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

@ja_pizgam After three weeks from reporting the problem to Sofar (for example I had to record a video showing the behavior of the inverters. Maybe it was hard to take my word for it) and tormenting them every few days with phones, I received the G3.65 firmware (the previous one was G3.60) which completely solved my problems. The inverters from the moment of the update get up nicely, evenly and (interestingly) also work almost silently (you have to come closer and focus to hear anything. Earlier, even after restarting with your finger while working during the day, they made a clear sound audible from a distance) so there was indeed something on things. Maybe someone will have a similar problem, that's why the firmware attachment - use at your own risk . Useful especially for those who are already under warranty or do not have an invoice for inverters. I have no idea whether the firmware was prepared universally or for my specific case (because it took quite a long time according to the Polish service department, they first encountered such a problem the control panel required a recording from the scene to move the matter further). Remember that this is a firmware for the Sofar 3300TL-G3 (single phase) with a serial number starting with SA3EXXXXXXXX. I have 3 of them (one per phase) and all three have adopted the new firmware and it helped for all three. There is always a risk of damaging the inverter with an inappropriate soft, so I recommend that you first report the problem to Sofar ( 48 22 428 50 99 service.pl (gorilla) sofarsolar.com). The instructions for updating can be found in the official manual for this series of inverters (SOFAR1.1_3.3KTL-G3 user manual). Personally, I threw the files into the main directory of the mass memory (FAT32, NTFS does not recognize at all) and to the firmware subdirectory. I don't know where the inverters finally got the files from. The update time of one inverter is about 15min therefore I recommend updating in the middle of the best sunny day.

Hello,
I have a problem after updating the 6ktlm-g2 inverter. After turning on, the display is blank, nothing but the backlight. The website refuses to cooperate with the inverter for the Chinese market. Is it possible to upload soft in a different way?

Hey, I have to extend the cables to the panels, how to do it on MC4 connectors or just twist the pig's face and insulate it with insulating tape, I will add that the connection will be an attic in a dry place.

@ toma1981 forbid you, God, twist you, do you want to burn the building?

Added after 10 [minutes]:

@visit and your WiFi is active and you can connect to it? Because if so, you can still update there, if not only the service can (there is probably some UART or JTAG connector to which they can connect, theoretically you could also do it, but a lot of fun with it, although maybe you will find something on y how to do it? in inverters, I only know about such games in routers).

toma1981 wrote:

twist and insulate with insulating tape, I will add that the joint will be a roof in a dry place.

It will burn better in a dry one.

Buy, extend, ready, there are:

1 m
2 m
3 m
5 m
10 m
25 m

https://allegro.pl/kategoria/przemysl-energet...tring=PRZED%C5%81U%C5%BBACZ%20KABEL%20SOLARNY

So only MC4 terminals for connecting the solar cable, yes.

toma1981 wrote:

So only MC4 terminals for connecting the solar cable, yes.

Yes.
And look for the original ones,
https://allegro.pl/kategoria/przemysl-energetyczny-fotowoltaika-322024?string=mc4
and crimper
https://allegro.pl/kategoria/przemysl-energet...-322024?string=mc4%20zaciskarka&description=1

toma1981 wrote:

Hey, I have to extend the cables to the panels, how to do it on the MC4 connectors or just twist the pig's face and insulate it with insulating tape, I will add that the connection will be an attic in a dry place.

Only solder, and then insulate yourself with whatever you want, but not with painter's tape ...
(I have seen such inventions).

Remember that EVERY connector has some resistance (greater than the wire itself).

@Krzychooo after actions with plugs for RTX 4000 cards, I would not be so sure if soldering is a good thing ...

Soldering is also not that simple.

There are also MC4 PV-STICK SET connectors that are tool-free.

https://ecosystemprojekt.pl/gfx/1600440016.9605.jpg

But nothing is how pressed together

ja_pizgam wrote:

@Krzychooo after actions with plugs for RTX 4000 cards, I would not be so sure if soldering is a good thing ...

We are not talking about soldering in furnaces, but DC wires hanging in the air at a normal temperature.
Besides, there are also hard February, but no exaggeration.

Soldering will not beat anything, no miracle nipples.

