Solar Quote
See how much you could save by going solar
Overview of IQ8
Enphase IQ8: The Industry's Leading Micro-inverter
- IQ8 Series Micro-inverters are the industry's 1st split-phase, grid-forming solar micro-inverter. They are the safest and most efficient at converting DC to AC power.
- With one micro-inverter per every solar panel module, solar production works even if a micro-inverter fails. This means there is no single point of failure.
- Built with advanced 55 nm technology, its microchip has high-speed digital logic and superfast response times to changing loads and grid events - alleviating constraints on battery sizing when pairing a battery with home energy systems.
- IQ8 Micro-inverters also use breakthrough Burst Mode technology to capture more energy under low-light and shady conditions if shadows or clouds pass overhead.
- IQ Micro-inverters boast that they are certified for rain or shine. They are NEMA 6 certified and recommended by FEMA, so they're rated for just about any weather Mother Nature can throw at them.
- Built-in rapid shutdown keeps utility workers and first responders safe. In an emergency, solar power can be turned off instantly and easily.
- They are backed by an industry-leading 25-year limited warranty! With all this and more, we feel confident that Enphase IQ8 Micro-inverters are the superior choice for residential solar energy systems today.
Enphase Energy: The Evolution of Today’s Micro-inverter
Founded in 2006, Fremont, California based Enphase Energy trades on the NASDAQ, under the ticker symbol ENPH. Enphase is the world's leading supplier of solar micro-inverters and solar battery storage systems. Enphase is an industry innovator allowing Texans to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power— and control it all with a smart mobile app.
Enphase inverters are not made in the USA; but they are ARRA compliant.
In the two years since the enactment of inverter tariffs, Enphase made a $20 + million capital investment to move production to the company's new manufacturing facility in Guadalajara Mexico. Over 2 million “Made in Mexico” micro-inverters have been proudly produced from this facility.
In all, over 2.5 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed globally and Enphase has shipped more than 48 million micro-inverters, in more than 140 countries.
Enter Your Zip Code to Compare Quotes from Your Area
Enjoy our 100% online experience, or via phone if you prefer. Your choice.
Comparing Enphase IQ8 to IQ7
In 2017, Enphase was the first to introduce the IQ series micro-inverter with the launch of the IQ6. In 2018 Enphase's 7th-generation IQ7 Micro Inverters were introduced.
The Enphase IQ7 Micro-inverter series has a 4% increase in power production, while it trimmed 19% off its weight and 17% off its overall size compared to the earlier IQ6 series micro-inverters. The IQ7 also has quicker installation times than the earlier IQ6.
The IQ7 features improved, lighter two-wire cabling, complete with (NEC 2014 & 2017) built-in rapid shutdown compliance and meets California’s Rule 21 (UL 1741-SA)
In early 2022, Enphase released the company's new 8th-generation: IQ8 Micro-inverters. The IQ8 is the industry’s first microgrid-forming, software defined micro-inverter with split-phase power conversion capability to convert DC power to AC power efficiently. The brain of the semiconductor-based micro inverter is Enphase’s proprietary application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which enables the micro-inverter to operate in grid-tied or off-grid modes. The advanced, 55 nm chip is built with high-speed digital logic and extremely responsive to changing loads and grid conditions.
As a part of the Enphase Energy System, the IQ8 Micro-inverter seamlessly integrates with the Enphase IQ solar home battery, Enphase IQ Gateway, and, not least, the Enphase App monitoring and analysis software.
Downloading the Enphase MyEnlighten Monitoring App on your smart device will enable you to check how much energy each of your panels is producing in real time, track your savings, and much more!.
IQ8 Micro-inverters are the most powerful, software-defined series of micro-inverters. They are powered by a proprietary, intelligent chip that makes switching between on and off-grid virtually seamless.
In comparing the IQ7 and the IQ8, the most obvious improvement is that the IQ8 allows your solar system to create electricity during a grid outage or failure without battery storage. This is called Sunlight Only Configuration.
