Solar Generation issue

[RickH]

Wasn’t sure which sub-forum, hope this suits.

I have a Solar panel array on my roof, connected to a Solar Edge inverter, this can be accessed via a phone app to view generation stats etc

When this was sold, one pushed benefit was that there was active monitoring, and if a fault should happen, they would know before I did.
In practice there is ZERO monitoring.
The selling company has since folded.

Today by chance I looked at App and noticed there had been zero generation since start of July.
Looked at inverter and it had a red fault led.
I rebooted inverter and it cleared fault.

Concerned though that I could miss this failure.


Anybody know if I can configure App (or inverter via App) to msg me in the event of a fault condition?

 

[morqthana]

Resources & Support

Make use of the SolarEdge Support Center - Get free professional resources and additional information, chat with our representatives, and more.

www.solaredge.com

 

[RickH]

Resources & Support

Make use of the SolarEdge Support Center - Get free professional resources and additional information, chat with our representatives, and more.

www.solaredge.com

I have logged ticket with them, and they confirm the inverter is dead (so they can connect to it) .... but no monitoring it seems.
They advise they are going to send me a new Inverter under RMA, so that side of things sounds positive.

 

[morqthana]

but no monitoring it seems.

At first glance it looks as if the monitoring is server-centric, and you have to have an "account" to be able to use the app on YOUR phone to monitor the status of YOUR inverter which YOU bought and YOU OWN.

There is no technical reason for it to have to work like that, of course, it's just that Solar Edge have chosen to do it that way, and you've already encountered a classic downside of that approach - the people who sold it to you and who appear to be gatekeepers, have gone bust, so you've lost access. Were you paying them for "monitoring"? Have you lost money?

Other potential issues lurking in the realms of the quite possible:

Solar Edge going bust, and permanent loss of access to their servers.
Solar Edge deciding they'd like more money please, so they introduce or hike subscription fees.
Solar Edge being taken over, or part of their business sold, and the new owners introducing or hiking subscription fees.

And if there's any firmware in this inverter which can be updated over the internet, then the company, or a new owner can brick the device so that it doesn't work at all, even basic unmonitored, until you cough up for a subscription.

 

[RickH]

I have an account to 'view' the sales pitch was 24x7 active monitoring, but as they no longer exist,... screwed on that.
Just been trying to check on Ticket to get message "contact the monitoring company for my system" There isn't one.

 

[RickH]

Is there a good UK Solar PV forum ? ..... need to ask some more questions and appreciate this sub-forum may not be the most appropriate.

If they do indeed send me a replacement Inverter, swapping it over will be easy enough, as Panels come in (via isolator to a pair of plugs. Outputs will just be swapped over.
Does anyone know if they 'self-configure', or is there an amount of setup involved?

 

[flameport]

Does anyone know if they 'self-configure', or is there an amount of setup involved?

There is always an amount of setup involved, and if you are not a registered installer there will very likely be a pile of problems.
Those may be resolvable via the manufacturer, or perhaps not depending on what requirements, terms and conditions they have regarding their products.

 

[RickH]

I’ll wait for replacement, physically hook it up, but keep add & AC isolators open.
I’ll contact SolarEdge to see if they can talk me through set up.
If not will have to find local installer.
I guess many are in same issue, loads of companies folded after the Government FIT changed to 3rd tranche.

 

[StephenStephen]

Is there a good UK Solar PV forum ? ..... need to ask some more questions and appreciate this sub-forum may not be the most appropriate.

If they do indeed send me a replacement Inverter, swapping it over will be easy enough, as Panels come in (via isolator to a pair of plugs. Outputs will just be swapped over.
Does anyone know if they 'self-configure', or is there an amount of setup involved?

https://www.speakev.com/forums/home-energy-generation-and-storage.419/

 

[Why Not Indeed]

I have a Solis inverter. When the breaker it's on tripped, I got an email from Solis saying that something was wrong.
Perhaps have a poke about in the Solar Edge portal and see what settings you've got.

 

[ericmark]

I am crossing my fingers, that my panels and batteries run until, at least, they have paid for themselves. I had an 18-month delay getting paid for export, which has not helped.

I think so far however I have been lucky. I now realise we need to have at least 3.5 kW from batteries to cover when kettles etc are used, but the solar panels are not so important, most of my gains are from charging batteries off-peak and using them in peak.

But I had no idea about that when fitted, just lucky I have a 5 kW inverter which can cover all but the shower as loads go, originally batteries too small, not kWh wise, but how much charge they could take and deliver, we were seeing export with ½ charged batteries, and the back-ground use was enough so kettle or any other 3 kW appliance was drawing from grid if not enough solar.

On the odd time still exporting with part charged batteries, but that is now rare. In the main, the installer got it right, when installed we had no idea what was required, it was a leap of faith.

 

[morqthana]

I’ll wait for replacement, physically hook it up, but keep add & AC isolators open.
I’ll contact SolarEdge to see if they can talk me through set up.
If not will have to find local installer.
I guess many are in same issue, loads of companies folded after the Government FIT changed to 3rd tranche.

And the reason why inverters which can be completely set up and monitored and controlled locally by an Android/iOS/Windows app, without the need for information and codes only made available to "installers", and without the need to connect to any servers over the internet, cannot be made is....?

 

[ericmark]

I know I can't apply for G98 or G99 it has to be a registered installer, but once issued, and you have the two MPAN numbers, not sure if there is a restriction?

I look at the set-up on mine and how the dip switches are set for the region, but the dongle,

I would guess, would just swap old to new? But to allow anyone to configure the inverter is asking for problems, and I would have thought Solar Edge would have a list of installers who have completed their training course. And it will not be left to chance.

 

[RickH]

Solar Edge have approved RMA and new one on its way.
I am quite happy to swap it over as I can isolate both sides.
Asked about configuration ..... they said I can call in and they will talk me through config ..... pretty easy to do.