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

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  • #541 19386319
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    For this inverter it is the optimal range from 600V up.
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  • #542 19386356
    adamac
    Level 12  
    Janusz_kk wrote:
    I don't have room anymore, so it's full. I make two asymmetrical thongs because I have a 'swallow' which shades my sides a little

    I had a similar "problem", i.e. two asymmetrical thongs. I described this problem here on the forum. Finally, I gave up the previous set and bought the same panels as you want to buy and I have two thongs of 17 and 14 panels SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
    toolpusher wrote:
    For this inverter it is the optimal range from 600V up.

    The optimal range is probably 380-850V, and at 600V the inverter achieves the highest efficiency. It is because of the maximum power range (lower limit at 14 panels), and that the inverter does not cut the maximum power (sometimes exceeds 10kW), I decided to use such a 45 kg iron SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
    Sofar 10000tl. Aba strings easily exceed 350V start voltage and this is also the lower limit of the full maximum power of this inverter. In addition, it is very quiet and during the tests so far it hardly warms up.
    I see Janusz_kk One more thing. You are probably too optimistic about the tension of work. Now in April on a sunny day I get about 33V from one panel, and during hot weather the voltage will drop for sure. In your position, for the calculation of the maximum power voltage, I would take around 30V.
  • #543 19386508
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    How is this different from the similar power of 11KTL-X? And what's that extra box at the bottom?
  • #544 19386661
    adamac
    Level 12  
    In addition to what I wrote, i.e. the range of maximum power and weight voltages, there is a greater current of a single string (15A). Unfortunately, it has a higher starting voltage (350V but there is no problem with that) and probably the mppt range (200V or 250V). It has spdt programmable output (I don't know if ktlx has one too). It is also the weakest model from the 10000tl 15000tl 17000tl or 20000tl series, so maybe there is also an option to change the power. This series seems to be withdrawn and replaced by the tl G2 series with even better parameters. I was able to buy this particular copy for PLN 4300.
  • #545 19386672
    Janusz_kk
    Level 39  
    adamac wrote:
    Oh, Janusz_kk one more thing. You are probably too optimistic about the tension of work. Now in April on a sunny day I get about 33V from one panel, and during hot weather the voltage will drop for sure. In your position, for the calculation of the maximum power voltage, I would take around 30V.

    Well, that's what I accepted almost :) in the panel parameter Vm the stc is 30.4V, times 13 is 395.2V :) so don't worry, I'm an electronics and electrician, so I have an idea about these parameters, I will also repair the inverter, I just found one that is even cheaper under the warranty only for the seller -2 years and I wonder hard :)
  • #546 19386709
    adamac
    Level 12  
    Janusz_kk wrote:

    Well, that's almost what I assumed in the panel parameter Vm in stc is 30.4V, times 13 gives 395.2V so don't worry

    Fact, I must have slept as I wrote this. :)
  • #547 19387156
    Janusz_kk
    Level 39  
    adamac wrote:
    In addition to what I wrote, i.e. the range of maximum power and weight voltages, there is a greater current of a single string (15A). Unfortunately, it has a higher starting voltage (350V but there is no problem with that)

    The current is max 15A, but the optimal voltage starts at 480V, and for 8.8kW it is 380V, so the difference is significant, and I will have 395V, so I will stay at 8.8kW because it will use this weaker string better.
  • #548 19387183
    adamac
    Level 12  
    Janusz_kk wrote:
    adamac wrote:
    In addition to what I wrote, i.e. the range of maximum power and weight voltages, there is a greater current of a single string (15A). Unfortunately, it has a higher starting voltage (350V but there is no problem with that)

    The current is max 15A, but the optimal voltage starts at 480V, and for 8.8kW it is 380V, so the difference is significant, and I will have 395V, so I will stay at 8.8kW because it will use this weaker string better.

    I don't know where you got this data from, 480V has 11ktl-x.
    SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
    So lower as for 8.8ktl-x
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  • #549 19387286
    Janusz_kk
    Level 39  
    You look at other inverters, 'TL' and it's talking about 'KTL'
    SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
  • #550 19387316
    adamac
    Level 12  
    Yes, that's why I also offered you this tl from my example, if you find it somewhere else.
  • #551 19387520
    3301
    Level 34  
    And where this 10tL would be more suitable for 13 and 15 modules from 8.8 ktl, if apart from the higher current, which in the case of these modules does not matter and the difference in mpp voltages is 30V.

    Added after 5 [minutes]:

    10 tl was suitable for installations with three planes, but also for modules where the currents were lower than now and amounted to 8.5-9 A.
  • #552 19387552
    Janusz_kk
    Level 39  
    adamac wrote:
    Yes, that's why I also offered you this tl from my example, if you find it somewhere else.

