Скачать или смотреть DIY Solar Pool Pump: Enphase IQ8+ Microinverters Offset Energy Use

In my last solar pergola build I mentioned that the used panels I picked up on Facebook Marketplace came with Enphase IQ8+ microinverters. In this video, I explain how IQ8+ microinverters work, why they’re primarily for grid-tied systems, and how I tested them to offset my pool pump’s energy use without exporting to the utility.

What’s inside

How IQ8+ microinverters operate and why they look for a valid grid before producing AC power

My load-offset test: using microinverter output directly on a pool-pump branch so power is consumed locally, not exported

Cost reality: IQ8+ ≈$100 used / ≈$200 new plus trunk cables; why I usually recommend a budget solar power station (all-in-one inverter, server-rack battery, load center) for cost, practicality, and scalability

Step-by-step wiring overview and safety checks

Measured results with a Klein amp clamp vs. the pump’s spec sheet

How I wired it

Panel → Microinverter: Checked panel Voc vs. IQ8+ DC input range.

Microinverter AC side: Outputs 240 V AC on trunk cable only when grid reference detected.

Trunk cable → Junction box: Spliced to 12 AWG conductors.

J-box → Pool pump timer: Ran conductors via conduit.

Timer connections: Screws 1 & 3 (line from main panel) / screws 2 & 4 (microinverter output to pump load).

Scheduling: Pump runs 7 AM–6 PM; timer set 8 AM–5 PM so the microinverter only produces while the pump is on.

Why this prevents export: Any power produced is immediately used by the pump. When the timer cuts power, the microinverter stops instantly.

Measurements

Pump alone: ~2.3 A (~560 W); pump spec at 2,200 RPM = 564 W — math checks.

Microinverter output: ~1.07 A (~256 W) at the junction box.

With microinverter: Pump current drops from ~2.3 A to ~1.1 A — difference supplied by the microinverter.

Timer OFF: Microinverter shuts down; pump returns to ~2.3 A from the main.

Conclusion: The system offsets the pump’s consumption during the timer window without exporting.

Key takeaways

IQ8+ is grid-interactive gear. This setup only works because the microinverter “sees” grid voltage on the pump circuit and immediately supplies the load.

Unless you got them cheap with used panels, IQ8+ microinverters are a very expensive way to add solar. A small power-station build is usually more affordable and flexible.

This video is a demonstration of a load-offset concept, not a recommendation to bypass interconnection requirements.

FAQ (fast answers)

Can IQ8+ run “off-grid”? Not by itself. It needs a valid grid reference or a compatible microgrid controller system.

Will this backfeed my utility? Not in the way I’m showing it. The microinverter only produces while the pump branch is energized and immediately consumes it. No timer, no output.

Is this the cheapest way to add solar? No. Unless you already have IQ8+ gear, a small power-station build is usually more affordable and flexible.

Want to learn how to build a small solar system on a budget? Check out my playlist where we build one from scratch:    • Budget Power Station Build Phase 2 | Runni...  
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