Sunnyboy 6000 not working

[oregon_phil]

Thank you for responding, I’m sorry for being incomplete.
Green, Red, and Blue led’s are illuminating on complete shutdown AC VDC and start-up. I have (2-ea) one month old , 7.7 us-41 SMA inverters. Measured A/C at inverter is 246vac, DC fluctuates 200-315vdc depending sun exposure.

Start Up process is identical on each inverter as it self scrolls. Good inverter scrolls reveals vdc and amp values. .. Bad inverter has no values.. No vdc/amps show in read out.
After several hours upon checking, unit shows no led’s at all. Good inverter has solid Green and is producing approximately 5,000watts. I have Not heard fans test run on start up. Good inverter has cooling fan on during heat of day when producing.

The 2 - 18-panel strings on bad inverter have vdc and were connected to Good inverter one at ah time on vdc terminal C, which produced vac So we have shown and believe strings are of good integrity..

Configuration of system: #1 7.7SMA-41 inverter has 3 strings of 15 panels producing 5,000 watts. #2 inverter has 2 strings of 15 panels, no production even after restart.

Installer has refused to investigate,so I am stuck.
Thank you.

I'm still confused by your set up.

Inverter #1: What is panel wattage? How many strings and how many panels on each string? Does your inverter have a display or only LEDs? Do you have a direct network connection to the inverter?

Inverter #2: What is panel wattage? How many strings and how many panels on each string? Does your inverter have a display or only LEDs? Do you have a direct network connection to the inverter?

Once you start adding and removing strings, sometimes the SMA inverter thinks there is a string fault. Search this forum for "Another SMA Error Code". This might be an issue. You really need to connect to your inverter through your network to read status and parameters.

Resetting/setting inverter parameters takes installer privileges, which means the installer should be doing this or else system liability shifts from them to you.

This message thread should probably be a new post since this doesn't have anything to do with the OP's SB6000 inverter.

[solarix]

Which string inputs are being used on the 2nd inverter? I think you have to use input "A" for the inverter to work. Also check the output of the DC disconnect (have to take the upper cover off to see if the DC voltage is making it through the switch. We had a situation once like you describe where the DC disconnect knob was being impinged by a conduit and it caused the "A" input to be poorly connected and fail.

[DenBo]

Thank you for responding, I’m sorry for being incomplete.
Green, Red, and Blue led’s are illuminating on complete shutdown AC VDC and start-up. I have (2-ea) one month old , 7.7 us-41 SMA inverters. Measured A/C at inverter is 246vac, DC fluctuates 200-315vdc depending sun exposure.

Start Up process is identical on each inverter as it self scrolls. Good inverter scrolls reveals vdc and amp values. .. Bad inverter has no values.. No vdc/amps show in read out.
After several hours upon checking, unit shows no led’s at all. Good inverter has solid Green and is producing approximately 5,000watts. I have Not heard fans test run on start up. Good inverter has cooling fan on during heat of day when producing.

The 2 - 18-panel strings on bad inverter have vdc and were connected to Good inverter one at ah time on vdc terminal C, which produced vac So we have shown and believe strings are of good integrity..

Configuration of system: #1 7.7SMA-41 inverter has 3 strings of 15 panels producing 5,000 watts. #2 inverter has 2 strings of 15 panels, no production even after restart.

Installer has refused to investigate,so I am stuck.
Thank you.

[oregon_phil]

The usual cause of no green, red, blue lights is the display cable is not plugged in. Does it make any sounds when energized? - usually the fan will come on foe a second to test the fan. Are you measuring 240Vac on the AC terminals?

I just verified on my -40 that Green, Red and Blue LED's turn on with just 240VAC present (DC switch turned OFF). DC switch turned ON, then power up sequence exactly as you have described.

[solarix]

The usual cause of no green, red, blue lights is the display cable is not plugged in. Does it make any sounds when energized? - usually the fan will come on foe a second to test the fan. Are you measuring 240Vac on the AC terminals?

