[RE-wrenches] SolarBridge microinverter troubleshooting and path ahead for stranded customers

[Dave Tedeyan]

Scott,
The best way to find a faulty MI (at least one that is not working at all)
would be to scan the array with an IR camera. When done properly, the not
working module will pop right out because it is warmer than the rest. Flir
One makes a pretty cheap attachment for a smartphone. I haven't used this
specific one before, but I did order one today :)
Cheers,
Dave

*Dave Tedeyan, PE*
Senior Engineer | Taitem Engineering, PC

110 South Albany Street | Ithaca, NY 14850
o. *607.277.1118 x121*  f. 607.277.2119
www.taitem.com

Solar • Sustainability • Energy • Design
Certified B-Corporation since 2013


On Wed, Jul 29, 2020 at 3:53 PM <scot.arey at solarcentex.com> wrote:

> Good day,
>
>
>
> We used to install SolarBridge microinverters when we first started. You
> know the deal…”we’ve improved what Enphase started”…and they were great –
> up until Sunpower bought it to meet market demand for an AC-module, then a
> reemergent Enphase bought it from a cash-strapped Sunpower, and promptly
> threw the whole kit and caboodle into the trash heap never to be seen again.
>
>
>
> But now we have some 25-year warrantied MIs not working, and the
> associated “Home Power Manager” monitoring device failed which means
> by-module monitoring is gone. These were AC-modules from ET Solar and that
> seemingly went bankrupt at some point, too and reemerged as a new ET Solar.
>
>
>
> A coupled of questions:
>
>
>
> Other than the seemingly infinite permutation of module strings it would
> take to narrow down inop MIs, does anyone have techniques or tips on how to
> identify individual faulty MIs?
>
>
>
> Did anybody else install SolarBridge and if so, any feedback on warranty
> support?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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