Bench firing a Solaredge SE7600h inverter

[GVF]

I purchased an as is 11400 single phase inverter at an auction. I called solaredge to see if the warranty was still active and was told it has already been RMA'd however they never received the unit back from the original installer.

Ebay is flooded with inverters that SolarEdge replaced but were never returned and instead are being sold as "untested" and "for parts." Before buying, at least ask for the serial number and plug it into the Check Your Warranty Status service! Here are photos of an SE10000H described by the seller as, "The internals of the device looks to be in good condition." Caveat emptor!

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[ioozz]

Were you able to test the unit? I have the same issue now, I purchased an as is 11400 single phase inverter at an auction. I called solaredge to see if the warranty was still active and was told it has already been RMA'd however they never received the unit back from the original installer.

[ButchDeal]

Incidently the member we are talking about switched his P400's (60vmax) out for P505's (85vmax), weren't we saying that the 85v part is the commercial part?

No WE were not saying that at all. The P505 is residential and 85v max outout. You seem to be confusing what is residential and commercial, whihc is not based on the max outout voltage.

Further the key disables many of the functions of the optimizers and as I have repeatedly stated is not compatible with the optimizers you have. You seem to also skip the details you dont want to hear.

[motorcyclemikie]

If you had a Solaredge key you would be disableing parts of the optimizer so you would be testing LESS of the equipment, the voltage would be that of the simulator or PV module, and as already stated the Key is not compatible with your optimizers.

You are incorrect on that one Butch, the SE key allows the optimizer to operate with other manufactures system components, however according to their information it will still produce output that within it design. Up to 60vout for P400 and 85vout for P405 on up.

Incidently the member we are talking about switched his P400's (60vmax) out for P505's (85vmax), weren't we saying that the 85v part is the commercial part?

[motorcyclemikie]

Nothing you are doing would have changed the other persons issue of an installer Not following directions, especially since you are specifically not following manifacturer directions.

Btw, new optimizers are tested and have test sheet just like new pv modules should all have a test sheet. Bench testing is only increasing the likelyhood of failure and potentially voiding the warranty.

We have no way of knowing what bench testing would have changed, could it find a module that suffered infant mortality (the #1 cause of failures) - maybe. I can't find any info on solaredge's burn in procedure but it should match industry specs.

Interesting about the "test sheet" included with every new solaredge optimizer, do you file them for the client or are they expected to? I think that would be handled by a reputable installer - right? as opposed to LWAL installer that leaves them in the trash can on the way out.

You know what, we may have uncovered another indicator of a professional installer. First one being if they ask to borrow a ladder.

[ButchDeal]

If I could get a Solaredge SE1000 key I could also check the operational output voltage and current curve. This last feature I would like to have in the simulator if I could find one.

If you had a Solaredge key you would be disableing parts of the optimizer so you would be testing LESS of the equipment, the voltage would be that of the simulator or PV module, and as already stated the Key is not compatible with your optimizers.

[motorcyclemikie]

Incidently Ben a $69 power supply will acomplish the same thing but not portable. If I could get a Solaredge SE1000 key I could also check the operational output voltage and current curve. This last feature I would like to have in the simulator if I could find one.

[ButchDeal]

Right Butch we can all laugh about this, the member I am talking about didn't laugh, hey it's only a little labor to change out 24 optimizers on the roof. He was a DIY, how much would you charge to correct this commical error?

Nothing you are doing would have changed the other persons issue of an installer Not following directions, especially since you are specifically not following manifacturer directions.

Btw, new optimizers are tested and have test sheet just like new pv modules should all have a test sheet. Bench testing is only increasing the likelyhood of failure and potentially voiding the warranty.

[Mike90250]

Getting an optimizer to work on a bench, only proves it works on the bench. A hot day, some frosty nights and you are on the roof swapping parts.

[motorcyclemikie]

A rather commical statement coming from you, since the solaredge design tool simply compares the specifications of the equipment, and you are building somethy specificaly outside of manufacurer desing specifications....

Right Butch we can all laugh about this, the member I am talking about didn't laugh, hey it's only a little labor to change out 24 optimizers on the roof. He was a DIY, how much would you charge to correct this commical error?

