Hey folks! I'm entering my third summer with a 5.7 kW solar system in sunny Northern California, but I'm hitting some serious snags. SunPower's support has been disappointing, and I've dealt with frequent outages. Sometimes, one of the two legs trips the breaker, and once last week, the main breaker tripped too. This seems to happen especially when it rains, which is a rarity here in the summer. Even when it doesn't trip, I've had to reboot the system multiple times to get it going again.
The local dealer who installed my system has tried to help, but their visits have just concluded with them saying everything is fine, which is super frustrating. Now, the new company overseeing SunPower wants me to pay for a monitoring service that can't even send alerts when there's an issue. My current routine involves just checking the inverter's light to see if it's green, since the app often shows lower production values.
I'm really looking for solutions here. Can anyone recommend a third-party monitoring app? Also, can I switch out my SunPower inverter for a different one? I'm worried this will keep being a maintenance headache for years. Thanks for any advice!
2 Answers
What are you working with for equipment? Do you have Enphase, or is it all SunPower branded?
You can definitely swap out your inverter! Here are a few things to consider:
1. First, figure out why that breaker keeps tripping. Is the inverter sending out more power than your circuit can handle? There's a setting that controls the output, so make sure it's set right based on your breaker size.
2. Check the 120% rule for breakers: if your house has a 200A main breaker, your solar breaker shouldn't exceed 40A. Keeping it under 80% of the breaker rating is the way to go.
3. It might be a good idea to replace that frequently-tripping breaker when you get a new inverter. It’s a relatively inexpensive fix and could solve some of your problems.
4. There are tons of inverter options out there. If you're running a straightforward grid-tie system, you can find another inverter that matches your setup. Just check if it needs inspection according to local codes.
5. Lastly, make sure your new inverter supports any auto-shutoff systems you have, like Tigo devices. You'll want a compatible inverter so you can keep using those shutoff mechanisms without a hitch!
Thanks for the info! I'm definitely worried about using parts that might not be compatible down the line. I'll probably start with replacing that breaker first since it seems the easiest.
Good call on starting with the breaker! It's always better to tackle the simpler fixes first.
It's all SunPower, and I think it's after the Maxeon models. I’ll take a look at the inverter soon.