<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.hoenzb
{mso-style-name:hoenzb;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Hi Glenn and All –</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Most of these old systems have module cables made out of USE-2. So, just changing out the array USE-2 home runs won’t technically cut it. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Something should be written into the code to allow old systems to use TL inverters for upgrades, especially since TL inverters are safer than their transformer based (isolated) counterparts.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">For now I guess we either make a decision to source transformer based inverters for replacements or install TL inverters despite the code violation. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">It is definitely a bummer that SMA isn’t doing the refurbished program anymore with their old units. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Best,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">August</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> RE-wrenches [mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Glenn Burt<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, July 24, 2015 11:14 AM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA 1800u not generating power</span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">How do you get around the code requirement for the use of PV wire with a TL inverter on the existing array?<br><br>Sincerely,<br>Glenn Burt<br>Sent from my 'smart' phone so please excuse grammar and typos.</span></p></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><hr size="2" width="100%" align="center"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">From: </span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="mailto:jerrysgarage01@gmail.com">jerrysgarage01</a></span><br><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Sent: </span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">7/24/2015 12:57</span><br><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">To: </span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches</a></span><br><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Subject: </span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA 1800u not generating power</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">SMA used to to do repairs but last I heard they no longer have replacement parts. I have used the new SMA TL-22 because of the low voltage dc input. If you added some additional modules to the "B" input it might qualify for the tax credit (I did say might)</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Good luck</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Jerry</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;color:#575757">Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S™ III, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone</span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal">-------- Original message --------</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">From: Jason Szumlanski </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Date:07/24/2015 4:25 AM (GMT-10:00) </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">To: RE-wrenches </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA 1800u not generating power </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Someone contacted me off list and said this company does out of warranty SMA repairs:</p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.shop.solarcowboyzoutlet.com/Inverter-Repair-Service-Inverter-Repair-Service.htm">http://www.shop.solarcowboyzoutlet.com/Inverter-Repair-Service-Inverter-Repair-Service.htm</a></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Looks like there is a risk in how big the repair is, but apparently they are willing to talk about the diagnostics before you send it in, and fix minor problems for a flat rate.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">One bad part about these small systems is that labor to repair or replace failed units can easily turn into a cost equivalent to years of energy production, not to mention the hardware cost itself... I've only sold a few "tiny" systems over the years, and never really considered this. It makes much more financial sense for an owner to replace a failed 5kW inverter when the labor is basically the same as a 2kW.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Jason Szumlanski</p></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Fri, Jul 24, 2015 at 10:04 AM, Sky Sims <<a href="mailto:sky@ecologicalsystems.biz" target="_blank">sky@ecologicalsystems.biz</a>> wrote:</p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">This is a known issue. I've come across a bunch of their inverters that have had this problem. In addition to seeing this issue on their 1800's I've seen it happen on their 2500's as well. Shows a solid green light but isn't putting out power. </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">The first time I came across this issue they had a refurbishment program, where they would rebuild the inverter and send it back with a one year warranty for under $400. The refurbishment program was a great program that I hope they bring back someday.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">The last few times I contacted SMA about one of these defective inverters, they said the product was not under warranty and they no longer supported it. Only option they gave was to buy a new unit. <span style="color:#888888"><br><br><span class="hoenzb">Sky Sims</span></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="color:#888888">Ecological Systems</span></p></div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><br>On Jul 24, 2015, at 5:49 AM, Jason Szumlanski <<a href="mailto:jason@floridasolardesigngroup.com" target="_blank">jason@floridasolardesigngroup.com</a>> wrote:</p></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p>I am looking at a 1800u from 2004 that has a green light and in mpp mode, but Pac is zero. Grid and DC voltage are good. No other indication of problems. I saw Pac tick up to 2W a couple of times, but that's it. It's just not delivering AC power. </p><p>Any thoughts? </p><p>Sadly, it doesn't make much financial sense for the owner to replace it with a current model, as the replacement cost would take almost 10 years to recover with the small BIPV array connected to it. I'm hoping for a field repair option. </p><p>Jason Szumlanski </p></div></blockquote></div></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">_______________________________________________<br>List sponsored by Redwood Alliance<br><br>List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>Change listserver email address & settings:<br><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>List-Archive: <a href="http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html" target="_blank">http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html</a><br><br>List rules & etiquette:<br><a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" target="_blank">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><br><br>Check out or update participant bios:<br><a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a></p></div></blockquote></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><br>_______________________________________________<br>List sponsored by Redwood Alliance<br><br>List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>Change listserver email address & settings:<br><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>List-Archive: <a href="http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html" target="_blank">http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html</a><br><br>List rules & etiquette:<br><a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" target="_blank">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><br><br>Check out or update participant bios:<br><a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></div></div></body></html>