In other words, with the IQ8, you can still create and use daytime solar power during a grid outage or failure. This is not possible with an IQ 7.
Additionally, the IQ8s inverters combined with the IQ Battery communicate with the National Weather Station to best prepare the home in a weather outage
The IQ8 is the perfect choice for true off grid living or extended grid outages.
For 60 cell, 66 cell 72 cell and 84 cell panels, the IQ8 micro-inverters are the industry gold standard. They are capable of handling higher efficiency/ higher output panels compared to the IQ7. There are a variety of IQ8 variations (IQ8, IQ8+, IQ8M, IQ8A, IQ8H), but the most common are the IQ8, and the IQ8+. The IQ8M i can be ideal for panels over 400 Watts.
As a general guideline, consider a micro inverter that has a power output slightly lower than the panel with which it is paired.
We have included the spec sheets for both IQ8 and IQ8 plus, and IQ7 and IQ7 plus.
Enphase IQ7 and IQ7+ Micro-inverters
The high-powered smart grid-ready Enphase IQ7 Micro™ and Enphase IQ 7+ Micro™ dramatically simplify the installation process while achieving the highest system efficiency.
Part of the Enphase IQ System, the IQ7 and IQ7+ Micro-inverters integrate with the Enphase IQ Envoy™, Enphase IQ Battery™, and the Enphase Enlighten™ monitoring and analysis software.
IQ Series Micro-inverters extend the reliability standards set forth by previous generations and undergo over a million hours of power-on testing, enabling Enphase to provide an industry-leading warranty of up to 25 years.
Easy to Install
- Lightweight and simple
- Faster installation with improved, lighter two-wire cabling
- Built-in rapid shutdown compliant (NEC 2014 & 2017)
Productive and Reliable
- Optimized for high-powered 60-cell/120 half-cell and 72- cell/144 half-cell* modules
- More than a million hours of testing
- Class II double-insulated enclosure
- UL listed
Smart Grid Ready
- Complies with advanced grid support, voltage and frequency ride-through requirements
- Remotely updates to respond to changing grid requirements
- Configurable for varying grid profiles
- Meets CA Rule 21 (UL 1741-SA)
IQ8 and IQ8+ Micro-inverters
Our newest IQ8 Micro-inverters are the industry's first microgrid-forming, software-defined micro-inverters with split-phase power conversion capability to convert DC power to AC power efficiently. The brain of the semiconductor-based micro-inverter is our proprietary application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which enables the micro-inverter to operate in grid-tied or off-grid modes. This chip is built in advanced 55 nm technology with high speed digital logic and has superfast response times to changing loads and grid events, alleviating constraints on battery sizing for home energy systems.
Part of the Enphase Energy System, IQ8 Series Micro-inverters integrate with the Enphase IQ Battery, Enphase IQ Gateway, and the Enphase App monitoring and analysis software.
IQ8 Series Micro-inverters redefine reliability standards with more than one million cumulative hours of power-on testing, enabling an industry-leading limited warranty of up to 25 years.
Connect PV modules quickly and easily to IQ8 Series Micro-inverters using the included Q-DCC-2 adapter cable with plug-n-play MC4 connectors.
IQ8 Series Micro-inverters are UL Listed as PV Rapid Shut Down Equipment and conform with various regulations, when installed according to manufacturer's instructions.
Easy to Install
- Lightweight and compact with plug-n-play connectors
- Power Line Communication (PLC) between components
- Faster installation with simple two-wire cabling
High productivity and reliability
- Produce power even when the grid is down
- More than one million cumulative hours of testing
- Class II double-insulated enclosure
- Optimized for the latest high-powered PV modules
Microgrid-forming
- Complies with the latest advanced grid support**
- Remote automatic updates for the latest grid requirements
- Configurable to support a wide range of grid profiles
- Meets CA Rule 21 (UL 1741-SB) requirements
- Only when installed with 10 System Controller 2. Meets UL 1741
- 108 and IQ8Plus supports split phase, 240V installations only.