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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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  • #871 19543590
    stev-an
    Level 19  
    @ cygan32 Welcome! Have you tried switching jumpers? I, in turn, would try down to 3 kW. If you look there, see what the setting is for 3 kW. Best regards.
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  • #872 19543889
    cygan32
    Level 11  
    And you could put a photo of the jumpers when you had them set to 3.3, I have urgent duties for now, but within 2 weeks I will take a photo of mine and try to change it
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  • #873 19590457
    igorelectronics
    Level 12  
    Does anyone have archived 2.2 firmware for the single-phase Sofara 1-3K TL G3?
    If so, I would ask for sharing.
  • #874 19590473
    m2tk
    Level 13  
    Can anyone confirm whether the new SOFAR 12 KTLX - G3 series is actively or passively cooled?

    According to the documentation it is "Natural" which would suggest no fan, in Features it is "Natural cooling, no fans, low noise".

    In my case, the wall begins to hum when the production load is higher, the noise is like a fan.

    If it has do 8.8 and 11 KTLX G3 also have?
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  • #875 19590496
    Janusz_kk
    Level 39  
    m2tk wrote:
    In my case, the wall begins to hum when the production load is higher, the noise is like a fan.

    It is the chokes that are buzzing.
  • #876 19590529
    m2tk
    Level 13  
    They are so buzzing that it can be heard in the next room?
    The specification is 40dB, which is quite quiet.
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  • #877 19590905
    Janusz_kk
    Level 39  
    But these inverters are hermetic and have no fans, so apart from chokes there is nothing to hum. You don't have a contactor in the switchboard somewhere?
  • #878 19591327
    m2tk
    Level 13  
    Are we both talking about this new series with a circular display (12 KTLX - G3)?

    If there was a fan, it would be somewhere inside the case.
    The sound is definitely coming out of the inverter.
    You can hear it for a moment during the start-up, when there is the 'Check' phase - some relays are clicking and it is heard as if the fan started for 1-2 seconds.

    My observations show that the hum starts with the production of approx. 3kW, and at 6/7 its volume / frequency increases. On the other hand, when it starts, it can be heard even with low (
  • #879 19591534
    DEFENCE
    Level 12  
    If there was a fan there would have to be air exchange openings. Otherwise the fan wouldn't make sense.
  • #880 19598857
    berek20
    Level 13  
    I wonder if after changing the power on the jumpers, in the event of a failure, there will be a trace in the inverter, e.g. on the card
  • #881 19599188
    marwi123
    Level 12  
    berek20 wrote:
    I wonder if after changing the power on the jumpers, in the event of a failure, there will be a trace in the inverter, e.g. on the card

    The entire production is stored on the memory card
  • #882 19603625
    marinowo
    Level 1  
    Hello,
    I have had a 4.4KTL-X solar sofar for several days. Installation founded by a company that has been on the market for many years.
    Question about the inverter ... the inverter is already connected to the router used for several days, all data is visible on the phone, I mean mainly the hourly production on a given day. Charts are OK. The internet connection is interrupted ... e.g. due to a failure at the internet provider. No internet for 3 days, then the internet comes back, should the inverter not send all overdue data to the server after recovering the link so that everything is visible on the phone? In my case, it sent only the total amount of energy produced on a given day, while the detailed hourly production with the graph is not visible. Have these details been lost yet? It seemed to me that all data, including detailed data, should be saved in the device's memory for at least a few days. I am asking for info, how is it with others?
  • #883 19603635
    iborkim
    Level 12  
    That's how it works. You may find more detailed information on your memory card.
  • #884 19614634
    Kejsiq
    Level 8  
    Hello gentlemen, I had version 2.01 and there was a problem with production jerking during the day, I updated to version 2.2 provided in the links earlier, but after the update I only have mandarin bushes, I cannot change the language because the inverter asks for the password 0715,0001 they do not go further I read the whole thread and no advice helps.
    I can not download any higher version from the page that is given a few posts below (it simply transfers to the manufacturer's website), would someone be polite and send any version with Polish / English?
  • #885 19614819
    jarczydło
    Level 15  
    Post # 853 language PL is 100%
  • #886 19614834
    Kejsiq
    Level 8  
    jarczydło wrote:
    Post # 853 language PL is 100%


