The customer's IQ7s are grid-following — they shut off when grid drops. Adding IQ8s or APsystems micros would produce AC that goes to the grid, not the batteries. During an outage — the exact moment she needs recharge — AC-coupled solar stops working due to anti-islanding. Her batteries drain with no replenishment.

A hybrid inverter to handle both the existing Enphase AC output and a new DC string would require AC coupling capacity for 11kW+ of combined solar, a battery inverter, and significant rewiring. Cost climbs past $5,000 in hardware alone before touching the existing system.

The F3800 Plus has dual MPPT inputs rated 11–165V, 13.9A max. The original F3800 has dual inputs rated 11–60V, 27A max. The Trina 425W panels string perfectly within these limits. DC flows directly from panels into batteries — no inverter, no grid connection, no anti-islanding problem. Solar charges the batteries whether the grid is up or down.

These 10 panels do not export to the grid. They do not show in the Enphase app. They do not interact with SRP's net metering. They charge the F3800s. That is their only job.