diy solar

diy solar

Failed MPP system

just Doi said:
Greetings,
I bought a system from a dishonest provider (Peter Goodin, Cad-mec Ltd of Waitati, who utterly refused to backup these products) which featured a MPP Solar PIP2424HS Charger/Invertor. During the first year the charger side slowly failed and by the time I realised it had failed completely the battery bank was sulphated. I temporarily setup an independent charger and not long after the invertor side failed as well. I could not recommend these units AT ALL. Doi, The Ark, Aramoana, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Click to expand...
Hi
Read this blog post here. Might help a bit.
www.mobile-solarpower.com

All-in-One Solar Power Packages

MPP and a few other manufacturers now sell a "complete off grid system in a box" that has: AC Inverter Solar Charge Controller AC Battery Charger Automatic Transfer Switch (if grid power is...
www.mobile-solarpower.com
 
PsychoticEpisode said:
Funny how the MPP site has NO way to buy the product from them, don't they have faith in there products?(Im not insulting you just MPP)
Click to expand...
Hi
You can buy directly from MPPSolar. They sell on a number of platforms and they are shipped directly from the factory in Taiwan.
 
Ah, it was in response to a poster " my mppt charge controller cost 300$ "

What i thought you meant. Mpp(t), not MPP system.
The market used to exclude poor performers a.d unreliable equipment. Now a company can slap a label on a mass produced half joke of a piece of equipment and in a week there will be hundreds of thousands of "reviews" 'hooked it up today works good' and before anybody realizes its junk, its no longer available half the units are in a garbage can amd the sellers and makers profit immensely.... sad story.
 
kernel said:
Ah, it was in response to a poster " my mppt charge controller cost 300$ "

What i thought you meant. Mpp(t), not MPP system.
The market used to exclude poor performers a.d unreliable equipment. Now a company can slap a label on a mass produced half joke of a piece of equipment and in a week there will be hundreds of thousands of "reviews" 'hooked it up today works good' and before anybody realizes its junk, its no longer available half the units are in a garbage can amd the sellers and makers profit immensely.... sad story.
Click to expand...
Hi
The problem here (as in lots of posts) is posting just to bash a product without attempting to solve the problem. You have also jumped on the band wagon - along with a lot of other posters - without actually showing any knowledge of the product itself. Has it been setup correctly ( I don’t think so judging by the post) and there are no details to make an informed decision. A lot of replies also demonstrate a lack of knowledge about the product but bang on about it being “Chinese junk” and then recommend a product that is “branded” as being non - Chinese made when it is assembled from Chinese made components. Read the post by Will Prowse on these MPPSolar products to get an idea. I posted a link above somewhere. Also watch his YouTube reviews on them.

They have been in business for many years, are based in Taiwan, and (in my humble opinion) suit a market segment perfectly. The are many knockoffs of these which is another story altogether.
Regards
 
Oh,
thedodgersonline said:
Hi
The problem here (as in lots of posts) is posting just to bash a product without attempting to solve the problem. You have also jumped on the band wagon - along with a lot of other posters - without actually showing any knowledge of the product itself. Has it been setup correctly ( I don’t think so judging by the post) and there are no details to make an informed decision. A lot of replies also demonstrate a lack of knowledge about the product but bang on about it being “Chinese junk” and then recommend a product that is “branded” as being non - Chinese made when it is assembled from Chinese made components. Read the post by Will Prowse on these MPPSolar products to get an idea. I posted a link above somewhere. Also watch his YouTube reviews on them.

They have been in business for many years, are based in Taiwan, and (in my humble opinion) suit a market segment perfectly. The are many knockoffs of these which is another story altogether.
Regards
Click to expand...
I did see his reviews. They were pretty thorough and id consider using it. My comment did not mention the unit or china...... at all. Taiwan is absolutely known to be a prime source of electronics amd light industrial machines amd tools..... respectable as any.

These new coming devices do need a jaundiced eye connected to an open mind though and i am so glad for adventurous early adoptors.

I cannot afford any mistake or botch or risky selection for the narrow margin i run on installs and you would never (repeat never) forgive me, would you??
 
kernel said:
Oh,
I did see his reviews. They were pretty thorough and id consider using it. My comment did not mention the unit or china...... at all. Taiwan is absolutely known to be a prime source of electronics amd light industrial machines amd tools..... respectable as any.

These new coming devices do need a jaundiced eye connected to an open mind though and i am so glad for adventurous early adoptors.

