better value and more convenient in the long run.

Go Solar With Enphase

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