[DenBo]

SMA 7.7 US-41 NOT WORKING OUT OF BOX. I have two 7.7 ‘s . One is working (Solid Green) with 3 strings of 18 panels. Other new inverter never produced yet with 2 strings of 18 panels. I temp wired all strings to working inverter individually which verified all strings are credible to generate. . After 24 hrs. There are no green red or blue light. Can’t see a event code. #1 is producing 5100w today . Any clues to get #2 inverter up and productive is appreciated.
‘Thank you

DenBo

[Early Adopter]

Thank you for the info. I'll be on the hunt. Know I'm on borrowed time with my used inverter. But currently making power!

[peakbagger]

There were some 6 KW Solar City branded Delta inverters on Ebay that might fit the bill a few months ago. They are a hybrid inverter designed to tie to a high voltage variation of a Tesla battery. They will work grid tie only and some folks have been successful using them off grid without a battery on You Tube. I have seen some references that they do not deal with with leakage current having a overly sensitive ground fault unit. These are as is New in Box but no guarantee. They have two MPPT channels. They were around $500.

[Early Adopter]

Solarix . . . . I have looked but have been unable to locate. Do you have a source for a SB8000US or SB7000US inverter old new stock? That would be very helpful.

On the XFRM fault - I know it is common but would still be interesting to note the cause of failure (insulation breakdown, electronic component failure, etc).
If someone had inverter schematics that would be helpful but likely proprietary.

Thanks for the info!

[solarix]

I'm guessing this is an older model of SMA (gen 1 or 2 maybe) and "disturbance xfmr" was a pretty common way they died. (What is the date on the label?)
These old units had 5 year warranties and they typically last about 10 years. This is a non repairable problem.
There are a lot of old stock newer SMA inverters online that you can grab pretty cheaply and still get the full 10 year warranty they have.

[Early Adopter]

This is a related topic.
I have a SMA SB6000US that also cleared the 1 amp ground fuse and then showed the "XFMR" fault and then goes into waiting mode.
Mine lasted 13 years (well beyond the 10 year guarantee - Yea!)

My research showed this fault is related to the AC voltage supply and can occur when there is a mis-match between the Inverter AC wiring (208/240/277) and the grid voltage.
I have also seem many of these types of faults posted.

I know this forum has a barn full of owls (experienced people), and was wondering if this is an inverter issue (repairable?) or perhaps a grid issue (wiring/breaker/utility power disturbance)?
Any suggesting to resolve?

Comments?

[silversaver]

call your installer

[SolarShadow]

I would like to know what their reasoning was to reject your claim if still under the 5 year warranty period and I'm assuming that they told you the inverter is actually no good? If this be the case of it being defective then you must replace the inverter and none in the 6 kw class are that cheap. I guess you can try going after them legally to make good on it, but then you might as well start saving your money to get another one that would likely happen before a legal hearing and if they say you would've won. Up to you if you go with them again or another inverter company.

[JDenver]

The inverter has failed about 2 years ago and you just found out? Is your inverter under warranty? (within 5 years) Not months later and calling SMA for warranty repair, none will honoring the warranty...

Not sure how to work this Forum/blog.... Yes the inverter "started" to fail... not completely but showed signs in the production report..... when looking back through all the years. 2yrs ago there were larger than usual drops in production.

[silversaver]

I discovered that my Sunnyboy Inverter is not working. Even though there is a green light on the front, indicating that it is operating normally. This has been going on for more than 9months. And I was told by an electrical engineer (not that I needed an electrical engineer) that it started to fail about 2 yrs ago! I called SMA, they said to replace it with their newer model. Cost about $2000+

The Error is -- Disturbance - XFMR ---so other than this... and my utility bill being higher! there was no other indication.

I asked about the 5yr warranty and the unit failing within the 5 yr period but they refused to honor their warranty. So I don't know what to do.

I don't have a spare $2000.

My question to the Forum is.... is there an inverter (a 6000 watt) inverter that will replace the Sunnyboy 6000 that cost under ~$500???
Or some other recommendation to get this back on-line??

Thanks! JDenver

The inverter has failed about 2 years ago and you just found out? Is your inverter under warranty? (within 5 years) Not months later and calling SMA for warranty repair, none will honoring the warranty...