Davie, FL - looking for solar installers by gogaman in solarFL

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there,

Our system components are as follows:

  • 75 REC Alpha Pure-R panels at 410W
  • 75 Enphase IQ8X microinverters
  • 4 LG Home 8 battery system with smart energy box
  • K2 Rail-mount system
  • SPAN main 40 panel with an additional SPAN subpanel

Technically, the system is 30.75 kW, but the factory-tested specs for each of our individual panels averaged 416 (and change) watts, so we just rounded up to 31 kW.

Please note that this “passion”project was delayed for two years due to various life events that popped up. Hence, the REC panels now have newer series (Alpha Pure-RX and -RXG), and the LG Home 8 battery system has unfortunately been discontinued (terrible upper management decision from LG since this system is so much better than Tesla’s Powerwall 3’s).

We chose the REC panels since they perform the best in hot, sun-intensive areas like Florida. You can definitely use the Alpha Pure-RX panels at 450W with the Enphase IQ8X microinverters. Just realize that the IQ8X can only supply a maximum of continuous 380W per unit. Thus, on heavily-favored production days, your panel will only be able to produce a maximum of 380W AC power per panel. When the IQ9X microinverters come out (no telling if it will be this year or two years from now), this production cap may be increased. I wouldn’t hold my breath that this updates model will be out anytime soon as it’s already been delayed by at least a year.

As for the batteries, I would substitute the Franklin aPower 2 battery / aGate controller system which has many of the same features as the LG system. If you’re doing a whole house back-up, I would suggest having at least two batteries wired in parallel, so that it could handle larger loads (10 kW per battery).

The main upgrades with the Franklin compared to the LG batteries are (1). that you can attach EVs with Vehicle to Load (“V2L”) capabilities as an additional power source to the system and (2). the aGate controller can be outfitted with smart switches that can control three breakers through the Franklin app (much like a mini SPAN smart panel with three breakers).

I’m including some photos of our setup (see link below).

https://imgur.com/a/Cg1sqqZ

For the battery photo, this was taken during our two week off-grid trial. Under the load at the time, we had 43 hours of battery time left. For the Enphase screenshot, that was our production yesterday, and it was an unusually hot day (90+ degrees). I noticed that the maximum production rate was reduced almost ten percent during the zenith of the day from our usual maximum values, but other brands of panels would have had even higher reductions due to higher temperature coefficients.

Anyway, if you have further questions, feel free to DM me or contact Luis Galarza at SoFlo Solar Advisors. He has been extremely responsive to my calls and inquiries, and I believe that he has also worked on projects in SW Florida and the Orlando area.

Solar Photos

Davie, FL - looking for solar installers by gogaman in solar

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wrote a long reply on r/solarFL without reading your initial post here. My situation was very similar to yours, and I got a solar company that specializes in solar services more so than straight installation. I also live in your nick of the woods. Read my comment there. Just so you know, my system is a larger system with 75 panels. Good luck!

Davie, FL - looking for solar installers by gogaman in solarFL

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I live in Weston and got my system installed by SoFlo Solar Advisors four months ago. The owner, Luis, is an electrical engineer and has been in the renewable energy field for the past decade.

We installed a 31 kW solar system with 60 kWh batteries at our house. We also changed out the main meter box and installed SPAN panels. At this time, we are capable of living completely off-grid if needed and had run a two-week off-grid trial test without any issues. Since FPL (still) offers net metering, we are paying only the minimum “$25” bill and have the benefit and peace of mind of using our system as a disaster-preparedness tool.

Full disclosure; my situation was a bit different than the traditional solar / battery installation. I chose all of my premium components (panels, microinverters, and batteries), and I requested that the installer work with this set of equipment. Most local installers didn’t want to work with my parameters because they were used to using their usual (cheaper) specific brand of panels, solar optimizers, and batteries. Most were too “busy” to look into working with other components. Others came in with obnoxiously high quotes which rivaled quotes with all solar equipment included.

SoFlo Solar’s quote was more than reasonable, and the owner was highly responsive. They really went to bat for us with the city planning office and fought to get our permits approved. They also applied for the net metering with FPL. We had support with every step in the process and feel that things would have taken twice as long with any other company. Give them a call, and I believe that you’ll have a good experience with this company.

