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

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  • #451 19317481
    waldemarstachowski
    Level 2  
    AT PRO wrote:
    waldemarstachowski wrote:

    Sofar settings:
    Independent PV inputs
    Scanner on every 5 minutes


    First, disable scanning completely and see what happens.

    I did what you advised, unfortunately it did not have any effect.
    Still, when only one panel is shaded with the only Tigo in the installation, the current drops.
    With three or two shaded panels, including the one with tigo, tigo and sofar work together sensational, much better than before installing tigo.
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  • #452 19317750
    AT PRO
    Level 23  
    marwi123 wrote:
    Hello.
    I am going to install installations on a gable roof in the east direction (slightly facing south - azimuth113? ;) . A 42? sloped roof. The installer offers me up to 10kW panels (25x400W) and the Sofar 8.8KTL-X inverter. The installer rejected the other side of the roof due to much lower yields.

    Is the inverter suitable for 10kW? In direct sunlight in the morning, won't the inverter "cut" the maximum output when the panels are not yet warmed up?
    Will it be possible to add any additional, e.g. 2 panels to the above system in the future? Generally, I am focused on maximum yield as I use over 8MWh per year.

    best regards

    Probably it will be, but sporadically over an insignificant time range, although my observations show that the morning sun is better for PV production than the afternoon sun at the same incidence angle. This is due to the lower temperature and clarity of the air.
    Up to 10 kW, it is not worth adding 2 panels someday because you get a greater discount of 30%.
    If you want the maximum yield from this installation, you would have to consider other options, e.g. if you have no space on the ground or at least one string facing south. Insert a picture of the house from above and we'll look at it.

    Added after 6 [minutes]:

    waldemarstachowski wrote:
    AT PRO wrote:
    waldemarstachowski wrote:

    Sofar settings:
    Independent PV inputs
    Scanner on every 5 minutes


    First, disable scanning completely and see what happens.

    I did what you advised, unfortunately it did not have any effect.
    Still, when only one panel is shaded with the only Tigo in the installation, the current drops.
    With three or two shaded panels, including the one with tigo, tigo and sofar work together sensational, much better than before installing tigo.


    It happens when one specific panel with tigo is shaded or what, because I do not fully understand? When there are, for example, three shaded panels, there is a tigo next to each or only one? Maybe replace the tigo places, maybe one is damaged?
  • #453 19317910
    marwi123
    Level 12  
    AT PRO wrote:
    marwi123 wrote:
    Hello.
    I am going to install installations on a gable roof in the east direction (slightly facing south - azimuth113? ;) . A 42? sloped roof. The installer offers me up to 10kW panels (25x400W) and the Sofar 8.8KTL-X inverter. The installer rejected the other side of the roof due to much lower yields.

    Is the inverter suitable for 10kW? In direct sunlight in the morning, won't the inverter "cut" the maximum output when the panels are not yet warmed up?
    Will it be possible to add any additional, e.g. 2 panels to the above system in the future? Generally, I am focused on maximum yield as I use over 8MWh per year.

    best regards

    Probably it will be, but occasionally to a minor extent
    If you want the maximum yield from this installation, you would have to consider other options, e.g. if you have no space on the ground or at least one string facing south. Insert a picture of the house from above and we'll look at it.

    [


    Unfortunately, the only thing left for me is the roof, because on the south-facing plot, there may be a house that will cover the installations on the ground, and I would not like to limit the view from the south window with a rack. The garden is a shadow from my house again. The roof is large, but also difficult (chimneys and dormer windows). Rather, such a compromise remains. What is the Sofar's maximum output power of 8.8ktl-x per AC side, because I don't know after reading the thread?

    SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
  • #454 19317958
    waldemarstachowski
    Level 2  
    Added after 6 [minutes]:

    waldemarstachowski wrote:
    AT PRO wrote:
    waldemarstachowski wrote:

    Sofar settings:
    Independent PV inputs
    Scanner on every 5 minutes


    First, disable scanning completely and see what happens.

    I did what you advised, unfortunately it did not have any effect.
    Still, when only one panel is shaded with the only Tigo in the installation, the current drops.
    With three or two shaded panels, including the one with tigo, tigo and sofar work together sensational, much better than before installing tigo.


