[RE-wrenches] Enphase Support Non-Responsive

Sat Aug 6 09:14:28 PDT 2016

Looks like I touched off quite a touchy subject that people are thinking
about.

For what it's worth, I have actually received Enphase labor reimbursement
for eligible warranty work in pretty decent turnaround time, but you really
have to stay on top of it. As for the pros and cons of the technology, I
still love the MLPE concept because who knows how make string inverters are
out there with faults and undiagnosed warranty issues. I feel it is
ultimately in my customers' best interest to be transparent with system
performance, and the only way to do that effectively is with MLPE. Case in
point... I just replaced a Canadian Solar 240P module under warranty that
measured 24Voc and 2.5Isc in full sun. It was on an Enphase M215. We
probably would have never known about it on a string inverter, especially
if there were two MPPT strings attached. Another case in point, on a string
inverter I recently found an 8 year old panel damaged by a golf ball, but
it was only visible from the roof. Who knows how long it was up there...
and it may not have been found for alot longer if the new homeowner hadn't
called me for a system assessment.

I still favor Enphase over SE. I think they have a better long-term
business outlook (my subjective view), but they need to get their
short-term issues with dealer support straightened out. That was the point
of the original post.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience.

Jason Szumlanski

On Sat, Aug 6, 2016 at 8:14 AM, Howard Arey <scot.arey at solarcentex.com>
wrote:

> Aw, one more Enphase  / SolarEdge response.
>
> The "high voltage" DC is 350-380 volts and with the rapid shutdown
> capability now shipping standard with SE inverters, they go to 1 volt per
> optimizer when the AC grid is not present.  By the way, that 1 volt per
> optimizer is a great way during installation to confirm proper connections
> - string of 10 means an installer should see 10 volts.
>
> No bottle neck issue. The optimizer in essence is doing the MPPT function
> at each module. So if shading, the Opt "finds" best voltage to maximize
> power output. No string degradation. Mixing modules is not a factor
> whatsoever.
>
> Best part is that since I only MPPT on roof and don't invert, I have a
> string inverter on the side of the house that only does one function -
> invert! Why try to invert DC to AC on a HOT roof when I could do it with a
> much higher efficiency box that is more robust on the side of the house or
> in a garage?
>
> I've gone away from microinverters entirely - too many nuisance faults.
> And each nuisance fault is a phone call to customer support that is
> handling more than they can handle by a ratio of...number of MLPE to string
> inverters essentially.
>
> Scot
> Solar CenTex
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
> Behalf Of William Dorsett
> Sent: Friday, August 5, 2016 1:46 PM
> To: 'RE-wrenches' <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase Support Non-Responsive
>
> Still you pay as much for the Solar Edge optimizers as for Enphase
> inverters plus you have the cost of the central inverter.  At some point
> you are still dealing with high voltage DC, so safety is far better with
> off the roof 240V AC; you still have the bottleneck if one module is shaded
> or corroded; and you still have the difficulty of replacing a legacy module
> to build a compatible string. Again I am not unhappy about Enphase
> hardware. I just think they've grown too fast to keep their support as well
> organized as the rest of the company.
>
> Bill Dorsett
> Manhattan, KS
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
> Behalf Of penobscotsolar at midmaine.com
> Sent: Friday, August 05, 2016 12:54 PM
> To: RE-wrenches
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase Support Non-Responsive
>
> It is a very simple install. With SolarEdge there is no trunk cable, which
> definitely cuts down on wire management, especially using SnapNRack
> mounting. Everything is MC4, so PV wire to a transition box, to the
> inverter input(s) make it pretty simple. We almost always mount our
> inverters outside, even when they are string inverters, and typically on
> the north side of the home/business. My guys didn't like the changeover on
> the first SolarEdge job, but it only took one to bring them around and they
> are now converts.
>
> Daryl
>
>
> > Do you find that the installation takes longer because you're
> > basically installing a micro inverter and string inverter system at the
> same time?
> > I've also heard of AHJ's requiring that the inverter be mounted
> > outside because of the rapid shutdown disconnect attached to the
> inverter.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Will
> >
> >
> > --
> > *Will White*
> > Curriculum Developer
> >
> > e: will at solarenergy.org
> > w: www.solarenergy.org
> > p: 802-272-3092
> >
> > PV Installation Professional
> > # 093006-34
> >
> > On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 1:41 PM, <penobscotsolar at midmaine.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Since I am having such a tough time even getting a call back, never
> >> mind reimbursments, we have started very happily using SolarEdge with
> >> very good results so far. Communications, no problem, occasional tech
> >> support is timely, we are seeing less than a 1% failure on
> >> optimizers. Ease and safety of installation is excellent as
> >> well....and no, I don't work for them :-)
> >>
> >> Daryl
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> > Wrenches
> >> > We have allot of enphase and ya sometimes it a little hard to get
> >> > them
> >> on
> >> > the line but we always do. I request the re-inbursments, l dont
> >> > ever
> >> see
> >> > them as they end up in the admin office. We have looked at and used
> >> > a
> >> few
> >> > other mico-inverters at customer request but they all seem to go
> >> > out
> >> of
> >> > business so we are sticking to enphase for better or worse.
> >> > Jerry
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Sent via the Samsung Galaxy SÃ¢â€žÂ¢ III, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
> >> >
> >> > <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Wayne Irwin
> >> > <wayne at pureenergysolar.com> </div><div>Date:08/05/2016  6:58 AM
> >> > (GMT-10:00) </div><div>To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
> >> > </div><div>Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase Support
> >> > Non-Responsive </div><div> </div>Maybe just dumb luck, but we
> >> > almost always have quick phone tech support from Enphase and always
> >> > get reimbursed.
> >> >
> >> > Wayne Irwin
> >> > Pure Energy Solar
> >> >
> >> > Sent from my mobile device
> >> >
> >> > From: conradg at cape.com
> >> > Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2016 12:39:02 -0400
> >> > To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
> >> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase Support Non-Responsive
> >> >
> >> > Same thing going on here
> >> >
> >> > Conrad
> >> > Cotuit Solar
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Conrad Geyser, Principal
> >> > Cotuit Solar LLC
> >> > 508-428-8442
> >> >
> >> > On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 9:59 AM, gary easton <gary at arp-solar.com>
> >> wrote:
> >> > just a worthless ticket but no action and certainly no timely
> >> > reimbursement if at all.   I would never do business with this company
> >> > again.
> >> >
> >> > On Fri, Aug 5, 2016 at 9:38 AM, <penobscotsolar at midmaine.com> wrote:
> >> > Just to renew this line of conversation, I have been waiting for
> >> several
> >> > call backs form Enphase, with no results, for the past three weeks.
> >> > I
> >> also
> >> > have warranty claims that go back four months+ that have not been
> >> > fulfilled. I will not sell any more Enphase, at all, until they
> >> resolve
> >> > these communication and warranty issues.
> >> >
> >> > Daryl DeJoy
> >> > NABCEP Certified PV Installer
> >> > Penobscot Solar Design
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> It seems like we are talking about inverter and module customer
> >> service
> >> >> (good and bad) a lot lately.
> >> >>
> >> >> Has anyone else noticed that Enphase seems to have stopped
> >> >> responding
> >> to
> >> >> tickets submitted via their website? Hold times are unacceptable,
> >> >> so
> >> I
> >> >> gave
> >> >> up on that, but nobody gets back to you when you try to contact
> >> >> them
> >> via
> >> >> their web form for weeks, even about an existing RMA or ticket,
> >> >> and
> >> they
> >> >> no
> >> >> longer let you update tickets by email. They are very helpful and
> >> >> competent if you get them on the phone, but who has time for
> >> >> that?!
> >> >>
> >> >> I'm also waiting an unacceptable amount of time on a major module
> >> >> manufacturer warranty claim right now. I'd love to see Home Power
> >> >> or someone do a story on manufacturer responsiveness to dealers.
> >> >> Things
> >> are
> >> >> generally going down hill it seems.
> >> >>
> >> >> Jason Szumlanski
> >> >> Florida Solar Design Group
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Gary Easton
> >> > Appalachian Renewable Power
> >> > Stewart, Ohio 45778
> >> > NABCEP Certified Solar PV
> >> > T: 740-277-8498
> >> >  www.arp-solar.com
> >> >
> >> > Ã¢â‚¬Å“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they
> >> > fight
> >> you.
> >> > Then you win.Ã¢â‚¬
> >> >
> >> > ~Ghandi
> >> >
> >
> > --
> > *Will White*
> > Curriculum Developer
> >
> > e: will at solarenergy.org
> > w: www.solarenergy.org
> > p: 802-272-3092
> >
> > PV Installation Professional
> > # 093006-34
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20160806/6d20bb6c/attachment-0002.html>