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benn, Inverter life is a catch-22. There's really no predictable lifespan; the unit may last another 30 years. It may fail tomorrow. That's just how they are. If it fails, service may be problematic or nonexistent. We have a few customers still running Traces and Hearts from the late 1980s that have never failed. I haven't advised these customers to replace units that are still working; just to keep some money put away just in case. (One favorite customer is pushing 80; still uses a Trace 1512 that Windy installed to run his home. That's not a DR1512; it's the first series, even before the U-series black units.) My advice: As part of this upgrade, put the DR on an E-Panel. Then all disconnects are in place for a simple upgrade later. The DR is upside-down to most other inverters, with the DC connections on the left, so swapout later can get weird. Put it on the door of an E-Panel and later replacement becomes an easier task - plus you clean up the installation and add an IBS. Samlex inverters fit the same E-Panel chassis. Apollo inverters do too, but the E-Panel for them is more expensive. I think that's because the Apollo is split-phase 120/240, but it can be ordered or set up as straight 120V output, which would probably allow it to fit in place of the DR as well. Or, with a replacement front cover, an FX Outback would be easy to swap out. Hope this helps! Allan Allan Sindelar On 11/2/2010 11:31 AM, benn kilburn wrote: G'day, |
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