I cannot afford any mistake or botch or risky selection for the narrow margin i run on installs and you would never (repeat never) forgive me, would you??
Click to expand...
Additionally, ill let Will, and everybody else speak and think for themselves.
His personal grid tied home power system is made in israel by Solar Edge........ that speaks for itself and sells itself no matter what people think they are buying and its their choice in the end.

As much as i like to take care and contribute with accuracy, it would be an all day job for each question or survey as it sometimes is. Its just a forum and i reserve the right to comment broadly and shoot from the hip sometimes.
 
thedodgersonline said:
Hi
You can buy directly from MPPSolar. They sell on a number of platforms and they are shipped directly from the factory in Taiwan.
Click to expand...
If its appreciated, my humble system does incorporate a cheap, chinese inverter with only the most basic function. I found the one that was efficien amd reliable with the components that were suitable and within my budget for a temporary solution it worked well enough to be in use here since 2013 or so..... but i only install something like it for people who are providing whatever they have or can afford and understand that everything we do has comprimises and we can do it with your budget but its your baby..... and im not responsible, diy assistance.

An installation for somebody that has to meet the standard of the industry, customer expectations and safety code is a totally different animal than (diy) shed lights projects or entertainment center ups systems or raspberry pi data logger and relay comms power supplies or even some home or home backup power systems. It just is.
 
thedodgersonline said:
Hi - The MPP already has an auto switch over function built in. It will switch over to mains if the battery gets below a set point. You can also set it up to bypass to grid if the load is too great. There is a great write up on this on Wills blog. BTW his conclusion is that they are a great bit of gear but what would he know! Right?
Click to expand...
I know that.

I was asking about assembling your own hardware that does what the MPP system does. Not everyone is a fan of their hardware, and if one can assemble the same thing for less money, well, that's quite interesting.

The great thing about assembling one piece wise is that when parts fail, you replace that specific part, instead of the entire thing. Which is also interesting that people partially assembled a system....
 
thedodgersonline said:
Hi
The problem here (as in lots of posts) is posting just to bash a product without attempting to solve the problem. You have also jumped on the band wagon - along with a lot of other posters - without actually showing any knowledge of the product itself. Has it been setup correctly ( I don’t think so judging by the post) and there are no details to make an informed decision. A lot of replies also demonstrate a lack of knowledge about the product but bang on about it being “Chinese junk” and then recommend a product that is “branded” as being non - Chinese made when it is assembled from Chinese made components. Read the post by Will Prowse on these MPPSolar products to get an idea. I posted a link above somewhere. Also watch his YouTube reviews on them.

They have been in business for many years, are based in Taiwan, and (in my humble opinion) suit a market segment perfectly. The are many knockoffs of these which is another story altogether.
Regards
Click to expand...
No the real problem is people that will blindly defend a company that has not proven is worth. Many companies have been in business for years and still make cheep crap because its a global market and there are lots of new customers to rip off. You are trying to disregard actual customers that have had bad experiences. That is no different to fanboys that will make excuses for there favorite company no mater how bad they get. No company deserves loyalty for ANY resin, they must always prove there worth. If they make a bad product they must bend over backwards to make it right, not just sit back and let others fight for them.
 
PsychoticEpisode said:
No the real problem is people that will blindly defend a company that has not proven is worth. Many companies have been in business for years and still make cheep crap because its a global market and there are lots of new customers to rip off. You are trying to disregard actual customers that have had bad experiences. That is no different to fanboys that will make excuses for there favorite company no mater how bad they get. No company deserves loyalty for ANY resin, they must always prove there worth. If they make a bad product they must bend over backwards to make it right, not just sit back and let others fight for them.
Click to expand...

Are you sure you got the genuine article?
It seems there are knockoffs too.
 
alfaeric said:
I know that.

I was asking about assembling your own hardware that does what the MPP system does. Not everyone is a fan of their hardware, and if one can assemble the same thing for less money, well, that's quite interesting.

