In my experience tightening the fuse holder and cleaning the contacts didn't help but a 30 minute burn in did the trick. No problems since. SMA tech support said this has be a common problem for them in humid environments. <br>
<br>Dana<br clear="all"><br><br>Dana Brandt<br>Ecotech Energy Systems, LLC<br><a href="http://www.ecotechenergy.com">www.ecotechenergy.com</a><br><a href="mailto:dana@ecotechenergy.com">dana@ecotechenergy.com</a><br>360.510.0433<br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 7:28 AM, Wayne Irwin <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:wayne@pureenergysolar.com">wayne@pureenergysolar.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
We have had the same issue with the SMA GFDI err. To fix the problem, before commissioning we remove the fuse, squeeze the GFDI fuse holder a little tighter and clean the contact ends of the fuse. Fires right up.<br><br>
<font color="#76923c">Wayne Irwin</font><font color="#76923c"> EE<br></font><font color="#76923c">
Pure Energy Solar International Inc. </font><font color="#76923c"><br></font><font color="#76923c"></font><font color="#76923c">State Licensed Solar Contractor</font><font color="#76923c"><br></font><font color="#76923c">
License # CVC56695 </font><br>
<a href="mailto:PureEnergySolar@hotmail.com" target="_blank">Wayne@PureEnergySolar.com</a> <br>
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<font color="#76923c">352 377-6527 Office</font><font color="#76923c"><br></font><font color="#76923c">352 336-3299 Fax</font><font color="#76923c"><br></font><font color="#76923c">352 316-1637 Cell</font><br><p><font color="#76923c"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The
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<p><span> <br></span></p><br><br><br><br><br><hr>From: <a href="mailto:atruitt@gmail.com" target="_blank">atruitt@gmail.com</a><br>Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 21:17:54 -0500<br>To: <a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV Powered vs SMA<br><br><br><br>Last I used a PVP was in 2005 and we had multiple failures. I've never had an SMA fail but there has been a disconcerting glitch on some units lately, where the inverter displays a GFDI fuse error for about a 1/2 hour after commissioning, and then kicks in. Still the best dependabilty and fit and finish of any of the major inverters in my humble opinion.<br>
<br>To me its Ford vs. BMW. America makes some damn fine equipment but when it comes
to precision engineering and lifetime performance I would argue that
the Germans have an edge on the rest of the world right now. <br><br><br>Andrew Truitt<br>Standard Solar Inc.<br><br><br><br><div>On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 9:29 AM, Drake Chamberlin <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:drake.chamberlin@redwoodalliance.org" target="_blank">drake.chamberlin@redwoodalliance.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote style="padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
In the past I have seen a lot of issues with PVP inverters. There
was a period, when I was subcontracting, where a half dozen or more of
the units had to be replaced within a short time. Although I like
many features of PVP, I've avoided them since. Have others found
these units to be reliable or problematic?<div><div></div><div><br><br>
<br>
At 07:30 PM 12/1/2009, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote>Nice thread... inverter
pros/cons is something I spend a fair amount of time<br>
pondering, since they are the weak link in the grid-direct
installation.<br><br>
Overall, I like them both (PVP and SMA).<br><br>
Performance: On page 44 of the Dec/Jan issue of SolarPro, there is a list
of<br>
specifications for grid-direct inverters. Current PVP and SMA inverters
have<br>
similar CEC weighted efficiency ratings. Some of the older PVP
inverter<br>
models (1100, 2000, 2800, 3000) have slightly lower efficiency.<br>
<br>
Reliability: I like that the PVP inverters have no moving parts, whereas
the<br>
SMA inverters use a fan to assist with the cooling. PV Powered does a lot
of<br>
marketing around their reliability efforts, for whatever that's
worth.<br><br>
Customer Service: I have not needed to utilize PV Powered customer
service.<br>
I've found SMA customer service techs to be easy to reach and
knowledgeable.<br><br>
Other issues: I like that PV Powered inverters are made in the USA. I
also<br>
find the hardware and manuals to be easier to work with, most likely
because<br>
they're produced in the USA for our market. The PVP inverters ship with
a<br>
full-size mounting template which comes in handy, especially when
planning<br>
the rough-in wiring and support framing during new construction.<br><br>
I have a preference for the PVP inverters, and use SMA occasionally if
it's<br>
a better design fit. I agree with Wayne Irwin's comment about the
durability<br>
of the inverters with the heavy transformer designs, as opposed to the
newer<br>
"light-weight" designs (including the newest SMA products). I
just feel that<br>
in the long run, lower counts for electronic components is a good thing.
I'm<br>
not an expert on component reliability, but I know from my somewhat
limited<br>
experience that capacitors dry up and transistors are susceptible to
a<br>
variety of failure modes. The fewer of these things, the better. Also
from a<br>
reliability standpoint, I prefer to put inverters inside in a well<br>
ventilated area, if possible. My gut feeling is that over the long haul,
any<br>
inverter will be better off in a location that is protected from
moisture<br>
and large ambient temperature swings.<br><br>
-Hans<br>
________________________________<br><br>
From: <a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
[<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">
mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] On Behalf Of Keith
Cronin<br>
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 1:04 PM<br>
To: RE-Wrenches<br>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] PV Powered vs SMA<br><br>
<br>
Hi colleagues<br><br>
Do any of you have a preference, PV Powered vs SMA in the residential
space-<br>
2k-5k grid tie inverter zone?<br><br>
Comments on performance/reliability/customer service etc?<br><br>
Any feedback on their monitoring vs SMA's webbox?<br><br>
Thanks<br><br>
Keith<br><br>
<br>
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<font color="#0000ff">Drake Chamberlin<br>
Athens Electric<br>
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CO License 3773<br>
NABCEP </font><font color="#0000ff" size="1">TM
</font><font color="#0000ff">Certified PV Installer <br>
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