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No. IQ System Controller 2 and IQ8 Microinverters has been tested under stringent conditions per UL1741 PVRSE requirement as a system. The system is compliant per the UL1741 PVRSE standard only when used with equipment used during the evaluation. Substituting other equipment may violate the listing. Installers need to use EP200G-NA-02-RSD i.e., the Enphase System Shutdown Switch along with IQ System Controller 2 and IQ8 microinverter for rapid shut down initiation and follow all manufacturers installation instructions in the Quick Install Guide (QIG).
Deviation from this may compromise safety, may lead to field inspection failures, and will void the warranty.
Here is an image of the Enphase System Shutdown Switch.
Summary of Rapid shutdown requirements
| Use case 1 | Use case 2 | Use case 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PV Micro inverter used | M series, S Series, IQ6/ IQ7 | M series, S Series, IQ6/ IQ7 | IQ8 |
| System Controller Version used | IQ System Controller 1 | IQ System Controller 2 | IQ System Controller 2 |
| Rapid Shut down initiator |
One of the following 3 options:
|
Enphase Energy System Shutdown Switch i.e., EP200G-NA-02-RSD | |
| Additional Steps | None | Short the RSD auxiliary contacts | None |
| Parts of the system which are shut down | PV (as required by 2014 NEC) | PV (as required by 2014 NEC) | PV + Battery + Generator |
| Points to note | 3rd party switches are not to be used for Rapid shutdown | ||
The IQ8 family of microinverters adds exciting new grid forming capabilities. As a result of these new requirements, there are several new requirements from the National Electric Code that systems must adhere to. This changes installation and wiring methods that installers must account for during the sales, design, and installation process.
The new requirements only apply to IQ8 systems with back-up power configurations (sunlight back-up without storage, or back-up configurations w/ IQ8s and IQ Batteries). The changes do not apply to a grid tied-only configuration of IQ8 (no back-up functionality). In a grid-tied only configuration, an IQ8 PV system would have the same design and installation parameters of a grid tied-only IQ7 system.
Summary of key design and installation differences between back-up configurations of IQ8 and IQ7
| Feature | IQ7 back-up configurations | IQ8 PV back-up configurations |
|---|---|---|
| PV only back-up configuration | No | Yes. IQ Load Controller (EP-NA-LK02-040) and IQ System Controller 2 (EP200G101-M240US00) Required |
| PV black start | No | Yes |
| PV size limit | 96A while off grid Note: PV shedding with IQ System Controller 1/2 and IQ Load Controller available for larger PV sizes while on grid |
64A. PV must be landed on lugs in System Controller 2 |
| PV:ESS power ratio limit | 1.5 | No power limit Note: Systems with a single IQ Battery 3/3T limited to max 48 IQ8s (any model) |
| PV Breaker Type for IQ Combiner | Standard 20A 2 pole breaker | Eaton BR220B breakers (BRK-20A-2P-240V-B) |
| PV plugin breaker tiedown kit requirement | No | Yes X-IQ-NA-HD-125A from Enphase or BREQS125 from Eaton - One per two PV Breakers in IQ Combiner and EP200G-NA-HD-200A from Enphase or BRHDK125 from Eaton in IQ System Controller 2 |
| PV Rapid Shutdown initiator | PV system disconnect | External Rapid shutdown initiator (EP200G-NA-02-RSD) required – must be used with IQ System Controller 2 |
| IQ Gateway (Envoy) breaker location | IQ Combiner (PV array) | IQ System Controller. IQ Gateway re-wiring required to move IQ Gateway breaker from IQ Combiner to IQ System Controller either on Generator location or Quad breaker in Autotransformer location |
| IQ Gateway (Envoy) physical location | Near PV array | Near IQ System Controller 2 |
| System Controller Type | System Controller 1 or 2 | System Controller 2 only |
| Hold down kit for storage breaker in System Controller | Yes | Yes. Now available for purchase from Enphase (EP200G-NA-HD-200A) |
| IQ Combiner Type | IQ Combiner 3/3C or 4/4C | IQ Combiner 4 or 4C (X-IQ-AM1-240-4 or X-IQ-AM1-240-4C) |
| Cell Modem Required | Yes | Yes |
Kindly find the latest tech brief for enphase system shutdown here
There is no difference in rapid shutdown for legacy microinverters (IQ6, IQ7, M215 and M250) when used with IQ System Controller 2. Rapid Shutdown operation for these microinverters can be initiated in one of three ways
-
The AC circuit breaker installed within the IQ-Combiner
-
The AC circuit breaker installed within IQ System Controller
-
Or a dedicated AC disconnect switch located in series with the combined PV inverter circuit
In addition to enable the system to operate installers need to short the RSD auxiliary contacts of IQ System Controller 2 which are meant for wiring the shutdown switch only when installing IQ8 micros.