Krzychooo wrote:

Soldering won't beat, no miracle nipples.

You just don't have anything to protect the solder well and with DC no kidding, a well crimped connector is as good as solder and is tight and has adequate insulation. So your advice is harmful and could lead to a fire.

Janusz_kk wrote:

Krzychooo wrote:

Soldering will not beat anything, no miracle nipples.

You just don't have anything to secure the solder well and with DC no kidding, a well crimped connector is just as good as solder and is tight and has adequate insulation. So your advice is harmful and could lead to a fire.

I am 65 years old. I solder everything all my life, not only in cars. Others used all kinds of couplings. I've never called firefighters and saw a few fires.
Last about a year ago, the roof with panels was on fire ... Diagnosis - poor connectors, from different manufacturers (in pairs).
Need to say more ...?
Before you judge someone or something, think carefully about what you write because your advice could be harmful and lead to a fire.

Krzychooo wrote:

Before you judge someone or something, think carefully about what you write because your advice could be harmful and lead to a fire.

Maybe start with yourself, I'm also 60+ and so what? And your advice is harmful because ...

Krzychooo wrote:

I solder everything all my life, not only in cars. Others used all kinds of couplings. I've never called firefighters and saw a few fires.

... you forget that it is NOT YOU who will be soldering, so this can end this stupid discussion.

Janusz_kk wrote:

I am also 60+

Congratulations and welcome to the Youth Club. :D

Janusz_kk wrote:

... so this can end this stupid discussion.

I support.

... but who will hold it against him ... (?)

Krzychooo wrote:

... but who will hold it against him ... (?)

And that's our problem?
And besides, it is best for me to crimp with a car connector crimper, because it bends both plates inside and the cable sticks better than from the original one.

Krzychooo wrote:

Last about a year ago, the roof with panels was on fire ... Diagnosis - poor connectors, from different manufacturers (in pairs).

It will not help here, even if the ends of the connector are pressed and soldered, the contact remains unmatched (in pairs).

Baqo wrote:

Krzychooo wrote:

Last about a year ago, the roof with panels was on fire ... Diagnosis - poor connectors, from different manufacturers (in pairs).

It will not help here, even if the ends of the connector are pressed and soldered, the contact remains unmatched (in pairs).

Of course, but if we count it, there are 3 connectors in each connector. Two clamped and one slip on.
It is enough to tug the cable harder and the connector lets go (it's crimped). A few times I had one with the panels.
Someone was up to something, because I don't believe in organoleptic control in China ...

Krzychooo wrote:

It is enough to tug the cable harder and the connector lets go (it's crimped).

Only that in all recommendations it clearly states that the cables cannot even be stretched, let alone torn.

Baqo wrote:

It will not help here, even if the ends of the connector are pressed and soldered, the contact remains unmatched (in pairs).

You exaggerate, you will never have a complete set of connectors because you will not buy the same connectors as used by the panel manufacturer, so these are myths, the connectors fit together. The installation must be checked after connection to check if it reaches the rated current and that the connectors are not heating up and the panels are not short-circuited.

Janusz_kk wrote:

... the cables must not even be stretched, let alone plucked ...

The installation has to be checked after connection to check if it reaches the rated current and if the pyrometer / camera does not heat up ...

Holy truth, but so what?
Life is different sometimes. Let's be realistic. Fires are not planned, but they are.

Hello
I am going to buy a 3.3 kW 1 phase Sofar.
I am interested in problems with possible complaints and service.
Whether it depends on the seller.
I have offers from the j-point store, the price is around 2000, other, Allegro -2200-2500. The difference is, but more important is action.
How to check the type of distribution. Store assurance cannot be relied upon.

Janusz_kk wrote:

so these are myths, the couplings fit together.

If they match, why check, and they do

At 11, two are heating up, maybe they were dirty or underpressed? And what kind of test is this, because the photo itself is not enough.

novik wrote:

I am interested in problems with possible complaints and service.
Whether it depends on the seller.
I have offers from the j-point store, the price is around 2000, other, Allegro -2200-2500. The difference is, but more important is action.

