Hi Lena, That's really interesting, thanks for sharing. What I'm curious about is why the arc-fault detection in the SolarEdge inverter didn't detect any problem before the optimizers failed...as this sounds like an arc-faulting situation. I wonder if it has to do with where exactly the fault happens, on the PV/module side of the optimizer, rather than the higher voltage inverter input circuit? I've been told that arcing fault noise signatures can be detected across electronics, but I don't really know if that is true. Since the NEC doesn't require arc-fault protection on the <80V circuit, there isn't a Code issue regardless, but I'm curious to find out more about this. Best, Rebekah
On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 6:11 PM, Lena Wilensky <[email protected]> wrote: > > Thanks for the input on SolarEdge. We finally sorted the issue out. > Turns out somehow we got the wrong optimizers from our distributor - the > details are a bit cloudy since it was over a year ago. But the short is we > had optimizers with Amphenol connectors, and "Hosiden" brand MC4 connectors > on the REC modules. Apparently (we were told by the distributor at the > time of install) that Amphenol and MC4 mate just fine. And we got > confirmation from Solar Edge that they usually do mate fine. But the > Hosiden brand MC4 that comes on the REC modules are about 1/100" off from > MC4 brand MC4's, and while they mate great with MC4 brand (this is all > documented), they are a bit wide for Amphenol and will heat and stretch > over time and eventually create a small short in the connector, effectively > frying the optimizer. > > So even with manufacturer's and distributor's blessings we will only be > using matching brands of connectors from now on! I have to say that our > lower level tech support from SE was a bit lacking this time around, but > once we got moved to the higher level team they were great. Took a bit of > kicking and screaming (and 3 trips to swap out failed optimizers) to get > there, though. Thankfully it seems like SE still has a good track record > of reliability even in our neighborhood! > > Lena > > ----------------------- > > We?ve had a similar experience as Carl has on this. We have 929 kW of SE > up and running (mix of commercial and residential, so roughly 2000 actual > optimizers) with only a handful of DOA?s or infant mortalities (total of > maybe 10-15 so far). Service is reimbursed just like you say (does not > truly cover the cost, unless the job is next door). But it has not happened > enough, or in any sort of pattern for us to have gotten riled up about it > so far. > > > > Daniel Young, > > NABCEP Certified PV Installation ProfessionalTM: Cert #031508-90 > > > > From: RE-wrenches [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Carl Adams > Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 12:17 PM > To: RE-wrenches > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Edge Optimizer failures > > > > Lena, > > > > We've been installing the Solar Edge product for a few years now and are > experiencing good reliability. I think we have had 2 optimizers which were > DOA from the factory. One was completely dead the other had a 25% reduced > output. No problems with warranty replacements. > > > > With Regards > > Carl Adams, SunRock Solar > > > > On Fri, Jan 8, 2016 at 12:07 PM, Lena Wilensky <[email protected]> > wrote: > > We've had a strange set of recurring failures from one Solaredge install. > It's a straightforward 5kw system with 20 x REC 255W modules and P300-5 SE > optimizers. > > > > System was commissioned in 11/2014 and ran fine for about 6mo. At that > time one optimizer failed - gave module short circuit voltage on the > optimizer output when disconnected from the rest of the array. Nothing > visibly wrong. Rest of the array worked fine. > > > > About 3mo later (this past august), 2 more optimizers failed. We gave > Solaredge an earful, but they were only willing to send replacements for > the 2 newly failed units and 2 spare optimizers for future failures. Same > failure apparently with high output voltage from the optimizer when > disconnected from the array. They said they had never heard of this > happening multiple times and would do an optimizer autopsy. > > > > We just had another one fail 2 weeks ago. They apparently tested the 2 > failed ones from august and found no water intrusion on the optimizer or > connectors. This is all the testing they can do in the US for these potted > units. They recently sent the failed units to Israel to test them, but > don't expect results for at least 6mo or more. Solaredge claims they've > never seen anything like this and so far they have refused to send > replacements for the rest of the "good" optimizers in the array claiming > that the optimizers may not be the issue. Really? > > > > Anyone heard of or seen any "batch" failures of these optimizers? Or have > a good contact at Solaredge? I'm about ready to swap in an SMA inverter at > this point, and stay away from module level anything from now on. We're going > to have to triple our prices to pay for all this warranty work, as > Solaredge only gives $25/optimizer and $100/incident to "help" with labor > costs. > > > > Thanks for any insight.... > > > Lena Wilensky > > > (970)349-3432 > www.nunatakenergy.com > NABCEP Certified PV Installers: > Cert.#031310-177, #R02907-17 > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > -- Tel: 336.266.8800 NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ 091209-85 NC Licensed Electrical Contractor
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