[RE-wrenches] Tigo inverter experience

Fri Feb 14 14:52:13 PST 2025

I had a site (not my install) with a ground rack and these TS4-F units, and
they exhibited the exact same burn characteristics. At least half of them
were burned up to some degree.

Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208

On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM David Buckner via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> 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.
>
>
>
>
>
> 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
> <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*
>
> David Buckner
>
> President
>
> Solar Energy Systems
>
> 917-848-0215
>
> 718-389-1545
>
> dbuckner at solaresystems.com
>
> 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>
>
> 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> 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
>
> David Buckner
>
> President
>
> Solar Energy Systems
>
> 917-848-0215
>
> 718-389-1545
>
> dbuckner at solaresystems.com
>
> 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>
>
> 41 Box Street 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11222
>
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> *From:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> on behalf
> of Howie Michaelson via RE-wrenches <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>
> *Cc:* Howie Michaelson <Howie.Michaelson at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Tigo inverter experience
>
> CAUTION: External Email.
> 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> 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 <vince at solarenergydesgin.com>
>
> w: SolarEnergyDesign.com
>
> CCB# 161672
>
>
>
> If you have received this email and are not the intended recipient, please
> delete this email. Copying or using any part, content, or attachment of
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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> 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
>
> --
>
> [image: Logo] <https://www.sungineersolar.com/>
> Dave Tedeyan, P.E.
> Owner | Sungineer Solar
> p: he | him | his
> a: 1653 Slaterville Rd. | Ithaca, NY 14850
> w: www.sungineersolar.com <http://www.sungineersolar.com/>
> c: (607) 270-0370
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