Through some heroic efforts on the part of Tigo Energy, DC Power Systems, and Affordable Solar, I was able to acquire 24 ea. Tigo Module Maximizers (MM-ES060V300W-4RL), 1 ea. Module Management Unit (MU-ESW), 1 ea. wireless transceiver (which communicates with the Maximizers), and some odds and ends.
As mentioned in an earlier post, there is one Maximizer for each solar module. In fact, the Maximizer attaches to the back of the module. Its purpose is to balance the DC output of the panel in order to reduce the effect of shading and other module inconsistencies on the whole string of modules. Without the Maximizer, one shaded panel would seriously degrade the production of the entire string.
The Tigo Maximizer product is brand new and is only now becoming available to the U.S. solar PV market. Their products will initially be available through two distributors: AEE Solar and DC Power Systems.
Because AEE Solar has a local distributor, I originally attempted to work through them in acquiring this brand new Tigo product. Unfortunately, they were uninterested. DC Power Systems, though, were very anxious to help get me the Maximizers in time to meet my deadline (of being on-line by EOY).
I cannot say enough positive about the fine folks at Tigo Energy and, in particular, their new Marketing Manager, James Bickford! James has tirelessly pushed internally and externally to help me acquire their Maximizers in time. James has called and emailed numerous times to insure that things were 'in motion' and, once I'd received the product, to make sure any questions or issues I might have were being addressed.
Kudos to Tigo Energy, James Bickford and many others at Tigo Energy, DC Power Systems, and Affordable Solar, a retailer for DC Power Systems.
Module Preparation
Each Tigo Maximizer comes pre-attached to a mounting plate with a clamping assembly along two edges. The intention is to loosen the clamps, place the maximizer in the corner of the solar module, and tighten the clamps onto the framing of the module.
Unfortunately, the Sanyo modules have a frame edge to which the Maximizer can be clamped only along one edge. Single-edge clamping is inadequate inasmuch as any vibration at all causes the clamp to loosen. Our solution was to drill two holes in the frame edge and then directly mount the Maximizer to the Sanyo frame:
Of course, it is important to place the Maximizer in one of the corners adjacent to the cable connections of the solar module.
Note that we waited to connect the cables from the module to the Maximizer until just before module installation. Also, some Maximizers were attached to the left of the panel connection and some to the right. This was done so that the Maximizer cables could best connect to the next and previous Maximizer in the series according to the following diagram:
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