u/808kid

Hello, I'm getting a level 2 EV Charger installed at my home in anticipation of our purchasing a EV in the next few months. Around 6 to 12 months is the plan.

I am wanting to buy the Enphase IQ EV Charger 2 and install it outdoor where the EV will be parked. I live in Southern California so sun can be intense and summers get to about 109 at its highest temperature.

I saw the specs on the Enphase site saying it's rated to work in temperature up to 131 degrees.

So does that mean it'll be fine to work at 48amps while in the summer and in direct sunlight? or would it potentially derate itself and charge slower or potentially be more prone to breaking? Is this a bad idea to install it there?

The other potential option is to install it inside the garage, run the cord under the garage door to the car outside but I'm concerned of the door closing on the charging cable.

I have been researching getting solar on my house. I'm down to two companies, both are near equal in terms of cost and equipment. Both seem knowledgeable and I get a sense of trust from both as they came out without needing me to place a deposit, answered my questions and they were not sales people but the persons who do the installs. One advocated for installing panels on my flat roof instead of pitched roof and I think I get the logic but wanted to get opinions.

I have two options as I have a flat roof and a pitched roof on my property. The pitched roof is south facing. I can fit 12 panels on my pitched roof or I can put 15 panels on my flat roof. Both locations are not covered by any trees. However my flat roof is higher than my pitched roof and is to the west of the pitched roof so as the day gets to later in the afternoon, the flat roof can cast a shadow on to the pitched roof. As the year moves towards summer, the flat roof can cast a greater shadow on the pitched roof than it does in the winter months.

The property is in the San Gabriel Valley area, so a lot of sun light and not much rain. The installation on the flat roof would be to pierce the membrane of the roof and the panels would be on racks (I think is the correct term?).

Assuming the flat roof can withstand the weight, I am leaning towards the installation on the flat roof. My initial preference was the pitched roof but one installer recommended the flat roof as it would allow more panels and wouldn't have a shadow cast on it later in the afternoon.

I guess my question is, what would you recommend?