[ButchDeal]

One of our SoCal members used the solaredge design tool only to find out after his roof installation that the optimizers weren't fully compatible with his other system components (all solaredge).

A rather commical statement coming from you, since the solaredge design tool simply compares the specifications of the equipment, and you are building somethy specificaly outside of manufacurer desing specifications....

[motorcyclemikie]

Why don't you just hook up your panels to the optimizers and lean them on the wall outside for testing instead of messing with simulators? Also, each optimizer should be putting out 1vdc when hooked up to a panel. If it's not, it's definitely bad. If it is, it still might be bad.

I will be buying PV panels after the weather clears, that will be the final major items to buy. With the simulators I can vary the electrical parameters to ensure that the panels are fully compatible with the rest of my solaredge equipment! "think about mobility"

One of our SoCal members used the solaredge design tool only to find out after his roof installation that the optimizers weren't fully compatible with his other system components (all solaredge). This is not a isolated case either as you will see later when the solaredge marketing hype believers read this, my bad, just the facts.

You are so right about the 1v output on the optomizers, that at least shows that they are electrically operational. It cost me $35 to build a PVM simulator, that has to be cheaper (and less labor) than after doing an install only to find out part of the string is failing. At that point I would assume something other than the optimizer that I tested is the problem. I don't believe I have discovered any secrets on this point, it seems logical to me, "larry w/ladder" would find a problem with that I'm sure.

It just seems logical Ben.

[Ben25]

Why don't you just hook up your panels to the optimizers and lean them on the wall outside for testing instead of messing with simulators? Also, each optimizer should be putting out 1vdc when hooked up to a panel. If it's not, it's definitely bad. If it is, it still might be bad.

[motorcyclemikie]

N.B I now understand from rereading this thread that you are buying used equipment so I see the need to bench test. I recently purchased some used batteries and solar panels for a system that I am installing. It can be very cost effective and you seem to have a good handle on how to test them.

Yeah thanks Ampster, that is me. I have seen some small surplus solar dealers on the internet that seem to buy and sell lots of solaredge equipment, when they list the optimizers and inverters they post a picture of the labels that show the specs. with date and country of manufacture. From other sites and blogs, I have read that there appears to be trends that are associated with this information on the equipment. That's all, how do people test (bench) these to ensure these are compatible with the labels? I think Paul was right in thinking of running a side by side comparison- and there in testing again.

Back in the dot-com days I worked with a group of guys doing "product enhancements" on companies whose products had the most market confusion and potential. I can't own anything again without looking at them in this way.

Past experience would tell me their solaredge products are extensively tested, I was just curious that's all and figured I'd find answers here.

First question is powering them up?

[Ampster]

...............
By benching my system I can have it all set up and operational before it goes outside for installation, this appears scary to the guys that are used to spending DAYS on a customers roof trying to "get it running" on the customers dime!

Customers dime? The reality is most systems are based on a bid so it is the installers dime that is being spent..

I have read many stories on this forum about installation delays due to "black box" failures that no one can explain, and it is just an accepted attitude. Sorry I can't accept that.

So I have a question, how do YOU determine if a solaredge optimizer or inverter is good or bad before dragging it up on the roof and installing it? If your answer is DUH, you might want to pay attention to this.

What you haven't read is the hundreds of thousands of stories of installation going without a hitch. You are basing your theory on a small sample of skewed results. From a risk management perspective the downside is very small.

The answer is NOT DUH. The answer is that dealing with a reliable product one rarely encounters the risk you are spending your time on trying to mitigate. I can tell you how one installer dealt with risk. Time on the roof is riskier to people than time on the ground. One installer I contracted, assembled the rails on the ground and fastened and wired the optimizers while on the ground. Once on the roof he only had to fasten the rails to the roof stanchions, put the panels in place and connect them to the optimizers and finish the wring.

It is your time so have fun.
N.B I now understand from rereading this thread that you are buying used equipment so I see the need to bench test. I recently purchased some used batteries and solar panels for a system that I am installing. It can be very cost effective and you seem to have a good handle on how to test them.