<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Hi All,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Dana's troubles with the Sol-Ark reminded me that I wanted to write about my experience with Sol-Ark and Fortress as my troubles with that install were unfolding. I had made many calls and emails to both Sol-Ark and Fortress about the lack of charging and the odd generator behavior. Sol-Ark was more available for conversations and troubleshooting than Fortress, but after going through as much as they could think of, they decided the issues must have been on Fortress' end. Fortress was not being very helpful, being very short with their written responses and being difficult to get live on a phone call. They basically said nothing on their end could be causing the problems we were experiencing and threw it back into Sol-Ark's court. <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">I wrote a note to Fortress complaining about what I was considering the unacceptable level of support I was getting primarily from Fortress. After a little back and forth, we finally got into a productive email and phone exchange where they eventually let me know that they were just beginning to see other problems with their closed loop pairing with Sol-Ark. At this point, it seems that Sol-Ark did a firmware revision a few weeks ago, which somehow caused just enough disruption to the Canbus communication with Fortress, that it caused erratic seemingly random behavior between the 2 pieces of equipment, which neither manufacturer initial recognized as a communication problem, but assumed must be a programming problem (which it essentially was). <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">After the initial period of being largely blown off by Fortress, once they started to recognize what the issue might be, they kicked in and have been very responsive and helpful since. They quickly generated a new firmware which they had done internal testing on and then we updated one set of batteries a week ago. As best as I can tell, so far the closed loop communications and the system have operated well. I hope to update the larger system this week and switch it over to closed loop, as it has been operating in open loop for several days now. Once we switch it over, I will report back as to how it is working.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">I do want to reiterate that after Fortress' (in my opinion) initial delayed and less than helpful responses, I am pleased with the support I have since been given. I do think the way they've set up their support response needs some significant tweaking, but it sounds like they are at least open to getting feedback and suggestions from wrenches that are interested in doing so.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Howie<br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span><span><font color="#888888"><span style="color:rgb(120,63,4)"><b>Howie Michaelson<br></b></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,255)"></span></font></span></span><span><span><span><span><font color="#888888"><span style="color:rgb(106,168,79)"><b>Sun Catcher</b></span><br><span style="color:rgb(68,68,68)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><font size="2">
<span style="color:rgb(32,18,77)"><b><span></span></b></span></font></span></span></font></span><span><font color="#888888"><span style="color:rgb(68,68,68)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><font size="2"><span style="color:rgb(32,18,77)"><b><span><span><span style="color:rgb(68,68,68)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"></span></span></span></span></b></span></font></span></span></font></span></span></span></span><span><span><font color="#888888"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,255)"><b><font size="1"><i>NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™<br></i></font></b></span></font></span><span><span><font color="#888888"><span style="color:rgb(120,63,4)"></span></font></span></span></span><span><span><span><font color="#888888"><span style="color:rgb(120,63,4)"><b><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1MQF8aTcFNnBR59ia5JAm1DsPHCxzNkPx&export=download"><br></b></span></font></span></span><span><font color="#888888"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,255)"><b><font size="1"><i></i></font></b></span></font></span><span><font color="#888888"><span style="color:rgb(68,68,68)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><font size="2"><span style="color:rgb(32,18,77)"><b><span><span><span style="color:rgb(68,68,68)"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><font size="2">Solar Electric Systems Sales & Service<br></font></span></span><span style="color:rgb(180,95,6)">802-272-0004</span></span></span></b></span></font></span></span></font></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, Dec 4, 2022 at 2:39 PM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg-6795536709895738541"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" lang="EN-US"><div class="m_-6795536709895738541WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">I will additionally call Solark Tech & see what they have to contribute. <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Thanks all for the real world first!<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><div style="border-color:currentcolor currentcolor windowtext;border-style:none none solid;border-width:medium medium 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 1pt"><p class="MsoNormal" style="border:medium none;padding:0in"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Dana Orzel - E - <a href="mailto:dana@solarwork.com" target="_blank">dana@solarwork.com</a> - C - 208.721.</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">7003</span></b><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span><i><span style="color:rgb(153,204,0)"><u></u><u></u></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><div style="border-color:rgb(225,225,225) currentcolor currentcolor;border-style:solid none none;border-width:1pt medium medium;padding:3pt 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jerry Shafer via RE-wrenches<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, December 4, 2022 11:11 AM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Jerry Shafer <<a href="mailto:jerrysgarage01@gmail.com" target="_blank">jerrysgarage01@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Sola-ark cold morning<u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">This is interesting, set all aside temps, how its constructed, the power cycle is what changed it. Sounds like the inverter(s) were stuck in a finish charge, this may be a programming issue, is it available on line to watch remotely, has it done that again, next day?<u></u><u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">Fun times programming <u></u><u></u></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Sun, Dec 4, 2022, 5:22 AM Dana Orzel via RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p></div><blockquote style="border-color:currentcolor currentcolor currentcolor rgb(204,204,204);border-style:none none none solid;border-width:medium medium medium 1pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in"><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Hey Now All Wise ones!</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">An of gird client emailed yesterday that his Solark had been accepting only 350 watts of a 4KW input from the array. The modules are Q-cell 325 watt 2 strings of 7 modules.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Sunrise, full sun, no clouds so no edge of cloud effect, negative temps @ -6˚F, he waited all day with no improvement or change in the charge rate consistent 350watts input & then same thing next morning. Negative temps & full sun & 350watts solar input.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">He turned the Solark off for 10 minutes & then turned it back on & 4KW charge input returned. The Solark did not turn off or deliver any alarm or warning.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">My initial thought was over-voltage spike, we designed for a -25˚F scenario & 110 PSF snow load. Beefy! </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">I did not ask if it was windy additionally. Could this contribute to a colder array temp? I have always been of the impression that wind chill did not affect metal or glass that it has to do with moisture being driven off.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Thoughts & suggestions?</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><div style="border-color:currentcolor currentcolor windowtext;border-style:none none solid;border-width:medium medium 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 1pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,32,96)"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc. </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">C - 208.721.7003 <a href="mailto:dana@solarwork.com" target="_blank">dana@solarwork.com</a></span></b><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><a href="http://www.greatsolarworks.com/" target="_blank">www.greatsolarworks.com</a> <a href="http://www.solarwor.com" target="_blank">www.solarwor.com</a> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" </span></u><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Webdings;color:green"> </span></b><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:18pt;font-family:Webdings;color:green">P</span></b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:navy"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:green">Please consider the environment before printing this email.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">_______________________________________________<br>List sponsored by Redwood Alliance<br><br>Pay optional member dues here: <a href="http://re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">http://re-wrenches.org</a><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>There are two list archives for searching. 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