The Enphase Energy System: What are its components and configurations?

During a solar installation, homeowners commonly ask whether they can power their homes with just solar panels in the event of an outage. Typically, the answer is "no." You'll also need storage for a safe and reliable setup to keep the lights on. However, Enphase made headlines in October 2021 with the announcement of a new configuration of the Enphase Energy System, which can provide off-grid functionality to homeowners without storage installed (with a few caveats). 

We'll explain everything you need to know about the Enphase Energy System, including its components and four different configurations, depending on the level of backup you're looking for.

You'll need several products for your Enphase Energy System, varying depending on your chosen setup. While Enphase makes most of the components, others can come from a different manufacturer of your choosing.

Solar panels

Solar panels are an integral component of all configurations of the Enphase Energy System, as they're responsible for generating the clean energy that powers the whole system. You don't need a specific brand of solar panel for an Enphase Energy System; instead, you can work with your installer to determine which solar panels are best for your home or business. To browse and compare solar panels available from EnergySage installers, check out our Solar Panel Buyer's Guide. 

Enphase IQ8 Microinverters

The primary components of all Enphase Energy System setups are Enphase Microinverters. Inverters convert your solar panels' direct current (DC) electricity into usable alternating current (AC) electricity for your home. The difference between string inverters and microinverters is that with microinverters – like the IQ8 series – the DC to AC conversion happens at the individual panel level rather than at a central string inverter. So, if one solar panel in your system fails, the rest of your system will continue to operate without being impacted. 

Enphase's IQ8 Microinverters are unique in a few key ways. First, they are the first ever microinverters that can react quickly enough to changing loads to allow for islanding – i.e., keeping your home powered without the grid – without storage. Additionally, the IQ8 series eliminates solar and battery sizing restrictions: earlier series of Enphase Microinverters had a maximum solar-to-battery power ratio of 1.5:1. Finally, the top of the IQ8 series, the IQ8H, is Enphase's most powerful microinverter to date with an AC peak power of 384 volt-amperes (VA) – allowing you to pair up to 530-watt solar panels! 

Enphase IQ Combiner 4/4C

The Enphase IQ Combiner 4 or 4C is also necessary for all Enphase Energy System setups. This product is a single enclosure consolidating the connection equipment, including the IQ Gateway, which provides monitoring and control over your system and ideally should connect to broadband Internet. You'll also need the Enphase Mobile ConnectTM LTE-M1 cell modem with your IQ Combiner to provide cellular data for your system. The IQ Combiner 4C comes with an integrated 5-year Sprint data plan, but if you're hoping to use AT&T or Verizon, you can also opt for the IQ Combiner 4 with a separate Enphase modem. If you're looking to install storage, you'll also need a communications kit, which you'll need to purchase and install separately from the IQ Combiner. 

Enphase IQ System Controller 2

Hoping your Enphase Energy System will provide off-grid functionality? You'll need the Enphase IQ System Controller 2: a microgrid interconnect device (MID) that allows you to continue using the electricity generated by your system in the event of a power outage (AKA islanding). Islanding is critical for safety reasons – if you remain connected to the grid during an outage, your solar panels will continue sending excess energy back to the grid. This electricity creates a dangerous situation for utility line workers responding to power outages, as the transmission and distribution lines are still energized. 

The IQ System Controller 2 product serves as an automatic transfer switch, which ensures that when the grid goes down, utility workers are protected and your power supply transfers to your system fast enough that you don't even notice that the power went out (i.e., you won't have to reset your clocks). The IQ System Controller 2 can run in a solar-only backup setup but also supports up to 40 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of backup storage. You can also integrate it with standby generators, and you can install it both indoors and outdoors.

Enphase IQ Load Controllers

If you're looking for backup power, you'll also need one or two IQ Load Controllers – which automatically shed any unnecessary loads or electrical subpanels in an outage. The IQ Load Controller acts like an Energy Management System, allowing you to control individual circuits from the Enphase app. You can configure your loads based on your battery's state of charge or your generator's status if you integrate them with your Enphase Energy System. Each IQ Load Controller controls the power of two circuits, so with two IQ Load Controllers, you'll have power over four of your circuits. You'll need two IQ Load Controllers if your system includes solar-only backup. If you have storage, you only need one with your setup. 

Essential loads panel

Essential – or critical – loads panels function as a second electrical panel, allowing you to back up any essential devices and circuits and ensuring that you don't provide electricity to phantom loads you don't need. With many backup storage systems, you'll need an essential loads panel to ensure a reliable power supply and protect your batteries from overloading. With the Enphase Energy System, you don't need a critical loads panel with storage because of the IQ Load Controller. However, you still need an essential loads panel if you want a solar-only backup setup to ensure you're only running loads that your solar panels can support. Enphase doesn't stipulate which brand of essential loads panel you need, so you can work with your installer to determine the best product for your setup. 

Enphase IQ Battery 

With the launch of the Enphase Energy System, Enphase rebranded their storage product, the Enphase Encharge, to the Enphase IQ Battery. This product provides all the same functionality as their original storage system, including lithium iron phosphatase (LFP) chemistry, integrated Enphase Microinverters, AC-coupling, a 10-year or 4,000 cycles warranty with 70 percent end of warranty capacity, and two size options. The first size option, the IQ Battery 3/3T, offers 3.36 kWh capacity, 1.28 kW power, and 1.92 kW peak power, and the second, the IQ Battery 10/10T, has 10.08 kWh capacity with 3.84 kW power and 5.76 kW peak power.

