Solaredge system keeps failing, help please!

[ButchDeal]

Just FYI, assuming your installer entered it correctly. . . In the SE Monitoring Portal, go to Reports, Site Commissioning Report. It lists the Optimizer, Panel, and Inverter info.

This information other than the PV module type, is NOT put in by the installer. It comes directly from the system.

Here is one that has a replacement optimizer of a P320 with the rest P300

Site_Commissioning__1__pdf.jpg

[Mike90250]

.... This is a pretty obviouse mistake, putting 310w pv modules on 250 watt optimizers.

The PV panels are not just a "bit" over spec for the 250W optimizers, they are way over.
In the hot summer, they might work, but in the cooler weather it is pretty obvious to me (I have no skin in this game) the 250w optimizers are over paneled and will be fried.

[Kendalf]

If you do get another optimizer failure, ask the installer to show you the failed optimizer that they take down, as well as the new optimizer that they are replacing it with. Then you'll know what you actually have. Although as ButchDeal said it really should be listed in your contract. Establishing whether the right optimizer was installed should be primary in determining where the fault lies.

That said, this rate of failure at a single site strongly suggests a problem with the install, either mismatched components or perhaps the installer put in optimizers that were defective to begin with. Seems like you've been relying solely on the word of the installer, but the installer hasn't really given you any evidence that they've really had those conversations with SolarEdge. Because if they really did tell Solaredge that they used P250 optimizers with 310W modules, then SolarEdge can void the warranty and will no longer reimburse the installer for the work to replace the failed optimizers.

[JSchnee21]

Here are some informational links. It looks like the 250's came as either "OP" or "PB". I'm not sure what the difference is. According to this document from SE on the OP series they claim to support +5% STC for each model.

E.G. -- 262.5W on the P250 model, and 315W on the P300 model

While I do not endorse putting a 310W panel on a P250 -- and it will void SE's warranty -- but according to the current and voltage specs of the Optimizer and Panel, it looks like it might just barely hang in there for a little while -- at least until it gets too hot (-:

Optimizers
http://www.solaredge.com/sites/defau...-datasheet.pdf
http://www.solaredge.com/sites/defau...imizers_na.pdf


Panels

https://www.lg.com/us/business/solar-panel/all-products/lg-LG310N1C-G4

[JSchnee21]

Just FYI, assuming your installer entered it correctly. . . In the SE Monitoring Portal, go to Reports, Site Commissioning Report. It lists the Optimizer, Panel, and Inverter info.

Here's a snippet of mine

Account:	Green Power Energy, LLC
Installation Date:	09/22/2016
kWp DC:	12.2 kWp
kW AC:	0 kW
Performance
Period	kWh	kWh/kWp
Previous twelve months	12298.8	1007.3
Lifetime	13521.9
Equipment
Device	Model	Quantity
Modules	VBHN330SA	37
Optimizers	P400-5NC4ARM-NM1C	37
Inverters	SE11400	1
Export meter	WNC-3D-240-MB	1

[ButchDeal]

Does anyone know what the claimed failure rate of these optimizers are? I cannot find any published data from Solaredge. From my installation there are 7 failures out of 18 within three years so a 40% failure rate, with extrapolation to 100% in 6 more years. I'd like to see published data if it's available.

You have personally seen more than double the number of failed optimizers than i have in three years out thousands of optimizers....

almost always the issue we have seen is with the pv module or the installer. We have had far more pv modules replaced

[ButchDeal]

Thank you for the link, but I have spoken to Solaredge about this issue when it first came up. They stated it was a warranty issue and to go through the installer.

Did you explain that there were p250 optimizers with LG310 modules?

[mark_from_denver]

Does anyone know what the claimed failure rate of these optimizers are? I cannot find any published data from Solaredge. From my installation there are 7 failures out of 18 within three years so a 40% failure rate, with extrapolation to 100% in 6 more years. I'd like to see published data if it's available.

[mark_from_denver]

Thank you for the link, but I have spoken to Solaredge about this issue when it first came up. They stated it was a warranty issue and to go through the installer.