    It happens when one specific panel with tigo is shaded or what, because I do not fully understand? When there are, for example, three shaded panels, there is a tigo next to each or only one? Maybe replace the tigo places, maybe one is damaged? [/ Quote]

    There is only one tigo in the installation on one panel, this is the lower right panel.
    The problem appears when only this panel is shaded, while when the shadow falls on this panel plus any other in the PV2 Tigo string works ok you can see it on the charts
    SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
    Before installing Tigo:


    SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
    After installing Tigo:
    SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
  • #455 19317978
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    Quote:
    Unfortunately, the only thing left for me is the roof, because on the south-facing plot, there may be a house that will cover the installations on the ground, and I would not like to limit the view from the south window with a rack. The garden is a shadow from my house again. The roof is large, but also difficult (chimneys and dormer windows). Rather, such a compromise remains. What is the Sofar's maximum output power of 8.8ktl-x per AC side, because I don't know after reading the thread?

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

    With the new soft, it should give 8800VA, which is too much in your case. There is no way to expand the installation, because energy above 10kW takes 30% instead of 20% and it will not pay off.
  • #456 19318180
    AT PRO
    Level 23  
    marwi123 wrote:



    Unfortunately, the only thing left for me is the roof, because on the south-facing plot, there may be a house that will cover the installations on the ground, and I would not like to limit the view from the south window with a rack. The garden is a shadow from my house again. The roof is large, but also difficult (chimneys and dormer windows). Rather, such a compromise remains. What is the Sofar's maximum output power of 8.8ktl-x per AC side, because I don't know after reading the thread?

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


    It is actually difficult with the ground, although I would consider at least one string in the place where there is probably a trampoline. The question of how far the shadow of the house reaches in winter. You would have easier then with it on the roof because the dormer and chimneys will also collide there.
    The power of the sofar is, as a colleague writes above, allegedly working with the new soft without cutting off at 8 kW, I have not checked it yet because I have not updated.

    Added after 8 [minutes]:

    waldemarstachowski wrote:


    There is only one tigo in the installation on one panel, this is the lower right panel.
    The problem appears when only this panel is shaded, while when the shadow falls on this panel plus any other in the PV2 Tigo string works ok you can see it on the charts


    Do you mean that before installing the tigo, it was generally better to shade only that one panel? You probably need to go back to work without it or install it on all panels that are shaded. I think so, but someone who has tigo mounted on some panels will say them.
  • #457 19318290
    Tomkii
    Level 15  
    And you watched what was happening with the current and voltage in the string? Power alone doesn't say much.
    In the initial phase, it probably helps by increasing the tension. Anyway, it is then half-shaded. Then it seems to fall completely into the shadows and maybe the Tigo just turns off.
    In the off mode, the panel should bypass and it probably does not work.
    I don't have optimizers (so I don't know), you can't connect to it from the cell and see what is happening on it?
    PS.
    You still have a wall to the south. You can give something vertically on it.
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  • #458 19318310
    marwi123
    Level 12  
    AT PRO wrote:
    It is actually difficult with the ground, although I would consider at least one string in the place where there is probably a trampoline. The question of how far the shadow of the house reaches in winter. You would have easier then with it on the roof because the dormer and chimneys will also collide there.


    Thanks for the answers.
    The place with the trampoline is exposed to shade in winter (the house is about 9 meters in the ridge), as well as from pine trees growing on the other side of the neighbor's (even in summer after 2 p.m.). The roof surface remains. The roof is difficult, but quite large (19 meters of ridge). The installer will have the opportunity to demonstrate ...

    best regards
  • #459 19329748
    lukasz-s
    Level 11  
    Hello
    Gentlemen, will SOFAR 8.8 cut and will not release more than the 8.8 installation of 9.7 KW. I know that later the efficiency of the panels will decrease, but now I noticed that 8.81 and the end, will it be like that on sunny days?
    best regards
  • #460 19329816
    3301
    Level 34  
    Yes it will, the update will not help here
  • #461 19330348
    prose
    Level 35  
    Only switch to SW for higher power. SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
    how to set up a txt file
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  • #462 19330381
    Cytro12
    Level 26  
    lukasz-s wrote:
    will it be like that all day on sunny days

    No, because on sunny days, as soon as it gets warmer and the panels warm up, you will lose about 25% on the panel efficiency and you will have a lot below 8.8. Such a situation like now, that sometimes the cut will end in April and the losses due to this will be minimal, much less than the oversizing of the inverter.
  • #463 19333702
    dzedik
    Level 2  
    Hello
    I went to the rest. I do 6.46 kWp installations. South-west side. I have 4 offers from different installation companies where 2 propose Sofar Solar 5.5 inverter and exactly 2 others 6.6. Which will be a better solution, I mention that I do not plan to add power in the future.
  • #464 19333808
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    I would take 5.5. Oversizing of 16-17% on the SW side is approx.
  • #465 19334166
    prose
    Level 35  
    @dzedik I have sofar 5.5 and 6.8 kWp panels and it's OK.
  • #466 19334278
    Cytro12
    Level 26  
    dzedik wrote:
    Which will be a better solution

    20% in our position is optimal, so if there is a difference in the price of the inverter, it is better to take a smaller one, it should also be more efficient because more time will work at its optimum.
  • #467 19341278
    09042
    Level 11  
    Hello.
    The installer gave me the choice of a 6.6v 8.8 Sofar inverter.

