Minimum distance between Enphase IQ Combiner Box and MSP?

Hi all,

I’m in the design stage with a large solar installer in Los Angeles, CA, and we’re currently in a standoff about placement of conduit and the IQ Combiner Box. For context, this is a 25 panel (Panasonic EVPV400H) installation with Enphase IQ8M microinverters, roof mounted, totaling 10 kW DC.

The installer wants to put the combiner box around the corner from the MSP and run conduit, stating that it must be at least 7 feet away from from the MSP. I can’t find any reference to this requirement, do you know what they’re talking about? They take a very black and white “it has to go here or here” approach, but I’m wondering if there are any creative solutions, and need to better understand the relevant requirements if I’m to do the outside the box thinking for them.

For aesthetic reasons, we are unwilling to install the device and conduit in their preferred location. Running it 7 feet in the opposite direction is possible but tricky (there’s a water tank and large door in the way, so it’s a tricky run requiring a bunch more conduit).

Also a somewhat related question: our MSP is top fed, does that mean that they must enter the MSP from the bottom? They seem to think so, but the solar breaker is usually at the top right, so how does that work? There is some existing unused conduit that goes to the top of the MSP that we are wondering if they could use (it’s a 6 year old house so the conduit should be up to code, and is 1in).

Thanks!