Don:
As you
know the UL process is never totally predictable.
Believe me if there was any way to speed up the process
I would have done it.
We
have been working on it since September and I think we are getting very
close.
The
good news is that we have not had any real performance or functional
problems.
Since
Europe allows ungrounded PV arrays we did need to develop the GFDI circuitry for
the US market.
The
GFDI will be included on all of the UL Listed units.
Most
of our issues have been substituting UL Listed components and materials for the
European products we were using.
Allot
of the delay has been for internal qualification tests for the new alternate
components and suppliers.
We are
going to be doing the last round of UL testing on the SWR 2500 in the middle of
March.
We
have already been through three rounds of UL testing and, at this point, we
don't have any major open issues.
The
last round of tests are to verify 60 Hz islanding tests (done at the factory
with simulated 60 Hz grid) and some temperature measurements on the
transformer.
The
new transformer design was required since we were using European (not UL)
materials.
We
have already run all of these tests at the factory so we don't anticipate any
major delays.
I just
talked to the UL folks and they think we should get the final thumbs up by the
end of March.
We
(SMA) think we will have product available here in the US about 30 days after
the give us the go ahead.
Warranty Issues:
The
standard warranty for SMA products in Europe is 2 years.
For
the US market the pricing includes an extended 5 year warranty.
If you
want even more you can purchase extended warranties all the way out to 15
years.
I know
we all want free lifetime warranties but as the old saying goes - there is no
such thing as a free lunch!
I hope
this is a reasonable approach to balance warranty period and
cost.
I
would appreciate any thoughts you might have on the issue.
>>>>>
On
the warranty question perhaps I am not understanding the issue but
I would make the following observation:
To be
listed on the CEC's web page you must have a 5 year
warranty.
It
seems to me you can either honor the 5 year warranty or drop the product
from the rebate program's approved equipment list.
If you
are getting any flack on warranty point this out and see what
happens.
Best Regards,
John Berdner
-----Original Message-----
From:
Don Loweburg, Offline [mailto:i2p@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, February
24, 2001 2:35 PM
To: RE-wrenches@topica.com
Subject: Re:
Trace ST problems [RE-wrenches]
In a message dated 02/22/2001 1:12:10 PM Pacific Standard Time,
jberdner@sma-america.com writes:
I heard from an installer yesterday that had a call back to move
the
inverter because it vibrated the wall so badly that the people
couldn't
stand it.
And then ...
John,
And then --when will the SMA pass UL?---We await with baited breath--Then
it
will be SMA's turn to go thru the gauntlet.
The official
silence from Trace on this issue is remarkable. And---what about
that 5
year waranty that was promised in the origianal press release on the
St
series? Still no follow up comments.
SMA could steal the show if they
support a 5 year warranty. Waiting.
Don - - - - - - -
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Hosted by Home Power magazine:
www.homepower.com
For info contact list moderator by email:
michael.welch@homepower.com
____________________________________________________________
T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less.
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01