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RESOLVED: EG4 6500EX and 6000EX Lights Flickering FIRMWARE

Any internal changes to make up for the increased VOC or did they just mouse over the number and set it to whatever the buyer wanted?
 
#40Fan said:
Any internal changes to make up for the increased VOC or did they just mouse over the number and set it to whatever the buyer wanted?
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I’m sure it’s some changes. It’s super hard to tell by looking at them though. From what James said earlier in another thread eg4 has an exclusive agreement with voltronic for the 500v version. So the other versions can’t go above 300 something voc.
 
SolarPhoton said:
Thanks.. Looks to me like this equipment has many "names" on them. EG4, MPP, DinoBlaster.. All the same. (except for that last one. (grin))
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Well guys?.. SS talked me into upgrading the firmware. I've got the latest and greatest firmware now. I'm watching. Plugged in two freezers and two Refers and my light on the desk here. My eyes are peeled. o_O
 
SolarPhoton said:
Well guys?.. SS talked me into upgrading the firmware. I've got the latest and greatest firmware now. I'm watching. Plugged in two freezers and two Refers and my light on the desk here. My eyes are peeled. o_O
Click to expand...
Good luck! Hope it works
 
SolarPhoton said:
Thanks.. Looks to me like this equipment has many "names" on them. EG4, MPP, DinoBlaster.. All the same. (except for that last one. (grin))
Click to expand...
There are differences, it would depend on what the distributor spec'd out for their house brand unit.

That leads to hardware and firmware differences, so no, the units aren't the same.
 
SolarPhoton said:
Well guys?.. SS talked me into upgrading the firmware. I've got the latest and greatest firmware now. I'm watching. Plugged in two freezers and two Refers and my light on the desk here. My eyes are peeled. o_O
Click to expand...
Last night.. and after the FirmWare change.. Flickers every 55 min. This morning we have a flicker around every 1/2 hour. So much for that as a cure. What should I try now. Can't have this flicker.
 
SolarPhoton said:
Last night.. and after the FirmWare change.. Flickers every 55 min. This morning we have a flicker around every 1/2 hour. So much for that as a cure. What should I try now. Can't have this flicker.
Click to expand...
Now when you say "flicker" are you talking about something that's constant or your light blinks when a larger load kicks in?

I had issues with specific equipment at my house causing my lights to flicker anytime those things were plugged in an powered on.
 
Well, I finally got the other half of my cord from Amazon to update. Then one of the gray update cords that they sent was bad. Of course I picked the bad one first. Finally figured that out. Got my two May 2022 6500ex’s updated to the latest and greatest firmware. My pulsing compressors and pulsing/flickering lights during 2 ton 14 SEER soft start equipped heat pump start up is still there although it is less than it was originally before updating firmware. Frequency seems to jump from 60 to 62 Hz, voltage drops very little, but my heat pump compressor, my little refrigerator compressor and LEDs flicker like crazy for 6 to 8 seconds until it finally smoothes out. I don’t know what’s wrong with it. I know someone didn’t do proper testing before they sent these out of the factory and distributor. It wouldn’t be hard at these distributors to have a three ton heat pump with soft start setup with good quality LED’s like I have to test a unit every 100 or so. The same heat pump ran just fine for 18 months on my two SolArk12K’s. I have no grid power and no generator feeding these two 6500EX’s.

I’ve sent this information to Travis at SS. Awaiting a response.

9/26/23. Edit: Signature Solar provided great customer service, tech support and we arrived at a fair resolution today. I highly recommend them now and what a stress relief! Thank you!
 
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SolarPhoton said:
Last night.. and after the FirmWare change.. Flickers every 55 min. This morning we have a flicker around every 1/2 hour.
Click to expand...

Probably freezer or fridge runs causing voltage regulation to go haywire.

Now that you gone down the rabbit hole with the firmware upgrades and it didn't work, just call it quits. I spent probably 100 hours working to find a cause/solution, don't waste your time.

