Installer forcing SolarEdge cellular connection on me

[sunpoweredev]

It is an add on device and an extra line item on the orders.
most order from distributors not SolarEdge direct.

I would assume it is just the default for the installer. many have had poor results with the zigbee and are not knowlegable enough to deal with ethernet directly and/or third party gateway devices.

Yeah they probably do it for all installs as a default, seems every customer of this company has the cellular. I would've felt better (less bad) if they just buried it and not show it on the paperwork. Very much dislike the idea of being forced to buy something I won't use. I offered to pay the difference to get the consumption monitoring instead of the cellular and they still refused to remove it.

The new one with no display screen and 'setapp' commissioning.

Oh I see. I think I prefer to have the display and basic controls on the inverter.

[JSchnee21]

Hi Butch, are you sure?

The initial screen less H-series with SetApp could not be connected to residential Wifi. One could only use "device local" lower power Wifi to configure the inverter through SetApp -- like a smart home appliance (e.g. Blink Camera, TP-Link smart outlet, EcoBee, etc.)

I did a quick google search earlier today about a Wifi kit / Antenna for the H-Series. I saw two different solutions and sets of documents from SE. But upon deeper inspection, the documents still seemed to be for foreign countries only.

I've emailed Solar Edge support for clarification.

-Jonathan

[nwdiver]

Which inverter do you guys have? My inverter is SE11400H-US and wifi is not listed.

The new one with no display screen and 'setapp' commissioning.

[ButchDeal]

Which inverter do you guys have? My inverter is SE11400H-US and wifi is not listed.

The setapp versions have a wifi but need an add on antenna to connect to WiFi.

[ButchDeal]

Yeah they probably have some kind of agreement with SE that the cellular is their default order configuration. I will be sure to ask my install coordinator about switch the setting to the Ethernet.

BTW I went with GPE as well.

It is an add on device and an extra line item on the orders.
most order from distributors not SolarEdge direct.

I would assume it is just the default for the installer. many have had poor results with the zigbee and are not knowlegable enough to deal with ethernet directly and/or third party gateway devices.

[sunpoweredev]

I'm installing my first Solar Edge system soon. I'm a little confused by the new 'SetApp' communication. I know that the setup is now performed via wifi with an app... since the new inverter include wifi does that mean you don't need a bridge anymore to connect to a wifi router?

Correct. All the new inverters have Wi-Fi built in.

Which inverter do you guys have? My inverter is SE11400H-US and wifi is not listed.

[sunpoweredev]

Aside from the added cost of the cellular connection, you can just ignore it. I have one, but don't use it. Mine is still installed, but I might have had to disable it (in the inverter firmware) in order to use Ethernet (to 3rd party Wifi bridge) -- don't remember. Most likely the vendor wants it because 1) they already bought it or are charging you a markup for it, 2) lots of customers have issues with their broadband and the Cellular is "ostensibly" a more reliable, if slower, and lower resolution, connection.

That said, I think I have a great installer, but I can tell you they've never connected to my system troubleshoot anything -- let alone proactively. They or SE Corporate might look at the web portal if I called with an issue, but however your data gets there is immaterial to them. 9 times out of 10, they'd just do a truck roll.

Yeah they probably have some kind of agreement with SE that the cellular is their default order configuration. I will be sure to ask my install coordinator about switch the setting to the Ethernet.

BTW I went with GPE as well.

[bcroe]

Correct. All the new inverters have Wi-Fi built in.

OH GREAT, will the Russians be hacking them? I picked up a pair of new spares when
they apparently became obsolete, to avoid such things. Bruce Roe

[macaddict]

I'm installing my first Solar Edge system soon. I'm a little confused by the new 'SetApp' communication. I know that the setup is now performed via wifi with an app... since the new inverter include wifi does that mean you don't need a bridge anymore to connect to a wifi router?

Correct. All the new inverters have Wi-Fi built in.

[nwdiver]

I'm installing my first Solar Edge system soon. I'm a little confused by the new 'SetApp' communication. I know that the setup is now performed via wifi with an app... since the new inverter include wifi does that mean you don't need a bridge anymore to connect to a wifi router?

[JSchnee21]

Aside from the added cost of the cellular connection, you can just ignore it. I have one, but don't use it. Mine is still installed, but I might have had to disable it (in the inverter firmware) in order to use Ethernet (to 3rd party Wifi bridge) -- don't remember. Most likely the vendor wants it because 1) they already bought it or are charging you a markup for it, 2) lots of customers have issues with their broadband and the Cellular is "ostensibly" a more reliable, if slower, and lower resolution, connection.

That said, I think I have a great installer, but I can tell you they've never connected to my system troubleshoot anything -- let alone proactively. They or SE Corporate might look at the web portal if I called with an issue, but however your data gets there is immaterial to them. 9 times out of 10, they'd just do a truck roll.

[sunpoweredev]

ericy you're probably right, that they have a standard config and bundle all their SolarEdge installs with the cellular. My broadband connection here is rock solid. We have a 200mbps connection.

My wifi is a mesh network and is rock solid. Not a single issue since it was setup. No router reboots for months on end unless there's a firmware update.

[malba2366]

I've repeatedly asked my sales rep to remove the cellular connection from my system. Mostly he ignored my requests. Figuring maybe he wants to sell an accessory, I asked him to replace the cellular connection with the consumption monitoring even if there's an additional cost. He still refuses to remove the cellular and I'm quite perplexed as to why, even when I offer to buy another overpriced option in place of the cellular. Does it somehow allow them backdoor access to my system or something? I am buying the system outright.

They probably don't want to deal with a wifi bridge...those things are unreliable and can create all sorts of issues.

[ButchDeal]

Others here will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that the cellular does not give them any additional capabilities. It is just a different communications path.

I could only speculate as to why it is that the installer seems to want the cellular. Maybe they just prefer a standardized configuration that all of their techs can easily deal with?

Is the broadband spotty in your area?

You are correct, cellular does not give anY added benefits

[ericy]

I understand it is great for those who can't easily get an Ethernet or even wifi where the inverter is, but since the beginning I told the rep that I will put an Ethernet connection there, so I'm really at a loss why they insist upon having the cellular. My rep did tell me that upon the final 10% payment, after receiving the permission to operate from the utility, that they will remotely turn on the system. Based on that, it seems that they maintain control of my system, which is why I'm speculating that the cellular connection perhaps gives them additional capabilities, or at least ensure that I can't easily remove access to them just by unplugged the Ethernet.

Others here will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that the cellular does not give them any additional capabilities. It is just a different communications path.

I could only speculate as to why it is that the installer seems to want the cellular. Maybe they just prefer a standardized configuration that all of their techs can easily deal with?

Is the broadband spotty in your area?