Solar Panels - apparent failure

KevinG

gefnew said:

Sorry about the delay in replying.
Can you see your inverter with sunny explorer via bluetooth connection. if like my sma inverter log on as installer password if not changed from default would be 1111, you can look at a section called events and you can look at what has been happening 
also will show lots of other areas of inverter.
may help when sparky comes round with fault finding.
Good Luck

Thanks, yes, done all that and electrician has now been round to take a look; the fault is not the the input as the panels are generating. It was if an internal fuse had blown, but unfortunately there aren't any! Anyway, at the end of an extensive investigation it looks like it's time for a new inverter (no. 3!) so I've just ordered a replacement, got it for £150, could be a lot worse.

Heedtheadvice

Might be worth speaking with the electrician/supplier/manufacturer as 5 and previously six years is too short a life for electronics kit. What is the warranty length? At this rate you will go through four inverters in under 25 years which is rediculous!

Could be your install is in a place with too little ventilation too. High temperatures tend to reduce life of kit but I certainly would be unhappy given your experience.

gefnew

They have replacement thermistors in the system to protect from overvoltage.
page 73 of manual troubleshooting.*SUNNY BOY 2000HF / 2500HF / 3000HF - Installation Manual (sma.de)

KevinG

Heedtheadvice said:

Might be worth speaking with the electrician/supplier/manufacturer as 5 and previously six years is too short a life for electronics kit. What is the warranty length? At this rate you will go through four inverters in under 25 years which is rediculous!

Could be your install is in a place with too little ventilation too. High temperatures tend to reduce life of kit but I certainly would be unhappy given your experience.

Well I can't say I'm happy but the replacement inverter was second hand, as is the one I've just bought. At that price if it lasts 5 years I'll be reasonably happy. 

KevinG

gefnew said:

They have replacement thermistors in the system to protect from overvoltage.
page 73 of manual troubleshooting.*SUNNY BOY 2000HF / 2500HF / 3000HF - Installation Manual (sma.de)

You could be right but I note that they are specially manufactured and only obtainable from SMA, I wonder how much they cost. It's worth noting that the inverter wasn't displaying any error messages, on a YouTube video I found about replacing them, it was.

gefnew

This company may be able to assist you, and also do some Thermistors and other stuff.
https://redelectrical.co.uk/solar-pv-panels-repairs/inverter-faults/sma-sunnyboy-inverter-faults/

KevinG

gefnew said:

This company may be able to assist you, and also do some Thermistors and other stuff.
https://redelectrical.co.uk/solar-pv-panels-repairs/inverter-faults/sma-sunnyboy-inverter-faults/

Thanks, but having already ordered and paid for a new inverter, it's a bit late. Also, that site talks about error messages; there aren't any. 

KevinG

Got to wait until 17th to have inverter installed, by which time I will have lost 20 days' generation.

QrizB

KevinG said:

Got to wait until 17th to have inverter installed, by which time I will have lost 20 days' generation.

At least it's 20 February days, not 20 June ones

KevinG

And we're back!