Replacing a string inverter

[nowty]

Funny enough my mate has contacted me today as his FIT inverter has failed, and I'm off there after the Octopus Free Power hour today to attempt to fit an old one I had in storage as its the same brand.

[drjim]

Is the word "attempt" in any way appropriate for a man of your capabilities?

[nowty]

Is the word "attempt" in any way appropriate for a man of your capabilities?

Its a slightly larger one physically, so might not be a simple swap out.

[nowty]

Is the word "attempt" in any way appropriate for a man of your capabilities?

Its a slightly larger one physically, so might not be a simple swap out.

In the end it was a simple swap out as it turned out to be the same physical size.

Step 1 - Confirmed it was fecked.
It had Error 031 which for that model is a relay failure and takes a re-build to fix it. I offered my mate my old one for free as it has been sitting in my loft for about 10 years and I'm happy for it to have a new life. I had removed it when I upgraded to my SMA inverters and lost the screws for the back panel hence I was reluctant to sell it. I simply re-used his screws from the failed unit.


Step 2 - Disconnect Old Unit
Switched off AC to unit, Switched off DC to unit, Disconnected MC4 DC connectors and ensure you remember know which pair is which, Check AC is definitely no longer live (I actually forgot that bit but it should be done whenever you feck around with potentially live AC ) and Disconnect AC wires from inverter.


Step 3 - Swap unit and re-connect AC and the DC MC4 cables.


Step 4 - Commission
Turn on AC to unit, Turn on DC to unit, It did not start up automatically as his array voltages were too low so had to drop the start up voltage from the default 199v to 120V. Then it started up no problem even in very dull conditions.


Step 5 - He is taking me and SWMBO out for a meal in the near future as I would not accept any money. I did tell him, not strictly legal to fit an old G83 inverter anymore but difficult to prove its not the original one.

[Stinsy]

Is the word "attempt" in any way appropriate for a man of your capabilities?

Its a slightly larger one physically, so might not be a simple swap out.

In the end it was a simple swap out as it turned out to be the same physical size.

Step 1 - Confirmed it was fecked.
It had Error 031 which for that model is a relay failure and takes a re-build to fix it. I offered my mate my old one for free as it has been sitting in my loft for about 10 years and I'm happy for it to have a new life. I had removed it when I upgraded to my SMA inverters and lost the screws for the back panel hence I was reluctant to sell it. I simply re-used his screws from the failed unit.


Step 2 - Disconnect Old Unit
Switched off AC to unit, Switched off DC to unit, Disconnected MC4 DC connectors and ensure you remember know which pair is which, Check AC is definitely no longer live (I actually forgot that bit but it should be done whenever you feck around with potentially live AC ) and Disconnect AC wires from inverter.


Step 3 - Swap unit and re-connect AC and the DC MC4 cables.


Step 4 - Commission
Turn on AC to unit, Turn on DC to unit, It did not start up automatically as his array voltages were too low so had to drop the start up voltage from the default 199v to 120V. Then it started up no problem even in very dull conditions.


Step 5 - He is taking me and SWMBO out for a meal in the near future as I would not accept any money. I did tell him, not strictly legal to fit an old G83 inverter anymore but difficult to prove its not the original one.

You’re a useful guy to know!

I hate to think what a “solar installer” would charge for this kind of job. If they’d even quote for it…

[MoSTiE]

Nowty, that the cleanest loft i've ever seen.

[AE-NMidlands]

Nowty, that the cleanest loft i've ever seen.

Yes, what is the "flooring?" Loose laid (fresh) granules of something? Even when we clean our loft it gets sooty again - presumably from the *** WBS all around us. (It's not very airtight - but I hope it won't suffer from condensation or rot either!)

[nowty]

Nowty, that the cleanest loft i've ever seen.

Yes, what is the "flooring?" Loose laid (fresh) granules of something? Even when we clean our loft it gets sooty again - presumably from the *** WBS all around us. (It's not very airtight - but I hope it won't suffer from condensation or rot either!)

Its my friends loft, its a chipboard floor and it was very dry.

[JOE90]

Thanks. Have asked Callidus for a quote to replace ......well. I was going to upload a picture but ....beats me.

It's an Aurora 3.6kw linked to a 4kw array of panels. It's mounted on an outside wall. I note, thanks to a reply, that they are available as reconditioned units for about 200 quid from a sup
Lier in Axminster. It seems straightforward as a like for like . Nevertheless, I'm not keen on unplugging live dc cables; the dc breaker is on the inverter but there is no breaker in line from the roof. ....... I might get my mother in law to " help ".

Better still, I might go for a Fronius fitted if Callidus respond to my enquiry.

[sharpener]

It's an Aurora 3.6kw linked to a 4kw array of panels. It's mounted on an outside wall. I note, thanks to a reply, that they are available as reconditioned units for about 200 quid from a sup
Lier in Axminster. It seems straightforward as a like for like .

Axminster was it? I couldn't remember the exact location, glad if it was a help.

Nevertheless, I'm not keen on unplugging live dc cables; the dc breaker is on the inverter but there is no breaker in line from the roof. ....... I might get my mother in law to " help ".

Can you disconnect them when it is dark (extra hour now!)? At least you can turn the breaker off in the dark then there will be no current flowing when you undo the connectors the next day. With rubber shoes and gloves, that kind of precaution.

Better still, I might go for a Fronius fitted if Callidus respond to my enquiry.

Callidus mucked me about something rotten, I learned late on a Friday they had decided not to fit my 8 panels the next day as promised, only narrowly avoided needlessly paying £200 for a scaff tower, was absolutely furious. Got somone else in the end who installed them all off a single ladder(!).