Hi all, As much as I like and support Sol-Ark, I’m willing to admit that their RMA process is lacking. Sending beat up replacement units is not a new strategy. I remember receiving 12K indoor replacement a few years ago that had all pre-fabricated KO’s missing, was badly scratched, and just looked downright beat up. The customer was hawking over my shoulder and I had to eventually admit that I agreed with their concerned and repulsed facial expressions. As the contractor that talked up the inverter system at point of proposal, I felt embarrassed. Luckily, I have not had to replace many Sol-Ark inverters, but I’m not charging customer for shipping and handling fees, and taking RMA swap losses on the chin. In a perfect world, Sol-Ark would respect the installer just a whisker more.
On Fri, Feb 27, 2026 at 3:40 PM Howard Scot Arey via RE-wrenches < [email protected]> wrote: > Good to know of the good support from EG4. Have never installed one > before. But I will. > > *Howard "Scot" Arey* > *Owner, Solar CenTex* > > NABCEP PV Installation Professional > TECL 29755 > 254-300-1228 > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Jerry Shafer <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Friday, February 27, 2026 6:47:51 PM > *To:* RE-wrenches <[email protected]> > *Cc:* [email protected] <[email protected]> > *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Sol-Ark warranty team: "Guess you'll need to > mount a new gutter box" > > Wrenches, Scot. > When you say all the knockout were removed, or do you mean that "other" > holes were punched in the bottom besides or in lew of the factory knock > outs. > Fun times > > On Fri, Feb 27, 2026, 2:21 PM scot.arey--- via RE-wrenches < > [email protected]> wrote: > > COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. > > So I get my RMA Solar-Ark 15 warranty replacement and take it out of box > at customer site and the front knockouts all taken out. > > Call tech support and the tier-1 can't help: "It's a refurbished unit." > OK, but I should expect that there is new case so I can set my holes for > conduit where they need to be from original installation. > > "I'll get you my supervisor." > > Supervisor George calls back, tells me he *used to work in the field* like > me, and then says, "Do you expect us to ship you a new inverter?" Well, as > this 15KW lasted one month it should have been an option but at very least > I need an inverter enclosure with no knockouts punched else my existing > gutter conduit will not work." > > "George - you told me you used to work in the field, what would you do if > you go this from a manufacturer as a warranty replacement?" He tells me it > seems like the gutter box replacement to fit the KO holes is my only option. > > Sol-Ark, I used to really love this product but when things get this tight > and you're sloughing off refurbed units with KO holes and telling me to not > only pay S/H in both directions but the materiel and labor for a new gutter > box layout, we have real problems. > > Where is the Google Form to fill out on the Good/Bad/Ugly? Sol-Ark: you > guys reading this forum? > > *Howard "Scot" Arey* > *Owner, Solar CenTex* > > NABCEP PV Installation Professional > TECL 29755 > 254-300-1228 > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > >
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