SolarPhoton said:
So much for that as a cure. What should I try now. Can't have this flicker.
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I'd ask for a refund. They did refund my money but shortly after came out with the $700 credit per EG4 6500EX towards the purchase of the 18Kpv. If they won't refund your money, then the next best choice is the credit and install the 18Kpv, you will get to keep the 6500EX's also. If the time frame is short since purchase using a credit card, you might be able to contact your credit card company and dispute the transaction.

I have noticed Ian at Watts247 is now selling the LV6548 inverter with limited warranty support on his end and you will have to deal with MPP Solar. I don't know if the unit had some changes. My LV6548's were purchased in 2021 before the 6500EX came out.
 
RV10flyer said:
Well, I finally got the other half of my cord from Amazon to update. Then one of the gray update cords that they sent was bad. Of course I picked the bad one first. Finally figured that out. Got my two May 2022 6500ex’s updated to the latest and greatest firmware. My pulsing compressors and pulsing/flickering lights during 2 ton 14 SEER soft start equipped heat pump start up is still there although it is less than it was originally before updating firmware. Frequency seems to jump from 60 to 62 Hz, voltage drops very little, but my heat pump compressor, my little refrigerator compressor and LEDs flicker like crazy for 6 to 8 seconds until it finally smoothes out. I don’t know what’s wrong with it. I know someone didn’t do proper testing before they sent these out of the factory and distributor. It wouldn’t be hard at these distributors to have a three ton heat pump with soft start setup with good quality LED’s like I have to test a unit every 100 or so. The same heat pump ran just fine for 18 months on my two SolArk12K’s. I have no grid power and no generator feeding these two 6500EX’s.

I’ve sent this information to Travis at SS. Awaiting a response.
Click to expand...
I messaged one of the SS guys here in the forums and they sent me a free cable for updating firmware. Firmware installed fine on all units but never fixed any problems for me.
 
Adam De Lay said:
Now when you say "flicker" are you talking about something that's constant or your light blinks when a larger load kicks in?

I had issues with specific equipment at my house causing my lights to flicker anytime those things were plugged in an powered on.
Click to expand...
The flicker is just a off and on dimming of the bulb. My computer monitors "click" when this happens. I took the computer system off the solar power. Yup.. just off and back on. Fast but very noticeable.
 
#40Fan said:
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LOL.. that's super and I may have to ask for an RMA. Some are using the LV 6548 units. Box looks the same as my EG4 6500ex!.. More research and reading the forum (s) is a requirement. The SS guy commented that the new firmware fixed the problem. I admit it seems to have made my lights flicker LESS.. but hasn't stopped the flicker. I don't want to risk having my computers, TV, and Amateur Radio equipment riding on the EG4. Maybe through a Back-Up UPS. We bought this 6500 last year in December. I suppose I better make a decision on requesting and RMA before then, right? What to do...hummm...

Thanks guys.
 
You may have similar issues with an mpp version. The lv6548’s I bought over a year ago were great. But some of the newer ones have been having similar issues from what I’ve heard from people that have contacted me. The Sungold’s as well.

The newer EG4 6500ex’s I reviewed didn’t have any flickering issues. Most of this seems to have started with some hardware issues last year. If the firmware doesn’t resolve the problem then you could either seek an RMA or upgrade to the 18kpv.
 
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Gavin Stone said:
You may have similar issues with an mpp version. The lv6548’s I bought over a year ago were great. But some of the newer ones have been having similar issues from what I’ve heard from people that have contacted me. The Sungold’s as well.

The newer EG4 6500ex’s I reviewed didn’t have any flickering issues. Most of this seems to have started with some hardware issues last year. If the firmware doesn’t resolve the problem then you could either seek an RMA or upgrade to the 18kpv.
Click to expand...
Is it the older 250v PV input or only the new 390+v PV input versions that have been reported as problematic ?
 
nc73 said:
Why does the flickering bother everyone so much? I care not.
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I get faint flickering with a few LED’s with dimmers on my two 12K’s on the home. I’m fine with that.

Pulsing lights, shaking compressors, tripping SPD’s by my 6500ex’s are a NO-GO on my shop.

Edit 9/26/23: Signature Solar provided great customer service, tech support and we arrived at a fair resolution today. I highly recommend them now and what a stress relief! Thank you!
 
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