Photo-Voltaic PV Roof Panels - Inverter gone "PHUT".

John_Pierpoint

I celebrated Valentine's Day 2012 by installing 3.6 kW of roof panels and a 3.6 kW rated inverter (that was the expensive bit) to turn the Direct Current generated into Alternating Current and pump it at a slightly higher voltage backwards into the mains.

I have had trouble free operation for almost 8.5 years, until lunch time today.

My set up is two strings of panels feeding into a 3.6 rated "Aurora" inverter.

These inverters were originally designed in California for the "Power One" company and manufactured in Italy. The business was bought by "ABB" in Europe for a net $750 million.

My inverter is pre ABB and outside its 5 year warrenty, infact its was manufactured around Xmas 2011.

The old "Power One" specification plate on the RHS of the cabinet reads:

PVI 3.6 - OUTD - UK

P/N: 3G97995A @ OO - G   SN:717088 WK 50/11

S31037350 O200.

The error code is:- ERROR ! Int. Error E031 (Which appears on its very comprehensive scrolling display)

The central amber one of the line of 3 indicator lights marked Power/ALARM/GFI ends up flashing eventually.

Symptoms are that it test the mains and the panels OK and then tries to turn itself on - There is some intense clicking of solenoid relay switches inside the cabinet and then it tries the start-up cycle again.

Do I get it mended?.

Do I get a "reconditioned" one?

How much is a new one? cost plus fitting!.

Should I use a different make/model? (probably not as at 73 it would probably outlast me:-)

How long does it take (remembering it is costing me money by the day at over £0.50 per kWh)?

So far I have asked Google and got some clearly dodgy looking "experts" offering their services.

I have also found the following YouTube links, which are at least informative and amusing.

https://www.solargain.com.au/faults/aurora-inverter-e031-int-error

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soRKUQtSfX0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOx9SGAEHtI&list=TLPQMjYwNzIwMjCUTsq8pN6_Ow&index=3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXnczVWbcdE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8f5-zKXQ1U

[One of them is in Italian - I don't speak Italian, but you just know what they are saying as they fix it on the kitchen table.]

I am in South Essex.

I would really appreciate your unbiased experience, advice and any recommendations.

tacpot12

I would try to get your own one repaired. It if can't be repaired, buy a new one from SMA or Fronius. Sorry I can't recommend a repairer. You could also just sell it for parts or repair on eBay and see if it sells. Someone in the trade might want it. 

A replacement should cost no more than £1000 inc. vat. and delivery. 

greyteam1959

You would have been better posting this on the Green & Ethical Board on here.
Lots of knowledgeable guys on there.
Perhaps a mid might move you post for you.

Oscargrouch

John_Pierpoint said:

I am in South Essex.

I would really appreciate your unbiased experience, advice and any recommendations.

Hi John,
Check out https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3853851/renewables-talking-bout-my-generation/p2573

thorganby

Personally I would likely fault find and repair the inverter myself but if that is not an option for you then don't waste your time contacting most PV installation companies as they basically sell and install kit and are not qualified electronic engineers capable of fault finding and repair.

These particular inverters suffer a common relay fault which can be repaired:
https://www.inbalance-energy.co.uk/Inverter-Faults/abb-power-one-inverter-faults-repairs.html

There is no need to pay c £1000 for a new inverter as suggested when they are available for half that price including VAT, delivery and 10 year warranty e.g.  https://redelectrical.co.uk/product/growatt-3600-3-6kw-dual-mppt-inverter/

You don't need an identical unit, just a similar specced unit and fitting is an easy job for a competent DIY'er, cables can be made up to make it plug & play.

There are plenty of inverters on eBay e.g. you could even have four tested and working units like yours for £400 and fit the missing cover from yours:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-Power-One-Aurora-Pvi-3-6-Solar-Pv-Inverter-3600-Watt-Dual-MPPT-Missing-Covers/264809372805?

There are plenty of options open to you so don't get ripped off by salesmen after easy money.

John_Pierpoint

 "FIMER S.p.A"  is honouring the ABB 10 year warrenty and has set up a UK subsidiary office in Worthing BUT it could take weeks with SARS-CoV-2 as the excuse (well north Italy was in the thick of it).

Marici UK Ltd. A FIMER company 

Chandlers Yard 
24 Upper High Street 
Worthing, BN11 1DL 
Phone: +44 1903 823323 

e-Mail: GB-Solar.service@fimer.com

Customer Service & Technical Support 
Phone: 0800 023 2341

I also notice that their current range of domestic inverters are still branded as ABB on their web site but looking nothing like the original "Power One" design.

Watch this space:

Oscargrouch

John_Pierpoint said:

 "FIMER S.p.A"  is honouring the ABB 10 year warrenty and has set up a UK subsidiary office in Worthing BUT it could take weeks with SARS-CoV-2 as the excuse (well north Italy was in the thick of it).

I also notice that their current range of domestic inverters are still branded as ABB on their web site but looking nothing like the original "Power One" design.

Watch this space:

Hi John, 
The ABB that ABB supplied & fitted for me looks very similar unless they have changed their Appearance... 

John_Pierpoint

Just for the record, it took about 5 - 6 weeks for a very pleasent young man to turn up in a mid size van with a brand new inverter as above.

It tooks an hour or so to disconnect the 8.5 year old failure and replace it.

He showed me the inside of the old one, and heat staining suggested that it was indeed one of the relays that had failed and where to replace the the large flat cell "watch/car lock" battery should I need to.

He seemed to suggest that I had done quite well to get 8.5 years out of the inverter.

 "Firmer" wanted a digital signature out of me to confirm "all OK" {my son's Appple kit knew how to do that - not sure I know how to do it again on a Windows-PC] and then a sum a bit less than £100 arrived in my bank account.

So cross fingers and lets hope we are al set for another 8.5 years.

The only slight downside is that the British Gas FiT computer does not really believe my 2020 meter readings, having queried my record "May" reading and then my "November"  reading.

They probably think, I have wired up an old diesel generator running on waste cooking oil ;-)

Ectophile

Let's hope they have done some improvememts inside.  My old Power One Aurora only lasted 6 years - relay fault.

The modern ones are coming with longer guarantees.