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<font size="+1"><tt>All the information I received to my post has
been very helpful. Products are being constantly changed, and I
wanted to make sure previous edition products are not reflective
of today's products, if today's products have solved legacy
problems. I've talked to the manufacturer and they have improved
past designs. It's difficult for me, as this product could
solve a design problem, but I want to make sure that it does
work as described in today's literature. No one wants to go back
to fix a system because of a manufacturer problem. Thanks to
everyone. Chris<br>
<br>
<br>
</tt></font><br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/16/2016 2:17 PM, Daniel Tittmann
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAKfSoE_eXv41rqvgznfPwPP9yEd0=eXmtwV9UCG0J4u2q5ScWg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">I have been contacted by the inverter sales rep
that provided this product to us and he has asked that I clarify
the situation.
<div><br>
</div>
<div>first off the HiQ inverter system used was test equipment
from the manufacturers so it may not represent their current
product line.<br>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>This project is located in Redway ca where we get an
average of 58 Inches of rain a year. (predominately in
large storms with high volumes of rain) </div>
<div>The inverters were installed using S-5! brackets on
standing seam metal roof so the balancers were not oriented
vertically. (company rep was on site for installation and
had no issues with the orientation.) </div>
<div>This was a small system of 12 modules and we used 3
balencers. If I remember correctly the balencers have space
for 4 modules so the final opening was sealed by method
recommended by manufacturer.</div>
<div>We had repeat failure of a single balencer (in the same
location) due to water damage on the inside of the
equipment.</div>
<div>It was suggested that the cause of this water was due to
a pore seal on one of the MC4 connections that allowed water
to "wick" through the connection and into the inverter. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Here is where the manufacturer rep and I part ways.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Upon replacing the inverter a second time we checked
connections and MC4 seals and found nothing indicating water
or corrosion due to water damage and thus we did not replace
them. This is what the manufacture is stating caused the
inverter to fail the third time and perhaps it was. At the
end of the day we ended up replacing the HIQ system with a
string inverter and have had no issues with the system. (we
did check the MC4 seals and connections again and found no
corrosion or water.) </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Perhaps it was a connection issue and we just haven't
found the proper connection causing the problem, and over
time it will show it self. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I did not mean to disrespect the company and the product
line, it was simply my intention to share my experience with
the product that we had with others in my field so that they
might avoid similar headaches for other installers.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I hear that they no longer use balencers and are just a
string inverter manufacturer at this point. So perhaps the
whole experience was of value and the issue that we
experienced was solved.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>there are obviously many other locations out there that
have functioning inverters from HiQ without this problem.
The fact that the same balancer failed 3 times is suspicious
and does point to some sort of environmental / installation
reason. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>just wanted to outline the full story as I was not trying
to sling mud, just trying to share our experience.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>cheers-</div>
<div>Daniel</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all">
<div>
<div class="gmail_signature">
<div dir="ltr">Daniel Tittmann
<div>CTO</div>
<div>Greenwired</div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.greenwired.com" target="_blank">www.greenwired.com</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:daniel@greenwired.com" target="_blank">daniel@greenwired.com</a></div>
<div>707-923-2001 (office)</div>
<div>707-206-5088 (Cell)</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 2:17 PM, Daniel
Tittmann <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:daniel@greenwired.com" target="_blank">daniel@greenwired.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">We were a test site for HiQ inverters at our
warehouse in Redway ca. long way from the ocean, but
plenty of rain. We had to replace the "Balancers" three
times due to water damage before we switched to a string
inverter. even at free HiQ wasn't worth the hassle.
