# Inverters Manage your inverter inventory with detailed specifications, documentation, and media. Configure microinverters, string inverters, and hybrid systems for accurate quote generation and professional customer presentations. ## Overview Powerlily inverter management allows you to: - Import inverters from the Powerlily database - Create custom inverter configurations - Configure microinverter panel ratios - Manage specifications and pricing - Upload documentation and images - Generate QR codes for easy access - Control visibility in quotes ## Adding Inverters ### From Powerlily Database **Pre-configured inverters with complete specs:** 1. Navigate to **Equipment** → **Inverters** 2. Click **"Add from Powerlily List"** 3. Browse available inverters 4. Select inverters to import 5. Customize as needed **Advantages:** - Complete specifications pre-filled - Accurate power ratings - Industry-standard values - Save time on data entry - Major brands included ### Creating Custom Inverters **Build from scratch:** 1. Navigate to **Equipment** → **Inverters** 2. Click **"New Inverter"** 3. Fill in specifications 4. Configure type (micro vs string) 5. Upload documentation 6. Set pricing 7. Save and publish ## Inverter Specifications ### Basic Information #### Name **Display name for the inverter** - Appears in quotes - Shown to customers - Used in equipment catalog - Should be clear and professional **Examples:** - "Enphase IQ8+ Microinverter" - "SolarEdge HD-Wave SE7600H-US" - "SMA Sunny Boy 7.7-US" - "Generac PWRcell Inverter" #### Description **Rich text description** - Detailed product information - Key features and benefits - Technology highlights - Customer-facing content **Supports:** - Rich text formatting - Bold, italic, lists - Links - Multiple paragraphs **Best Practices:** - Highlight efficiency ratings - Mention monitoring capabilities - Include warranty information - Note special features (rapid shutdown, etc.) - Explain technology advantages #### Model **Manufacturer model number** - Exact model designation - For reference and ordering - Helps with documentation - Technical identification - Code compliance **Examples:** - "IQ8PLUS-72-2-US" - "SE7600H-US000NNV2" - "SB7.7-1SP-US-40" #### Brand **Manufacturer brand selection** - Choose from brand list - Or enter custom brand - Helps organize catalog - Displayed prominently in quotes **Common Brands:** - Enphase - SolarEdge - SMA - Fronius - Generac - APSystems ### Power Specifications #### Watts (Power Rating) **Continuous AC power output** - Measured in watts (W) - AC output rating - Critical for system design - Used in all calculations **Common Ratings:** **Microinverters:** - 250W - 300W (older models) - 300W - 380W (current standard) - 380W+ (high power) **String Inverters:** - Residential: 3kW - 11.4kW - Commercial: 20kW - 100kW+ - Three-phase available **Important:** - Must match or exceed panel power - Affects clipping calculations - Determines system capacity - Code and utility requirements **Sizing Rule of Thumb:** - String inverters typically 0.8-1.2x DC array size - Microinverters 1:1 or 2:1 panel ratio #### Value (Your Cost) **Your wholesale/retail cost per inverter** **Bill of Materials Pricing:** - Enter your actual inverter cost - Quote totals calculated automatically - Includes all equipment costs - Add markup elsewhere (labor, etc.) **Typical Costs:** **Microinverters:** - Budget: $100 - $150 - Standard: $150 - $200 - Premium: $200 - $300 **String Inverters:** - Small (3-5kW): $800 - $1,500 - Medium (5-8kW): $1,500 - $2,500 - Large (8-12kW): $2,500 - $4,000+ **Benefits:** - Pre-configure pricing once - Send quotes without price editing - Consistent margins - Accurate cost tracking **Best Practices:** - Update when costs change - Include accessories if bundled - Consider volume discounts - Track cost history ## Inverter Type Configuration ### String Inverters **Traditional central inverters** **Configuration:** - Leave "Micro" toggle OFF - Leave "Panels Serviced" at 0 or blank - One inverter per array - Quantity adjustable in quotes **Characteristics:** - Central conversion point - MPPT optimization - Lower per-watt cost - Series string configuration **System Design:** - Multiple panels per string - String voltage considerations - Fewer points of failure - Centralized monitoring **Best For:** - Unshaded roofs - Simple roof layouts - Cost-sensitive projects - Commercial installations ### Microinverters **Panel-level inverters** **Configuration:** - Toggle "Micro" ON - Set "Panels Serviced" (1-4) - One microinverter per X panels - Auto-calculated quantities **Panels Serviced Options:** **1 Panel (1:1 Ratio):** - One microinverter per panel - Maximum optimization - Highest cost - Best for shading - Premium systems **2 Panels (2:1 Ratio):** - Most common configuration - Good optimization - Balanced cost - Standard residential - Examples: