SolarEdge reliability?

spud

Hi all,
just pulling the trigger on a 10000kw system with Eurener panels, SE8000 inverter and SE optimisers across east, south and west facing roofs. However I’ve just come across a few articles questioning SE optimiser and inverter reliability and performance in some configurations. Paying extra for performance and reliability is important to me. Does anyone have any direct experience with this equipment to comment? 

Many thanks. 

Screwdriva

Had my system for 5.5 years with zero issues. Have helped over 100 homeowners with their SolarEdge installations (till the Tesla PW3 launched) and have had a total of 2 inverter failures, both replaced under warranty within 3 weeks by SolarEdge. 

It's been a great system but has been totally outclassed by the PW3, if a battery and no shade are part of the job description.

nologo

I have solar edge system with sharp panels (14) inverter was doa. took a month to fix. which is about the same time the MCs /DNO took to arrive so not all bad🙂 sorry... worked fine since, although it only just out performs my Trina/growatt system.. same roof.     regards nologo

Martyn1981

The PO's do fail unfortunately. Not a high failure rate, and replacements are under warranty, but can be a pain to get them replaced.

Time wise, I had an 8 panel system installed in 2012, with one PO fail after about 5yrs. Same time (so no need to pay for installer), I had an older 18 panel system changed to Solaredge. So they swapped the PO on the other system for me, whilst climbing around on the roof.

Last year I had another 4 panel system added, and planned to take the opportunity to get 2 more failed PO's replaced, but new installers wouldn't work from a harness, so expensive scaffolding would have been needed. Also they found a 3rd PO that was failing. So I bought a harness and safety rope, and climbed out the main roof Velux and swopped the 3 PO's as they were luckily close to the Velux. Took me about an hour per panel, but mostly becuase it was very awkward, and much of the time I was upside down.

I've noticed that another PO is playing up, and has been much of this year. Sometimes it generates about the same as the others, some days about 20% of the others. But it's further from the Velux, so I'll leave for now.

So, the total number of PO's has grown from 8, through 26. to 30 over the last 13yrs, and I've had 5 failures. Not sure if that's good, bad, acceptable or not. Perhaps I'm being a bit blase about it, as I haven't had to pay for installers or scaffolding for the swops.

In my experience, I can't fault the inverters.

Qyburn

Screwdriva said:

It's been a great system but has been totally outclassed by the PW3, if a battery and no shade are part of the job description.

Just out of interest what are the benefits of PW3 over Solaredge?

Screwdriva

Qyburn said:

Just out of interest what are the benefits of PW3 over Solaredge?

In my experience, here are the benefits:

1. Superior charge/ discharge rate
2. Superior/ safer battery chemistry
3. 35% larger storage capacity (13.5 vs 10 kW)
4. Slightly lower price (I couldn't believe this when I first saw it but purchasing a larger SolarEdge inverter can get expensive)
5. Highly scalable software based inverter can be scaled (from 3.68 to 11.04kW) should the local grid improve.
6) Better/ reliable software/ app.
7) Class leading cold weather performance. Only battery I'd install outdoors.
8) SolarEdge aftersales is good. Tesla is amazing! 
9) Subjective but it looks neater

I still recommend SolarEdge for PV only installations but for a battery install, it's hard to beat the best. 

Martyn1981 said:

The PO's do fail unfortunately. Not a high failure rate, and replacements are under warranty, but can be a pain to get them replaced.

I do agree that the earlier optimizers (pre 2019) were relatively unreliable but everything since the P505/ P601 series has been significantly improved. To provide perspective, in the 100+ SolarEdge installations I've helped with, I haven't had a single PO failure to date. Granted, I'm just a tiny sample size, but it should say something about their reliability. 

I have had 2 SolarEdge inverters fail out of the box (one referenced on this very thread) to date, and both were resolved within 4 weeks under warranty. Relative to the way some Chinese inverter brands treat their customers, SolarEdge has been a dream. Just my perspective. 

Raxiel

My Solaredge inverter failed in February. 2 years and 4 months after installation. Due to the gloom it took me about a week to realise it wasn't generating and a little over a week after reporting it to the installer for SE to ship them a replacement and someone to come fit it.

I've noticed the new one has a much less audible click when it starts and stops generating so perhaps the original just had a bad relay. New one has given no issues.

I'm moving soon, and considering a new system for the new place. Big south facing roof with no shade. PW3 sounds like it would have been a good fit, if it weren't for the fact I won't give Tesla a penny.

Screwdriva

Raxiel said:

My Solaredge inverter failed in February. 2 years and 4 months after installation. 

Has it really been that long? Time flies...glad to hear they looked after you! 

Raxiel said:

I'm moving soon, and considering a new system for the new place. Big south facing roof with no shade. PW3 sounds like it would have been a good fit, if it weren't for the fact I won't give Tesla a penny.

The only other solution that comes close is the GivEnergy All in One...but it is a very distant second! 

spud

Thanks all. FYI this is a panel only solution as our usage is borderline 4000Kw a year. Glad to hear some real life examples. Our installer (Light Renewables) is making the right noises for warranty and replacement if/as/when they do fail. At the point we decide to go battery a PW maybe on the cards, though also conflicts with my personal feelings about Tesla etc. But that should be a little way off for now and in the meantime we’ll export all we don’t use.

MickO57

Another shout-out for Solaredge, my SE 5000H inverter failed last summer (15 months from install) so a bit easier to spot when production fell off a cliff. Can't fault Solaredge or Light Renewables (shout-out for Screwdriva), both delivered, Think my downtime was less than 2 weeks 

Screwdriva

MickO57 said:

Another shout-out for Solaredge, my SE 5000H inverter failed last summer (15 months from install) so a bit easier to spot when production fell off a cliff. 

SE Quality control did take a nosedive during the chip shortage it would appear - glad they sorted it for you so quickly.