SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters

jarczydło wrote:

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3.8 kW after changing the jumpers, it should also give 3.8 kW, the jumpers themselves do not do electricity .

Well, according to the measurement, after switching the jumpers, it is physically 3.8 kW, and the inverter shows overestimated data.

Why do you think the measurement is unreliable, the measurement only confirms that there are two types of sofar inverters from 3.3 to 6.6 and 8 to 11kw, mine is the original 5.5kw and when set to 5 or 6kw it shows the correct values on the display which coincide with the indication of the ammeter and on the 8kw setting, it shows simply stupidity, because at the time of measurement on the 8kw setting, the display showed 6.8kw and 9.4A current, and in fact, 5.4A current flowed, which from the formula for power gives about 3.8kw at the time of measurement to the network. As for the power obtained, I will say yes, my 5920W on the roof never came close to 4kw at this time of the year, not this angle of light, and in the summer of July and August they never exceeded 5.3kw too hot panels less efficiency were momentary pulses several seconds in moments when the sun came out of the clouds, 6kw jumped out, but not continuous power.

What is the latest software version for 4.4? There is a G310 in mine

Hello. I have no way to take a photo because when I come back, the inverter is already sleeping Gentlemen, I do not say that it does as it shows, but if the kW counts for me and at the moment from January 1 it gave me 90 kW evenly just today, it probably does not lie that much 8 kW in the inverter and 7,600 in the panels the most 25 kW did in January one day when the sun shone. As soon as the weather is good and I can do it, I will do both things and put a photo, but I think he's doing something, since he has already done 90 kW for such weather. Someone with similar parameters, let him compare and give a tip how much he did to him, it will be indicative for those who press, that it distorts the inverter

leon3029 wrote:

Someone with similar parameters, let him compare and give a tip how much he did to him, it will be indicative for those who press, that it distorts the inverter

Current!
How do you do that...???
I have a SOFAR 8.8KTL-X, and 26 panels (3 years old) 310Wp = 8.060 Wp. Zero shadow, azimuth 200? or almost noon.
In January, until today I have 54.27 kWh, and today at noon the maximum was less than 3.6 kW.
I don't know where you live, but I live in Greater Poland - 52.4 degrees N wide.

Probably doesn't.
Personally, I think that the power indications on the AC side are simply wrong due to the different design of the inverters up to 6kW and from 8kW.
The readings on the DC side will probably be correct and they reveal how much can be squeezed out of this inverter switched with jumpers.
Anyway, you don't need pictures of the display. Just go to the inverter monitoring page and view historical data on the output power and DC powers on each of the strings. If the AC power is greater than the sum of the DC power, it will be known that the data is given with an error. This, of course, does not exclude the possibility of producing over 6.6kVA, but we will not find out how much of it is realistic from the inverter.
If the AC measurement is overstated it will likely be overstated for each production. The distortion percentage should be constant.

Krawietz

I warmly welcome. And I am asking for an opinion / advice.
For two years I have been using the Sofar 3.3 KTL 3-phase installation Longi Solar 310 W panels - 10 pcs, one string.
When I was calculating the required power of the installation, I did not take into account the induction hob that we decided to install a few months ago. Now there is no power.
The question is simple - how many panels with similar parameters can I add, if I did not change anything with the jumper, and how many if - as I understand it is possible - I would change the power of the inverter to 4.4 kW.
The question is so urgent that it is more and more difficult to find such panels that will fit, and I have them "in mind". That’s why I started reading the forum today.
Oh, installation on a fairly flat roof (22 degrees), direction a few degrees east of south. There has been no power cut at all so far, probably due to the small angle of the roof.
Thank you in advance.
Miroslaw

If you have a 1F installation, you are already at the limit of power, you are not allowed to give more panels. You can make a second 1F, i.e. panel + inverter for the second phase.

