u/madbrain1976

[This is a long post, feel free to jump to the TLDR at the bottom.]

I first installed solar with 28 Sharp 245W panels in 2010. Got PTO from PG&E under NEM 1.0 in January 2011. The 14 D380 experienced many failures, and were replaced by Enphase with 28 M215. The warranty on the M215 expired in 2025 - it was backdated to the original purchase of the D380, and there was only 15 year warranty at the time. I have had many M215 failures over the years also, and have a number of IQ7-M215 as a result, not sure how many.

In 2023, I added 42 more panels with 28 IQ8+, just before NEM 3.0 went into effect I'm now on NEM 2.0, and grandfathered through January 2031. The main panel had to be replaced with a 200amp PVL panel, with a 100 amp PVL bus. The PV is 23.2 kW DC / 18.2 kW AC. Actual all-time peak PV from my Home assistant real-time curves is 17,200W AC.

I don't have a sizable electric bill currently - the PG&E NEM charges and SJCE excess generation credits roughly cancel each other.

However, I live in the hills, in an area where outages are getting more frequent. Typically, it is drunk drivers knocking down poles, at nights, on weekends or holidays, and PG&E takes forever to fix them. I also had 2 short ones in the last week alone that are unexplained. I'm looking to add in some backup batteries as I'm getting tired of the outages. Currently, the IQ8+ are not configured for micro-grid due to the mix with M215. Solar micro-grid alone is not very useful anyway given that most outages have happened when the sun doesn't shine.

I bought a 2025 Equinox in EV LT1 August 2025 to replace my 2015 Volt before the EV point of sale rebate expired. It is V2H capable, but maxes at 9.6 kW, which would not be sufficient by itself for backup - there are sometimes consumption peaks above 20 kW per my Home assistant Eagle3 real-time grid demand curves. Typical is of course much, much lower. The Equinox has a huge 85 kWh battery, which would be a massive bonus if compatible, requiring far fewer IQ batteries.

1. re: solar - old generation M215 micros

From what I have gathered, the recommendation from Enphase is to upgrade the 28 M215 to IQ8-60. They have provided parts quotes for this under the program program. The benefit would be to run all 70 IQ8 series in solar micro-grid. When combined with IQ battery backup, it would vastly extend the runtime for an extended outage that includes daylight hours - I have had a few of those over the last 16 years, including one PSPS.

The other option would be to leave the 28 M215 in place, and connect them to the load controller on the Combiner 6c, to turn them off during outages. This would still leave the 42 IQ8+which have higher wattage panels in micro-grid. It would save a lot of labor in installation also - installer not needing to go on the roof.

2. Re: V2H. The IQ bidirectional charger has been announced for years, and is still vaporware. The current promotional video shows a list of cars, but the 2025 Equinox EV is not on it. The car supposedly supports ISO 15118-20. The IQ charger is supposed to support it as well. But so far, Enphase is tight lipped and not willing to provide any information as to compatibility. They say that more information will be available in Q3, and the charger in Q4. I am eligible for a $10,400 Ecohome battery installation incentive from SJCE. However, the city just announced that applications won't be available after July 1. I applied on June 24. I have until October 2026 to install batteries in order to receive the rebate. In order to decide how much grid batteries to install, I need to have the information about whether my Equinox EV will be compatible with the IQ bidirectional charger ASAP, even if the charger itself is not yet available, in order to decide how much grid battery capacity to install. The SJCE incentive requires 24 kWh minimum capacity to maximize the rebate. I would be looking to install 30 to 70 kWh. If the V2H is not compatible, it would need to be on the higher end of that range.

I see a few options from here.

1. don't install any batteries now. Forget about the SJCE incentive. Wait until information is available about Enphase V2H to make a decision

2. install the Combiner 6c with 3 x Battery 10c, ie. 30 kWh of batteries. Leave 28 M215 in place. Configure the IQ8+ for solar micro-grid. Complete this by October 24 to collect the SJCE incentive.

Add the IQ bidirectional charger later on, to provide the additional 85 kWh of battery backup. I need to know now that my car will be compatible with IQ V2H charger to choose this option.

3. Same as option 2, but convert M215 to IQ8-60. I still need to know now that my car will be compatible with IQ V2H charger to choose this option.

4. Same as 2, but install 70 kWh of batteries now. Forget about V2H charger compatibility.

5. Same as 3, but install 70 kWh of batteries now. Forget about V2H charger compatibility.

6. Explore some non-Enphase home battery backup options, and install them before October 24 to get the SJCE rebate. I have no idea what this would entail technically. I assume that my PV solar would have to be fully disconnected during outages - no possibility of micro-grid. So, it would need to be a very sizable amount of batteries.

TLDR :

a. when will IQ V2H compatibility with Equinox 2025 EV information be available ? I need to know this ASAP to decide whether to add Enphase batteries or not.

b. am I correct that my Enphase solar PV would have to disconnect during outages, if using 3rd party grid battery options ?

c. what are the best non-Enphase battery options that can be used, if leaving the Enphase PV system with 42 x IQ8+ and 28 x M215 in place.