SMA FANKIT02-10 for Sunny Boy TL inverter models

[Volusiano]

There was a thread on this forum that discussed this FANKIT02-10 option for the SMA TL inverters, but I couldn't find it by using the search function for "fankit02-10" or just "fankit", so I'm starting a new thread to discuss this. If anyone knows the link to the old thread, I'd be happy to move the discussion back to that thread.

Anyway, the discussion started before around last winter time when somebody wanted to know whether it would be worth the money ($110 online lowest price I can find) to buy and install this fan kit on their SMA TL inverters, especially for hot locations like AZ. At the time, it was not sure how hot the TLs would be running in the summer. Well now that summer is here, I've checked the heat sinks/fins of my SMA 4KTL mounted on the east wall of my garage in the afternoon (when it's in the shade) in 100+ weather, and I have to say that those heat sinks are pretty hot to the touch.

So now I'm debating whether it's worth spending the $ to install this FANKIT02-10 made by SMA or not, just to help remove the heat from those heat sink. It's hard to tell whether the convection cooling in the TL design is working well or not because you can't tell by touching the outside box itself.

I've removed the TL to look inside and installing the fan seems to be pretty straightforward. Warranty concern was raised in the previous discussion, but it'd be pretty easy to remove it if you need your installer to service your inverter for some reason, and your installer would never know that you had it there.

Any opinion about this? It is pretty pricey at $110 online (I think MSRP is $149 or something like that) for just a fan. But if it helps prolong the life of your TL, it may be worth it. The thing is it's not really whether the convection cooling in the existing design is effective enough for hot weather areas like AZ already or not.

[Mb190e]

I can't answer you about the Arizona heat outside, but I have 2 SMA TL's in my basement a 5000 and 3000 (upstate NY) and when they are running and at almost Max I can touch the heat sinks with my hand they are just warm.

[Volusiano]

I can't answer you about the Arizona heat outside, but I have 2 SMA TL's in my basement a 5000 and 3000 (upstate NY) and when they are running and at almost Max I can touch the heat sinks with my hand they are just warm.

Thanks for your feedback. That's how my 4KTL heat sinks feel in the winter time, too -> just warm to the touch. By now (early June), they're pretty hot to the touch. Your fingers don't get burned, but after about a second of contact, your fingers will tell you to back off asap.

[silversaver]

the 6000tl-us-12 is hot just like what volusiano describes, hot not burn at 2pm when inverter hit its max. The 6000TL has 2 fans on side of inverter just like your 8000us, but haven't seen them turn on yet.

I think your system is still new, why not wait until Summer to see if you need one for the 4000tTL.

[Ian S]

why not wait until Summer to see if you need one for the 4000tTL.

Monday it was 110F here in Phoenix. Supposed to be 109F today. Summer's here! That said, within a month, I suspect we'll see 118-120F. I have the older transformer based rebadged SMA inverter in my garage and its fan is going most of the day just now. Fortunately, where my inverter is installed doesn't seem to see more than about 105F even on the hottest summer days.

[silversaver]

Monday it was 110F here in Phoenix. Supposed to be 109F today. Summer's here! That said, within a month, I suspect we'll see 118-120F. I have the older transformer based rebadged SMA inverter in my garage and its fan is going most of the day just now. Fortunately, where my inverter is installed doesn't seem to see more than about 105F even on the hottest summer days.

The operation temp range listed for TL-us-22 series is 140F. If the temperature within garage area were 120F, does the small fan help?

I haven't found the exact, but fan for other SMA inverter:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-SMA-Sunny-Breeze-Solar-inverter-Cooling-Fan-2500-1800-2500U-SB2500-SB1800-/121157069512?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c35862ac8

Perhaps pm the seller if he has the right fan for TL series. Price is good


On the description says:

The Sunny Breeze is powered by a small "wall wart" transformer, but is energized only when the heatsink temperature approaches a level when derating may begin. By utilizing a thermal switch the Sunny Breeze is automatically switched on when the heatsink temperature reaches 50°C (122°F), and turns off when the heatsink temperature reaches 35°C (95°F).

[Volusiano]

The operation temp range listed for TL-us-22 series is 140F. If the temperature within garage area were 120F, does the small fan help?

If ambient temperature in Phoenix is already 110-120F in the summer, I can see the internal inverter heating up to above 140F easily already. The heat sink sure feels like 140F or higher. Heck, the whole box feels just as hot as the heat sink even though the inverters are in the shade already (I just went out and checked at around 1:15pm myself).

