Balthazar-B
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So optimizer pricing (and availability) still TBA?
Sol-Ark new optimizer
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HighTechLab
AKA Dexter - CTO of Current Connected, LLC
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That's correct, for now...
Balthazar-B
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A certain engineer has added some new items to his site, with pricing and "add to cart" buttons. You might want to check it out.
HighTechLab
AKA Dexter - CTO of Current Connected, LLC
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I got a new price list from Sol-Ark. The optimizers are $72 each and the transmitter board to add to the sol-ark is $350 for a 12k and $440 for the 15k.
Compared to Tigo optimizers, this is pretty expensive. I have a 15k on my house and plan to continue with my plan of using the Tigo TS4-A-O optimizer/RSD's.
Compared to Tigo optimizers, this is pretty expensive. I have a 15k on my house and plan to continue with my plan of using the Tigo TS4-A-O optimizer/RSD's.
Balthazar-B
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It would be interesting to see a comparison between the Tigo and Sol-Ark alternatives in a Sol-Ark environment, ideally informed by field testing. Seems better to make an optimal choice upfront than to wish you had later.
The Sol-Arks are priced about the same as the Enteligent NMax, so throw that in for comparison's sake.
While all of these bits are SunSpec-compatible and should interoperate for critical functions, I wonder if there are going to be operational advantages using one manufacturer's full stack (RSD transmitter-optimizers) over another, e.g. for management/reporting/troubleshooting.
Seems like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Sol-Ark published a new user manual for the 15K. There's no mention of the new optimizers. Besides wanting to know when the new optimizers will be available, I want to know which 15K will be compatible. My installer will be buying 15K next month. I don't want old stock that isn't compatible with the new optimizers. How will I know?
Balthazar-B
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The spec sheet for the TX 15K-A suggests that it is compatible with all 15K inverters already deployed.
If you're concerned about it, a call to Sol-Ark should clarify that. Or perhaps if @Carlos_Sol-Ark is listening, he can.
DIYrich
Solar Wizard
New 12k's and 15k's should come with the transmitter board as standard equipment.
gdarmohray
New Member
I just talked with both a sales person and a technical support person at Sol-Ark and they both confirmed that the O900-80V optimizer has been pushed out again. They're now not expecting to start shipping until mid- to late-Q4, which means December 2023. This is unfortunate for projects wanting to use their new optimizers, but understandable as they need to make sure they have a solid product before releasing it.
Honestly, at the published price point I think their only focus should be figuring out how to get the price to a sane level. As it stands it is really a non-starter.
You might, but the broader market is focused on cost. Not sure what other manufacturers are compatible.
Balthazar-B
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There are these: https://enteligent.com/nmax-rsd-+-optimizer
Similar in price to the projected Sol-Ark MSRP.
Balthazar-B
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Did the Sol-Ark folks actually say that? It was reported elsewhere that the optimizers have been in beta testing for quite a while, enough for the company to indicate imminent availability not very long ago. I'm wondering whether the delay isn't due to something else like upstream supply chain constipation.
I'm thinking the new App is the delay. AFAIK, PV Pro doesn't support module level reporting or at least not for Sol-Ark. It wouldn't make sense to introduce the new optimizer without this function. It's that or firmware tweaking in the optimizer. The hardware must be baked by now. They introduced the optimizer at a trade show last fall and Tom stated the optimizers would be available in November.
zanydroid
Solar Wizard
Has anyone tried the Enteligent optimizers?
Regarding $70 per piece. Sure, that is 2x more than a TIGO optimizer, but these SolArk and Enteligent optimizers have MPPT while TIGOs only do 33% current matching without MPPT. The Entelligent per solar module cost goes down with their two port version, and I frankly don't care if that is single MPPT as long as the current matching capability is good enough (IE for any input power it either full bypasses or fully loads the PV wire to EG 20A by bucking down a lot)
What is the current matching range on these Enteligent and SolArks? If they have full MPPT and current matching range comparable to SolarEdge optimizers then shouldn't we be using that as the baseline for cost comparison?
Regarding $70 per piece. Sure, that is 2x more than a TIGO optimizer, but these SolArk and Enteligent optimizers have MPPT while TIGOs only do 33% current matching without MPPT. The Entelligent per solar module cost goes down with their two port version, and I frankly don't care if that is single MPPT as long as the current matching capability is good enough (IE for any input power it either full bypasses or fully loads the PV wire to EG 20A by bucking down a lot)
What is the current matching range on these Enteligent and SolArks? If they have full MPPT and current matching range comparable to SolarEdge optimizers then shouldn't we be using that as the baseline for cost comparison?
DIYrich
Solar Wizard
As far as I can tell from the spec sheet, the sol-ark optimizer does not have panel level monitoring. The board us only for RSD. So pv pro shouldn't be an issue.
Tom Brennen says it does provide monitoring.
jmacdonald077
New Member
Do you have any updates on the availability / shipping for O900-80V optimizers?
