[RE-wrenches] Tigo inverter experience
Ray Walters
ray at solarray.com
Fri Feb 14 15:40:59 PST 2025
it seems silly that we are required to install these extra pieces of
equipment for added "safety", that are actually a fire hazard on the
roof. Just to survey again: how many homes have been saved by RSD? How
many fire fighters have actually actuated the RSD system, so that they
could hack through the array to vent the roof?
I think it should only be required if you have covered so much of the
roof with PV, that the fire dept can't access uncovered roof to do their
venting. The whole premise of RSD is flawed. IMHO, its just another
effort to block the wider adoption of solar.
When it comes to off grid, RSD causes such a decrease in reliability to
amount to a decrease in safety, due to possible loss of communications,
water, and heat. Add the fire hazard and RSD is really not making our
customers' lives better.
Ray Walters
Remote Solar
On 2/14/2025 3:52 PM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote:
> I had a site (not my install) with a ground rack and these TS4-Funits,
> 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 <http://www.youtube.com>
>
>
>
>
>
> David Buckner
>
>
>
> President
>
>
>
> 917-848-0215 <tel:917-848-0215>
>
>
>
> 718-389-1545 <tel: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 <tel:917-848-0215>
>
>
>
> 718-389-1545 <tel: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 <tel:917-848-0215>
>
>
>
> 718-389-1545 <tel: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
> <mailto:vince at solarenergydesgin.com>
>
> w: SolarEnergyDesign.com
>
> CCB# 161672
>
>
>
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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
>
> --
>
> 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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