So I bought my house in 2014, which came with 10x SunPower SPR-200 solar panels (split in to two arrays) on the roof and a SPR-2000 2kW inverter (the sticker on the side lists "PV Powered" of Bend, OR as the OEM). The system was installed in 2005, which means the inverter is no longer under warranty, but the panels still are.
It came to my attention the system was not producing any power, and while I'd like to get things up and running again, I'm planning a addition, which will mean new roof, which in turn will likely mean upgrading to a 6 or 7 kW system. However, if parts of the existing system are good, they could be moved to the detached garage. The original installer (Regrid) was acquired in 2008 and no longer has local presence. There are alternatives that will come out and take a look for $200-300, but my experiences with techs and contractors in this town has been so horrible that I try to do everything myself.
When I give the system a full reboot, here's the sequence of events:
About every 5th reboot, the system runs for several hours, producing 100-400W AC output. "PV input" is still 140-205V DC, which matches the DC closed circuit reading. On open circuit, I'll see 18-20V positive and the same -205 to -140V negative. Sometimes, it will even run successfully overnight. Eventually though, it does click off and go back to "fault code 0000 0000 0000", which I've learned means it's not producing any power.
Other things I've done:
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It came to my attention the system was not producing any power, and while I'd like to get things up and running again, I'm planning a addition, which will mean new roof, which in turn will likely mean upgrading to a 6 or 7 kW system. However, if parts of the existing system are good, they could be moved to the detached garage. The original installer (Regrid) was acquired in 2008 and no longer has local presence. There are alternatives that will come out and take a look for $200-300, but my experiences with techs and contractors in this town has been so horrible that I try to do everything myself.
When I give the system a full reboot, here's the sequence of events:
- Inverter shows green light, displays "fault code 0000 0000 0000". "PV input" displays between 140-200V DC
- After 5 minutes uptime, inverter makes a click sound and display says "SUNPOWER CORP". It also makes a humming sound
- "fault code" is replaced with an "AC power" display reading between -35W and 40W.
- After another 5 minutes of uptime, the there's a click, humming sound stops, and system goes back to "fault code 0000 0000 0000"
- If I open the panel and measure DC voltage, I get a near-zero value for positive and between -205 and -140 negative. Closed circuit volgage is 140 to 205 DC.
About every 5th reboot, the system runs for several hours, producing 100-400W AC output. "PV input" is still 140-205V DC, which matches the DC closed circuit reading. On open circuit, I'll see 18-20V positive and the same -205 to -140V negative. Sometimes, it will even run successfully overnight. Eventually though, it does click off and go back to "fault code 0000 0000 0000", which I've learned means it's not producing any power.
Other things I've done:
- Checked AC power coming & shutoff switch to the inverter and see no no issues. Line voltages is 117-119V, ground is good.
- Replaced the 600V DC fuse (it was $6 on Amazon so why not).
- Inspected wiring within AC and DC shutoff boxes. AC looks normal: black wired on terminals, white wire passes thru, ground wire attached to box. On the DC, positive wires goes straight thru the box, and negative is connected to the terminals. This seemed backwards, but I guess this wouldn't matter because the shutoff switch would still break the circuit
- Inspected wiring within the inverter itself. Noticed red wire was connected to "DC out" negative and vice-versa. Obviously, this seems backwards, but it's been this way for 15 years so guess it's correct?
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IMG_1907.jpg
IMG_1877.jpgIMG_1878.jpg
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