    I am not saying that it is not there, but the inverter asks for a password after entering 01-10 (language change) and does not accept 0001, 0715. That's why I have a problem with the language.
    The region is set to Germany (by default, it was after the update) after the SN number 4 digits China
  • #887 19615686
    radar1967
    Level 11  
    Hello,
    I had the same problem as my colleague Kejsiq, after updating the software Chinese language, the letter C in the serial number. On the PL website, I learned that it is an inverter for the Chinese market and it has no warranty in Poland and the European Union and should not be sold in Poland, but it has a regional lock that starts when you try to change the language or update the software, of course the PL service will not help. The seller from whom I bought the inverter informed me that of course I have a 5-year warranty with him, but he will not help anything for a regional blockade. You need a one-time code with four digits or 10,000 combinations that will only work for one day. So I decided to try to find this code and I did it, it took me 7 days, about 1.5 hours a day, I started with 0000 .... etc. My code is 4142 works only on May 25, 2021, you can try it. For the sake of simplicity, I will add that my serial number has two digits four, maybe it's a hint in the search. I would like to add that I have already changed the software twice and each time after the update the Chinese language, the date changed to 05/25/2021 the code and the language is Polish.
  • #888 19615705
    Kejsiq
    Level 8  
    Just tell me if the upgrade to a higher version also ends in a fiasco and mandarin madness?
    Tomorrow, when the sun rises, I will change the date and A yours and use this code?
  • #889 19615729
    radar1967
    Level 11  
    Hello,
    Every software change up or down is a Chinese bush for me.
  • #890 19615898
    studniarz
    Level 20  
    radar1967 wrote:
    On the PL website, I learned that it is an inverter for the Chinese market and it has no warranty in Poland and the European Union and should not be sold in Poland, .......

    radar1967 wrote:
    The seller from whom I bought the inverter informed me that of course I have a 5-year warranty with him, but .......


    Hello.
    By the way, I am curious how the certificates for these "versions for the Chinese market" really relate to the European reality .... :)
    Regards.
  • #891 19616061
    radar1967
    Level 11  
    Hello,
    In my opinion, the certificates refer to individual groups of inverters, there are no serial numbers of inverters in them. I would like to add that I know a bit about electronics and I supervise two identical Sofar 5.5KTL-X inverters, one for China and one for Europe, I assure you that both are identical inside, the difference is the price of PLN 1000 in favor of the Chinese, so it is rather about the profits of European distributors.
  • #892 19616300
    Michalux
    Level 10  
    If anyone was interested, I was able to match the Sofar's K-TLX data through the LSW-3 logger (WiFi S / N 17xxxxxx module).
    Python script polls LSW-3 and receives data issued by modbus, also all data sent to PVMonitor is available locally :D
  • #893 19616466
    zygzak
    Level 12  
    I understand that to read data you need to be in the inverter network, this AP_xxxx?
  • #894 19616956
    Michalux
    Level 10  
    Not necessarily in AP _..., but you have to be on the same IP network.
    So e.g. in the same WiFi network to which the WLS-3 module is connected.
  • #895 19619756
    slonina
    Level 11  
    Michalux wrote:
    If anyone was interested, I was able to match the Sofar's K-TLX data through the LSW-3 logger (WiFi S / N 17xxxxxx module).
    Python script polls LSW-3 and receives data issued by modbus, also all data sent to PVMonitor is available locally :D


    I will also provide a link to the repository for those interested:
    https://github.com/MichaluxPL/Sofar_LSW3

    Thanks for sharing, this app does a great job with the LSW-3 Series 17 datalogger. Only the "inverter_sn" configuration is not very intuitive, because it is not about the inverter number but the LSW-3 datalogger number.
    Previously, I read the curl production from the datalogger's web interface in a primitive way, now there is access to everything including string and phase voltages / currents and even reactive power, so you can easily send more data to PVmonitor. Is there a description of the names of individual variables used in the PVmonitor service somewhere on the forum (F1, F2 etc.)?
  • #896 19619773
    scorpion26
    Level 11  
    Anyone have 3-5 KW inverter for sale?
  • #898 19620062
    Michalux
    Level 10  
    slonina wrote:
    Thanks for sharing, this app does a great job with the LSW-3 Series 17 datalogger. Only the "inverter_sn" configuration is not very intuitive, because it is not about the inverter number but the LSW-3 datalogger number.

    True :)
    I will add the relevant info to the description of config.cfg :)
    A version that allows data export in Prometheus format should be available soon ;)
  • #899 19621049
    Kejsiq
    Level 8  
    Returning to my topic and blocked in Chinese, the main manufacturer has easily provided the code to change the language, my number is 5100
  • #900 19621171
    radar1967
    Level 11  
    Hello,
    You can further describe the topic of how you got the code from the manufacturer, I understand that you wrote to China, to what address. I suspect many people would benefit from this information.
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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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