Summary:
Essential components (always required)
IQ8 Microinverters (IQ8MC, IQ8AC or IQ8HC) – always as many as the number of solar panels.*
IQ Gateway – choose from Standard or Metered (recommendation: Metered with CT coils).
Q cables – single-phase or three-phase, depending on the installation
Q Relay – mandatory according to Dutch grid code (single-phase or three-phase).
Q cable end cap – for waterproof sealing of cable ends.
*IQ7 & IQ8 are compatible with each other
Optional components (recommended for specific situations)
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CT coils – required for energy measurement with Gateway Metered.
2 CTs are supplied
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3-phase installation:
1-phase PV + 3-phase connection: 2 additional CTs needed
3-phase PV + 3-phase connection: 4 additional CTs needed.
Fieldwireable connectors – for extending/splitting Q cables.
Ferrite cores – from approximately 40-60 panels or in case of a lot of noise on the line.
Mobile Connect modem – when wifi or LAN connection is not possible.
Q connector cover caps – for unused connections on Q cable.
PV distributors/meter cupboard extensions – for quick and neat installation on site.
Best cost-effective Enphase installation? then check this article.
1. IQ8MC, IQ8AC or IQ8HC Microinverters
The Enphase IQ8 microinverters are suitable for all common PV modules. You always need as many microinverters as solar panels. With the Enphase calculator for module compatibility you can precisely determine which microinverter is compatible with your panel.
Below we have listed the microinverters along with the suitable cell modules. Check the datasheet for how many micros you can connect per string and IQ cable.
IQ8MC: 54-cell / 108 half-cell, 60-cell / 120 half-cell, 66-cell / 132 half-cell, 72-cell / 144 half-cell.
IQ8HC: 54-cell / 108 half-cell, 60-cell / 120 half-cell, 66-cell / 132 half-cell, 72-cell / 144 half-cell.
IQ8AC: 54-cell / 108 half-cell, 60-cell / 120 half-cell, 66-cell / 132 half-cell, 72-cell / 144 half-cell.
The IQ Gateway is the brain behind the Enphase system. It collects real-time data from the microinverters and sends updates to the micros. This ensures that the entire PV system continuously communicates.
You can choose between two types of Gateways
The Enphase IQ Gateway Standard collects data about the system's energy production.
The Enphase IQ Gateway Metered collects:
- Data about the system's energy production;
- And information about household consumption.
IQ-Gateway Metered and CT coils
You can connect the IQ Gateway Metered also without the two supplied CT coils. This way you install it as an IQ Gateway Standard. The disadvantage: your customer will not see all information about the PV system in the app. Moreover, this system cannot use the Enphase energy management software.
This information is still visible: the yield of the entire system per day, week, month and over the total duration.
If you do connect the Gateway with the CT current coils, the following information is visible in the app:
- Yield of the entire system per day, week, month and total duration.
- Energy consumption of the house.
- Feed-in to the grid.
- Imported energy from the grid.
Our advice
Therefore, the advice from our Enphase experts is: always connect the Gateway Metered with the CT coils.
How many CT coils you need depends on your installation:
- With a single-phase PV installation and a single-phase meter cupboard, the 2 supplied CT coils are sufficient.
- With a single-phase PV installation and a three-phase meter cupboard, 2 extra CT coils must be purchased (total 4).
- With a three-phase PV installation and a three-phase meter cupboard, 4 extra CT coils must be purchased (total 6).
Single-phase Q cable
For the single-phase Q cable, our Enphase experts recommend a maximum of 8 microinverters on one branch. This ensures optimal communication. You achieve this by a 'center-feed'. That is, splitting a system with the junction box (casting sleeve) as the centre point and multiple Q cable end caps. This is illustrated below.
You can choose from a 1.3m, 2m or 2.3m Q cable.
Three-phase Q cable
For the Enphase three-phase Q cable, the connectors on the cable are alternately connected to a certain phase. This reduces the need to split the cable into multiple strings with a junction box. You can make one long string of up to 24 micros. That is, 8 per phase.
You can choose from a 1.3m, 2m or 2.3m Q cable.
The Q-Relay is a mechanical relay. In case of a grid failure, this product disconnects a PV system from the grid. The system reconnects automatically when the grid value is back within the correct range. You place the Q-Relay directly behind the circuit breaker of the PV system. Without the Q-Relay the system works flawlessly, but it does not comply with Dutch standards.
If you use the IQ Gateway for three-phase, the three-phase Q-Relay also works as a phase coupler.
1-Phase Enphase Q Relay
3-Phase Enphase Q Relay
Install more efficiently?
Then check out our ready-made PV distributors and meter cupboard extensions. We equip the boxes with the Q-Relay and necessary components. So you never have to assemble a PV distributor or meter cupboard extension on site again.
Enphase PV Distributor with residual current devices
Enphase 1-Phase PV Meter Cupboard Extension
Enphase 3-Phase PV Meter Cupboard Extension
The Q cable end cap (single-phase or three-phase) is used to seal the cable end watertight. This end does not go to the junction box. How many cable end caps you need depends on the number of fields or cable branches (strings) you make.
The self-connectable connectors (male and female) can be used to extend or split the Q cable. This allows you to easily connect different roof surfaces together. And you can easily make a coupling cable.
With the Q connector cover cap you seal unused connections on the Q cable watertight.
The split core current transformer (CT coil) is responsible for monitoring production and consumption.
An IQ Gateway Metered always comes with two CT coils. Below you can see how many CT coils you need for your PV system.
- Single-phase PV system on single-phase meter cupboard: no extra CT coils, the two supplied are sufficient.
- Single-phase PV system on a three-phase meter cupboard: 2 extra CT coils needed.
- Three-phase PV system on a three-phase meter cupboard: 4 extra CT coils needed.
For all phases and the neutral, you need one ferrite core each to prevent noise. This ensures the best communication between the Gateway and the microinverters. For a single-phase system you therefore need 2 ferrite cores. For a three-phase system 4 ferrite cores.
Needed in case of a lot of noise, usually from 40-60 micros.
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