[RE-wrenches] GT 3.0 FAILURES

Wed Jun 9 10:57:56 PDT 2010

I was at an older job this morning (4yrs) with 2 failed GT-3.0.  We quickly got two RMAs from Schneider/Xantrex.

 Nick Soleil
Project Manager
Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC
PO Box 657
Petaluma, CA 94953
Cell:   707-321-2937
Office: 707-789-9537
Fax:    707-769-9037

________________________________
From: August Goers <august at luminalt.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Wed, June 9, 2010 10:47:43 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] GT 3.0 FAILURES

We have about 100 or so GTs installed with about 10 failed units
since 2007. In one interesting case we had one fail (smoked circuit board,
blown AC fuse, the common failure mode). We replaced it and it failed again
about two weeks later. We replaced that one and it failed about 3 months later.
We started an investigation of the grid with the local utility (PG&E) and
eventually found that there was a bad capacitor bank. After the 3rd GT failure
we replaced it with a SMA and had no problem, even before the capacitor bank
issue was found and solved.  

Some part of the AC side protection is certainly not robust
enough - maybe Xantrex has fixed it by now?

Best, August

August Goers

Luminalt Energy Corporation
1320 Potrero Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94110
m: 415.559.1525
o: 415.641.4000
august at luminalt.com

From:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Peter
Parrish
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 6:26 PM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] GT 3.0 FAILURES

I
haven’t read the other precursor emails in the thread (but it
doesn’t make any difference if I am to relate my personal experience).

I
was a SWR2500 fan for the first two years in business 2002-2004. I am a loyal
customer as long as the quality, price, availability and tech support stayed
true. I got pretty upset when SMA upped their prices in response to capturing
the US market. The GT line looked great, with a more manageable form factor and
better pricing. So I switched horses.

My
initial experience with the GTs was fine. As an aside, I had a horrible time
with my first two XW, in every way imaginable. So the GTs seemed to be solid
citizens until the Chinese manufacturing debacle set in. I think I will end up
replacing 100% of the GTs we installed over that 9 month (?) period --
I’m thinking 15 total. 

Another
GT failed two weeks ago. The customer relayed the LCD display readout to us
(Inverter Offline), the date of mfgr (Feb. 24, 2006) the FGA (8640002) and the
S/N (1098-6063). All fit the MO exactly. Schneider Tech Support (which is who
we are dealing with, to be precise) still insisted on having us roll a truck to
make DC and AC voltage measurements before processing the warranty claim. Very
poor move on their part. They know the GT unit in question was going to fail
and it has – ship us a replacement, dummies.

The
difference between one and two truck rolls is covering our costs and not. 

I
haven’t had replacement units fail, though. I wonder why.

In
addition, they are taking something close to eight weeks to cut checks; eight
weeks after getting the defective unit back. 

So
Xantrex is on my “Do Not Buy” list, not for any of their inverters
or any thing else I might think of. For the duration.

-
Peter

Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President
California Solar Engineering, Inc.
820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
peter.parrish at calsolareng.com  
Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885                                                                                                   

________________________________

From:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Nick
Soleil
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 4:55 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] GT 3.0 FAILURES

Yes, I have
commonly found issues with the GT series.  I have installed hundreds of
Xantrex inverters through the BP/Home Depot solar program.  Unfortunately,
I have replaced 4 in the last 2 weeks.  With so many in the field, I am
forced to spend a large amount of time troubleshooting and replacing GTs.  
    On the other hand, I have also replaced 1 SB-6000U (almost
out of warranty) in the same time frame and have recently seen SMA inverters
failing out of warranty.  
    All in all, the Xantrex perform less reliably, but are much
easier to handle and replace, and the technical support is good.  In my
experience, it is not a big difference.  I trust the newer GTs more. 
Most of my 3.0's have been upgraded by Xantrex to 3.3s, upon failure.

Nick Soleil
Project Manager
Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC
PO Box 657
Petaluma, CA 94953
Cell: 707-321-2937
Office: 707-789-9537
Fax: 707-769-9037

________________________________

From:Marco Mangelsdorf
<marco at pvthawaii.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Mon, June 7, 2010 11:36:18 AM
Subject: [RE-wrenches] GT 3.0 FAILURES

In my experience as well the
Xantrex GT line of inverters has been fraught with failures with one site
having three failed buggers until I had had enough and switched to a comparable
SMA product.

marco

I am replacing some GT 3.0
multiple times. Though Xantrex pays the labor, this is still a crummy deal. My
customers really loose confidence the 2nd and 3rd time , Bad for industry and
my company. 

Question, how many other
installers are experiencing multiple failures with the GT series. I have a bad
feeling that they are not addressing the engineering problems and just
replacing parts and shipping the same old problem back to the field. 

Don 
Offline Solar

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