The IQ Battery does come with a few upgrades. First, all IQ Batteries now include IQ8 Microinverters. Additionally, each battery size is available in two different shapes. The IQ Battery 3T and 10T are more compact with larger side profiles: They're 40 percent thinner and 20 percent wider than the 3 and 10 versions, respectively. The 3T is also 7 pounds lighter than the 3, and the 10T is 25 pounds lighter than the 10, allowing for slightly easier installation. All battery versions are compatible, so you can mix and match – and, importantly, add batteries to your system later if needed – to design a storage system that meets your backup power and space needs. 

Enphase App

The Enphase App ties all of these components together. With the Enphase App, you can monitor how much power your system is generating, how much you're consuming, and how much energy you save – both in real-time and over an extended time. The app will notify you of extreme weather events headed your way so you can prepare for outages. If you experience a grid outage, the app will help you prioritize your needed loads. You can also use the Load Control feature in the app to turn off and restore essential loads during an outage to conserve your battery and generator.

The next thing you need to know about the Enphase Energy System, beyond its various components, is how to configure these components into different setups. Here are the four different ways you can configure your Enphase Energy System depending on the level of backup you want or need:

Solar Only

The Solar Only setup is exactly how it sounds: A traditional grid-tied solar system without backup energy. In an outage, you won't be able to run any devices, but you'll still save considerable money on your utility bills and generate clean electricity. You'll also be able to monitor how much energy your system generates and how much you consume with the Enphase App, as is the case with any solar-only setup. 

With this setup, you'll need to install:

• Solar panels

• Enphase Microinverters

• Enphase IQ Combiner 4/4C

• Enphase App

Sunlight Backup

The Sunlight Backup setup is the most unique of the four configurations, offering backup power to up to four basic loads when outages occur and the sun is shining. In this setup, Enphase suggests powering loads such as your refrigerator, your lights or fan, your Internet, and a miscellaneous 120 Volt power outlet to power things like your phone charger. However, you'll want to avoid powering heavy loads such as air conditioners, electric vehicle chargers, space heaters, or hair dryers. 

It's important to note that Sunlight Backup is considerably less reliable than a solar-plus-storage setup. A Sunlight Backup system depends on irradiance – the amount of sunlight hitting your solar panels – so during the winter, when there's less sunlight or on a cloudy day, your backup power supply will be minimal. At night you won't be able to power any devices. You'll also notice more fluctuations in your power supply even while it's sunny out with Sunlight Backup than with a battery. For example, if a cloud passes overhead, your lights may dim or even turn off if your overall electricity demand exceeds the power supply at that moment. 

With the Sunlight Backup configuration, you'll need:

• Solar panels

• Enphase IQ8 Microinverters

• Enphase IQ Combiner 4/4C

• IQ System Controller 2

• IQ Load Controllers (x2)

• Essential loads panel

• Enphase App

Home Essentials Backup

This setup is similar to traditional solar-plus-storage systems, allowing you to power your necessary loads during full sun and when sunlight is limited – such as during inclement weather or at night. Depending on where you live, you may also be eligible to participate in bring-your-own battery programs where your utility provides you with monetary rebates and incentives in exchange for some access to your battery. With the Home Essentials Backup configuration, you'll still need to be vigilant about which loads your power in the event of an outage, as you won't have enough backup power to support your whole home. 

This setup requires: 

• Solar panels

• Enphase IQ8 Microinverters

• Enphase IQ Combiner 4/4C

• IQ System Controller 2

• IQ Load Controller

• IQ Battery (at least a 3/3T)

• Enphase App

Full Energy Independence

With the Full Energy Independence setup, you'll have the same benefits as the Home Essentials Backup but with much more grid independence. You'll be able to power your whole home during extended outages and may even go off-grid if you live in an area with ample sunlight to recharge your batteries. If you want a whole-home backup, Enphase recommends a minimum of two IQ Battery 10/10Ts for 20.16 kWh in total. Your configuration can't exceed four IQ Batteries 10/10Ts or 40.32 kWh – so if you consume a lot of electricity, you may be unable to achieve full home backup. 

For Full Energy Independence, you'll need: 

• Solar panels

• Enphase IQ8 Microinverters

• Enphase IQ Combiner 4/4C

• IQ System Controller 2

• IQ Load Controller

• IQ Battery (at least two 10/10Ts and up to four)

• Enphase App

Generator integration with the Enphase Energy System

Enphase's other major update is that you can now integrate generators with the Enphase Energy System. You can incorporate a generator into any setup except the Solar Only configuration because the IQ System Controller 2 is the hub that connects to the generator. With an integrated generator, you can use it to recharge your IQ Battery with a solar-plus-storage setup or as additional backup power with your Sunlight Backup setup. You can incorporate generators from various manufacturers into the Enphase Energy System, including some models from Kohler, Generac, Briggs & Stratton, and Cummins. It's important to note that charging your battery with a generator may impact your eligibility for the federal tax credit for your battery.

Whether you're looking for an Enphase Energy System or a different type of solar or solar-plus-storage setup, going solar is the best way to save money on your utility bill. When you sign up for free on the EnergySage Marketplace, we'll gather up to seven quotes from local installers. By comparing quotes, you can find a system that meets your needs at the right price. Only interested in Enphase equipment? Please make a note in your profile to let installers know so they can include it in their quotes.