Do you have any battery storage? How well do islanded microinverters handle startup surge on electric motors, or is it the case that you need a 20kw+ array to handle a refrigerator cycling on?
No battery storage. 1:1 net metering with my utility. 21kw array is about 30% over what we’d need for annual consumption, but (Q Cell) panels were the smallest component of total system cost and they help keep the attic 5 degrees F cooler. Also, I’m required to carry $1M in liability insurance for anything over 10kw. Even if I have credits forever I want to maximize production to offset utility natural gas generation during daylight hours. Not needed but installed a soft start on the 4 ton AC condensing unit for longevity and to reduce start surge. I will likely add battery storage in the future when it declines in cost for outages.
The system is not yet configured to support solar only utility disconnected operation due to supply chain issues (additional components, rush to PTO), so I cannot speak to surge start capability of the IQ8+ micros in island mode.
Every IQ micro and battery you add adds more ability to deal with current surge requirements. On my 8.5Kw system with 30KwHr of Enphase LFP batteries, I can handle turning on AC when I have full sun and partially charged batteries without going to the grid.
The system is not yet configured to support solar only utility disconnected operation due to supply chain issues (additional components, rush to PTO), so I cannot speak to surge start capability of the IQ8+ micros in island mode.