    But you wrote about
    adamac wrote:
    480V has 11ktl-x.

    that is, you wrote about 'ktl' and you thought about tl ' :)
    but I will not overpay, I will stay on this 8.8Kw ktl.
    Moderated By krzysiek7:

    3.1.13. Take care of linguistic correctness and follow the rules of netiquette. Do not post messages that make it difficult to deduce what their author wanted to convey.
    3.3. The user is obliged to immediately follow the moderator's instructions.
    Next time I will give a warning.

  • #553 19387672
    marwi123
    Level 12  
    Janusz_kk wrote:
    adamac wrote:
    Yes, that's why I also offered you this tl from my example, if you find it somewhere else.

    But you wrote about
    adamac wrote:
    480V has 11ktl-x.

    that is, you wrote about 'ktl' and you thought about tl ' :) but I will not overpay, I will stay at this 8.8Kw ktl.


    And if you are an electronics engineer and the warranty is not important, always with 8.8ktl You can switch to 11ktl or 12ktl, as 8.8ktl will be too weak
  • #554 19387808
    krzysiek7
    Moderator of Electricians group  
    Please observe the correct spelling of the types of devices (as indicated by the manufacturer) and physical quantities so that the topic is clear.
  • #555 19387933
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    marwi123 wrote:

    And if you are an electronics engineer and the warranty is not important, always with 8.8ktl You can switch to 11ktl or 12ktl, as 8.8ktl will be too weak


    You don't even need to be an electronics engineer :D
  • #556 19387971
    marwi123
    Level 12  
    toolpusher wrote:
    marwi123 wrote:

    And if you are an electronics engineer and the warranty is not important, always with 8.8ktl You can switch to 11ktl or 12ktl, as 8.8ktl will be too weak


    You don't even need to be an electronics engineer :D


    You don't have to, but it can be useful in case of failure in the event of resignation from the 10-year warranty.
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  • #557 19388320
    adamac
    Level 12  
    Rather as a curiosity, because I know that it is not a popular model up to 10kW, I present photos of the interior of the Sofar 10000TL inverter. Perhaps someone has access to larger models (15000TL, 20000TL) that would be an opportunity to compare.
    SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters SOFAR 8kW PV Installation: Opinions, Durability, Failures & Experiences with Inverters
    The middle plate, also equipped with the infamous switch, is probably similar to the more popular models of the ktl-x series.
  • #559 19389068
    prose
    Level 35  
    toolpusher wrote:
    See what the 4.4KTL-X looks like. The jumper probably works for you too.
    Because these are the same control modules, it's just about setting the jumpers.
  • #560 19389952
    adamac
    Level 12  
    prose wrote:
    toolpusher wrote:
    See what the 4.4KTL-X looks like. The jumper probably works for you too.
    Because these are the same control modules, it's just about setting the jumpers.

    Probably not only, this of my photos has 10kW at the factory, and the jumpers are set according to the previous information, such as 8.8 KTL-X. It is a pity that there is no more specific information on what these switches actually change.
  • #561 19390008
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    Of course there is this information and I will tell you that even in this thread.
  • #562 19390018
    prose
    Level 35  
    adamac wrote:
    Probably not only, this of my photos has 10kW at the factory, and the jumpers are set according to the previous information, such as 8.8 KTL-X.
    Because up to 1000 tl you have a different soft than up to 4.4 ktl-x
  • #563 19390132
    adamac
    Level 12  
    toolpusher wrote:
    Of course there is this information and I will tell you that even in this thread.

    Then I will ask my friend from the drilling rig to link, because unfortunately I did not find any specific ones. Only a colleague prose shared information on how to set the switches for each power of the ktl-X series models.
    prose wrote:
    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,

    By the way, it's nice that you share this information. :spoko:
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  • #564 19390358
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    Well, this is what you still expected? To change the power, it is enough to unscrew the cover and move the SW3 jumper according to the attached diagram. Additionally, there are 2 power groups: 3.3-6.6 and 8.8-12. So with 4.4KTL-X you can make a maximum of 6.6A from 8.8 - 12. Only no one has given the 12 KTL-X settings yet.
    There was a thread on FB but it was deleted but there were a few people who changed the jumpers and confirmed with diagrams that it works.
  • #565 19391163
    adamac
    Level 12  
    It would be nice to know the consequences of setting switches in a configuration outside this list. Or if the wrong setting doesn't work for you, you could find other settings by trial and error. But just if ...
  • #566 19392069
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    All jumper combinations except 2 are occupied. Of the two, one belongs to the 12KTL-X and one is left available. Combinations taken from user photos, just like my photos 4.4KTL-X where the layout is 1111.
  • #568 19393798
    theo33
    Level 27  
    toolpusher wrote:
    And this is how 5kW works after switching the jumper to 4.4KTL-X.


    It looks like changing the jumpers did not convert 5.5 to 4.4
  • #569 19393821
    toolpusher
    Level 23  
    This is how you write late at night :D
  • #570 19393836
    theo33
    Level 27  
    Now this rearrangement makes sense.

    So what installation do you have? The chart shows that it was oversized by 128%, it was too much.
    And show the graph with this limitation to 4400W.
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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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