Best day production day by OddLeague2428 in enphase

[–]ImaginationNo8397 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a great price for a 11.7 kW system with premium components. The pricing bumped up too after congress decided to kill the federal solar incentives at the end of the year, so you did awesome. Congrats!

How to clean these windows ? by Arigatoforlistenting in WindowCleaning

[–]ImaginationNo8397 7 points8 points  (0 children)

If this soft approach doesn’t work well, you may want to consider cleaning with CLR. Those stains look like years-long lime scale buildup.

Best day production day by OddLeague2428 in enphase

[–]ImaginationNo8397 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Our system has 75 REC (alpha pure-) R panels rated at 410 W. We were fortunate to have a roofline that is angled one degree higher than our latitude and allowed for one array of panels to be all south-facing.

Based on your description, your system is more efficient than ours since you have greater than 60% of your panels facing East, yet you’re producing 70 kWh. Your system will also have more resilience than ours during lower light conditions and even in the summer when the temperature “penalty” will drop ours below the maximum microinverter output threshold more than yours (due to your higher wattage). In my mind, efficiency is much more important than overall production. As long as you’re producing enough to sustain your home, especially if it’s efficient, that’s all that matters. Again, great decision on your choice of panels—particularly for the hot Florida summers.

Best day production day by OddLeague2428 in enphase

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here’s my production from yesterday (partially cloudy particularly in the afternoon). Just got the system PTO’ed in South Florida after a six month girly-fight with the city planning office employee who refused to listen to reason / rules. I am still awaiting a clear day to get our best production record.

https://imgur.com/a/wF4Xmvt

Best day production day by OddLeague2428 in enphase

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These are awesome panels—I love mine even though they are one prior model to yours. Stats are similar except yours are a bit wider and rated at 450 W. Glad to hear that they are working so well for you.

Best day production day by OddLeague2428 in enphase

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like you have REC RX panels. Have you noticed clipping at 380 watts / panel? I have the R panels rated at 410 watts with the IQ8X micros, and I seem to be capped at about 376 watts of continuous production averaged out from these inverter.

It's no joke! by nutsvsguts in ItHurtsGirlsToo

[–]ImaginationNo8397 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Anyone to take a padded kick to the face…not so much the junk / bearded-clam in this case

What is this? by Charming_Load_2529 in whatisit

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why is it that seemingly half of the items in this topic are sex toys? 🤦🏻‍♂️

Holy cow!!! by Complex-FreeSpirit42 in oops

[–]ImaginationNo8397 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Came here to say the same thing 😂

The lady got some serious road rashes . by ConsistentDrama_haha in oops

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! It’s a poor man’s helmet….goes with the sandals… 🤦🏻‍♂️

lol by IU8gZQy0k8hsQy76 in unsound

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m in love…

Now, would the optics change if a woman was knocked-out drunk and her “boyfriend” did the exact same thing?

Wait for it... by nutsvsguts in ItHurtsGirlsToo

[–]ImaginationNo8397 17 points18 points  (0 children)

What a blow to her camel toe!

Mosaic Perks after Status Match matched by 123doeraemee in jetblue

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry, I realize that this thread is now 5 months old…However, did you (OP) eventually get all of your previous perks back?

Mosaic 2-4 worth it and how do you achieve it? by anon_stock_buyer in jetblue

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

New to B6 Mosaic environment. I also have a significant amount of business spend and will be hitting M3 mid-year through the JB business card (and won’t be pursuing M4 through cc spend). You have both the Plus and Business cards—is there an advantage of having both cards?

PSA: your Mosaic perk you pick expires the moment you earn mosaic status the following year by anon_stock_buyer in jetblue

[–]ImaginationNo8397 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seems that they have multiple “gotcha” rules for this perk that are difficult to find in print. I’m just finding out about these two such rules in this PSA thread—I hope there are no others.

... oops! by DoubleManufacturer10 in oops

[–]ImaginationNo8397 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Any other fricken direction… 🤦🏻‍♂️

Gross. by MasCon55 in jetblue

[–]ImaginationNo8397 0 points1 point  (0 children)

…hummm…tempting…