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

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Treść została przetłumaczona polish » english Zobacz oryginalną wersję tematu
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  • #391 19264925
    SilverX
    Level 11  
    3301 wrote:
    After selecting the modules, you can calculate the parameters not to exceed 1000 V, but two strings of 5.5 each are 11 kW installed and a factor of 0.7

    For starters, I wanted to leave the second string empty and be able to expand the installation. On the net, they write differently about the use of only one string. In the case of Sofar there will be no problems with that?
    BTW. Are modbus registers available for ktl-x somewhere?
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  • #392 19264953
    3301
    Level 34  
    In the initial sofara instructions, the power was shared between the inputs, currently there is no sharing, so all power can be connected to one of the inputs.

    The power of the 11ktlx inverter for AC is 10 kW and of course you can connect 11 and oversize by up to 20% depending on the direction of the modules, but for the power industry, the power of the modules counts and you will fall into a 30% discount and then you will leave the power industry more than you will produce from this 1
  • #393 19271690
    witek1646
    Level 10  
    Hello,
    Gentlemen, tell me from experience how Sofar inverters perform? Because I have a valuation for SOFAR 5.5KTL-X 5kW 2 MPPT 3-phase + 10pcs of 500 Wp Risen Energy panels, my annual consumption is about 4150kW. My roof is on the south-west side, metal roof tiles.
    What does the servicing of this type of solutions look like? if something breaks in the inverter, how does it look from the warranty side? do you have any experience I apologize in advance for such silly questions :)
  • #394 19271748
    3301
    Level 34  
    If the installation is correctly selected and connected to the inverter, it is not serviced as such, the warranty is 10 years
  • #395 19271789
    witek1646
    Level 10  
    And from your experience, the above set will be ok?
  • #396 19271840
    3301
    Level 34  
    as the South-West direction could be 4.4 and would be more nominally used, 5.5 could also be if these 10 were in one string
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  • #397 19272951
    Krzychooo
    Level 16  
    witek1646 wrote:
    Hello,
    Gentlemen, tell me from experience how Sofar inverters perform? ...
    What does the servicing of this type of solutions look like? if something breaks in the inverter, what does it look like
    on the warranty side? do you have any experience I apologize in advance for such silly questions :)


    Apparently there are no stupid questions ...

    I have a SOFAR 8.8KTL-X and 26 315Wp panels from 21/10/2019 and a 15-year warranty for it (I paid extra).
    Except for problems (almost 9 months) with overvoltage per transformer (it was 248-252 VAC "according to the standard")
    I have no problems. I mean, now I do not have it, after setting the strip, it was transformed to 230 V. :D
    One could write a book ...
  • #398 19272994
    witek1646
    Level 10  
    So I already know that I need to talk to an energy friend first so that he can check my tension ;) thank you valuable note ;) !
  • #399 19273600
    Krzychooo
    Level 16  
    witek1646 wrote:
    So I already know that I need to talk to an energy friend first
    to check my tension ;) thank you valuable note ;) !


    A friend has a meter? Lucky ... :D
    Can't you measure anything yourself? It does not have to be a measurement class.
    Check in advance and don't save money on the cable connecting the installation with the switchgear.
    The voltage drop on it at the maximum power of the inverter should not be more than 1%.
    If you know how many meters it will be, give it and I will calculate the minimum cross-section.

    And if you already have such a friend, let him better measure the loop impedance.
    This can be a key parameter and even more important, because without the option to change in real life.
    With your power (5-6kW) it can be successful, but it doesn't have to be. What's your power supply?
    I mean where do you live - city / village / island?

    Added after 8 [minutes]:
    SilverX wrote:
    ...
    BTW. Are modbus registers available for ktl-x somewhere?


    https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/topic3698233.html#18843458
  • #400 19273784
    witek1646
    Level 10  
    The voltage in the sockets is 228-233V, although from half a year ago I remember that it was about 235-245V. But I meant that he should check what is correctly positioned as possible because I don't know myself :) and as for the loop impedance, what are the standards? Because when I ask him, I need to know what it should be like :P
    I don't know what to write on "What's your power supply?" :) I live in the countryside
  • #401 19274209
    Krzychooo
    Level 16  
    witek1646 wrote:
    The voltage in the sockets is 228-233V ...

    Okay...
    witek1646 wrote:
    ... although from half a year ago I remember that it was about 235-245V.

    ... worse, but not tragic.
    witek1646 wrote:
    ... and as for the loop impedance, what are the standards ...?

