EG4 Upgrade Program - Turn-in Sol-Ark 15K for EG4 18K

[Brucey]

Why is this program specific to the Solark 15K? Please help me understand...

The trade in unit must be functional, this is key because it's really not helping the ones that allegedly have "failed" units with warranty voided. This is the basis for the whole program right? Denied warranty, which would mean the unit failed and Solark said no. So if your EG4 battery customer is in this boat, they are still SOL?

A Solark 15K is $7000 and you want someone to give up a WORKING unit for $1000 on the basis that it MIGHT fail and it MIGHT not be under warranty?! In other words - take a $6000 loss and hand over another $3900 in exchange for a EG4 unit that only costs $4900 in the first place?

FWIW - I do think a general trade in program is a great idea to provide incentive for a new inverter, but this one is so specific to a competitors make/model that it seems predatory with what you're offering.

What do you plan to do with the trade in units? Dumpster behind sig solar? Ebay?

You trade in a working solark 15k + $1000 and get an 18kpv is how I read the offer

 

[1201]

Presumably for the 200A bypass?

Ah i see. The madness of Passing 96kw through 24kw of inverters.

 

[Quattrohead]

Ah i see. The madness of Passing 96kw through 24kw of inverters.

48kw but yeah okay

 

[seneysolar]

You trade in a working solark 15k + $1000 and get an 18kpv is how I read the offer

Ahh i read it as $1000 off, you are correct.

Still, to give up a working $7000 unit and pay another $1000 to get a inverter worth $4900. It just doesn't pencil out. Customer ends up $8k invested and his Solark didn't fail in the first place.

Maybe if they took failed Solark 15Ks in on this program it would make sense

 

[1201]

48kw but yeah okay

If each inverter can pass through 200a and you have two inverters, wouldn't that be 400a or 96kw of passthrough?

 

[Brucey]

If each inverter can pass through 200a and you have two inverters, wouldn't that be 400a or 96kw of passthrough?

The grid connection is usually 200A

 

[1201]

The grid connection is usually 200A

then why would they need 4/0 wire in/out of each inverter?

 

[Bkord]

then why would they need 4/0 wire in/out of each inverter?

Copper or aluminum 4/0?

 

[1201]

Copper or aluminum 4/0?

What are you asking?

 

[DIYrich]

then why would they need 4/0 wire in/out of each inverter?

In case one inverter goes down. I think code allows 2 wires to supply power, but each wire must be sized for the entire load.

 

[Bkord]

What are you asking?

Copper and aluminum wire is rated for different amps. If 4/0 aluminum is required then 3/0 copper could be used in its place.

 

[1201]

Copper and aluminum wire is rated for different amps. If 4/0 aluminum is required then 3/0 copper could be used in its place.

Oh i see. Copy that.

In case one inverter goes down. I think code allows 2 wires to supply power, but each wire must be sized for the entire load.

Ok got it. Another reason 200a passthrough on a 50a inverter is not a good idea

 

[Will Prowse]

Should I even cover products that don't allow for use with other manufacturers batteries? How could that ever hurt the unit? Not very "diy" in my opinion.

 

[Brucey]

Should I even cover products that don't allow for use with other manufacturers batteries? How could that ever hurt the unit? Not very "diy" in my opinion.

At the very least I'd like to see some evidence this is happening, referred to here, it's not clear where these posts are happening.

Post in thread 'EG4 Upgrade Program - Turn-in Sol-Ark 15K for EG4 18K'

Oct 2, 2024

Both statements are vague and inflammatory, yet Kamala word salad worthy.

Just read the posts our battery customers are putting up about what happens when they call their inverter company for warranty.
It's a free country, some people may want to swap for other reasons and we won't ask questions.

• James Showalter

• 

 

[Mark Halvorson]

Should I even cover products that don't allow for use with other manufacturers batteries? How could that ever hurt the unit? Not very "diy" in my opinion.

Keep giving diy options. No reason to review or test systems that everything is all from one vendor. The world moves too fast.

 

[Brucey]

Should I even cover products that don't allow for use with other manufacturers batteries? How could that ever hurt the unit? Not very "diy" in my opinion.

I'd like to know:

1) How many solark 15ks are failing?
2) Are all of these failing units using eg4 batteries or are other "approved/partner" battery brands as well?

 

[koppted]

Should I even cover products that don't allow for use with other manufacturers batteries? How could that ever hurt the unit? Not very "diy" in my opinion.

Still waiting on your Midnite One review, that inverter has been out for months, and is as DIY friendly as can be. What gives?

 

[Danke]

LUX Power for the win? If EG4 wants to act like this then the alternative is to buy a LUX power inverter from LUX power and skip the EG4 shenanigans.

I believe they have an exclusivity contract to prevent going direct to Lux Power.

 

[MySolarAddiction]

It's not just battery communication issues, they are also apparently welding grid bypass relays shut, now that is a very serious problem.

Please elaborate on "welding grid bypass relays shut"....

 

[Bkord]

Should I even cover products that don't allow for use with other manufacturers batteries? How could that ever hurt the unit? Not very "diy" in my opinion.

Yes. It does not mean the product is bad if the company makes a bad business decision. I have a solark 12k with EG4 batteries. Never had a problem. Actually one of the reasons I bought solark was they said they were battery agnostic.

 

[Will Prowse]

Still waiting on your Midnite One review, that inverter has been out for months, and is as DIY friendly as can be. What gives?

Oh good point, I don't have one yet. I have a pile of products on my bench for review but I don't have that one. Was supposed to have it. Will make some emails

 

[seneysolar]

Yes. It does not mean the product is bad if the company makes a bad business decision. I have a solark 12k with EG4 batteries. Never had a problem. Actually one of the reasons I bought solark was they said they were battery agnostic.

And they still do for the 12k.

 

[timselectric]

I believe they have an exclusivity contract to prevent going direct to Lux Power.

There are several vendors selling Luxpower.
That don't change the name to something silly and confusing.

 

[400bird]

It's not just battery communication issues, they are also apparently welding grid bypass relays shut, now that is a very serious problem.

Mmm, this doesn't pass my sniff test. I call BS.

Relays on the AC side can and will fail, I'm not seeing a connection to the battery...

 

[Lt.Dan]

I have a Sol-ark 15k, and I have a plethora of SOK, EG4, Volithium, Jakiper, and DIY/Seplos batteries. SOK support has never once said anything about them voiding my warranty, and if anything, they think its cool.

Not sure what the problem is, but I'd love to see or hear from someone first hand having problems.

On another note, I have a Sol-Ark 12k sitting in the box here, its too bad Sig Solar doesn't accept those for trade in, as I would love to finally get my hands on an EG4 18kPV.