The displays are dead completely. The SB 5.0 with issue is with a -US. The first one was replaced by another contractor who apparently didn't read the huge sticker that says it had a transport cover on it. So when I ordered the second warranty unit I asked that a regular cover be sent (SMA dropped the ball on that last year). That original contractor also used exposed THWN for the home run wiring on the roof and couldn't quite figure out how a Soladeck pass-though box works (scary stuff). I fixed that of course. But nothing else seems wrong. This inverter failure was slightly different from the last two. Now one string is showing 0V on the display but 277Voc on the meter. No ground faults detected. The other string is 360V. Both are good numbers based on the string configuration. AC voltage is good. No power production despite one good DC string and good AC.
SMA service department finally relented this time (today) when I could not get into the interface via WiFi nor Ethernet and they are sending another unit out, this time supposedly with the correct non-transport cover. We will see. I just can't spend 4-6 hours of travel, hold and diagnostic time on these inverter issues. It's not worth it, particularly when I didn't sell the unit in the first place. SMA (and other string inverter manufacturers) are out of willing and capable service personnel in my area. I'm usually the last resort that people call when they are exasperated. On Tue, Aug 18, 2020 at 4:20 PM frenergy <frene...@psln.com> wrote: > Jason, > > Is it the actual display behind the window of the cover or is > it the window in the cover? It might be worth a try to contact a place > that repairs SMA (and other inverters) like the Solar Cowboys (530) > 273-4895. If its just the window, we've replaced them. > > And your reference to the SB 5.0 that has failed 3 > times....was it a "U", "US", -40,-41? Refurbished? Can't say why but I've > had pretty good luck with calling their service line, I've always entered > my acct # first. > > Bill > > Feather River Solar Electric > Bill Battagin, Owner > 4291 Nelson St. > Taylorsville, CA 95983 > 530.284.7849 > CA Lic 874049www.frenergy.net > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/86e40499e98806ac1123ea5dd68eb33e1694ea9f?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.frenergy.net&userId=1613865&signature=5433bfb0b4e8d026> > > On 8/18/2020 7:59 AM, Jason Szumlanski wrote: > > It looks like I'll be giving up on this case. SMA keeps bouncing me among > departments, pointing fingers at each other. Nobody seems to be able to > help. One service department rep actually told me that most people just > look for things on eBay. Seriously. > > And I'm writing this as I sit in the driveway of another client with a SB > 5.0 that has failed three times. Not only will I decline to offer their > products in the future, but I'm about to stop servicing them too. I can put > up with this lack or support. > > Jason > > > On Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 5:41 PM Jason Szumlanski < > ja...@floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote: > >> Yeah, it's like pulling teeth to get a response, much less an informed >> response. They told me to maintain NEMA 3R rating I need a full cover >> replacement. But no word on how to actually accomplish that (where to buy, >> how much, if available, etc.) >> >> >> On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 8:13 PM Chris Sparadeo <sparadeo.ch...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> Jason, >>> >>> Yes the LCD displays can be swapped out. I had an issue with one earlier >>> this year on a SB6000US and SMA sent a replacement. Very easy to swap out. >>> Good luck with tech support. >>> >>> -Chris >>> >>> On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 7:20 PM Jason Szumlanski < >>> ja...@floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote: >>> >>>> I'm zeroing in on an answer and will share when I get it. I sent an >>>> email at the recommendation of the first-line customer service rep. One >>>> person responded saying to call customer service (haha). A few minutes >>>> later another one said the cover needs to be replaced to maintain the NEMA >>>> 3R rating and gave me another email to get information on availability. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 5:05 PM Jason Szumlanski < >>>> ja...@floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Does anyone know if the LCD displays can be replaced? I have a client >>>>> with three SB6000US and one SB3000US all manufactured in 2007 and all four >>>>> displays are shot. I'm not sure why it is so hard for SMA tech support to >>>>> give me a simple answer on this. I just had a mind-melting hour-long phone >>>>> call with them about this and the easiest currently-available replacement >>>>> for an out-of-warranty SB6000US. I failed to get a straight answer >>>>> on either question. >>>>> >>>>> Jason Szumlanski >>>>> Florida Solar Design Group >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> >>> Chris Sparadeo >>> >>> >>> C_802-369-4458 >>> H_802-728-3059 >>> _______________________________________________ >>> >>> > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & > settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/f99b46c4f39d87e2052149fef619e791867aaf62?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.re-wrenches.org%2Foptions.cgi%2Fre-wrenches-re-wrenches.org&userId=1613865&signature=9f85a879c26d3983> > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/b5b43d2513d550dfa13149d5cb080d15ee12ed48?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.re-wrenches.org%2Fpipermail%2Fre-wrenches-re-wrenches.org&userId=1613865&signature=3d6a466105b569c2> > > List rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/567ee1fe3c3523fc1064a2303b84307a2f49a5c6?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.re-wrenches.org%2Fetiquette.htm&userId=1613865&signature=5f1f295a1ae5ca01> > > Check out or update participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/bfa9be1796dc0eff8ec4eabaef0b67047214e91e?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.members.re-wrenches.org&userId=1613865&signature=5ab5fa6898f720fe> > > -- > > > > ------------------------------ > [image: Avast logo] > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/d8924466b3f5107e000cfe9eb1886bf5ddd4b5af?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avast.com%2Fantivirus&userId=1613865&signature=8dffef95ec2b7fe2> > > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > www.avast.com > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/d8924466b3f5107e000cfe9eb1886bf5ddd4b5af?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avast.com%2Fantivirus&userId=1613865&signature=8dffef95ec2b7fe2> > > <#m_4469058384608438711_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/df7fce217e2ae5a7b7b871650006f7d41aacf3fd?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.re-wrenches.org%2Foptions.cgi%2Fre-wrenches-re-wrenches.org&userId=1613865&signature=8ec5e08b3af3da1b> > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/a642daa68a7a14d060255cd836a5dd4232cfc132?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.re-wrenches.org%2Fpipermail%2Fre-wrenches-re-wrenches.org&userId=1613865&signature=00552c9d73af58be> > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/f889a68eba7ff01b42104a5d7a240bad50838071?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.re-wrenches.org%2Fetiquette.htm&userId=1613865&signature=3c99e504ce22e429> > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > <https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/8c1d68578dc54f126456047da8d6e7a6fa53ff54?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.members.re-wrenches.org&userId=1613865&signature=6cb2761deded14d1> > >
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