[ButchDeal]

The reason why statements come from the installer is the simple fact the Solaredge doesn't want to deal directly with the end users.

And whi told you that? Check out the support page which has a link for system owners ( thats you) https://www.solaredge.com/us/service/support

have you checked the contract, permit documents, bith should list the model numbers.

[mark_from_denver]

I think the key here is " The INSTALLER has stated..."


if you have P250 optimizers installed with LG310 PV modules this is grossly out of range. I doubt they talked to SolarEdge at all. SolarEdge would NOT cover these under any warranty as they are incorrectly installed.

Well, again, it was my recollection they stated 250, but I could be wrong. I have no doubt the installer is pulling their weight in trying to help me out here, I think they really want to make good of a bad situation. I have recommended them to a few other family and friends who have used them, so I have put my credibility on the line. The reason why statements come from the installer is the simple fact the Solaredge doesn't want to deal directly with the end users.

[ButchDeal]

The installer has stated they have spoken with Solaredge many times about this, and Solaredge has never stated there was a mismatch between the two components, they have also stated that Solaredge has logged into the system and found no operational issues looking at the log files. They also stated that Solaredge was going to do a teardown of one of the failed optimizers to see what went wrong...although that was a while ago and never heard anything back, frankly I doubt they found anything. I wish it was as easy as a mismatch but judging from the above, that doesn't appear to be the case, or why hasn't Solaredge stated it to the installer by now?

I think the key here is " The INSTALLER has stated..."


if you have P250 optimizers installed with LG310 PV modules this is grossly out of range. I doubt they talked to SolarEdge at all. SolarEdge would NOT cover these under any warranty as they are incorrectly installed.

[mark_from_denver]

If you have the optimizers removed then the inverter has to go as well. I would save that remedy as a last resort.

Ok, I wasn't aware of that...that will be the last resort..the inverter has been problem free.

[mark_from_denver]

Only way to tell what optimizers you have is to physically inspect. You won't find that option in the SolarEdge dashboard. I am having the company that installed my system remove a panel and send me a picture of the optimizer used. I wonder if you could check by seeing power outputted by each panel in the SolarEdge monitoring. Would the p250 be clipping the panel at 250 Watts?

I don't think any of these panels have gotten anywhere close to maximum power production, that would most likely only occur under very optimal conditions. One thing I noticed though is that the optimizers usually blowup during hot weather (about 100 ambient), not always but usually.

[mark_from_denver]

You cant remove them but they should replace them all with p400 optimizers

the inverter will not work without them. Solaredge is not to blame, the installer is at fault here. This is a pretty obviouse mistake, putting 310w pv modules on 250 watt optimizers.

The installer has stated they have spoken with Solaredge many times about this, and Solaredge has never stated there was a mismatch between the two components, they have also stated that Solaredge has logged into the system and found no operational issues looking at the log files. They also stated that Solaredge was going to perform a teardown of one of the failed optimizers to uncover what went wrong...although that was a while ago and I never heard anything back and frankly I doubt they found anything. I wish it was as easy as a mismatch but judging from the above, that doesn't appear to be the case, or why hasn't Solaredge stated it to the installer by now?

So far why these optimizers keep blowing up remains a mystery, the installers states it's probably due to a bad batch and Solaredge has no answer...nobody really has a concrete answer here, I get that, but I'm stuck having to monitor the system everyday while getting frustrated and very annoyed every time a damn optimizer blowsup. What I do know is that I will never use or recommend Solaredge products ever again after Solaredge refuses to replace the 11 other "bad batch" ones at once so that means I've got another 5 to 6 years of dealing with this disaster assuming 2 blow up every year, 9 years total....Really Solaredge?? (at this point I'm hoping I'll get lucky and the rest of them will just blowup all within a year so I'll just be done with it)...Finally, if you told your customers you would install a solar system, but they'd have to deal with the manufacture components blowing up for the next 9 years do you expect them to go for it?