You asked me in another thread too, but here more specifically, so here I will answer.
I also bought from the j-point Sofar, but another one - from the HYD series, was also cheaper than elsewhere. I was buying the 3300-TL G3 somewhere else.
After the serial number it works well - it looks like a European distribution.
But I don't have much to say about the service - I've only been using different Sofars (HYD6000, 3300-TL G3) for a few months.

Janusz_kk wrote:

On 11, two are warming up, maybe they were dirty or underpressed?

And that's what "all two", underpressed, dirty, etc. are all about.

Janusz_kk wrote:

And what kind of test is it anyway, because the picture itself is not enough.

What do you not understand?
In the photo it is (it is written) that this is a photo from the German TÜV (Rheinland) test from December 2004,
consisting in checking the temperature of individual connectors under load with a thermal imaging camera.
There were 11 pieces in total, MC4 and MC3.
That's what I read from the "picture alone"...

Krzychooo wrote:

What do you not understand?

maybe start with yourself, what results from this test.

Krzychooo wrote:

consisting in checking the temperature of individual connectors under load with a thermal imaging camera.
There were 11 pieces in total, MC4 and MC3.

But what producers and how mixed up because that's what it's all about.

Krzychooo wrote:

And that's what "all two", underpressed, dirty, etc. are all about.

You are smart as a gimbus, do you know what types or manufacturers of connectors have been mixed up or how they have been soiled?
Not? If not, then you know where to put it.
There are over a million installations in Poland, maybe two of them burned down and as you can see, the fire appeared in the attic and not under the panels on the roof, which would mean faulty workmanship in the attic box.
And from this test it would appear that every week there should be several PV fires in our place, and there were not. So the test sucks. The fact that there are films showing burnt connectors also does not prove anything because they were either tense or lying in the water.
I will tell you one more thing, try to buy the same connectors as used by the panel manufacturer because only then you have everything compatible, good luck.

On a different note... how much does Sofar consume at night?
Because I just measured my "clamps" and on each phase the consumption is over 200mA ...
The LG multi split air conditioner in "standby" mode consumes over 500mA ...

Krawietz

unvoid wrote:

@ja_pizgam After three weeks of reporting the problem to Sofar (among other things, I had to record a video showing the behavior of the inverters. Maybe it was hard for them to take my word for it) and tormenting them with phone calls every few days, I received the G3.65 firmware (the previous one was G3.60) which completely solved my problems. Since the update, the inverters have been getting up nicely, evenly and (interestingly) they also work almost silently (you have to get closer and focus to hear anything. Previously, even after a finger restart during the day, they made a clear sound audible from a distance) so there was something on things. Maybe someone will have a similar problem, so attach the firmware - you use at your own risk . Useful especially for those who are already out of warranty or do not have an invoice for inverters. I have no idea if the firmware was prepared universally or for my specific case (because it took quite a long time according to the Polish branch of the service they encountered such a problem for the first time the control panel required recording from the scene to further push the case). Please note that this is the firmware for the Sofar 3300TL-G3 (single phase) with the serial number starting SA3EXXXXXXXXX. I have 3 of them (one per phase) and all three have adopted the new firmware and in the case of all three it helped. There is always a risk of damaging the inverter with inappropriate software, so first I recommend reporting the problem to Sofar ( 48 22 428 50 99 service.pl(goryl)sofarsolar.com). Instructions for updating are in the official manual for this series of inverters (SOFAR1.1_3.3KTL-G3 user manual). Personally, I put the files into the root directory of mass storage (FAT32, NTFS does not recognize it at all) and into the firmware subdirectory. I do not know where the inverters finally downloaded the files. The update time of one inverter is about 15 minutes therefore I recommend updating in the middle of the best sunny day.

I have the same problem and after updating with the latest version of the program, the problem does not appear every other day, only once a week you have to restart. I don't know what's next. I would not like to return the inverter to the service because I feel sorry for the lost KWh.
Regards

domino10021975 wrote:

I would not like to return the inverter to the service because I feel sorry for the lost KWh.

If you have to give it to the service, this is the best period, small yields until the new year.

Hello, I have a question about inverters which to choose SOFAR 3.6KTLM-G3 or Solplanet 3.68 kW