Power One Trio 20-27

jason121 · Mar 26, 2014

Has anyone had problems with the Power-one Trio range lately.
I have an installation that has had 4 string boxes come faulty and two inverters with error codes that have had to go back to Italy.
Powerone UK have been a nightmare in handling these problems, Customer is not best pleased with me and not one site visit from the UK team to apologize to me face to face. An appalling service from Power-one UK. Would i be in my rights to send them all back to Power-one and use another manufacture ? I think strings would be OK .

Thanks

Meggerman · Mar 26, 2014

I know this is Aurora and not Trio but we had a PVI3000 (indoor) that packed up last summer and they were really good about it I thought. PVI3000 had been discontinued so I thought I would get a PVI3000 (OUTD) instead and have to change MC3's for MC4's. Turns out it was only discontinued in UK. I had new unit from Italy within a week.

jason121 · Mar 26, 2014

Try lifting a trio on, off and back on. Also have to remove string box and isolator. All 4 inverters on mezzine floor. I have removed and replaced 4 string boxes and 2 inverters weighing 100kg. Every time one fails I have to use lifting equipment

Meggerman · Mar 26, 2014

I sympathise with you. You have to weigh up likelihood of future failures and cost to you of installing replacements and if Power One will help towards costs you incur. May be better to fit inverter from different manufacturer.

Eco Chap · Mar 26, 2014

Fitted 6 this month. First time ive installed them, cant say I have any major issues with them part from their noisy! Have heard the service team are shocking though, just send them the bill for your time. How can they argue?

Who supplied them?

SibertSolar · Mar 26, 2014

There have been a small number of string boxes with the S2X variants that have suffered from moisture ingress into the shaft sealing arrangement on the Santon AC/DC switch, which causes the switch not to make properly. P1 are aware of this but it is frustrating having to remove such heavy units as they do weigh circa 80kgs in total.

For any units we have supplied, where issues have been brought to our attention, we have liaised with P1 Service and resolutions have been efficient and smooth. Whilst P1 do often process RMAs directly with installers, it is our experience that they tend to manage the process a little better when coordinated through distribution instead.

Jason - I know now that you have had issues but would have been more than happy to help had I known at the time. I am sorry that you have experienced multiple problems, and that you have had a poor experience directly with P1. We are here to assist wherever we can.

SibertSolar · Mar 26, 2014

Btw, did you put in your compensation claims after working through the P1 RMA process? They will pay you a fixed amount per unit affected, to go some way towards covering your costs/inconvenience

jason121 · Mar 26, 2014

Its not about the money. The company we have installed for deal with a lot of big companies,so reputation on the line.

SibertSolar · Mar 26, 2014

I understand, there's more at stake than just monetary consequences. We don't make the units but I still feel bad that you've had a nightmare time, if there's anything still outstanding from your point of view then let me know and I'll do what I can to help. If you would feel more comfortable moving away from the brand in future then we do have an alternative coming online that you might be interested in perhaps

SpitfireW'sale · Mar 27, 2014

SolarMax MT are a good alternative to Power One and much lighter at 40kg. You also get more flexibility on wiring arrangements than with Power One which makes installs easier to design and manage cabling on site. Regards replacements, if there is a problem SolarMax send a replacement to site within 48 hours of the problem being reported and compensate the installers time as well.

I don't think any inverter manufacturer would accept a bill for the time of the installer to replace faulty units. They are all fixed rate.