I just had a 8KW system installed by an installer. Now I don't trust them...

[thejq]

Why don't you call Enphase tech support directly and say the installer isn't helping you. I sure they will help you debug the problem. But first you have to isolate the problem like others (above) said. If your Envoy displays the right info, but you're not getting updates to the web, it's your wifi or CAT cabling or router. If Envoy doesn't display the right info, it's the power line comm. The latter is much more difficult to debug and solve.

[derekc]

I read the envoy troubleshooting guide online. I know about installing ferrite tororids (Epcos B64290L82x87) to eliminate noise on each circuit. I am ready to do it myself but if I do, then they will say I am messing it up.
BTW, anyone has experience installing those ferrite toroids? Hot and neutral or just hot wire? One pass or two, three passess thru the ring?
Back to the question of if I negotiate with them to let them off the trouble of providing future warranty, do I have a case to ask for a partial credit of, say, $3000? Will I then actually get warranty from SolarWorld and Enphase since I did not buy from them directly?
I asked enphase about this situation, they said:

"Please contact the installer to provide per-module access (they are the only entity with access to provide you with per-module monitoring). Once per-module access has been setup, you can remove them from the settings tab once you've logged in."

[wwu123]

If it is primarily that the Envoy monitoring is receiving intermittent communications from the Enphase units, they communicate via powerine communications, which can be impacted by noise and other interference on your home electrical wiring. I had a lot of challenges finding a power outlet anywhere in the house that allowed the Envoy to get a solid signal, and the ones closest to the actual circuit breakers were some of the worst.

If yours is a similar situation, you can place the blame on them, but they being able to isolate what is causing the interference on your wiring could be quite difficult; more likely the easiest thing is just to move the Envoy around to different outlets around the house. Even if they isolate some appliance or electronics that is causing the communication issue, you'll have to agree to unplug it.

[silversaver]

Is your Envoy on Wifi, Power Line or CAT5 cable?

CAT5 cable shouldn't have any problem since they are direct communication. unplug and plug in again.

If your setup is under Wifi, check your WiFi signal if within the range.

Power line communication... then unplug and plug in the power modual.


Most of people don't tell the whole sotry...... If your solar really have problem, installer will take care of it. If you like to have additional monitoring service not cover by original term with installer, you can call Enphase to add individual panel monitoring. Envoy monitoring is not instantaneous, it has 5 to 30 min delay.

[derekc]

But they are ignoring me. I have stopped the last payment. I told them I would pay after the system is in completely working condition but for over a week, they have not responded.

[J.P.M.]

I just had a 8KW system installed by an installer. Now I don't trust them would honor any warranty in the future.
They are in San Francisco and do 99% of their installs in SF. I am 30 miles away and one of the few they have done outside SF.
The system is good price at $3.70 per watt, plus my roof is spanish tiles, two-story, and the city is picky. They spent hrs commuting every time they came. Now the the envoy monitoring device is intermittently working due to some interference that we have to isolate and it doesn't look like they care to address the problem (because I am demanding, they are busy, I am far away to them, it is hard to troubleshoot, etc..), I might get into some legal battle with them.
My question is if I tell them I will do my own troubleshooting to fix the envoy problem and I will want to do my per panel monitoring, and I will not need them to honor the warranty, for a partial refund of the $ I paid them, will I be in a better position? I kind of heard that Enphase actually pay them to fix any problem on the micro-inverters so they "want" to come and I would not get a penny back if I don't need them to do the warranty work. Also, do I get warranty from Enphase and SolarWorld directly if I ditch them? PG&E would be ok with me ditching them? Any other concerns?

They signed a contract. They are responsible for the terms on their end. Period. I'd not take on any system troubleshooting or maint. unless you want to own all of it and perhaps give them a reasonable excuse to claim problems are your doing.

[derekc]

I just had a 8KW system installed by an installer. Now I don't trust them would honor any warranty in the future.
They are in San Francisco and do 99% of their installs in SF. I am 30 miles away and one of the few they have done outside SF.
The system is good price at $3.70 per watt, plus my roof is spanish tiles, two-story, and the city is picky. They spent hrs commuting every time they came. Now the the envoy monitoring device is intermittently working due to some interference that we have to isolate and it doesn't look like they care to address the problem (because I am demanding, they are busy, I am far away to them, it is hard to troubleshoot, etc..), I might get into some legal battle with them.
My question is if I tell them I will do my own troubleshooting to fix the envoy problem and I will want to do my per panel monitoring, and I will not need them to honor the warranty, for a partial refund of the $ I paid them, will I be in a better position? I kind of heard that Enphase actually pay them to fix any problem on the micro-inverters so they "want" to come and I would not get a penny back if I don't need them to do the warranty work. Also, do I get warranty from Enphase and SolarWorld directly if I ditch them? PG&E would be ok with me ditching them? Any other concerns?