I have 7.92 kW (by label) of grid tie using Chilicon microinverters. I'm in the process of adding AC coupled battery backup for a few reasons (want backup in case of grid failure from a storm, or grid instability due to geopolitical stupidity, or whatever). The upcoming Outback Mojave looked like the perfect inverter for this, nice updated interface, capable of up to 8kW of GDI output.
Then I got to thinking about it more - the Mojave is more limited as storage only and cannot accept any kind of direct PV input. If we ever moved (we've toyed with the idea off and on), I'd have to get more grid tie inverters to make it work at the new location. Maybe not a big deal, maybe it would be. If I got the Radian, I could just take it with us (and the battery pack), and "simply" add Outback charge controller(s) and panels at the new location and be up and running. Downsides - a clunkier interface (minor), and it is rated at a max of 7.6kW of grid tie. I have 7.9kW - what to do about the extra 300W above that? I could split it up as I have dual lines coming down from the roof, and have half before Radian and half after, but then that really reduces the solar I could use in a grid outage, when I could really use the most solar I can get.
What's the pro's thoughts on these? What would you guys do? If the Radian, what to do about the excess 300W?
Also, a side note about the Mojave - Outback told me via email it is a LF inverter, but looking at the spec sheets, the Mojave has a peak power of 10kVA, while the Radian is 17kVA for 100ms, 12kVA for 5 seconds, or 9kVA for 30 minutes. Maybe they are both LF, but the Radian is just more robust? Not sure how much it matters as the biggest inductive load I have is AC, and I'd only run that in a grid-down situation on a hot sunny day when I have plenty of excess power (and even then I might not use it depending on other loads, my AC isn't all that efficient).
Then I got to thinking about it more - the Mojave is more limited as storage only and cannot accept any kind of direct PV input. If we ever moved (we've toyed with the idea off and on), I'd have to get more grid tie inverters to make it work at the new location. Maybe not a big deal, maybe it would be. If I got the Radian, I could just take it with us (and the battery pack), and "simply" add Outback charge controller(s) and panels at the new location and be up and running. Downsides - a clunkier interface (minor), and it is rated at a max of 7.6kW of grid tie. I have 7.9kW - what to do about the extra 300W above that? I could split it up as I have dual lines coming down from the roof, and have half before Radian and half after, but then that really reduces the solar I could use in a grid outage, when I could really use the most solar I can get.
What's the pro's thoughts on these? What would you guys do? If the Radian, what to do about the excess 300W?
Also, a side note about the Mojave - Outback told me via email it is a LF inverter, but looking at the spec sheets, the Mojave has a peak power of 10kVA, while the Radian is 17kVA for 100ms, 12kVA for 5 seconds, or 9kVA for 30 minutes. Maybe they are both LF, but the Radian is just more robust? Not sure how much it matters as the biggest inductive load I have is AC, and I'd only run that in a grid-down situation on a hot sunny day when I have plenty of excess power (and even then I might not use it depending on other loads, my AC isn't all that efficient).