I haven't found the exact, but fan for other SMA inverter:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-SMA-Sunn...item1c35862ac8


Perhaps pm the seller if he has the right fan for TL series. Price is good


On the description says:

The Sunny Breeze is powered by a small "wall wart" transformer, but is energized only when the heatsink temperature approaches a level when derating may begin. By utilizing a thermal switch the Sunny Breeze is automatically switched on when the heatsink temperature reaches 50°C (122°F), and turns off when the heatsink temperature reaches 35°C (95°F).

It looks like this kind of fan requires an external power source, which I don't have any near the inverters on the outside. They're not that cheap either at $70. I'd rather have the OEM fan for $40 more so it can fit neatly inside the inverter and tap into the inverter's power source.

At this point, I'm really inclined to buy this fan kit for my 4KTL seeing how hot the inverter gets. My SMA 7K (with transformer and 2 built-in fans) is humming along with the fans on, but I'm surprised to notice that the fans speed is not as high as I expect them to be.

[silversaver]

I also find oneline store for about $110. The installation look simple enough. Get it

I have my inverter install inside of the single garage that is air conditioned (office/storage conversion). And it is a TL version, so I can't tell the difference since it is alway stay cool there. ( Our hottest day probably around 104F)

[Volusiano]

I also find oneline store for about $110. The installation look simple enough. Get it

Is that Ressupply? Dang, I tried to buy it there but it looks like they have a minimum purchase of $300 (free shipping though). The next online place is for $111 with $20 shipping.

I think I'll ask my installer to see if they stock any. Also whether they think a fan is needed.

[silversaver]

Is that Ressupply? Dang, I tried to buy it there but it looks like they have a minimum purchase of $300 (free shipping though). The next online place is for $111 with $20 shipping.

I think I'll ask my installer to see if they stock any. Also whether they think a fan is needed.

Yes. Here is another idea. Call the SMA direct and see if they will sell you one or that eBay seller see if he carry the fan you want.

[Volusiano]

Yes. Here is another idea. Call the SMA direct and see if they will sell you one or that eBay seller see if he carry the fan you want.

Yeah, I did ask the ebay seller if he carries that fankit02-10 or not. We'll see what he says.

I suppose I can call SMA directly, too. But chances are they'll direct me to contact a local authorized dealer, or sell it to me at MSRP + shipping cost. I can still get it cheaper at $111+$20 shipping already because MSRP seems to be $149 before shipping.

I also just sent an email out to my installer. We'll see what he says.

[Ian S]

If ambient temperature in Phoenix is already 110-120F in the summer, I can see the internal inverter heating up to above 140F easily already.

Just to be clear, the temperature specs for these inverters are for ambient air not the actual temperature of internal parts/heat sinks. The latter could and will be much hotter than ambient.

[Volusiano]

Just to be clear, the temperature specs for these inverters are for ambient air not the actual temperature of internal parts/heat sinks. The latter could and will be much hotter than ambient.

OK, what you say would make more sense, I agree.

[silversaver]

Hey Volusiano,

Have you find the fan kit yet? I heard the fans running on my SMA 6000TL-US-12 yesterday the first time. I also heard very light "do do do" sounds from the inverter while the fans are running. Is your US transformer inverter making the same sound while the fans running?

[Volusiano]

Hey Volusiano,

Have you find the fan kit yet? I heard the fans running on my SMA 6000TL-US-12 yesterday the first time. I also heard very light "do do do" sounds from the inverter while the fans are running. Is your US transformer inverter making the same sound while the fans running?

I've found the fan kit on a few sites, but the site with the lowest price and free shipping requires a minimum of $300 purchase. Other sites have higher price and you have to pay shipping, so it makes the cost higher than I'd like to pay for the fan. Just $110 for the fan is already a bit expensive for my taste. My installer gave me a 20 year warranty on the whole system, inverters included, and the 4KTL is rated 140F ambient, and my inverter is on an east facing wall that is shaded in the afternoon, so it's hard for me to justify paying $150 for the fan. I decided to wait until I can find a good deal on the fan before I buy.

My 7000-us (with the transformer) with the 2 fans running is not too loud. I would think that those fans would be running at a faster speed and making louder sound, but they don't. I don't notice any "do do do" sound from it.