    The standard is one and Polish, but they, i.e. the local DSO, don't care ...
    They are mainly and only interested in their own interest, i.e. the transmission and the associated profits and the maximum
    no problems at the lowest cost, and when it comes to someone else's. :twisted:
    The frequent overestimation of the phase voltages gives them considerable savings. Classic conflict of interest.
    Unfortunately, the stronger ... or the more annoying wins :shii: and persistent. :D :spoko:

    witek1646 wrote:
    ... Because when I ask him, I need to know what it should be like :P
    I don't know what to write on "What's your power supply?" :) I live in the countryside


    Since it's a village, you probably (like me) have an overhead line from the old days.
    The impedance is better the smaller. For example, I have 0.625 ohms at 350 meters from the transformer.
    And that's OK, but when it's bigger, you have bigger voltage drop (or inverter gain)
    during the consumption (return) of energy.
    Such a simplified Ohm's law. Exactly more complicated, because it is an alternating current
    and the line capacitance comes, but more or less the point is that if some current flows, it is on the line
    you have different voltage at the beginning (source) and end (receiver). While it is almost a piece of cake when collecting
    because at most the old bulbs shine weaker and the engines are weaker, we have a problem the other way,
    if the voltage boost by the inverter exceeds the magic 253 VAC.
    Then you have something you definitely won't want to have. Problems with PV installation.
    The inverter is "smart" and you obey your mom, which is the standard, and she ends (and doesn't start) at 253 volts
    each phase. For me, the day started from 254-255 V which gave flowers like in the picture.
    SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
    The inverter kept going into alert mode (Grid_OVP = grid voltage too high) and shut down for 3 minutes.
    Then 30-60 seconds of sampling and if the voltage was (seemingly) OK, i.e.
    Attachments:
  • #402 19274289
    witek1646
    Level 10  
    Thank you for such a lesson, I have to find out exactly what my line looks like and where is the nearest luck, because I don't even know :(
    As for the length of the cable between the inverter and the switchboard, it will be max 2-3m because on the same wall I want it to be mounted only so that it does not interfere. Unless I misunderstood and you mean the "zetke" where the meter is, because it is outside the building and it is about 50m.
    The result in the voltage drop must oscillate around 0.70%, yes?
  • #403 19274316
    Krzychooo
    Level 16  
    witek1646 wrote:
    Thank you for this lesson, I need to find out exactly what my line looks like ...
    The result in the voltage drop must oscillate around 0.70%, yes?

    The voltage drop should be as low as possible, but this applies to the entire line up to the trafo.
    Unfortunately, you can only influence the meter (without problems) and possibly the connection to the line.
    You will not do anything else because it is the OSD domain. Therefore, start by measuring the fault loop and checking the 50m to the meter.

    What you will wear now is a negligible 2-3 meters, 5x4 mm 2 Cu is enough. But be sure to check these 50 meters, because you can change it for the better.
    Did you have any renovation of your installation when?
    Theoretically, you can also change the connection and it would be good to install a new (insulated) if you have something on bare wires for glass insulators.
  • #404 19274403
    witek1646
    Level 10  
    The house is quite new, built in 2017.
    These 50m cables are 5x10mm2

    In the connection conditions, I connect a transformer station, but there are probably no officially given parameters anywhere, so I will have to find out what and how.
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  • #405 19274540
    Krzychooo
    Level 16  
    witek1646 wrote:
    ... These 50m cables are 5x10mm2

    That's cool. You don't have to worry about anything other than clouds and OSD conditions. :D

    Seriously, your only problem is the loop impedance to the transformer and voltage in the network.
    In my case, at 8 kW, the voltage jumps by +7 V for a loop impedance of 0.625 and a bit above 1%
    on the cable from the switchgear to the inverter.
    In your case it should be less because you have less power (for now).
    With this tension, there should be no great stairs, if only several
    neighbors will not copy your invention from the roof. :D
  • #406 19276650
    siddar
    Level 1  
    Hello. Colleagues, "auxiliary voltage error" appeared on the Sofar 6.6 kW inverter. What is this error? The installation produced about 2kW at that time and there was a peak to 6.07 kWp and this error occurred. After a few minutes the peak dropped to the value still about 2 kW and everything returned to normal. I turned off the voltage from the panels for 5 minutes as recommended in the manual, but after everything returned to normal. Installation of 6.3kWp.
    Kisses
    Darek
  • #407 19276698
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    I had the same thing yesterday in the morning as the inverter started. It seems to me that these are not permanent errors and since it has disappeared and does not reappear, I would not care.
  • #408 19276910
    prose
    Level 35  
    It is the same for me every now and then in the morning
    there is nothing to worry about, this is the norm, the error disappears by itself and the inverter works normally.
    Software version V2.40 of these errors are absent.
  • #409 19276926
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    There are probably errors, but the system does not report them anymore because maybe they had too many complaints / inquiries from users?
  • #410 19276973
    prose
    Level 35  
    toolpusher wrote:
    There are probably errors, but the system does not report them anymore because maybe they had too many complaints / inquiries from users?
    Everything is possible.
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  • #411 19283653
    stev-an
    Level 19  
    I am going to be a user of sofar 3300tl-G3 and I want to ask if it will be necessary to set country and language parameters. An inverter purchased from Corab has the software V 2.70 on the plate and next to it the number 12.
    Another question concerns grounding. I made the grounding from the hoop to a depth of 6m, connected to the inverter housing and varistors. Should this earth electrode be combined with a home installation?
  • #412 19284135
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    If anyone is interested, there is already a new version of the inverters marked G3. The appearance of Huwejowska - modern, the big screen has disappeared, the power after DC a little more, online update - Link
    Remote software update - home software will no longer be loaded.
    Attachments:
  • #413 19284192
    theo33
    Level 27  
    stev-an wrote:
    I am going to be a user of sofar 3300tl-G3 and I want to ask if it will be necessary to set country and language parameters. An inverter purchased from Corab has the software V 2.70 on the plate and next to it the number 12.
    Another question concerns grounding. I made the grounding from the hoop to a depth of 6m, connected to the inverter housing and varistors. Should this earth electrode be combined with a home installation?


