[RE-wrenches] Growatt 5k inverter w/ transformer, more China junk?

[Ray]

20 years ago, I thought I had to fix every solar problem that crossed my 
path.  I've since gone into a 12 step recovery program, and have 
successfully stayed "solar sober" for the past decade, with only a very 
occasional relapse.  The Wrenches list has many a recovering 
"solarholic" among its ranks. Listen to them. You just don't want the 
responsibility or the call backs.  My customers that I set up with all 
the right equipment hardly ever have problems, but the few orphaned 
systems I've inherited, have a couple of problems a year.  Its not just 
your sanity, its for your customers as well.  If they're just playing 
around with it/ weekend fun, that's one thing, but if this is Home Sweet 
Home for multiple fellow Americans, they deserve better.

Sounds like a Euro spec (230 vac single phase) inverter that they 
switched the frequency from 50 Hz to 60 Hz. Even if this is a good brand 
over seas, its not the right voltage, its not UL listed, and you have no 
tech support. (What could possibly go wrong?)

We get a couple calls a month from folks that got a 'deal on the 
internet'.  We don't even take them anymore even if its installing good 
equipment. It's still 1/2 the money, for double the work. And one last 
thing: folks that are trying to cheap out are on average going to be 
less likely to appreciate and pay for your expertise.

Just curious, who sold this to them?

Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760

On 1/4/21 6:56 PM, jay wrote:
> I just was looking at them the other day.  They do make US versions.
>
> I don’t think they are junk, Growatt is one if not the largest 
> inverter company in the world.
>
> jay
>
>> On Jan 4, 2021, at 4:33 PM, Chris Schaefer <chris at solarandwindfx.com 
>> <mailto:chris at solarandwindfx.com>> wrote:
>>
>> G'Day and Happy New Year's All,
>>
>> Just wanted to share this with you all. A potential client purchased 
>> a somewhat complete system off the internet and is now seeking an 
>> installer. I know, same old story. The package came with two Growatt 
>> SPF-5000 ES inverters with two Huawei HW-TX-5000 transformers. The 
>> twist to the story is apparently the inverters put out 230vac on a 
>> single leg and the transformers are required to split the 240vac into 
>> two legs of 120. I've never come across an inverter like this. As an 
>> off gridder the first thing I think of is the inefficiencies of the 
>> additional transformers to do something like this when we have plenty 
>> of manufacturers that don't require this. I'd love to hear your 
>> thoughts on this setup and possible experiences and pitfalls to 
>> beware of.
>>
>> PS the client is kicking themselves in the butt, lol.
>>
>> Gratefully,
>> Christopher--
>>
>> Chris Schaefer’s
>> <http://www.solarandwindfx.com/>
>> /Tel/Fax 585-229-2083 or Cell 585-748-1870
>> //5115 South Hill Road ~ Canandaigua New York 14424
>> //www.solarandwindfx.com <http://www.solarandwindfx.com/> ~ E-mail: 
>> chris at solarandwindfx.com <mailto:chris at solarandwindfx.com>/
>>
>> /
>> /
>>
>> Thomas Jefferson, the author of our great Constitution, once said, 
>> "democracy" will cease to exist when you take away from those who are 
>> willing to work and give to those who would not."
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>>
>> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org 
>> <mailto:RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>>
>> Change listserver email address & settings:
>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org 
>> <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org>
>>
>> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try 
>> the other:
>> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>> List rules & etiquette:
>> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>
>> Check out or update participant bios:
>> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out or update participant bios:
> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches_lists.re-wrenches.org/attachments/20210104/d4195eb0/attachment.htm>