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Tigo optimizer

The Tigo Energy® TS4™ system is based on a concept named current boosting (buck-only):

  • Below the Vmpp voltage the current is "boosted" along an  (Impp * Vmpp)  curve (hyperbola), up to a maximum current. This is achieved, for a given current I, by a Voltage diminution corresponding to the available Pmpp (Vout = Pmpp / I). In this way, operating the string at Impp of the best module will draw the Pmpp of each module.
  • For voltages over Vmpp, the optimizer's output follows then IV curve of the module.

This system involves a permanent communication between the Tigo Energy® TS4 Module-Level Power Electronics™ (MLPE) and a central Tigo Energy® Cloud Connect Advanced™ (CCA). This communication is relayed by multiple Tigo Energy® Access Points™ (TAPs) distributed in the array (one TAP manages up to 700 optimizers). 

At each instant, the TS4 MLPE measures the available energy of its PV module and receives information about its operating point. This permanent information at the module level may be stored and managed externally, therefore allowing permanent supervision of the running of the system. 

  • The TS4 devices are available for diverse input voltages/powers, for crystalline or thin film modules. 
  • Some modules are specifically equipped at the factory with Tigo TS4 MLPE.

When using a Tigo TS4 optimizer, we must check that the PV module is compatible with the input specifications (Voltage, Current, Power) of the device. This is indicated by green devices in the choice list box. 

Some optimizers have a fixed voltage limit just over Vmpp. This avoids the Voc limit (at low temperature) and allows an increased number of modules per string.

Except for the clipped voltage devices, the sizing conditions for the number of modules in a string are identical as for usual PV arrays.