SolarEdge Inverter Temperature

[burch1921]

I have a SolarEdge SE 7600A inverter energized March 2019 installed in a garage in Orlando Florida that has started to consistently go over the product documentation's 60c temperature limit. The installer reached out to SolarEdge who stated the inverter can safely reach an internal temp of 75c - 80c. As long as the inverter is working and not reaching the 75C - 80c limit, SolarEdge states is is not necessary to and will not replace it. I find nothing to substantiate this temperature claim. I see where power optimizers and the modules can get that high but not the inverter.

The installer while selling us the equipment and recommended by our utility company appears to have little working knowledge about the inverter or battery for that matter. Prior to incurring another roughly $10,000 with another installer to get an inverter and interface that will work with our LG battery backup, can anyone provide feedback if SolarEdge's temperature assertion is correct? Also, any recommendations for disinterested third party expert that we can schedule a consultation to discuss. We have reached out to Solar United Neighbors who advised us to go back to the installer.

[solardreamer]

75-80C is generally tolerable for inverter electronics depending on the cooling method (e.g. heat sink, fans) and if there are no other signs of problems. However, it's likely too hot for humans to touch (burn hazard). I suspect that's why the doc shows 60C which is still safe to touch. If the inverter is getting to 75-80C then consider using a fan to blow on the inverter.

[J.P.M.]

Well, if it ain't in writing, it's not worth the paper it's written on.
What is the internal inverter temperature minus the garage ambient air temp.?

FWIW, I knocked an additional 10 - 12 deg. C of internal temperature out of my (5K PowerOne) string inverter in my garage simply by putting a 20" box fan from Wally World under the inverter and blowing the air it put out up and parallel to the cooling fins. Been running strong since 10/13/2013.

Some rough #'s: Before the fan addition and under high inverter output conditions (say, 4,200 to maybe 4,600W) the inverter internal temp. was commonly about 30 deg. C above the ambient air temp. in the garage. After the fan was placed under the inverter, and under those same approx. inverter power outputs, that temp. difference dropped to between 18 and 20 deg. C or so above the garage ambient air temp.

One of several important parameters/considerations for air cooling power equipment is the DIFFERENCE between the device's internal component temp. and the surrounding air temperature. At the risk of oversimplification, to achieve that goal, the idea is (if necessary) get the device temp. closer to the ambient air temp. by increasing the heat transfer rate from the device by increasing the air velocity across the device's cooling surfaces (forced convection). The method is usually much more efficient than natural convection but at a cost of increased operating cost.

Natural convection is cheap and sometimes it's adequate. But to really knock heat out of something forced convection methods are usually required.

Whether or not SolarEdge or some peddler says (but doesn't WRITE) that the inverter "OUGHT" to be OK, so what?
Anyway, as long as the equipment is dry, the cooler it runs, the better.
BTW, my cheap box fan adds about a 70 to 100 W or so parasitic load depending on what speed I run it at (lower in winter, higher in summer), but it was an experiment that seemed to work out and besides, cooler operating temps. increase the probability of a longer service life for the inverter.

So, you got a box fan? If so, run an experiment.

Take what you want of the above. scrap the rest.

[oregon_phil]

Search SolarEdge Knowledge base for "se-single-and-three-phase-inverter-user-manual-na.pdf". The SE 7600A has one fan. Is the fan working and has the fan been cleaned every year? A dead or clogged fan is worthless. Also, spiders and other insects like to make webs or die in heatsinks. Look down on the heatsink to see if it needs to be cleaned.

Search SolarEdge Knowledge base for "se-temperature-derating-note.pdf". This document shows the derating factor for the inverter for AMBIENT air. The product maximum operating temperature specification is 60C maximum AMBIENT AIR. Like others have said, this is not internal inverter temperature. But cooler is always better. Get a new fan if the old one is dead, clean the fan and heatsinks if necessary and get another fan to help move the air. If you are going to read the manual, make sure the installer followed all the clearance rules around the inverter.

Finally, inverter technology doesn't stand still. If you are happy with your inverter set up, you might want to consider getting a spare inverter while you can. I saw a new in box SE 7600A for ~$1000. At least there is some new in box equipment available. But maybe you want to upgrade anyway.

In my case, I am happy with my 2018 SMA inverter set up with Tigo optimizers. I have a spare 2018 SMA inverter and 2 spare Tigo optimizers on hand in my garage. If my 2018 inverter stops working, I can shut my inverter circuit down, take off the old inverter, put on the new inverter without changing any mechanical mounts or electrical wiring. All of my spares were obsoleted in 2020. New SMA equipment looks entirely different than 2018 equipment.

Good luck!

[burch1921]

Thank you everyone for your responses. The inverter was opened twice since March 2025 - once by the LG certified company who is also a SolarEdge installer arranging the software patch when the battery stopped working in March (this is the second battery, first was under recall and also RMA back in 2021, took 18 months to replace. Software patch on the second battery April 2025 actually worked) and also by the original installer last week. Fan is operating, no spider webs etc.

Original installer forwarded an email from SolarEdge last night where SolarEdge affirmed in writing the 75c - 80c assertion. However, the ambient air info and files given above are extremely helpful. It's dismaying that both installers did not seem to be aware of the information posted above and thought the over 60c reading on the display was cause for concern and the inverter should be RMA'd.

We did mechanically cool down the garage last week (portable rolling AC venting outside under the garage door) when it was sunny all day. On full sunny days the output gets close to 5000W. I am going to look into everything posted above regarding ambient air, forced versus natural convection, deploying a fan versus mechanically cooling down the garage etc.

Really appreciate all the time and trouble put into posting and getting us the information.