Chilicon Power Residential Design and Installation Guide
5
Introduction
Welcome to the Chilicon Power family of microinverter system installers. Chilicon Power offers the most
advanced microinverter system commercially available. This system is versatile, highly reliable, high performance,
and easy to install by following the instructions contained in this manual. Three elements constitute the
Chilicon Power system:
• Chilicon Power single or duo microinverter
• Communications gateway
• Web-based monitoring software
2.1 The Chilicon Advantage: More Flexibility, More Productivity
Microinverters offer enhanced reliability, production, and flexibility in PV system design and operation.
Conventional solar systems string numerous solar panels together and connect them all to a single inverter. This
approach requires series connecting the PV modules into “strings” which causes a loss in production when some
of the modules are shaded by clouds, trees, or debris. Furthermore, the string inverter represents a single point
of failure which if fails will result in a total loss of production from the PV system.
String Inverter
Microinverter
Production
Limited by weakest module
Maximized for system
System Risks
The whole system
Isolated to the module
System Design
Requires string calculations
Simple branch circuits
DC High Voltage
Yes
No
DC Arc Fire Risk
Yes
No
Rapid Shutdown Compliant
Requires additional hardware
Fully compliant
Per module visibility
No
Yes
Installation
Additional location required
Hidden under solar module
Warranty (yrs)
10-12 yrs
25 yrs
The Chilicon Power system consists of either single (CP-250E) or duo (CP-720) high performance microinverters
connected together using standardized lengths of Chilicon Power MTC AC trunk cable into up to 30A breakers.
The CP100 gateway connects via a standard 120V electrical outlet to both receive microinverter data via a robust
PLC link and serve as a master control panel, allowing full access to firmware modification of the microinverters.
This significantly simplifies processes such as power limiting for support of larger branch circuits and AC coupling
for system which include generators or batteries. Finally, all information is uploaded to our cloud based
monitoring system for remote viewing and ease of O&M support.