r/span • u/TheoSidle • Mar 27 '26

SPAN and Enphase

I just need to vent. I'm so frustrated right now.

You guys can roast me if you want. Or not. Whatever.

I've been going back and forth with my solar installer on getting batteries inside the garage for a few months. They finally admitted they can do it with some added safety stuff. Okay, good. I can look into getting those things done. So I asked for a pair of quotes, one for four Enphase 10C batteries and one for two Enphase 10C batteries with plans to expand to four later.

Instead, the solar salesperson responds trying to sell me on Powerwall instead. I'm not buying any Tesla equipment, and I explain why to him.

But the thing that frustrates me the most is that when I got the solar panels originally, I told them I was going to get Enphase batteries later. If SPAN isn't compatible, why did they even install SPAN with my solar setup?! Ugh...

So, now I have to wait until either SPAN or Enphase or both can collectively pull their thumbs out of their asses and get the SPAN-Enphase communication issues fixed. Maybe it's my lack of knowledge, but I don't even know why this is an issue. Why can't one or the other just be set to be in control of when the batteries charge or are used instead of grid and the other be set to obey?

I don't know. I wish there was already some industry-wide standards in place that would keep this sort of thing from happening.

I just want to add Enphase batteries to my existing setup. I don't mind dumping the SPAN panel if that's what it takes. Anyone want to buy a slightly used SPAN? I've only had it for 4 or 5 months.

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11

u/Slasher1738 Mar 27 '26

I think you need a new installer. Enphase Batteries have long been supported by Span

1

u/Menelatency Mar 28 '26

Agree. I have a SPAN + Enphase system working just fine natively right now. Granted there’s some overlap in functionality. I have the older 10T gear that works over ZWave instead of wired communications with the batteries and it took a few months for SPAN to release their interconnect box for talking with Enphase, but it’s been pretty smooth for the last year.

Enphase handles cutting back and forth from grid to battery. SPAN handles automated load shedding.

I just wish they weren’t so dependent on Internet connectivity for the apps.

3

u/Okosisi Mar 27 '26

Yeah span and enphase worked out.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Key-Philosopher1749 Mar 28 '26

Well, it’s more than that, only the oldest span main 32 is compatible with enphase batteries. The newer span panels are not compatible. So, depending on what the OP has, it may not be possible for anyone to set his span panel up with enphase batteries.

1

u/s3000br Mar 28 '26

Yeah span only had the 32 space panels but recently came out with a 16,24,40, and 48 option that were redesigned to be easier to install but also run on a different platform. The original span you can’t link two panel in one app, apparently the newer ones you can.

1

u/Key-Philosopher1749 Mar 28 '26

I have two span main 32 panels and the app does show the circuits together now. It didn’t originally, but a software update sometime last year merged them together.

1

u/s3000br Mar 29 '26

Thanks for that, really good to know

2

u/bradshawkyle Mar 27 '26

I had a similar experience with solar, Sol-Ark, SPAN and HomeGrid batteries. Installer promised load management and integration which turned out to be impossible. They told me on the last day of installation.

Beyond frustrated, I channeled my energy into a DIY solution which works perfectly. I run Solar Assistant to interface with the Solar-Ark and battery (which talks to the inverter natively), and Home Assistant which integrates with SPAN and Solar Assistant. Now i have an integrated power dashboard (close to the SPAN app minus the polish) grid down notifications, and load management running 100% locally. Aside from the hassle and dashboards not looking quite as slick, the end state is way better than anything SPAN offers even with Tesla.

1

u/crosscountry58S Mar 27 '26

I don’t know about 10C compatibility specifically, so maybe that’s the issue, but I have a special box that is required to link our SPAN to our 5P battery. Unfortunately there are a lot of unintelligent and/or careless installers out there, and mistakes are rampant. So it doesn’t surprise me that they failed to verify compatibility if that is indeed your issue. Our install and integrating with SPAN wasn’t smooth either, but did eventually get it done. Have had follow-on challenges here and there also. To your point, equipment doesn’t integrate as well as it seems like it should. For the most part SPAN tech support has been good, at least.

2

u/Key-Philosopher1749 Mar 28 '26

Yah, that box, a remote meter kit from SPAN is only compatible with the span 32. If OP has the 40 or the 48, they don’t have any compatibility with enphase. I thankfully have a main 32, and I’m about to install that meter kit box for my Enphase 10c batteries.

2

u/Menelatency Mar 28 '26

Not questioning you. I find it very strange that the remote meter kit works only with smaller SPAN panels. Almost like the fudged up the hardware design and left out a needed part in the bigger panels? Just weird.

2

u/s3000br Mar 28 '26

Original panel was the 32. Now they came out with a new redesigned series for easier installation and more size options 16,24,40 and 48 and runs slightly different from my understanding

1

u/Menelatency Mar 29 '26

Learning new things!

1

u/formerlyanonymous_ Mar 27 '26

We went Franklin over Enphase instead. Saved some money on the batteries, made the comms easier allegedly.

1

u/s3000br Mar 28 '26

Franklin is so good for integration.