1 option 3 panels (4kWp) 2 option 7 panels (5.2kWp). Just like that.
https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic3764017.html

You can also bypass the limitations of the contract with the energy sector and make a small island for yourself with a sine inverter, with or without batteries, but with additional panels.
It is equipment of the type "SINUS PRO xxxx dc / 230V + ?? A MPPT SOLAR INVERTER" of the coastal company or other companies that I do not want to advertise.
You attach some panels to this contraption (as much as you want / you can) as part of the required voltage (equipment is very different), add or not some AGM
and you have additional electricity without turning the guitar back and breaking the contract, and in addition, when they turn off the electricity, you enjoy your own power plant ...
The only problem is you have to separate some circuit in the house to power it independently, that is after this "UPS". If the switchboard is sensible, it's a piece of cake, it's worse when someone carved it.
When the sun is shining, you get electricity from the panels, and when it's night, you get electricity from the grid. If you have a battery (you don't have to), you also have an emergency power supply.
This is what I do in the spring, because I already have deficiencies in the balance, and the switchgear ... I still haven't finished, so it will be easy.

Worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weQexz5FWXo

Gentlemen, thank you for your quick response.
Referring to these few tips, I would like to clarify that the installation is co-financed under the My Electricity project and is of course under warranty, which has obvious implications.
Gentlemen @prose and @Krzychooo - nice idea, but I would not like to install an additional installation, at least at the moment. I have no idea what the cost of adding, for example, 1 kW is on this "" SINUS PRO xxxx dc / 230V ?? A MPPT SOLAR INVERTER ". I need to deepen my knowledge in this topic, because I have no idea what to buy and how to configure it.

However, I would like to deepen the topic of the addition of these 3 panels as @toolpusher suggests. Adding 3 panels to the existing string violates the contract with the DSO? After all, I would still generate a maximum of 3.3 kW, and that would be a few / maybe a dozen or so days a year. The inverter cuts off the rest. Is there anything else here that I don't understand? Of course, another matter is the warranty in case of inverter failure. Download these additional pieces before the possible arrival of the installer, or get along somehow. After all, the warranty obligations are fulfilled by the manufacturer.

I understand that after switching the jumper to 4.4 kW, there is no point in trying to inform the OSD, because the device will not play with papers? "Pushing" 4.4 kW instead of 3.3 kW is detectable at all? Anyone checking it or maybe checking it? I'm not talking about doubling the power ...
I am asking this because I mean such a scenario - add even more than 3 panels, maybe 4-5 pcs. To the existing string and switch the power to 4.4 kW permanently, or only in periods when there is a risk of cutting up to 3.3 kW. The only question is how many (power) panels can be on one string in this inverter.

Generally, if it was so simple that I apply to the DSO for a power change in the contract and no one goes into what's next, the option proposed by @toolpusher would be perfect. But this is where the whole thing about my electricity, the installer's warranty, etc., will probably begin.
Sorry, this lengthy statement, I may have made a mistake, but please kindly give your opinion.

Adding panels does not violate the contract regarding my Electricity, if you do not violate what was installed under the grant. This is the official position. After adding the panels, you are required to report it to the DSO. I did it myself, as did many of my colleagues. So the utility company will know about increasing the power of the PV generator. You still have the inverter not cutting it, which means that you still have a margin to use, moreover, a well-chosen installation allows you to cut power on the best days. You do not lose anything because the increased surface area of the panels gives greater yields on the other days. There are official research, for example, Fronius and observations of colleagues - posts by a colleague Studniarz, probably.
Also confirm that your inverter is three-phase. Because I assume so. Because if not, as my colleagues wrote, 3.68kW is the limit.
The only problem I see is getting along with the current installer and the costs. Adding these 3 panels will be a big cost because companies count so much, so you need to recalculate the payback period. And it's best to wait, because after April 1, labor prices should drop.

@toolpusher, thank you so much.
I confirm, it is a 3-phase inverter. I must admit that I planned to set up the panels myself, but if I understood correctly when submitting to the OSD, I would need receipts (invoices) from the "original" installer, right? If so, it won't actually be cheap.
Yes, I know that my main profit will be the yields on those bad days, and the power cut will be only on certain days.
Are these 3 panels really the limit in this case? I take the correction that so far it has not been exceeded even once and I see the reasons here in the small corner of the roof and the heating of the panels, because they are mounted on a trapezoid on 30 mm profiles. As far as I know, a minimum of 40 mm is now used.

