[RE-wrenches] Two Outback Radian 8048 fails in same week..what is likely wrong in 7+ year inverters?

[Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar]

High temperatures are a major cause of electronic equipment failures, 
contributing to more than 50% of them. A rule of thumb is that for every 
10°C increase in temperature, the failure rate of electronic components 
will double and their life will be reduced by half. This rule is based 
on the Arrhenius equation, which can be used to compare damage that 
accumulates over time at different temperatures.

  In troubleshooting a very rare failure in XW that sounds like yours, 
look for little black chunks of Mosfet chips in the power section.

Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
"we go where powerlines don't"
    [1]https://offgridsolar1.com/ [2]  [1]
e-mail  offgridsolar at sti.net
text 209 813 0060

On 2024-06-09 3:49 pm, Scot Arey via RE-wrenches wrote:

> Longtime Outback user but since the experience of this group is so 
> varied, I'll say 8-years (so you real old-timers don't laugh!).
> 
> Here is the scenario of two systems:
> 
> First is a full off-grid customer and we have two stacked 8048s, with 
> four FM80s and a 14kw array that charges a RE2200. After a home fire 
> (not related to the solar!) we got the system back on and it required 
> heavy dual inverter operations to get the home going after a four-month 
> hiatus. Looks like that slave inverter stopped working at end of the 
> day after we re-powered and departed. He can operate with the single 
> 8048.
> 
> The second situation is a used 8048 I have at the Texas coast that 
> powers a small duck/hunt bunkhouse. It was used system (and I'm a 
> benefitting member) but worked just fine when I put in. Went down to 
> check the batteries (FLA, as AGM nor lithium was in budget) and there 
> was not inverter output and no indication on the MATE like an error 
> code.
> 
> So my question is - what typically fails in a 8048 from old age or heat 
> stress? Wanted to ask here since so many issues with Outback tech spt 
> during its transition. Neither inverter is in warranty, but trying to 
> field repair anything I might be able to.
> 
> I do have battery voltage past the two 175A disconnects in the GSLC. No 
> "thump" I typically get when the inverter first gets battery power and 
> no lights.
> 
> Any troubleshooting tips to identify the culprit part?
> 
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Links:
------
[1] http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
[2] https://offgridsolar1.com/
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