[RE-wrenches] Solar Edge Optimizer failures

[Carl Adams]

Lena,

We've been installing the Solar Edge product for a few years now and are
experiencing good reliability.  I think we have had 2 optimizers which were
DOA from the factory.  One was completely dead the other had a 25% reduced
output.  No problems with warranty replacements.

With Regards
Carl Adams, SunRock Solar

On Fri, Jan 8, 2016 at 12:07 PM, Lena Wilensky <lena at nunatakenergy.com>
wrote:

> We've had a strange set of recurring failures from one Solaredge install.
> It's a straightforward 5kw system with 20 x REC 255W modules and P300-5 SE
> optimizers.
>
> System was commissioned in 11/2014 and ran fine for about 6mo.  At that
> time one optimizer failed - gave module short circuit voltage on the
> optimizer output when disconnected from the rest of the array.  Nothing
> visibly wrong.  Rest of the array worked fine.
>
> About 3mo later (this past august), 2 more optimizers failed.  We gave
> Solaredge an earful, but they were only willing to send replacements for
> the 2 newly failed units and 2 spare optimizers for future failures.  Same
> failure apparently with high output voltage from the optimizer when
> disconnected from the array.  They said they had never heard of this
> happening multiple times and would do an optimizer autopsy.
>
> We just had another one fail 2 weeks ago.  They apparently tested the 2
> failed ones from august and found no water intrusion on the optimizer or
> connectors.  This is all the testing they can do in the US for these potted
> units.  They recently sent the failed units to Israel to test them, but
> don't expect results for at least 6mo or more.  Solaredge claims they've
> never seen anything like this and so far they have refused to send
> replacements for the rest of the "good" optimizers in the array claiming
> that the optimizers may not be the issue.  Really?
>
> Anyone heard of or seen any "batch" failures of these optimizers?  Or have
> a good contact at Solaredge?  I'm about ready to swap in an SMA inverter at
> this point, and stay away from module level anything from now on.  We're
> going to have to triple our prices to pay for all this warranty work, as
> Solaredge only gives $25/optimizer and $100/incident to "help" with labor
> costs.
>
> Thanks for any insight....
> Lena Wilensky
>
> www.nunatakenergy.com
> 970-349-3432
> NABCEP Certified PV Installer:
> Cert. #R02907-17
>
>
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