You can arrange the panels yourself, only your former installer will probably refuse you a warranty for the entire installation, which is understandable. The application for adding panels to the OSD looks the same as the application for the entire new installation, and for this you need an electrician with permissions who will get you a new application. It doesn't have to be tens am as before. Having an electrician friend, I did the installation myself. You can add five or seven panels and agree to large cuts in the summer. These are not losses but no yield in relation to the calculated possibilities. In terms of the whole year, you will still have more kW than from 3 added panels.
If you feel sorry for the escaping kilowatts, you will change the jumpers or wait for the end of My current and buy a larger inverter.
I went this way and bought 3 more panels, the same as in the installation, because they are already difficult to buy and are in the garage and waiting for installation, maybe this year, maybe in a year or two after replacing the inverter - I do not want to overdo it with my little one in the inverter because the Voc voltage is high anyway and I do not want to do 2 strings yet.
I also have a small roof angle of only 18 degrees and an azimuth of 135 so 45 degrees east. Just a small corner in the summer that doesn't bother you worse in the winter. I think that if you gave 40mm bridges, it wouldn't be a spectacular difference - it's just 10mm. In addition, you have 3.1 panels and the inverter is 3.3kW, so how to cut it? In addition, these 3.1kW in the panels is the laboratory power (STC), in real life the power of the panels is lower (NOCT). That is why oversizing is also used and for you this 20-25% will be just right, i.e. about 4-4.5kW. You already know everything. The decision is yours.

@toolpusher,
Thank you very much. This explains a lot and saved me time, because although I read a very large part of this thread yesterday, I still had some doubts. Now I have to think about it.
By the way, I looked through the inverter settings today and found that the country is set to Netherlands. I changed to Poland. Is this the best setting? And the second thing is Soft version 1.70. Will upgrading to 2.20 or 2.30 as described here bring anything to my 3.3 inverter? Were these just the flaws of other models?
If the change is justified, will someone share this version? The website proposed in this topic has only the latest version 2.90.
greetings

Country setting means setting the maximum voltage for the phase and in Poland it is 260V. When the voltage in the network exceeds 260V on 1 of the phases, the inverter will switch off. You have to report it to the DSO, but they often do little about it. Write to SofarPolska, they should send you the new firmware.

mirek_j wrote:

I found the country is set to Netherlands. I changed to Poland. Is this the best setting?

Not the best, but correct, i.e. factually correct.

toolpusher wrote:

Country setting means setting the maximum voltage for the phase and in Poland it is 260V.

Rather not, the Polish standard clearly says about 230 + 10%, which gives 253V and this is the limit voltage.
SOFARs set to country 12 (Poland) turn off when approximately this value is exceeded. I am writing more or less
because it depends on the rate of rise and persistence of the voltage value. Mine always turned off after passing 255,
but also earlier. He only lasted once to 257, but that was due to a dark cloud that suddenly disappeared.
I've been doing this for 7 months so I know something about it ... unfortunately.

Hello.
After exceeding 253V and below 264V for 3 minutes (delayed), it is switched off, and after exceeding the voltage of 264.5V it has a response time of 150ms, it switches off immediately (instantaneous).
Greetings.

studniarz wrote:

After exceeding 253V and below 264V, it switches off for 3 minutes, and after exceeding 264V, it switches off immediately.

We have other inverters.
Mine never got anywhere near 260V. And the shutdown time after passing 253 is about 60 seconds. It was different, but never 3 minutes.
Yes, he came back to rehearsals after 3 minutes, but that's a different story.
Aaaa ... and of course I have Poland (12) set, not like other "foreign countries".

