Dead Inverter - Growatt Replacement for SMA. Notify for FIT payments?

jimjames

The day has come when my inverter has given up. It's a SMA SunnyBoy HF3000 and although the display still shows the total generation and boots up ok there isn't anything showing as grid or panel voltages. Restarted it a couple of times to see if that made a difference and no joy.

Suggestion is to replace it but undecided what to go with. Get a second hand one that's the same or go for new. Installer has suggested GroWatt as a replacement but some comments on here don't fill me with confidence. SMA has lasted nearly 12 years which seems to be about right, inverter is outdoors which might reduce lifespan. Any suggestions for brands to consider if I do go for a new one?

Finally do you need to inform MCS or your FIT provider if you change inverter?

gefnew

log in sunny explorer and see what codes show ,be an installer.

jimjames

gefnew said:

log in sunny explorer and see what codes show ,be an installer.

Done that. No codes showing at all. Inverter starts up ok and shows total output but no voltage on either side.

Waywardmike

Thankfully my sunnyboy, is still working (1 year left on the warranty), but when it comes to a replacement I wouldn't choose Growatt.  Not because I think they're rubbish, I have an AC coupled one, and it has worked flawlessly for nearly a year, but the app and monitoring platform is SO terrible it puts me off.  That being said SMA's app is hardly great either.

I have Solar Assistant on a Rasp PI attached to my Growatt, which monitors PV input as well as everything else, almost in real time.  I rarely look at the SMA Sunnyportal  and never look at ShinePhone (Growatt's app) anymore.

If you do go Growatt, consider paying for Solar Assistant.

gefnew

You could try these on the internet have some fault finding info for free by make.
RED Electrical - Can I replace my inverter myself?

Screwdriva

I would look at SolarEdge, Enphase, SMA or Fronius for a quality standalone inverter replacement. Insist on their 20 year warranty.

I'd avoid Growatt like the plague.

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.growatt.com

jimjames

Thanks, I've seen the Trustpilot reviews but most seem to refer to the app being rubbish rather than the inverter itself. Such a difficult decision when it needs to last for a decent time to make it worthwhile!

propnut

The app is OK....nothing more. Definitely not real time that's for sure. Updates in 5min intervals. 

jimjames

propnut said:

The app is OK....nothing more. Definitely not real time that's for sure. Updates in 5min intervals. 

Compared to my Sunny Explorer data that gets checked every 30 days, seeing data in 5mins would be a revelation

Waywardmike

When I asked my original installers about a warranty extension on my inverter they mentioned switching out to Solar Edge.  I asked how much just out of interest and what the benefit would be considering I have virtually no shading whatsoever (lamp post shades two panels  around mid December for a couple of weeks).

£2600 inclusive of VAT!  Fine if you've got money to burn, I haven't.  Also this was their response on the benefits...

"I have four PV systems at home of various sizes and two are on SMA inverters and two are on Solaredge that were previously on SMA two years back. Not shaded areas but purely from horizon shading in the morning and evening which is amplified in the winter I’d say I’m getting around 5% extra yield (not 20% as some people would claim). However the monitoring is on another level. With per module performance details and electrical data."

I could replace an SMA inverter twice over for that price and a Growatt probably 4 times over....

Screwdriva

Waywardmike said:

£2600 inclusive of VAT!  Fine if you've got money to burn, I haven't.  Also this was their response on the benefits...

SE inverters are being quoted at ~£1500 as part of new systems. Add 20% for VAT (or an extra panel, your choice), and you're at £1800 all inclusive. It's the optimizers that add £60 per unit to the bill. This is why, in your case, an SMA or Fronius may make more sense, unless you have shading. 

Waywardmike said:

I could replace an SMA inverter twice over for that price and a Growatt probably 4 times over....

Sure, but would you want to?