Enphase IQ8P Microinverters
12 © 2024 Enphase Energy Inc. All rights reserved. January 2024
IOM-00002-1.0
Planning for microinverter installation
The microinverter housing is designed for outdoor installation and complies with the NEMA 250,
type 6 environmental enclosure rating standard.
NEMA 6 rating definition: Indoor or outdoor use primarily to provide a degree of
protection against hose-directed water, the entry of water during occasional
temporary submersion at a limited depth, and damage from external ice formation
.
The IQ Cable is available with connector spacing options to accommodate the installation of PV
modules in portrait or landscape orientation. For IQ Cable ordering information, refer to
Enphase IQ Cable Planning and Ordering.
Compatibility
The IQ8P Microinverters are electrically compatible with PV modules, as listed in the following
table. No enforced DC/AC ratio and maximum input power. Modules can be paired if the open
circuit voltage (V
OC
) and short circuit current (I
SC
) of the PV module at the extreme temperatures
(lowest temperature for voltage and highest temperature for current) do not exceed the
microinverter’s maximum input DC voltage and maximum module I
SC
specifications respectively.
For specifications, see Specifications of this manual. You can refer to the Enphase compatibility
calculator at https://enphase.com/en-ph/installers/microinverters/calculator to verify PV module
electrical compatibility. To ensure mechanical compatibility, the microinverter’s male and female
connectors must only be mated with the identical type and brand of male and female connectors.
WARNING: Risk of fire. The PV module DC conductors must be labeled “PV Wire” or “PV
Cable” to comply with NEC for ungrounded PV power systems.
Microinverter model Connector type PV module cell count
IQ8P-72-2-US Stäubli MC4
Pair with 60-cell/120-half-cell, 66-
cell/132-half-cell, 72- cell/144-half-cell,
78-cell/156-half-cell
NOTE:
Some Enphase microinverters will not begin exporting power until the IQ Gateway
is installed and all the microinverters at the site have been detected. In addition, the grid
profile needs to be configured, and the IQ Gateway must propagate these settings to the
microinverters.
Grounding considerations
The microinverter models listed in this guide do not require grounding electrode conductors (GEC),
equipment grounding conductors (EGC), or grounded conductors (neutral). Your Authority Having
Jurisdiction (AHJ) may require you to bond the mounting bracket to the racking. If so, use UL2703
hardware or star washers. The microinverter itself has a Class II double-insulated rating, which
includes ground fault protection (GFP). To support GFP, use only PV modules equipped with DC
cables labeled “PV Wire” or “PV Cable.”
Branch circuit capacity
Plan your AC branch circuits to meet the following limits for a maximum number of microinverters
per branch when protected with a 20 A (maximum) overcurrent protection device (OCPD).
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