    One circuit of 12 RISEN 500W - 6kWp panels is mounted, roof 35 degrees with a slope of 55 degrees.
    In addition, in some time (2-3 months), the second roof slope to the south will be added, the slope of 15 degrees is about 2-3 kWp. but max 7- (maybe 8) panels.

    Which inverter to take and won't the voltage of these 7-8 panels be too low to work on the other circuit?
  • #468 19341308
    3301
    Level 34  
    8 in the string is especially enough that 500 are higher than average, but enter what Umpp you have chosen
    6 kW and 3 kW as you describe will give a maximum of 7 kW, so 6.6 is enough
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  • #469 19341709
    09042
    Level 11  
    RISEN 500W May Umpp = 42.88V. At max power Umpp = 39.79V. So the circuit for 12 sz. RISENach 6kWp will be approx.

    For the 3kWp circuit, I have not chosen panels yet because I will buy them before installation. The installer does join them now and constructions.

    SOFARS start according to the catalog card from 160V.
    If I have 7 panels, accepting 32V at maximum power output, it will be 224V from the string. Will it not be enough?
    I may not fit 8 panels on the south roof and then there is a problem with the voltage.
    It would be possible to install even 10, but the additional 3 (over 7) would be at an angle of 30 degrees, and the roof has 15, unfortunately, a roof break in 1/3 of its height.
    There is a parameter in SOFARES that I do not fully understand Full power of MPPT voltage range and for 6.6 kW it is 240-850V, and for 8.8 kW it is 290-850V. What does it define?
  • #470 19341782
    Cytro12
    Level 26  
    What model of these panels do not have too much current for a Sofar?
  • #471 19341827
    09042
    Level 11  
    Model RSM 150-8-500M. Max current Impp = 11.68A

    I think that the designer chose them appropriately for the inverter, the more so because the deviation from south to west is 55 degrees.
  • #472 19342366
    Cytro12
    Level 26  
    The maximum current for Sofar is 11A at the input. The fact that there is a deviation does not mean anything, you need to calculate the coefficients because it turns out that it cuts or will be damaged.

    My panels have 9.61A in STC and sometimes they reach over 10, here it can be similar and they will exceed the parameters of the inverter a lot.
  • #473 19342838
    09042
    Level 11  
    Two independent bidders offered the same solution so I hope they converted ......
  • #474 19346782
    th33nd
    Level 10  
    prose wrote:
    Just switch to SW for more power ....
    how to set up a txt file



    Where's that file?
    Will it change from 8.8kW 1100 to 11kW 1011?

    Someone checked if the hardware is identical?
  • #475 19354922
    Grucha383
    Level 12  
    th33nd wrote:
    Someone checked if the hardware is identical?


    I also read somewhere that they are all the same, only a matter of settings, even the firmware has one for all powers. I will not check it yet, but if this is true, it is a good alternative for the future. Or you can simply oversize the power of the panels without fear that something will fall in the inverter.
  • #476 19355195
    prose
    Level 35  
    th33nd wrote:
    prose wrote:
    Just switch to SW for more power ....
    how to set up a txt file



    Where's that file?
    Will it change from 8.8kW 1100 to 11kW 1011?

    Someone checked if the hardware is identical?


    the sw3 switch in the 1234 positions usually has a down (1) up (0) power switch so we have settings for the power based on the photos received: 3.3kW 1001, 4.4kw 1111, 5.5kw 1110, 6.6kW 1101, 8.8kW 1100, 11kW 1011,
  • #477 19355254
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    Now we are waiting for the first brave.
  • #478 19355670
    mjetek1
    Level 1  
    According to the manufacturer, the 3.3-6.6 inverters weigh 21kg, 8.8 and more 22kg, so I would be careful with this switching.
  • #479 19355694
    Cytro12
    Level 26  
    Because inverters are divided into power ranges, usually 3-6kW, 7-11kW, 12-15kW, etc. 3-6kW at 90% is the same inverter limited by software or DIP, as here Sofar.
  • #480 19355745
    prose
    Level 35  
    mjetek1 wrote:
    According to the manufacturer, the 3.3-6.6 inverters weigh 21kg, 8.8 and more 22kg, so I would be careful with this switching.

    Models up to 6.6 are the same in electronics, from 8.8 there are larger chokes, in the settings you can change the inverter from 3.3 to 6.6 and then the inverter from 8.8 to 11.
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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.
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