outback inverters [RE-wrenches]

Tue Oct 22 15:46:56 PDT 2002

Bill:

The normal warranty for our European inverters is 2 years and you can
purchase an extended warranty out to 10 years if you like.   This has
been SMA's policy long before the first Sunny Boy arrived here in the
US.  

I did not want to create a lot of unnecessary paperwork for everyone
which is why I made it 5 years automatically for all US Sunny Boys.
That being said, I think our customers have given us a clear message
that they want 5 year (or longer) warranties.  IT is fairly simple
economics to calculate the costs and build them in.  Unless we get
messages to the contrary from the market, I imagine we will offer the
same warranty in our off gird products when they arrive.  

If you have any questions, or if I can be of any further assistance,
please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,

John Berdner

SMA America, Inc.
12438 Loma Rica Drive, Unit C
Grass Valley, CA  95945
530.273.4595 (voice)
530.274.7271 (fax) 

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Brooks [mailto:billb at endecon.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 2:06 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: outback inverters [RE-wrenches]

Matt,

The initial email stated that SMA and Advanced Energy set the standard.
They
did this both with grid-only inverters initially because of the Buydown
requirement not because they were so anxious to stick their neck out.
Without that requirement I would expect that most companies would be
hesitant to offer that long of a warranty for free to off-grid folks.

Bill.

-----Original Message-----
From: matthew tritt [mailto:solarone at charter.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 12:00 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Re: outback inverters [RE-wrenches]

Bill,

You are no doubt referring to the buy-down program, not off-grid
systems.
Where does it say that an equipment supplier is required to give a five
year
warranty for off-grid system components? Also, the recent and untimely
demise of Advanced Energy brings this issue squarely to a head. Written
five
year warrantees are only as sound as the company behind them.

Matt

Matt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Brooks" <billb at endecon.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 11:53 AM
Subject: RE: outback inverters [RE-wrenches]

> Rob and others,
>
> The CEC set the standard at five years. The manufacturers are required
to
> follow suit if they want their product sold in California.
>
> Bill.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rob Harlan [mailto:mendosol at mcn.org]
> Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2002 9:30 PM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Re: outback inverters [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> It is pretty clear that the FX2000 inverters are well designed.  They
are
in
> a sealed housing which should eliminate a large chunk of problems that
both
> the SW and ST/STXR seem to have (dust, bugs, mice, slugs, etc).  The
> inverter is designed to be easily diagnosed and repaired in the field
by
> "technicians" (that be us) with on-board diagnostic LEDs and
"reasonably
> priced", easily replaceable boards.  This should mean less hernias and
> significantly reduced equipment down time. It is also gratifying to
see
that
> they appear to be overbuilt in many ways.
>
> What is missing (besides some color) as I see it, is a full five year
> warranty. This issue goes way beyond the CEC Buydown program warranty
> requirements that we installers sometimes get caught in the middle of.
The
> solar industry needs manufacturers that are willing to make
consistent,
> reliable, durable equipment and fully back up their products.
>
> SMA America and Advanced Energy have set an industry standard with
five
year
> warranties on their inverters. These are  included with the initial
purchase
> price. In the name of solidifying the industry I hope Outback can
follow
> suit.
>
> Other thoughts?
>
> Rob Harlan
> Mendocino Solar Service
> mendosol at mcn.org
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> > 2, FX2000's are the same size as one 4024/4048/5548. You get ~3KW
per
> unit.
> > 4, FX2000's would be ~12 kW. The 2 kW rating is incredibly
conservative.
> ONE
> > will start and run loads that a 4024 will not. The rating is not
firm
yet
> > but will probably end up being around 3 kW at 35 degrees C. They
will
> surge
> > to 4200 watts for 4 minutes. These things are WAY cool. More mosfets
=
> > better wave form and they are sealed so stay clean inside.
> >
> > Todd
> >
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