<div>Maybe they have fixed the issues but I would not put
them in any sort of challenging env.</div>
<div>Daniel</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><span class="HOEnZb"><font
color="#888888"><br clear="all">
<div>
<div>
<div dir="ltr">Daniel Tittmann
<div>CTO</div>
<div>Greenwired</div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.greenwired.com"
target="_blank">www.greenwired.com</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:daniel@greenwired.com"
target="_blank">daniel@greenwired.com</a></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="tel:707-923-2001" value="+17079232001"
target="_blank">707-923-2001</a> (office)</div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="tel:707-206-5088" value="+17072065088"
target="_blank">707-206-5088</a> (Cell)</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</font></span>
<div>
<div class="h5">
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Mar 11, 2016 at 1:19
PM, Patrick Shortell <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:pshortell6@gmail.com"
target="_blank"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:pshortell6@gmail.com">pshortell6@gmail.com</a></a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>Hi Jay,<br>
</div>
I did cut open one of the inverters.<br>
</div>
The electronics are potted but I noticed
that there were studs that appeared riveted
to the external casing which appeared to be
aluminum. It appeared that the saltwater had
entered along this stud and eventually made
its way to the circuit board. I assume that
the stud performed a grounding function
since that model inverter is externally
grounded.<br>
</div>
I could see the green evidence where the stud
entered the potting that salt water had indeed
passed through the potting and encountered
some copper. I think Enphase has gone with a
ground wire in the cabling nowadays. Maybe a
new design has eliminated that route to the
board.<br>
</div>
Pat<br>
<div>
<div><br>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Mar 11,
2016 at 12:58 PM, jay <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jay.peltz@gmail.com"
target="_blank"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:jay.peltz@gmail.com">jay.peltz@gmail.com</a></a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px
#ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div style="word-wrap:break-word">Hi
Patrick
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I would add that the NEMA 6
rating is for dust/water intrusion,
not corrosion resistance. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I don’t know what the metallurgy
of the Enphase was/is or the HIQ.</div>
<div>But I would not make the
assumption that whats bad/good for
one is the same for any other.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>jay</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Peltz power</div>
<div>
<div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
<div>
<div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>On Mar 11, 2016, at
9:29 AM, Patrick
Shortell <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:pshortell6@gmail.com" target="_blank"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:pshortell6@gmail.com">pshortell6@gmail.com</a></a>>
wrote:</div>
<br>
<div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>Hi Chris,<br>
</div>
My experience
with
microinverters
rated NEMA 6
in a salt
environment
was an
absolute
disaster. I
have a 50KW
ground mount,
Enphase
M210's, Sanyo
220's and
within three
years more
than half
failed.<br>
</div>
The system is
approx a 1/2
mile from the
Ocean and
about 300
Yards from a
bay and is
also on an
island.<br>
</div>
We removed the
microinverters
and installed
SMA string
inverters.<br>
</div>
We have similiar
installations in
the immediate
area and the SMA
product has held
up for 12 years.<br>
</div>
My microinverter
experiment ended
badly and as an
electrician for
over thirty years,
the enphase
product was the
only product I
ever saw with a
NEMA 6 rating.<br>
</div>
My Opinion, you cant
beat an SMA product
in this environment.<br>
</div>
Pat<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div
class="gmail_quote">On
Fri, Mar 11, 2016 at
11:39 AM,
Christopher Warfel <span
dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:cwarfel@entech-engineering.com" target="_blank"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:cwarfel@entech-engineering.com">cwarfel@entech-engineering.com</a></a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote
class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0 0
0
.8ex;border-left:1px
#ccc
solid;padding-left:1ex">We
are designing a
480Vac, 3 phase
system for a
school on an
island. The system
will be outdoors,
about 1/2 from the
ocean shore.
Corrosion via salt
is a real problem.
We submitted some
pictures to Solar
Pro for an article
they are writing.
HIQ are NEMA 6. I
have no experience
with them, and was
wondering if
anyone did. Thank
you, Chris<span><font
color="#888888"><br>
<br>
-- <br>
Christopher
Warfel,
President<br>
ENTECH
Engineering,
Inc.<br>
PO Box 871,
Block Island,
RI 02807<br>
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="tel:401-466-8978" value="+14014668978" target="_blank">401-466-8978</a><br>
<br>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Christopher Warfel, President
ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
401-466-8978</pre>
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