Enphase IQ8+, IQ8M **3 Panels (3:1 Ratio):** - Less common - Some commercial micros - Specific applications **4 Panels (4:1 Ratio):** - Largest micro ratios - Commercial applications - Cost optimization - Examples: Some APSystems models **How It Works:** - System calculates total panels - Divides by "Panels Serviced" - Auto-populates inverter quantity - Updates with panel count changes **Example:** - 24 panels in design - Microinverter set to 2 panels - Result: 12 microinverters in quote **Characteristics:** - Panel-level optimization - Individual MPPT per panel/pair - Better shading performance - Higher cost per watt - Distributed architecture **System Design:** - Parallel configuration - No string voltage concerns - More components - Advanced monitoring **Best For:** - Shaded roofs - Complex roof layouts - Multiple orientations - Premium systems - Panel-level monitoring ### Hybrid Inverters **Battery-ready or integrated storage** **Configuration:** - Configure as string inverter - Note battery compatibility in description - May have higher power rating - Include battery specs separately **Features:** - DC-coupled storage - Backup capability - Grid independence - Time-of-use optimization **Examples:** - SolarEdge with battery - Tesla Powerwall+ (integrated) - Enphase IQ8 with Encharge - Generac PWRcell ## Visibility & Availability ### Visible Toggle **Control inverter availability** **Enabled (Visible = True):** - Available for new quotes - Shown in inverter selection - Appears in catalog - Customers can see it **Disabled (Visible = False):** - Hidden from new quotes - Not in inverter selection - Not in public catalog - Existing quotes still work **When to Disable:** - Discontinued models - Out of stock inverters - Outdated technology - Testing configurations - Superseded models **Important:** - Existing quotes unaffected - Can re-enable anytime - Data preserved - No deletion needed ### Draw Ready **Automatic validation** Inverters are "draw ready" when they have: - Valid watts (not null, not 0) **Draw Ready = Can be used in quotes and designs** **Not Draw Ready:** - Incomplete specification - Still usable for estimates - Need power rating to calculate ## Media & Documentation ### Images **Product photography** **Upload Multiple Images:** - Product photos - Installation examples - Close-up details - Monitoring screenshots - System diagrams **Supported Formats:** - JPG/JPEG - PNG - HEIC/HEIF (auto-converted) - Multiple files at once **Image Processing:** - Automatically optimized - Thumbnails generated - Fast loading - Professional display **Display:** - Carousel in equipment catalog - Quote equipment pages - Customer-facing views - Multiple images showcase **Best Practices:** - Use high-resolution images - Professional product shots - Show installed systems - Include monitoring interface - Consistent styling - Size comparison helpful ### Spec Sheets **Technical documentation** **Upload PDF Spec Sheet:** - Manufacturer datasheet - Complete specifications - Warranty details - Technical drawings - Wiring diagrams **Features:** - One spec sheet per inverter - Downloadable by customers - Shown in equipment page - Professional presentation **Best Practices:** - Always include spec sheet - Use latest version - Manufacturer official docs - Complete information - Include certifications (UL, etc.) ### Additional Documents **Extra PDFs and files** **Upload Multiple Documents:** - Installation manuals - Quick start guides - Warranty certificates - Commissioning docs - Safety data sheets - Compliance certificates **Document Management:** - Unlimited documents - Each has preview image - Choose which to display - Organized library **Display Control:** - Select documents for carousel - Show/hide individually - Control what customers see - Keep internal docs private ### Videos **Product demonstration videos** **YouTube Integration:** - Add YouTube video ID or full URL - Video embedded in equipment page - Professional presentation - Engaging content **Examples:** - Product overviews - Installation process - Monitoring demonstrations - Technology explanations - Manufacturer videos - Customer testimonials **How to Add:** 1. Find video on YouTube 2. Copy video ID or URL 3. Paste in video field 4. Automatically embedded **Video ID vs URL:** - URL: `https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID_HERE` - ID: `VIDEO_ID_HERE` - Either works! ## QR Codes **Automatic QR code generation** Every inverter gets a unique QR code linking to its public equipment page. ### Features - **Auto-generated** - No setup needed - **Unique URL** - Direct link to inverter page - **Multiple formats** - SVG and PNG - **Print-ready** - High quality ### Use Cases **Marketing Materials:** - Print on brochures - Add to flyers - Include in proposals - Trade show materials - Product comparisons **Physical Products:** - Sticker on inverter boxes - Warehouse organization - Inventory tracking - Quick reference - Installation reference **Customer Education:** - Link to full specs - Share monitoring info - Digital catalog access - Easy sharing - Warranty registration ### Accessing QR Codes 1. Navigate to inverter edit page 2. QR code section available 3. Download as SVG or PNG 4. Print or share as needed **Format Options:** - **SVG** - Scalable, any size, print-quality - **PNG** - Raster image, specific size ## Inverter Management ### Editing Inverters **Update anytime:** 1. Navigate to inverter 2. Click "Edit" 3. Modify specifications 4. Update type/configuration 5. Update images/docs 6. Save changes **Changes Affect:** - New quotes immediately - Existing quotes unchanged (locked) - Public catalog updated - Customer-facing content ### Deleting Inverters **Deletion Rules:** ✅ **Can Delete:** - Unused inverters - Never used in quotes - Test configurations - Duplicates ❌ **Cannot Delete:** - Used in any quote (active or archived) - Referenced by customers - In historical data **Why This Restriction?** - Protects quote integrity - Preserves historical data - Prevents broken references - Maintains accuracy **Alternative: Disable Instead** - Set Visible = False - Hides from new quotes - Keeps data intact - Can re-enable later ### Cloning Inverters **Duplicate to create variants:** - Start with existing inverter - Modify specifications - Different pricing - Same base specs **Use Cases:** - Create different microinverter ratios - Different pricing regions - Test configurations - Seasonal pricing - Voltage variants (208V vs 240V) ## Best Practices ### Specification Accuracy **Always Verify:** - Check manufacturer datasheets - Confirm current model numbers - Validate warranty terms - Verify power ratings - Check certifications **Don't Guess:** - Power ratings affect sizing - Wrong type breaks calculations - Incorrect pricing loses money - Bad data loses credibility ### Microinverter Configuration **Panel Ratio Selection:** - Match manufacturer recommendations - Consider panel wattage - Verify compatibility - Don't exceed inverter max DC input **Common Mistakes:** - Forgetting to toggle "Micro" ON - Wrong "Panels Serviced" value - Not updating when swapping panels - Mismatched panel/inverter power ### Documentation **Complete Profiles:** - Upload spec sheet - Add product images - Write compelling descriptions - Include monitoring info - Show interface screenshots - Include videos when available **Keep Updated:** - Refresh when specs change - Update discontinued notices - New model replacements - Pricing updates - Firmware capabilities ### Catalog Organization **Strategic Visibility:** - Show current products - Hide discontinued items - Feature latest technology - Seasonal adjustments **Naming Conventions:** - Consistent format - Include model number - Brand first - Professional appearance - Note special features ### Pricing Strategy **Accurate Costs:** - Update regularly - Include all accessories - Account for rapid shutdown - Monitoring costs - Track changes **Value Considerations:** - Microinverter premium - Monitoring value - Warranty differences - Feature advantages ## Common Configurations ### Residential String System **Typical 6-8kW system** **Configuration:** - Single string inverter - 6000W - 8000W rating - Not a microinverter - 1 inverter per system - 20-25 panels **Example:** - SolarEdge SE7600H - 7600W continuous - 400W panels × 20 = 8000W DC - DC/AC ratio: 1.05 ### Residential Microinverter System **Typical enphase system** **Configuration:** - Microinverter toggle ON - 2 panels serviced - 24 panels = 12 inverters - Panel-level optimization **Example:** - Enphase IQ8+ - 300W continuous AC - 400W panels × 2 per micro - Excellent for partial shade ### Commercial String System **Large-scale installation** **Configuration:** - Multiple string inverters - 20kW - 50kW each - Central monitoring - Quantity adjusted per site **Example:** - SMA Sunny Tripower 50kW - 200× 400W panels = 80kW DC - 2 inverters @ 50kW each - Three-phase output ## Integration with Quotes **How inverters flow into quotes:** 1. **Selection** - Choose inverter during quote creation 2. **Configuration** - Auto-calculates quantity 3. **Compatibility** - Verifies with panel choice 4. **Pricing** - BOM calculates from inverter value 5. **Presentation** - Specs shown to customer 6. **Catalog** - Customer can browse all inverters **Quote Lock:** - Quotes capture inverter specs at creation - Future edits don't affect existing quotes - Historical accuracy preserved - Pricing locked in **Quantity Adjustment:** - String inverters: manually adjust in quote - Microinverters: auto-calculated from panel count - Both can be overridden if needed - System validates compatibility --- **Related:** [[Panels|Solar Panels]] | [[Equipment|Equipment Overview]] | [[Equipment Catalogue|Equipment Catalogue]]