[RE-wrenches] Tigo inverter experience

Fri Feb 14 11:09:52 PST 2025

Hello Nick,

Yes, it's the TS4-F units.  We have made every effort to install to the specs provided (as the goal post and solutions keep changing) but have still seen RSD's start to swell and/or burn over time.  We've separated DC wires and home runs and stayed within the home run complete circuit distance that is recommended.  We've used the "Pure Signal" transmitter solution that syncs up the signaling from multiple inverters in an effort to avoid the "chatter" that starts when the RSD is failing (see video below about that).

It's all field R&D at our expense in my opinion.  Sadly, I'd be happy if the RSD failed and didn't work but it starts to work in overdrive until it burns up and causes an arc.  These photos below are from a site where we got lucky and the fire didn't spread.  Below the photos is a link to a video of Tigo and Mayfield discussing the crosstalk issue.

[cid:9ae8ea6c-2552-4bdf-9aba-a98c427945f6]
[cid:80f9287c-351a-49e1-be0c-813d1db30990]

[cid:aa75bf52-b52c-4a13-a68b-8eb74fdace48]

[cid:8ef5ba50-9418-444b-aa7a-8cc380f2a056]

Here is a video discussion of the cross-talk and signal corruption issues that are the supposed cause of the unit's failure's:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_1_0Ofuhao
[cid:803d05e7-1a9c-41bb-96f9-d4945e0aa259]<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_1_0Ofuhao>
Mayfield Renewables and Tigo Energy - Crosstalk Workshop<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_1_0Ofuhao>
A deep dive into how to design PLC (Power-Line Communication) based solar rapid shutdown systems in order to minimize cross-talk and other signal integrity issues. This is a technical presentation meant to assist with the design of large scale solar rooftop arrays that use PLC-based rapid shutdown systems, which are used to meet the rapid ...
www.youtube.com

David Buckner
President
917-848-0215
718-389-1545
41 Box Street 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11222
________________________________
From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> on behalf of Nick Lucchese via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2025 1:26 PM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Cc: Nick Lucchese <lucchesesolar at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tigo inverter experience

CAUTION: External Email.
Greetings David,

Can you elaborate on which products of theirs failed catastrophically? Their TS4-F single and double units by chance? My experience has been an annoying occurrence where certain installed units lock up requring replacement after the array is shut down for O&M tasks but nothing that starts burning as you mentioned. I've still got a reasonable amount of them in my inventory but would rather not deploy if they're "burning" in some way.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Nick

We've had catastrophic failures with the RSDs and have heard from plenty of others that have had the same.  The company denies and deflects and blames the installer until you are fatigued.  A product that uses power line communication that can start burning when the signal gets corrupted should not be allowed to remain on the market.

David Buckner
SES

[cid:image016112.png at D337C74E.F6203078]

David Buckner

President

Solar Energy Systems

[cid:image947377.png at E2B68243.693F85F4]

917-848-0215<tel:917-848-0215>

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718-389-1545<tel:718-389-1545>

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dbuckner at solaresystems.com<mailto:dbuckner at solaresystems.com>

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41 Box Street 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11222

On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 6:06 PM David Buckner via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
We've had catastrophic failures with the RSDs and have heard from plenty of others that have had the same.  The company denies and deflects and blames the installer until you are fatigued.  A product that uses power line communication that can start burning when the signal gets corrupted should not be allowed to remain on the market.

David Buckner
SES

[cid:ii_19505b01df0f41db85e1]

David Buckner

President

Solar Energy Systems

[cid:ii_19505b01df0cbaadff32]

917-848-0215<tel:917-848-0215>

[cid:ii_19505b01df0e3a5a1d13]

718-389-1545<tel:718-389-1545>

[cid:ii_19505b01df0fb3e53ad4]

dbuckner at solaresystems.com<mailto:dbuckner at solaresystems.com>

[cid:ii_19505b01df01962735c5]

www.solaresystems.com<https://us.content.exclaimer.net/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.solaresystems.com%2F&tenantid=sjl0rdWaEe6F-WBFvdNAXQ&templateid=933619bad6e2ee11aaf06045bdd55b16&excomponentid=W0znjuLBICxfJOZwpEisk1w6Uz7kRcz8RFh31bsCZu4&excomponenttype=Link&signature=oLHGWCDHeQYPxuVijopczXguVIz2A9gWA29emAtwvdbqV2XsAnsbVfPJR3OQHtcxck-4zeNWEHrxwAX_LXCUOBXnvLDZkSB3Ue09sLzQcUNKGxMLclBt5peel7iiM1neHKnk8UctTRnOeUfIagifjZaGWicP4Wi23eUaL-JSNh0iUlYWH5Y2kOEt_QGU-R6LtdhPzR8aNOqjq8ttGuksaSFX3YQorUNiBDkXDGXmmCSiiNgljGMekvYiEvoXMsCe_CC1DpnfHsaH45ZBD8L442uACHbkOuyDJ-IG20zpBYXGK3TzDh-GW4efLwZfi6MUcJohrIgQQag5JDhSynWoDQ&v=1&imprintMessageId=70f4909c-5e4b-4d4e-a4f1-8a28a937dd26>

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41 Box Street 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11222

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From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>> on behalf of Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>>
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2025 7:05 PM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>>
Cc: Howie Michaelson <Howie.Michaelson at gmail.com<mailto:Howie.Michaelson at gmail.com>>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tigo inverter experience

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I do not have a lot of experience with Tigo equipment, almost all using their optimizers with CCAs and TAPs.  The 2 things I can say is after getting my head wrapped around the setup and commissioning process (which is not the most intuitive process), I haven't had much trouble with them (again only have maybe 4 or 5 systems out there), and their tech support is generally very available and very knowledgeable and helpful, impressively so. Otherwise I can't speak much to their durability, reliability, or functionality.

Howie Michaelson
Sun Catcher

On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM Vince McClellan via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
Hi Dave
I haven't tried their micro inverter or ESS, but so far all the products that I've used from Tigo including the RSD switches that melted have been problematic. Personally, I wouldn't use their products.

Vince McClellan

President

NABCEP PV Professional

p: 541-485-8122

a: 860 Conger St. Suite 12,. Eugene, OR 97402

e: vince at solarenergydesign.com<mailto:vince at solarenergydesgin.com>

w: SolarEnergyDesign.com

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On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 10:53 AM Dave Tedeyan via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
Hi All,
I am curious if anyone has any experience with the Tigo inverter and energy storage system. It looks very similar to the SMA setup, but maybe a bit farther along in development. Even as just a simple string inverter, it seems fairly reasonably priced.

Cheers,
Dave

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