Not All Solar Is Created Equal
Don't get caught paying premium prices for budget equipment. Here's what every solar buyer should know:
What We Do
Premium Enphase equipment at fair, transparent prices
Industry Problem
Budget equipment sold at premium prices
Inverters are the heart of your solar system - they handle monitoring, performance, and longevity. No other system component is more important. You deserve to know exactly what you're buying.
Microinverter vs. string inverter
| Enphase (Micro) | Others (String) | Why Enphase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuous power during a daytime outage | Yes, with IQ8 | No | With IQ8, power essential appliances—lights, fans, and phones— during daytime outages, even without a home battery. |
| Single point of failure | No | Yes | Independently functioning microinverters remove the single point of failure resulting in a more reliable solar system. |
| Limited warranty | 25 years | 10–15 years | A longer limited warranty means a better customer experience |
| Rapid Shutdown compliance | No additional equipment needed | Additional equipment needed | Enphase microinverters simplify safety by including built-in Rapid Shutdown capabilities. |
| Module-level monitoring | Yes | No | Easily track production and quickly pinpoint issues with module-level monitoring. |
| Design flexibility | High | Low | Maximize rooftop space and adapt to design challenges with microinverters. |
| Electrical safety | Safe AC on the roof | High-voltage DC on the roof | We virtually eliminate the risk of an arc-fault fire on your roof by running only safe AC on the roof. |
| Modular | Yes | No | The modular microinverter design means you can quickly and easily expand your system as your needs grow. |
Our Promise: Premium Equipment at a Great Price
We believe you should get what you pay for. That's why we use premium Enphase equipment and price it fairly, while many competitors charge premium prices for budget components.
Our Approach
Premium Enphase equipment
Fair, transparent pricing
25 Year Warranty
Per Panel Monitoring
Industry Standard
Budget equipment
Premium pricing
Quick Comparison: What You're Actually Getting
| Brand | Type | Warranty | MSRP for 20-Panel System | Value Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enphase (Our Choice) | Microinverter |  |
$8,140 | Premium quality, industry-leading warranty, fair pricing |
| APsystems | Microinverter | 12 Years | $3,880 | Mid-range option |
| Hoymiles | Microinverter | 12 Years | $1,565 | Budget microinverter |
| SolarEdge | String Inverter | 12 Years | $3,149 | Decent String Inverter, Requires optimizers |
| Solis | String Inverter | 10 Years | $1,497 | Cheapest option, shortest warranty |
The Industry Problem
Many Nova Scotia Solar Companies know that you likely are not familair with reputable solar equipment manufacturers.
This means:
- They may want to sell you the cheapest available components with the shortest warranties at an extraordinary markup.
- They may tell you that certain components are unnecessary (such as optimizers when using string inverters).
- They may be cagey about the equipment they use, and not disclose the details at all.
Ask Your Installer:
"What equipment are you using, and does your price reflect the actual cost of those components?"
What This Means For You
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unwillingness to disclose equipment specifications
- Vague warranty information
- No clear breakdown of equipment vs installation costs
- Commissioned salespeople (door-to-door direct sales)
- Claiming you don't need optimizers when using a string inverter
Questions to Ask Any Installer
- "What specific inverter model are you using?"
- "What's the warranty length?"
- "How does your price reflect the equipment cost?"
- "Can you show me the equipment specifications?"
-
"Let's say I don't need a Cadillac, what can you give me that won't cost me so much?"
Pro Tip: If they're offering you Hoymiles or Solis then they are already offering you the cheapest available equipment, so they might reduce the price, but will never change the equipment.
Remember:
#NotAllSolarMadeEqual
You can look up equipment specs and pricing on distributor websites to determing if you're getting a fair price. We implore you to do this.
We use premium Enphase equipment because it offers the best long-term value. We price it fairly because we believe you should know exactly what you're paying for. Get a transparent quote with our calculator and see for yourself.
Detailed Technical Specifications
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inverter Model | IQ8A | APS-DS3-L | HM-1500NT | SE7600H-APP | Ginlong Solis-1P7.6k-4G-US |
| Output W | 369 W | 768 W | 1500 W | 7,600 W | 7,600 W |
| Panels Serviced | 1 | 2 | 4 | 21 - 25 | 21 - 25 |
| AC W Per Panel | 369 W | 384 W | 375 W | 300 W - 360 W | 300 W- 360 W |
| Requires Optimizers | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| MSRP | $407 | $388 | $313 | $3,149 | $1,497.10 |
| Cost Per Panel | $407 | $194 | $78.25 | $125.96 - $149.95 | $59.88 - $71.29 |
| Standard Warranty | |
12 Years | 12 Years | 12 Years | 10 Years |
Prices are averages taken from December 2023 pricing sheets from Canadian solar distributors. Prices are in CAD.
Visual Comparison
Equipment Cost for 20 Panel System
Warranty Length (Years)
Why We Choose Enphase
Superior Technology
- 25-year warranty (2x longer than competitors)
- Individual panel optimization maximizes production
- No single point of failure like string inverters
- Advanced monitoring for each panel
Fair Pricing Model
- Transparent pricing - no hidden markups
- Equipment cost justifies system price
- Long-term value through superior warranty
The Bottom Line:
We're not simply saying the highest value equipment is always your best choice, but we are saying that customers in Nova Scotia should get the best value for their money. Cheaper equipment should cost less to install - but often doesn't in this industry where many companies prey on consumer ignorance.
| Configuration Options | Solar only | Sunlight backup | Solar + battery with backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Produce solar energy only when the grid is up | Produce solar energy even when the grid is down | Produce and save energy even when the grid is down | |
| Save money on my monthly utility bill | |||
| Manage my system's performance live, and over time, on a mobile app | |||
| Power basic appliances during an outage (phones, lights, fans, or a fridge) | - | With sunlight | Day and night |
| Seamlessly integrate an AC standby generator during an outage | - | ||
| Store excess solar energy in a battery to use more of your own power, even overnight or when the sun isn't shining as much | - | - | |
| Manage large appliances during an outage (air conditioner, EV charger, heat pump, washer/dryer, etc.) | - | - | |
| Participate in net metering and grid service programs to make money (where available) | - | - | |
| Power my whole home during an extended outage and eliminate my energy bills | - | - | |
| Export power to the grid at the optimal time for maximum economic benefits | - | - | |
| ENPHASE SYSTEM COMPONENTS |
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Ready to Make an Informed Decision?
Don't let anyone sell you budget equipment at premium prices. Whether you choose us or another installer, make sure you're getting fair value for your investment.
Remember: There's nothing wrong with choosing budget equipment - just make sure the price reflects that choice.
So, thinking about solar? Let's talk
The quickest way to get a quote is to fill in our contact form.
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