[RE-wrenches] Out of Warranty Inverter Replacements

[Joel Davidson]

Out of Warranty Inverter ReplacementsWhere inverters and other equipment are mounted affects their life. Exposure to south and west intense sun and heat and exposure to sea winds shorten equipment life even if the equipment is turned off.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mark Frye 
  To: 'RE-wrenches' 
  Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 10:56 AM
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Out of Warranty Inverter Replacements


  Ray,

  Here are the nameplate module rating vs nameplate inverter rating:

  - 24 x 175 W = 4,200 W : IG4000 = 4,000 W : 105 %
  - 18 x 175 W = 3,150 W : IG3000 = 2,700 W : 117 %
  - 8 x 175 W = 1,400 W : SB1100 = 1,100 W : 127 % (sub-optimal orientation limits peak power levels)

  I think it is fair to say that amps=heat=component aging. The question is to what extent can the installer rely on the representations made by manufactures with respect to their ratings and product life?

  For instance, the 24 module system above lands well within the Fronius specifications for max DC power and is "Good" based on their online configuration tool, and also well in line the the SMA white paper of many years ago suggesting a 120% mod/inv ratio as optimal.

  And yet, the first unit failed in 4 years and the refurb failed in 2 year.

  Mark Frye 
  Berkeley Solar Electric Systems 
  303 Redbud Way 
  Nevada City,  CA 95959 
  (530) 401-8024 
  www.berkeleysolar.com  




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  From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Ray Walters
  Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 10:26 AM
  To: RE-wrenches
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Out of Warranty Inverter Replacements


  Hi Mark;

  In cases like that, I let the customer decide. My job is to present them with two or three streamlined options and let them decide.
  It seems it comes down to cost vs continued warranty (and possible expandability?). Financial decisions ultimately need to be made by the people paying the bill.
  From a technical perspective, I don't ever present an option that I wouldn't be comfortable installing, and in the end everyone's happy. (hopefully)

  Just curious; what are the array sizes relative to the inverter rating? I always wondered if inverters that were run at or over their rating didn't last as long as inverters that were run well below their rating. (just my stupid assumption that: more amps = more heat = less reliability)

  Ray


  On 8/19/2011 11:03 AM, Mark Frye wrote: 
    Folks, 

    Yesterday I took a trip through my service area and initated 3 inverter replacement actions: 

    - A 6 year old Sunnyboy 1100W, 5 year warranty expired, $360 for a refurbished unit w/ 1 year warranty, new replacement not available

    - A 2 year old Fronius IG4000 refurbished, sent as warranty replacement for unit failed at 4 years under 5 year warranty, now out of warranty, est. $ 600 to refurbish with 1 year warranty

    - A 4 year old Fronius IG3000, under 10 year warranty, warranty replacement and service fee provided by Fronius 

    I have to decide, what is best for my out of warranty customers: 

    - Buy the refurbished units w/ 1 year warranty 
    - Buy new replacement units with 10 or 20 year warrranties 
    - Buy entirely new equipment such as Enphase or SolarEdge 

    What are other folks experiencing as we move well past the 5 year warranty horizon for many of our earlier customers? 

    Mark Frye 
    Berkeley Solar Electric Systems 
    303 Redbud Way 
    Nevada City,  CA 95959 
    (530) 401-8024 
    www.berkeleysolar.com  


     

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