[RE-wrenches] Failure Modes Solar Edge

[Carl Adams]

Mac,

I have not encountered that failure mode. Typically only the module
attached to that Optimizer is out of production if the optimizer fails.

I would second Howie's comment about using the online alerts. They will
alert for Optimizer, string, or inverter failure, sending you an email if
anything goes wrong.  We typically set up the customer and our monitoring
email account to receive these alerts.

Carl Adams
SunRock Solar
NACEP Certified PV Instsller
On May 2, 2016 10:00 AM, "Howie Michaelson" <howie at suncatchervt.com> wrote:

> Mac,
> That outs not the typical type of failure in my experience. Usually, an
> optimize failure just takes out the one module's production, although I
> have seen a couple of failures that either disable the whole string or even
> the inverter. If you establish communications with the SE monitoring
> portal, then you can get error warnings that would appraise you of a
> variety of problems, including any production issues.
> Howie
>
> Howie Michaelson
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
>
> Sun Catcher
> Renewable Energy Systems Sales and Service
> VT Solar Electric Incentive Partner
> 802-272-0004
> On May 2, 2016 8:44 AM, "Mac Lewis" <maclewis1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hello Wrenches,
>>
>> I just got the chance to work on my first Solar Edge system.  We were
>> performing a service call on a system that another contractor installed and
>> is now out of the business.
>>
>> One of the power optimizers had failed.  No big deal, but I was surprised
>> it knocked out the entire string.  For this system, about 35% of the array
>> had sat been unproductive for over a year because this customer hadn't paid
>> attention.
>>
>> If an optimizer goes down, does it always knock out the whole string?  Or
>> are there different modes of failures that allow the string to keep
>> producing.  Is this common type of failure?  If so, it seems like there is
>> still a significant advantage to the parallel architecture with a trunk
>> cable.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>> Mac Lewis
>>
>> *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*
>>
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