[RE-wrenches] Sola-ark cold morning

Sun Dec 4 21:30:34 PST 2022

Hi All,

Dana's troubles with the Sol-Ark reminded me that I wanted to write about
my experience with Sol-Ark and Fortress as my troubles with that install
were unfolding. I had made many calls and emails to both Sol-Ark and
Fortress about the lack of charging and the odd generator behavior. Sol-Ark
was more available for conversations and troubleshooting than Fortress, but
after going through as much as they could think of, they decided the issues
must have been on Fortress' end. Fortress was not being very helpful, being
very short with their written responses and being difficult to get live on
a phone call. They basically said nothing on their end could be causing the
problems we were experiencing and threw it back into Sol-Ark's court.

I wrote a note to Fortress complaining about what I was considering the
unacceptable level of support I was getting primarily from Fortress.  After
a little back and forth, we finally got into a productive email and phone
exchange where they eventually let me know that they were just beginning to
see other problems with their closed loop pairing with Sol-Ark. At this
point, it seems that Sol-Ark did a firmware revision a few weeks ago, which
somehow caused just enough disruption to the Canbus communication with
Fortress, that it caused erratic seemingly random behavior between the 2
pieces of equipment, which neither manufacturer initial recognized as a
communication problem, but assumed must be a programming problem (which it
essentially was).

After the initial period of being largely blown off by Fortress, once they
started to recognize what the issue might be, they kicked in and have been
very responsive and helpful since. They quickly generated a new firmware
which they had done internal testing on and then we updated one set of
batteries a week ago.  As best as I can tell, so far the closed loop
communications and the system have operated well.  I hope to update the
larger system this week and switch it over to closed loop, as it has been
operating in open loop for several days now. Once we switch it over, I will
report back as to how it is working.

I do want to reiterate that after Fortress' (in my opinion) initial delayed
and less than helpful responses, I am pleased with the support I have since
been given.  I do think the way they've set up their support response needs
some significant tweaking, but it sounds like they are at least open to
getting feedback and suggestions from wrenches that are interested in doing
so.

Howie

*Howie Michaelson**Sun Catcher*

*NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™*

*Solar Electric Systems Sales & Service802-272-0004*

On Sun, Dec 4, 2022 at 2:39 PM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> I will additionally call Solark Tech & see what they have to contribute.
>
> Thanks all for the real world first!
>
>
>
>
>
> *Dana Orzel -  E - dana at solarwork.com <dana at solarwork.com> -  C - 208.721.*
> *7003*
>
>
>
> *From:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> *On
> Behalf Of *Jerry Shafer via RE-wrenches
> *Sent:* Sunday, December 4, 2022 11:11 AM
> *To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> *Cc:* Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarage01 at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Sola-ark cold morning
>
>
>
> This is interesting, set all aside temps, how its constructed, the power
> cycle is what changed it. Sounds like the inverter(s) were stuck in a
> finish charge, this may be a programming issue, is it available on line to
> watch remotely, has it done that again, next day?
>
> Fun times programming
>
>
>
> On Sun, Dec 4, 2022, 5:22 AM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> Hey Now All Wise ones!
>
>
>
> An of gird client emailed yesterday that his Solark had been accepting
> only 350 watts of a 4KW input from the array. The modules are Q-cell 325
> watt 2 strings of 7 modules.
>
>
>
> Sunrise, full sun, no clouds so no edge of cloud effect, negative temps @
> -6˚F, he waited all day with no improvement or change in the charge rate
> consistent 350watts input & then same thing next morning. Negative temps &
> full sun & 350watts solar input.
>
>
>
> He turned the Solark off for 10 minutes & then turned it back on & 4KW
> charge input returned. The Solark did not turn off or deliver any alarm or
> warning.
>
>
>
> My initial thought was over-voltage spike, we designed for a -25˚F
> scenario & 110 PSF snow load. Beefy!
>
>
>
> I did not ask if it was windy additionally. Could this contribute to a
> colder array temp? I have always been of the impression that wind chill did
> not affect metal or glass that it has to do with moisture being driven off.
>
>
>
> Thoughts & suggestions?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dana Orzel                              Great Solar Works, Inc.
>
> *C - 208.721.7003                       dana at solarwork.com
> <dana at solarwork.com>*
>
> Idaho Contractor - # 028765         Idaho PV # 028374
>
> www.greatsolarworks.com            www.solarwor.com
>
> *"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"  *
>
>
>
> *P* Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
>
>
>
>
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