    12 may mean the country as Poland, in terms of the applicable regulations for connection to the power grid
    2.70 is probably the most new soft, the inverter can already be set to Polish, although the setting at the first start is not a problem
    if you have a PE wire from the home installation, or rather yes, you should connect all earthing together
  • #414 19284983
    stev-an
    Level 19  
    theo33 wrote:
    if you have a PE wire from the home installation, or rather yes, you should connect all earthing together
    Thanks for the answer. Yes, I connected it, but I wanted to make sure.

    The inverter was running, the language was English so I started setting it up. 4.Set Country point requested a password and .... success! There are no country settings. This number 12 on the software probably means it. I think so.
    Point 10. Set Languae- hello and there are languages first, of course, Chinese, timidly press the button ... and they change. I saw Polish success and I don't think I will go back to point 4. Maybe I'm wrong.
  • #415 19285020
    DEFENCE
    Level 12  
    Hello, as the graph of the Insulation impedance - Cathode to ground function shows you.
  • #417 19285078
    theo33
    Level 27  
    stev-an wrote:
    theo33 wrote:
    if you have a PE wire from the home installation, or rather yes, you should connect all earthing together
    Thanks for the answer. Yes, I connected it, but I wanted to make sure.

    The inverter was running, the language was English so I started setting it up. 4.Set Country point requested a password and .... success! There are no country settings. This number 12 on the software probably means it. I think so.
    Point 10. Set Languae- hello and there are languages first, of course, Chinese, timidly press the button ... and they change. I saw Polish success and I don't think I will go back to point 4. Maybe I'm wrong.


    Point 4.Set Country is the country setting and there should be country codes for selection, eg 00- Germany VDE AR-N4105. 12- Poland. 24- Cyprus. 01- CEI 0-21 Internal 13 Germany BDEW. 25- India

    you choose 12- Poland

    and you can check in the info item 5 system
    SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
  • #418 19285147
    stev-an
    Level 19  
    This is in the manual and I wanted to do it, but after entering the password we see success and the window closes. The inverter is from November and it seems to be permanently entered 12.

    In point 3. I confirmed the info in item 5 is Poland.

    So I will not change the tension from another country. They block it because after changing the country it enters the Chinese characters - bushes.
  • #419 19285393
    DEFENCE
    Level 12  
    toolpusher wrote:
    Fixed value 2039

    So this is about an earth electrode?
  • #420 19285515
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    Nie jestem elektrykiem ale tu chodzi raczej o upływy/uszkodzenia izolacji generatora PV i przebicie do masy/uizemienia- Link

    The inverter detects the voltages of PV+ and PV– to ground and calculates the resistance of PV+ and PV – to ground. If the resistance of either side is lower than the threshold, the inverter stops working and reports an alarm indicating that the PV insulation impedance is low. Low insulation resistance is a common fault in the PV system. The insulation layer of the PV module or DC cable deteriorates due to the damage of the connector. When the DC cable passes through the cable tray, the insulation layer of the cable may be damaged because the metal cable tray may have a barbed edge, the power leakage to the ground occurs.
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Topic summary

The discussion centers on experiences with Sofar inverters in approximately 8kW photovoltaic (PV) installations, focusing on technical issues, durability, and configuration challenges. Users report generally stable operation with models like Sofar 6.6KTL-X and 5.5KTL-X over extended periods, though some face connectivity problems, especially with Wi-Fi and software availability. A recurring technical problem involves input voltage exceeding the maximum allowed 600V DC for single-phase Sofar inverters (notably the 4KTLM-G2), causing errors such as PVOVP and BusOPV and inverter shutdowns. This is often due to too many PV panels connected in series on a single string, with 15 Q.CELLS Q.PEAK G4.1 305W panels sometimes exceeding voltage limits, especially in cold conditions where voltage rises. Solutions include splitting panels into two strings (e.g., 8 and 7 panels) connected to separate MPPT inputs, though some users report this does not fully resolve the issue. The maximum recommended panels per MPPT input is around 9 to avoid surpassing power and voltage limits. Users also discuss the need for three-phase inverters for larger installations above 7kW on a single phase due to grid operator restrictions. Software and firmware updates are sought after but not easily accessible, with some users lacking Polish language support. Comparisons with other brands like SMA and Fronius highlight Sofar's cost advantage but raise concerns about long-term reliability and service support, which is still developing in some regions. Network-related errors such as Grid OFP (over-frequency) have been reported, with troubleshooting involving network frequency checks and inverter restarts. Overall, Sofar inverters are considered a cost-effective option with some technical caveats related to system design, installation quality, and support infrastructure.
Summary generated by the language model.
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