Important: The IQ8 series of microinverters cannot be used with the IQ7 series. The only way to use an IQ7 and IQ8 in one system is to add a separate IQ Gateway for the IQ8s. This results in two systems in one Enphase Enlighten account.

The latest Enphase IQ8+ microinverters are the industry's first grid-forming microinverters with split-phase power conversion to efficiently convert DC to AC power.

Technical specifications:
max. input power: 440W
max. input current: 12A
max. apparent power: 300VA
Rated Power: 290W
Minimum MPP voltage: 27
Maximum MPP voltage: 45

Enphase IQ8+ Microinverter Details:
Lightweight and compact with plug-n-play connectors
Power Line Communication (PLC) between the components
Faster installation with simple two-wire cabling
Generates power even if the power grid fails
More than one million cumulative hours of testing
Class II double insulated housing
Optimized for the latest high-performance PV modules
Meets the latest advanced grid support
Automatic remote updates for the latest grid requirements
Configurable to support a large number of mesh profiles
Meets the requirements of CA Rule 21 (UL 1741-SA)

What is a Microinverter?
Before learning about some of the best microinverters on the market, it is useful to know what a microinverter actually does. A microinverter turns direct current (DC), generated by your solar panels, into alternating current (AC) which can be used by your home.

Microinverters differ from standard inverters, or “string inverters”, because microinverters are smaller and are placed on the back of each solar panel. In contrast, string inverters with optimizers (such as SolarEdge) connect one central inverter to every solar panel. This means that if the inverter goes out, none of the panels will produce electricity unless the inverter is replaced.

For this reason, microinverters are generally preferred since individual units can be replaced without compromising the entire system. Microinverters also provide the advantage of being able to monitor the production of each individual panel and make expanding the system easier in the future.

Enphase Energy IQ8 vs IQ7 Microinverters
Enphase Energy is one of the leading producers of microinverters. Their most recent product release, the Enphase IQ8, has made innovative changes to their previous series of microinverters, the Enphase IQ7. With this new model, there is a higher maximum current output and the ability to provide off-grid power to a home even without a backup battery system. Usually, during a blackout, solar systems shut down due to safety regulations, but the Enphase IQ8 has the ability to safely disconnect from the grid and continue to supply energy. To enable this capability an Enphase Smart Switch is required to detect blackouts and keep the flow of energy to the house/business while the sun is shining.

Other capabilities of the IQ8 also include:
Lightweight and compact with plug-n-play connectors
Power Line Communication (PLC) between components
Faster installation with simple two-wire cabling
More than one million cumulative hours of testing
Remote automatic updates for the latest grid requirements

Comparing Enphase IQ8 to IQ7 Capacity
Compared to the Enphase IQ7, the IQ8 enables your solar system to generate power during an outage (kit required). Furthermore, if you are adding an Enphase battery now or in the future, you may want to consider the IQ8 series because they offer more scaling flexibility to your backup capacity. IQ8 microinverters can also match the power output of highly efficient panels, especially those panels that are larger than 60 cells, such as 66-cell, 72-cell, and 84-cell solar panels.

When choosing between the different IQ8 models (IQ8, IQ8+, IQ8M, IQ8A, IQ8H), it is generally smart to choose a microinverter that will generate slightly less power than the maximum power your panels can produce. This is because factors like shading often cause panels to produce below their maximum power output. For most home projects, IQ8M and IQ8+ are sufficient.