The cable header assembly (which is a part of the System Controller 2 Lit-Kit) must be wired to the NC3 and NC4 contacts. A 12 AWG wire should be used to connect terminal 1 of NC3 with terminal 2 of the NC3 contact. The same procedure must be repeated with the NC4 contacts.
IQ8 microinverters, when used with the IQ System Controller 2, are multi-mode capable inverters. This means when IQ8 microinverter are unable to sense the grid they form their own grid. The traditional means of rapid shut down i.e., AC circuit breakers or AC disconnects, are no longer sufficient or compliant to meet NEC rapid shut down requirements with IQ8 multi-mode inverters.
The IQ System Controller 2 provides terminals to wire to the Enphase Energy System Shutdown switch. This is a double pole, single throw switch i.e., a DPST, supplied by Enphase with SKU: EP200G-NA-02-RSD. This Enphase Energy System Shutdown Switch and the IQ System Controller 2 are capable and compliant with UL1741 to act as PV Rapid Shutdown Equipment (PVRSE) for IQ8 multi-mode inverters.
The Enphase System Shutdown Switch goes above and beyond the NEC Rapid shut down requirements. When turned to the off position the switch ensures that a power line communications signal goes out to shut down each of the IQ8 multi-mode microinverters apart from opening the AC combiner/PV relay in the System Controller 2 , in addition it also disconnects other distributed energy resources like batteries and generators from the home. Note that batteries and generators are not shutdown. These resources are only disconnected from the home. Finally, the switch being turned off also closes the Microgrid Interconnect Device (MID) relay to connect the home to the grid to ensure that the home has power from the utility grid if the same is available. This makes Enphase Energy Systems controlled by the IQ System Controller 2 the safe to operate and prepared for the next generation of safety requirements.
When installing any of the IQ8 series of microinverters with the IQ System Controller 2 the Enphase Energy System Shutdown Switch is required to be installed as the rapid shutdown initiator. The SKU for this product is EP200G-NA-02-RSD.
Note that the IQ8 microinverters are only supported with IQ System Controller 2. The legacy switch i.e., IQ System Controller does not support IQ8 microinverters.
The IQ System Controller 2 provides terminals to wire to the Enphase Energy System Shutdown switch. This is a double pole, single throw switch i.e., a DPST, supplied by Enphase with SKU: EP200G-NA-02-RSD. This Enphase Energy System Shutdown Switch and the IQ System Controller 2 are capable and compliant with UL1741 to act as PV Rapid Shutdown Equipment (PVRSE) for IQ8 multi-mode inverters.
For detailed instructions, refer to the Quick Installation Guide (QIG) for Enphase Energy System Shutdown switch installation guide. Which can be found in this link https://enphase.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/RSD-QIG-EN-US.pdf .
Rapid shutdown is a safety feature which has been mandated since the 2014 NEC where PV installations need to have an initiator which will shut down every PV inverter. This will ensure that first responders and any maintenance personnel can safely operate without any energized conductors in the systems.
For legacy microinverters (like IQ6, IQ7 or M series) which are used with IQ System Controller 1 the Enphase Energy System Shutdown switch (EP200G-NA-02-RSD) should not be used as a rapid shutdown initiator.
Rapid Shutdown operation for these microinverters can be initiated in one of three ways
-
The AC circuit breaker installed within the IQ-Combiner
-
The AC circuit breaker installed within IQ System Controller
-
Or a dedicated AC disconnect switch located in series with the combined PV inverter circuit
These provide shutdown for PV Micros as required by the NEC code.