Welcome back,
Well, I did not mention the topic of turning off the inverter due to Grid OVP, so as not to obscure this topic.
Last year there were exclusions, and by some strange coincidence coincided with the appearance of new installations around. For various reasons, no
I took care of the topic, but the measure changed over the past weekend - 3 shutdowns on Saturday and 1 on Sunday. The sun is barely, barely over the horizon, what will be in March, April and beyond ...
Initially on Monday I called PGE on 991, the peasant listened, read the summary of the conversation asking me if he understood me correctly. After which the other peasant calls in an hour - sir, someone is in the house, because apparently you are flashing and we are going. Well, I am sure that nothing is flashing, etc. and the problem is different. Well, we will check it on the transformer and if the voltage is too high, and the manager agrees, we will lower it. Sure, on a day when it's gray and no sun at all.
I will wait for the sun, if nothing changes, I will call again, and then a written complaint. It will probably be hard to win.
In connection with the above - can choosing any other country raise this threshold tension? From the data recorded on the Solarmann it appears that tripping occurs at 251 V with a fraction. Let me remind you - the country was set to the Netherlands.

greetings

mirek_j wrote:

Therefore, can choosing any other country raise this threshold tension? Data recorded on Solarmann show that tripping occurs at 251 V with a fraction. Let me remind you - the country was set to the Netherlands.

The Netherlands has 251 V, Poland 253 V, Europe 264 V.

mirek_j wrote:

the measure changed over the past weekend - 3 offs on Saturday and 1 on Sunday.

Pooh ... and he still complains. And is it not a grace to have 90 shutdowns a day? Wait until March / April.
Please seriously consider my proposal (you know which one).

mirek_j wrote:

can choosing any other country raise this border tension?

Maybe, but can you change it? Got a service code? In some types it can only be set once without a code.
However, before you start, think about whether you have anything valuable in the salon, e.g. 4k 70 "for a pile of money, or other inventions?

Krzychooo wrote:

mirek_j wrote:

the measure changed over the past weekend - 3 offs on Saturday and 1 on Sunday.

Pooh ... and he still complains. And is it not a grace to have 90 shutdowns a day? Wait until March / April.
Please seriously consider my proposal (you know which one).

mirek_j wrote:

can choosing any other country raise this border tension?

Maybe, but can you change it? Got a service code? In some types it can only be set once without a code.
However, before you start, think about whether you have anything valuable in the salon, e.g. 4k 70 "for a pile of money, or other inventions?

Well, if there were 90 shutdowns at 3 kW, the decision to start a PV would probably be the worst in my life.
Regarding 4k 70 ", I am waiting for the good LG 47" 3D to give up the ghost . Besides, other inventions adequate to present times.
I changed the country to PL after turning on Enset Country, or something like that. I don't remember the exact name of this item.

mirek_j wrote:

Well, if there were 90 shutdowns at 3 kW, the decision to start a PV would probably be the worst in my life.

No exaggeration, it's always the right decision, but you have to fight. My fight lasted 7 months and ended in early August 2021.
I marked it with a red line on the annual charts. Very informative.

Does any of the forum members already have the new SOFAR 12 KTLX - G3 series and can comment on its volume?

In my case, the wall in the garage begins to hum when the production load is higher (above 3kWh), the noise as if the fan / fan inside the housing can be heard through a 25cm wall in the room.

The same for a moment noise can be heard when the inverter gets up and does check and when is sampling before the end of work after sunset.

According to the installer, it was supposed to be quiet, but something is still buzzing.

Welcome to the forum. Have any of your colleagues tried to increase the power of single-phase Sofar serial TL-G3 inverters? I have a TL 2700 G3 model and I know that this series is divided into powers from 1.1 to 2.2 kW and from 2.7 to 3.3 kW. The inverters from 2.7 to 3.3 are identical in size and weight, those 1.1 to 2.2 are smaller and lighter. Is it really possible to change the jumpers to increase the power from 2.7 to 3.3 kW?

And did you undress? Is there a jumper at all? I don't think there was such a topic yet.

I did not undress, but some of my colleagues in this topic posted a photo of the interior of the g3 Sofar disposable inverter; unfortunately, the topic was not continued. The jumper is also there .....

Apparently, this topic is not very popular compared to the three-phase ones.
You should write here because there is a dedicated thread for it: https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic3859712.html#19797554