<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Thanks for sharing, Bill. My first AIO installation went well, but I did have to call about a few things, and I did start pushing buttons even though I read the manual and forgot that it said to program through the app and start the system from the app for the first time, not with the power button (silly me). I'll admit I ignored that point in the manual, and I should not have. With that said, I wish the manual were a lot more descriptive about what the settings mean. The wording in the app settings section is ambiguous in some areas. </span><br clear="all"></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Regarding trusting AIO inverters, I do have reservations, but it seems like this is ultimately going to be the simplest and lowest-cost way to go in the future, and I see the positives outweighing the negatives. The obvious concern is needing redundancy, and having equipment that doesn't have cascading shutdowns when one unit fails (I'm looking at you, Sol-Ark). My solution for now is to stick to one brand and model as much as possible, and I landed on the Midnite AIO. I am keeping one on my shelf at all times to handle emergencies if one needs to be swapped out. I can take a faulty unit back to my shop for diagnostics and warranty processing if necessary. Since swap outs are fast, this should be all I need to provide sufficient customer service in terms of reliability. Single-inverter sites are particularly vulnerable, but that is no different from any other system architecture. </span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I like the idea of not having numerous systems and components out there and needing to "relearn" a system that I haven't seen in a while. I came to this realization as I started taking over dozens of systems that were installed by others, all with varying components, and most that were cobbled together over the years with parts that don't necessarily talk to each other. I can't tell you how many Xantrex and Outback Charge Controllers I have found replaced with Midnite that no longer talk to the rest of the system, and systems with combinations of 150V and 600V charge controllers, and all kinds of cobbled together AGS solutions. It all gets very tricky, and training employees on what to look for can be a daunting task. It all falls on my shoulders. With an AIO, I can easily train employees on how to do swaps and how to diagnose issues much easier.</span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Yes, I am taking the easy way out in some sense. Time will tell if the pros of this approach outweigh the cons. I don't think I am doing my customers a disservice with this approach. </span></div><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">Jason Szumlanski<div><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group</span><br style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)</span><br style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956</span></div><div><font color="#333333" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208</font></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, Apr 27, 2025 at 3:27 PM Bill Battagin 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"><u></u>
<div>
<p>Wrenches,</p>
<p> Sorry, this started a month ago, I contacted Ryan at
Midnite during a wrench discussion about their AIO. I finally got
a go ahead about some of the issues Ray had concerning Midnite's
AIO and the time to post the response (<font color="#ff0080">in
Red</font>) from Ryan, below. Hopefully this helps. <br>
</p>
<p>Bill</p>
<pre cols="72">Feather River Solar Electric
Bill Battagin, owner
4291 Nelson St. (Shipping)
5575 Genesee Rd. (USPS, UPS)
Taylorsville, CA 95983
530-284-7849, 258-1641(cell)
CA. C10 Lic # 874049
Solar Powered since 1982
Home of the Sunny Side Up</pre>
<p></p>
<p>-------- Forwarded Message -------- </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Re: [RE-wrenches] Midnite Inverter
products, monitoring</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b>Date:
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thu, 27 Mar 2025 09:59:59 -0600</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b>From:
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ray Walters via RE-wrenches <a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank"><re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org></a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">RE-wrenches <a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank"><re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org></a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ray Walters <a href="mailto:ray@solarray.com" target="_blank"><ray@solarray.com></a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"> </p>
<p>Firmware updates of the Midnite AIO are Not via the app. You
have to get a special dongle thing from Midnite, and Yes use a
Windows based laptop to do it. </p>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt;color:red">Not so, users can update
firmware through the app/portal no laptops etc needed. You
should do a factory restore and restart the machine after. We of
course only recommend updating if there is a feature/bug you
want or need to fix</span></p>
<p>2nd issue: you can not do any programming or change voltage
settings on the inverter itself, everything is through the phone
app. <span style="color:red">Correct, or over the portal etc</span></p>
<p>3rd issue: the App doesn't always work, and I had to download it
and delete it, redownload it 5 times, before I could finally
connect to the AIO. I was in Puerto Rico with very poor cell
service, so Frustration levels were very high. <span style="color:red">Have not had any complaints yet on this one, I
am assuming maybe it has something to do with the poor data
connection?</span></p>
<p>4th issue: if you turn on the AIO without doing the programming
setup, you can lock the inverter. Stupid me thought I could just
turn the inverter ON, and it would start inverting. It took
several hours to get it to work and take the programming. I was
literally about to Cry. I've been in offgrid solar since 1988,
and this was one of the worst experiences I've ever had. Luckily
Midnite support is excellent, and they hung in there until we
finally got it. <span style="color:red">Yes you need to go
through some basic programming, The most common issue I see is
people get inpatient and press a lot of buttons and the inverter
will hang up. If this happens power down for 15 minutes and then
power on with patience</span></p>
<p>5th issue: programming doesn't necessarily take the first time,
and I had to change settings sometimes 3 times, before it would
finally take. My confidence level that it will do what I thought
is low. Leaving it in a remote location, with no one local
knowledgeable to correct issues, is seriously troubling. <span style="color:red">This also is a first, I wonder if it is also
related to the poor data connection or if the unit was running
at the time. Like other inverters we need to be in standby for
settings to be saved</span></p>
<p>Once again, regardless of manufacturer, ALL AIOs are made in
China, designed in China, programmed in China, and are IMO, not
suitable for off grid remote applications. They are for DIY folks
and avg. grid tie solar companies that want to play around with
GTB. I've tried Solark, Midnite, Fortress, EG4, and all have not
instilled confidence, and/ or had major problems off grid. Fine
for GTB, but live full time on it? Stake your family's lives on
it? NO WAY.</p>
<p>I'm willing to try the Rosie for my next off grid job, because I
still trust Midnite, and because I just don't see any good
alternatives, now that Magnum and Outback are down. BTW, I still
have old Trace SWs inverting their hearts' out. Not ready to
replace them. </p>
<p><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
Ray Walters<br>
Remote Solar
<p><br>
</p>
<pre cols="72"></pre>
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