As long as "next gen" means "actually works reliably." We gave up on TED after many failed installations due to interference and product failures. Unfortunately, the competitors we evaluated came up short on reliability and/or accuracy. We're still crossing our fingers that Galtronics can come through with their SymHome devices.
My opinion on this is that we really need Sq D or another major panelboard mfr to step up and make consumer grade breakers that communicate with a data collection device and Internet gateway. Forget the add-on gadgetry. Integrate it with the existing distribution hardware. Jason Szumlanski Fafco Solar From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Keith Cronin Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 2:04 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Out of Warranty Inverter Replacements Perhaps as an add on value-relationship building component for your businesses, go introduce your clients, new and existing to The Energy Detective- http://www.theenergydetective.com/ted-5002-g At the very least, you can help them, help you, monitor what they have and discern between whether their system is optimized and if not, the remedy. For folks in the industry, they have pricing below MSRP. Relatively simple device and you can monitor the inverter(s) and the home load to get a comparative. They are working on the next gen of their product to be able to get granular on every load in the home, but this will be a boat load of CT's and MTU's, but I believe this will allow us all to identify phantom loads and help close the gap on maintenance and often expensive service calls for folks that are grid connected. Keith ________________________________ From: Mark Frye <ma...@berkeleysolar.com> To: 'RE-wrenches' <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 7:56 AM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Out of Warranty Inverter Replacements Ray, Here are the nameplate module rating vs nameplate inverter rating: - 24 x 175 W = 4,200 W : IG4000 = 4,000 W : 105 % - 18 x 175 W = 3,150 W : IG3000 = 2,700 W : 117 % - 8 x 175 W = 1,400 W : SB1100 = 1,100 W : 127 % (sub-optimal orientation limits peak power levels) I think it is fair to say that amps=heat=component aging. The question is to what extent can the installer rely on the representations made by manufactures with respect to their ratings and product life? For instance, the 24 module system above lands well within the Fronius specifications for max DC power and is "Good" based on their online configuration tool, and also well in line the the SMA white paper of many years ago suggesting a 120% mod/inv ratio as optimal. And yet, the first unit failed in 4 years and the refurb failed in 2 year. Mark Frye Berkeley Solar Electric Systems 303 Redbud Way Nevada City, CA 95959 (530) 401-8024 www.berkeleysolar.com <http://www.berkeleysolar.com/> ________________________________ From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Ray Walters Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 10:26 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Out of Warranty Inverter Replacements Hi Mark; In cases like that, I let the customer decide. My job is to present them with two or three streamlined options and let them decide. It seems it comes down to cost vs continued warranty (and possible expandability?). Financial decisions ultimately need to be made by the people paying the bill. >From a technical perspective, I don't ever present an option that I wouldn't be comfortable installing, and in the end everyone's happy. (hopefully) Just curious; what are the array sizes relative to the inverter rating? I always wondered if inverters that were run at or over their rating didn't last as long as inverters that were run well below their rating. (just my stupid assumption that: more amps = more heat = less reliability) Ray On 8/19/2011 11:03 AM, Mark Frye wrote: Folks, Yesterday I took a trip through my service area and initated 3 inverter replacement actions: - A 6 year old Sunnyboy 1100W, 5 year warranty expired, $360 for a refurbished unit w/ 1 year warranty, new replacement not available - A 2 year old Fronius IG4000 refurbished, sent as warranty replacement for unit failed at 4 years under 5 year warranty, now out of warranty, est. $ 600 to refurbish with 1 year warranty - A 4 year old Fronius IG3000, under 10 year warranty, warranty replacement and service fee provided by Fronius I have to decide, what is best for my out of warranty customers: - Buy the refurbished units w/ 1 year warranty - Buy new replacement units with 10 or 20 year warrranties - Buy entirely new equipment such as Enphase or SolarEdge What are other folks experiencing as we move well past the 5 year warranty horizon for many of our earlier customers? Mark Frye Berkeley Solar Electric Systems 303 Redbud Way Nevada City, CA 95959 (530) 401-8024 www.berkeleysolar.com <http://www.berkeleysolar.com> _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
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