Solar Panel inverter recommendations.

Northern_Rock

I have the Samil Power SolarRiver 4000TL-D on a 4Kw home system.
Recently had an EV home charger fitted and unfortunately the installer cut the solar panel wiring and i am hoping to get someone back to make the wiring safe as was not reconnected properly.The solar guy that did the wiring inspection for me mentioned the inverter i have has issues and that the manufacturer has ceased trading and just wondered if anyone else with same inverter has encountered any problems, i have had the unit 5 years now so i am guessing my warranty is now up especially if manufacturer is no more…I just want a back up plan in place IF it does fail as i may decide to replace the solar river model with a new inverter,I have looked at EV / solar inverters but cannot justify the cost as still very expensive when you have to add the extras (EV cable alone is almost £600) and i had a free pod-point Home EV charger installed recently so happy to stay with that for the next few years.Just looking for inverter recommendations for a bog standard 4kw system ( 16 x 250 w panels).I do think initially the SP 3680TL inverter may have been more than adequate for my system and that is what is listed on my receipt /paperwork but i remember being told something about that model being out of stock so they gave me the next model up at no cost increase.I do like the large display on my current inverter and has a lot of info to scroll through although large displays  seem non existent now and wi-fi would be a nice feature as do not have that at moment.

inspectorperez

I had a Fronius IG Plus installed at end of 2011 which is still going strong (touch wood) and has never required any attention from Day One. It came with a 20 year warranty and is used in a 4Kwp array system (16 panels).

I see this company currently advertise inverter products so guess they are still in business.

Gerry1

inspectorperez said:

I had a Fronius IG Plus installed at end of 2011 which is still going strong (touch wood) and has never required any attention from Day One. It came with a 20 year warranty and is used in a 4Kwp array system (16 panels).

I see this company currently advertise inverter products so guess they are still in business.

It could be a false reassurance if the original company went bust, was taken over, kept the same name but washed its hands of all liabilities.

Mister_G

I've got a SMA Sunny Boy SB3000HF on my 3kWp 12 panel array.  It's been running for 8 years now with no problems.

I note that SMA are still going strong.

inspectorperez

Gerry1 said:

inspectorperez said:

I had a Fronius IG Plus installed at end of 2011 which is still going strong (touch wood) and has never required any attention from Day One. It came with a 20 year warranty and is used in a 4Kwp array system (16 panels).

I see this company currently advertise inverter products so guess they are still in business.

It could be a false reassurance if the original company went bust, was taken over, kept the same name but washed its hands of all liabilities.

Anything is possible but according to their website, Fronius was established in the 1940s, and has 34 subsidiary companies in 60 different countries.

JC_Derby

Northern_Rock said:

I have the Samil Power SolarRiver 4000TL-D on a 4Kw home system.
Recently had an EV home charger fitted and unfortunately the installer cut the solar panel wiring and i am hoping to get someone back to make the wiring safe as was not reconnected properly.The solar guy that did the wiring inspection for me mentioned the inverter i have has issues and that the manufacturer has ceased trading and just wondered if anyone else with same inverter has encountered any problems, i have had the unit 5 years now so i am guessing my warranty is now up especially if manufacturer is no more…I just want a back up plan in place IF it does fail as i may decide to replace the solar river model with a new inverter,I have looked at EV / solar inverters but cannot justify the cost as still very expensive when you have to add the extras (EV cable alone is almost £600) and i had a free pod-point Home EV charger installed recently so happy to stay with that for the next few years.Just looking for inverter recommendations for a bog standard 4kw system ( 16 x 250 w panels).I do think initially the SP 3680TL inverter may have been more than adequate for my system and that is what is listed on my receipt /paperwork but i remember being told something about that model being out of stock so they gave me the next model up at no cost increase.I do like the large display on my current inverter and has a lot of info to scroll through although large displays  seem non existent now and wi-fi would be a nice feature as do not have that at moment.

Op I hope the Ev installer that you probably paid have offered to make good the wiring?

Northern_Rock

JC_Derby said:

Northern_Rock said:

I have the Samil Power SolarRiver 4000TL-D on a 4Kw home system.
Recently had an EV home charger fitted and unfortunately the installer cut the solar panel wiring and i am hoping to get someone back to make the wiring safe as was not reconnected properly.The solar guy that did the wiring inspection for me mentioned the inverter i have has issues and that the manufacturer has ceased trading and just wondered if anyone else with same inverter has encountered any problems, i have had the unit 5 years now so i am guessing my warranty is now up especially if manufacturer is no more…I just want a back up plan in place IF it does fail as i may decide to replace the solar river model with a new inverter,I have looked at EV / solar inverters but cannot justify the cost as still very expensive when you have to add the extras (EV cable alone is almost £600) and i had a free pod-point Home EV charger installed recently so happy to stay with that for the next few years.Just looking for inverter recommendations for a bog standard 4kw system ( 16 x 250 w panels).I do think initially the SP 3680TL inverter may have been more than adequate for my system and that is what is listed on my receipt /paperwork but i remember being told something about that model being out of stock so they gave me the next model up at no cost increase.I do like the large display on my current inverter and has a lot of info to scroll through although large displays  seem non existent now and wi-fi would be a nice feature as do not have that at moment.

Op I hope the Ev installer that you probably paid have offered to make good the wiring?

The sub contractor who cut the wires wouldn't fix it / check it  but after independent inspection of wiring it looks like Pod-point will be using another company to make good the solar wiring.

Northern_Rock

inspectorperez said:

I had a Fronius IG Plus installed at end of 2011 which is still going strong (touch wood) and has never required any attention from Day One. It came with a 20 year warranty and is used in a 4Kwp array system (16 panels).

I see this company currently advertise inverter products so guess they are still in business.

Looks like warranty  is now 2 years extended to 7 years if registered within 30days
Double the price of a few other brands too..anyone know why there is no large display on inverters anymore? One thing that gets 10/10 for me on my current model is the large clear display.

Northern_Rock

Thanks for replies, i have short listed the 

Sofar 3.6 KTLM G2 Single Phase Dual MPPT Solar Inverter with DC - wifi

Seems to tick a lot of boxes, wi-fi, and 10 year warranty.

inspectorperez

Northern_Rock said:

Thanks for replies, i have short listed the 

Sofar 3.6 KTLM G2 Single Phase Dual MPPT Solar Inverter with DC - wifi

Seems to tick a lot of boxes, wi-fi, large display and 10 year warranty.

Would be interested to hear how the installation goes.

The company that installed my 16 array system went into liquidation circa 4 years after the installation. I have kept my fingers crossed ever since hoping that nothing would go wrong as I really don't have a Plan A, B, or C.

I am sure there are companies out there who provide solar services but after reading your own experience, it would be interesting to hear what happens next in your own case.

thevilla

Northern_Rock said:

The solar guy that did the wiring inspection for me mentioned the inverter i have has issues 

What are the issues?  I wouldn't spend significant cash without knowing why I'm spending it.  I presume it was working fine before the cable was cut?