Inverter faiures (was Batteryless inverter recommendation) [RE-wrenches]

[Joel Davidson]

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Wrenches,

I know some wrenches will share how many inverters they have installed while 
other wrenches don't want to so I am just asking percentages of failures.

What percentage of residential batteryless inverters (Sunny Boy, Fronius, 
Xantrex, etc.) that you installed had to be replaced or repaired?

For example, several years ago I installed 245 Omnion 4kW and 6kW inverter 
systems in 1 year and got 6% failure rate in the first 90 days. Call-backs 
were killing me so I got Omnion to change their burn-in procedure and got 
the installers to sign an installation procedure checklist and the failure 
rate dropped to zero.

What I am looking for is minimum call-backs and maximum customer 
satisfaction. I'm sure you are too.

Joel Davidson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William Miller"
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 9:31 PM
Subject: RE: Batteryless inverter recommendation [RE-wrenches]


>
> Friends:
>
> Actually I prefer the Xantrex GT series inverters.  They are the only 
> inverter with a realistic built-in disconnect scheme.  Fronius tried in 
> vain to convince me that installers would actually tarp modules before 
> working on a inverter.  I thought this was very funny.
>
> Anecdotally, Xantrex seems a bit more reliable, but this is not a 
> statistical analysis.  Both SMA and Fronius have had more failures in our 
> installed fleet than I think is reasonable.
>
> The Xantrex GT also is the most attractive and easy to install inverter. 
> The SMA is heavy and there is no enhanced service reimbursement for the 
> larger inverter that takes two men and a boy to lift.  Bah!  The Fronius 
> wobbles and seems poorly constructed, although we have experienced no 
> mechanical failures.
>
> Fronius has had a spate of failures in our installed base of 4550-LV 
> inverters.  They did send a technician out to rebuild inverters but the 
> failures continue...
>
> William Miller


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