SMA 1200/1700 - ESS issues?

SolarRoofSols · Oct 4, 2012

has anyone had any reports of the switch (ESS) falling out of the 1200/1700 sunny boys? We have a site which was installed last November (inverter branded Wagner) and generation has been great. After the last meter reading earlier this year the site only generated 80kWhs so when we went to have a look, the switch at the bottom of the inverter was laying on the floor of the loft. As previous generation was good, something has happened in the last 3 months to cause this to come out.

After talking to the client they don't use the loft, and have not had any work done up there so deny that any human intervention is the cause. could there be a fault with the switch falling out? As the first 4-5 months was good, i don't think it could be an install problem.... any ideas?

Gavin A · Oct 4, 2012

I think you'd probably have to assume it wasn't pushed home fully in the first place unfortunately.

ktech · Oct 4, 2012

We have had two cases of 3800V and 2500HF inverters with the switch dropping out after 6 months ish.

Somecamel · Oct 4, 2012

I've had one as well

shallsss · Oct 4, 2012

i would have instantly gone with customer intervention. ive fitted quite a few sunny boys of different kw ratings and never heard of that happening. it does sound like a manufacturing fault by yours comments though.

Earthstore · Oct 5, 2012

I had this happen too, on a SB1200, it is a split system with two SB1200's, customer called me as he had been away and said his systems performance was down, so he popped up into the loft, phone in hand, and there it was, the switch was on the floor, so he isolated all, clicked it back into place and all has been fine since.
This happened about 3 month's after install, maybe it's the Power one rangers going around unplugging them....

FB. · Oct 5, 2012

Hot-cold temperature fluctuations causing expansion and contraction resulting in gradual levering-out of the connection?

Lofts in particular can get very hot in the daytime and very cool at night.

SolarRoofSols · Oct 5, 2012

Just to update you, i have now found out that we have had another case on a 1200. I put in a call to SMA who sent me a doc saying that:

"Starting in May 2011
SMA revised the ESS handle as part of its continuous product improvement process. In doing so, the guide bushing
in the front area was given a bigger tolerance, which tapers to the original dimension further to the back. This
allows the ESS handle to be easily inserted in the starting phase. Now, further into the insertion process, a pressure
point is reached. It is then critical that the ESS handle is being inserted by all means another 2 mm - as far as it will go - with increased pressure, in order to ensure the plug is sealed and that electrical contact is established."

So, you think you have pushed it as far as it will go, but you need to push it in a further 2mm!! This relates to the following models

"Relevant Products
SB 1200, SB 1300TL-10, SB 1600TL-10, SB 1700, SB 2100TL, SB 2500, SB 3000, SB 3300, SB 3300-11,
SB 3800, SB 3800-11
SMC 4600A, SMC 4600A-11, SMC 5000A, SMC 5000A-11, SMC 6000A, SMC 6000A-11, SMC 6000TL,
SMC 7000TL, SMC 7000HV-11, SMC 8000TL, SMC 9000TL-10, SMC 9000TLRP-10, SMC 10000TL-10,
SMC 10000TLRP-10, SMC 11000TL-10, SMC 11000TLRP-10"

Needless to say we are revisiting all of our installations with these to check!

I don't recollect seeing the doc come with any inverters and cant see the information in the installation guide. I am not sure how to upload the doc on here for you to look at....any ideas?