[RE-wrenches] Enphase Envoy -Microinverters not reporting

[Nick A Lucchese]

Greetings Wrenches,

Two of the Enphase systems I installed 3-4 years ago about a year apart of one another are all of a sudden indicating a micro inverters not reporting and Envoy not reporting diagnosis on Enlighten and Installer Toolkit. This was initially diagnosed a few weeks ago before the weather hit the west coast so is unrelated in that regard. The first site with micro’s not reporting had not had any equipment or network changes to justify why it wasn’t connecting to the client’s router. After multiple attempts to get it to reconnect and the client even replacing his older router with something more powerful it still will not connect. I’m using the new Installer Toolkit as well and even with that when I’m at the point of “Connect Envoy to internet via Wifi” with network name and password fields populated it still will not enable satisfaction when pressing “CONNECT”. I’ve been to the site multiple times now and also went through Enphase’s live chat (while not on site) and still no success. No matter what I’ve tried so far, no joy. I also have a second site doing the same thing however I’ve been instructing the competent homeowner remotely on this one before I make the effort to get on site. Also, even though now it is saying micro’s not reporting I believe this one initially just said Envoy not reporting. I’ve confirmed myself on the first site that the system is still producing and definitely nothing wrong with the array or micros and had the client confirm power production on the second site by observing the utility meter.

Has anyone else had this type of problem with the Envoy after years of successful operation and no site changes? Do they actually just fail every once in awhile or have the newest generations of the Envoys over the last few years been solid for everyone? It would be problematic to run ethernet cables on both sites so other than perhaps testing purposes a hardwired connection isn’t an option. At the moment I’m planning a second “live chat” support call but thinking they’re not going to take me anywhere beyond the support documentation they already have. Last time the support specialist ended with “don’t worry it will work”. If this was an off grid job I’d have all kinds of loaner equipment I could implement to help eliminate possibilities but I’d rather not purchase an extra Envoy just yet. 

I wish they still had a piece of hardware for simple monitoring of power production. I know the original Envoy had some limitations as well but at least it gave quick at  glance confidence for the homeowner to the large contingent of my clients that don't want to be troubled with searching for their system in a web portal or app. This move of going to all online monitoring by many manufacturers burns up many hours of my time each year troubleshooting wi-fi and networking bu*****t. I love Enphase and am blown away by what they’re doing but sure wish they still offered a simple monitor other than a phone or computer to observe production on site.

Thanks for any insights if you have it, Nick