The great thing about assembling one piece wise is that when parts fail, you replace that specific part, instead of the entire thing. Which is also interesting that people partially assembled a system....
Click to expand...
Hi
Absolutely you can assemble your own system using you choice of components but it will cost much more. Plenty videos of that on YouTube and in Fact I think Will has done one.
Regards
 
PsychoticEpisode said:
No the real problem is people that will blindly defend a company that has not proven is worth. Many companies have been in business for years and still make cheep crap because its a global market and there are lots of new customers to rip off. You are trying to disregard actual customers that have had bad experiences. That is no different to fanboys that will make excuses for there favorite company no mater how bad they get. No company deserves loyalty for ANY resin, they must always prove there worth. If they make a bad product they must bend over backwards to make it right, not just sit back and let others fight for them.
Click to expand...
Hi As apposed to people blindly criticizing a system they know nothing about?
Regards
 
thedodgersonline said:
Hi
Absolutely you can assemble your own system using you choice of components but it will cost much more. Plenty videos of that on YouTube and in Fact I think Will has done one.
Regards
Click to expand...
Sure doesn't seem that it would be more expensive. And it's very not clear if the MPP would be fully up to code- not enough stuff holding wires in place and hidden away from touching.
 
alfaeric said:
Sure doesn't seem that it would be more expensive. And it's very not clear if the MPP would be fully up to code- not enough stuff holding wires in place and hidden away from touching.
Click to expand...
Hi
Not sure where you are based but go onto eBay / Amazon / AltE and price the components and you will be surprised at how quickly it will mount up. You will need a MPPT that can handle a large array and an output at 48V ( my suggestion is 48v for many reasons) a battery charger that will charge at 48V. Then you need an Inverter and an ATS and now you will need the cables / terminal strips / terminations and switches / gauges and disconnects. Then you have to wire them all together.
Or you can get a all in one unit and MPPSolar is not the only manufacturer of these. I am sure there are others. Victron (I seem to recall) make one but you will need to do your own research here.
Don't get me wrong - the All in one system do have their disadvantages as do the do it yourself systems but do the research and find the one that is most applicable to your needs. I think it depends wheer you are located as to whether the MPP system is fully up to code or not.
Have a look on YouTube - mine of information there.
Regards
 
Since you are so well versed on MPP solar, how do you tell the difference between the real ones and the fake ones?

A quick google search for the cheapest 48V system has them at both $612 and $1064. That's a HUGE difference in cost that do exactly the same thing- 5000W, 48V, 230 out....

And they look different.

How in the world can someone trust those parts? None of them have real details. Makes one very weary of them.
 
thedodgersonline said:
Hi
Absolutely you can assemble your own system using you choice of components but it will cost much more. Plenty videos of that on YouTube and in Fact I think Will has done one.
Regards
Click to expand...
2500$-4500$, add modules, mounting and electrical integration parts. Done. 20 year warranty available but rarely needed.

My entire off grid system cost $3500 or less and we have had a successful run for 7 years.....
 
JoeHam said:
Take a look here. This guy has been in contact with MPP and sounds like they are aware/frustrated by the clone ripoffs.

Click to expand...
IF the unit I got was a ripoff they even copied the software and control panel as it looked just like the one in the video.
Then what is MPP doing to combat the ripoffs?
 
PsychoticEpisode said:
How meany of them have you ever owned? As for me I had 1 and got rid of it.
Regards :cool:
Click to expand...
Hi
So far I have "owned" about 6. Some I have on sold and others I have parted and sold bits and pieces. Never had a problem so far except for the one I currently have running my shed / pool where I had to replace the fans because I was getting a warning. Runs 24 / 7.
When I move the house "off grid" completely I will purchase another one for that.

EDIT : They are pretty complex to set up and this is where a lot of people go wrong. The default settings often work OK but if you start changing settings it can go wrong quickly. If you follow this link Will Prowse has a great site where the settings are defined and these work great as well.
www.mobile-solarpower.com

All-in-One Solar Power Packages

MPP and a few other manufacturers now sell a "complete off grid system in a box" that has: AC Inverter Solar Charge Controller AC Battery Charger Automatic Transfer Switch (if grid power is...
www.mobile-solarpower.com

Regards
 
Last edited:
alfaeric said:
Since you are so well versed on MPP solar, how do you tell the difference between the real ones and the fake ones?

A quick google search for the cheapest 48V system has them at both $612 and $1064. That's a HUGE difference in cost that do exactly the same thing- 5000W, 48V, 230 out....

And they look different.

How in the world can someone trust those parts? None of them have real details. Makes one very weary of them.
Click to expand...
Hi - I generally purchase directly off the company website "MPPSolar" as I have got to know them. As this is Will Prowse forum I would suggest you use his affiliate links (if you are the the USA) or purchase from the MPPSolar shop on eBay or AliExpress. They are present on many sites. It is a minefield out there but I always suggest that you develop relationships with sellers, irrespective of the sites, and thay way your mitigate most of the risks.

This is the genuine eBay site for MPPSolar - maximum solar is present on all eBay sites https://www.ebay.com/usr/maximum_solar?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
Regards
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

diy solar

diy solar
Back
Top