Growatt SPF 5000 ES Not Working

[Martin70197]

Hello community I have a situation with my Growatt SPF 5000 ES inverter.

The inverter does not produce solar energy. I can measure around 290 Volt but no current will appear on the display.
That is my configuration:

• Growatt SPF 5000 ES
• 12 Jinko 465 Bifacial Solar Panels in 2 Strings ( 6 per String)
  Cable 6 mm² to the Combiner Box
• 6 String PV Combiner Box with Lightning Arrester
• Cable 6 mm² to the inverter
• DIY Battery 16s with 280 AH with JK Bms

all worked fine for 2 months and I have no error code or error protocols on Shine

I tried only one of the 2 strings, still the same not working.
By the Way, the inverter works with the grid and Battery without problems.
Maybe somebody has an idea of how to fix this problem.

Kind regards and have a great weekend!!!

 

[SouliAgua]

Hello Martin, I have exactly the same with our Growatt SPF 5000TL HVM-WPV inverter. Did you get answers elsewhere? When we measured the voltage at the inverter it read 0v but before the breaker it measured 350v. However if we disconnected one of the lines coming in just before the inverter and then measured the voltage it read 350v. Any tips or solution would be appreciated.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Hello Martin, I have exactly the same with our Growatt SPF 5000TL HVM-WPV inverter. Did you get answers elsewhere? When we measured the voltage at the inverter it read 0v but before the breaker it measured 350v. However if we disconnected one of the lines coming in just before the inverter and then measured the voltage it read 350v. Any tips or solution would be appreciated.

Are you 1000% certain the array polarity is not reversed? Many MPPT will short the PV input to 0V if the wires are backwards.

 

[SouliAgua]

Are you 1000% certain the array polarity is not reversed? Many MPPT will short the PV input to 0V if the wires are backwards.

Absolutely, the system has been running for about 3 years now and nothing has been changed in the meantime. Currently I have a Voltronic Axpert King II 5kw (the insides are identical to Growatt) replacement and it works fine.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Absolutely, the system has been running for about 3 years now and nothing has been changed in the meantime. Currently I have a Voltronic Axpert King II 5kw (the insides are identical to Growatt) replacement and it works fine.

Try these three things:

1. When breaker is closed (I'm assuming you've confirmed the breaker is good), use a clamp DC ammeter to see if any current is flowing through one of the PV wires. If there's current, the PV circuit is shorted, and the MPPT has likely failed.
2. Turn the unit off, disconnect PV, confirm 0V at PV terminals and then check resistance through the AiO PV connection. If you measure zero or low oems, it likely means the MPPT has failed.
3. Split the array in half. Connect each half separately one at a time and check for voltage at the PV terminals.

 

[SouliAgua]

Try these three things:

1. When breaker is closed (I'm assuming you've confirmed the breaker is good), use a clamp DC ammeter to see if any current is flowing through one of the PV wires. If there's current, the PV circuit is shorted, and the MPPT has likely failed.
2. Turn the unit off, disconnect PV, confirm 0V at PV terminals and then check resistance through the AiO PV connection. If you measure zero or low oems, it likely means the MPPT has failed.
3. Split the array in half. Connect each half separately one at a time and check for voltage at the PV terminals.

Thanks for the advice, in essence I've tried all those. As I have a replacement inverter in place and all is working, MPPT failure is most likely. I suppose with these AiO systems it's not reparable and if so not really worth it?

 

[kirkdis]

As these inverters are made for one string maybe your parallel string orientation or partly shadowing is the issue. I realized that the Growatt SPF mppt is making weird noise when there is a partly shadowed paralleled string when the others are fully in sunlight. This results that the mppt is constantly adjusting the power at high current levels. However this use case is not explained and covered by the inverters manual but it works if you have the strings oriented at the same level, angle and direction without partly shadowed. It works for my home now for 2 years without any issues...

 

[DanET1983]

I have a similar system (i.e. Growatt spf 5000 es) that has been working for months now (although not consistently charging the batteries well). I currently have 7 Renogy panels RNG-320D through a combiner panel.

However, today while sitting here working remotely I looked over to keep an eye on battery charge (full sun, no clouds) and was shocked to see 0 volts from the PV input. First time ever seeing that. Haven't had time yet to break out the multimeter, but toggling the PV circuit breakers on and off made no difference and my non-contact voltage sensor is indicating voltage on the PV lines. I initially suspected that maybe one of the puppies pulled at something but all seems connected.

If I get this correctly, I should disconnect the PV input by shutting off the circuit breakers and then testing to voltage at the PV input connections on the Growatt?

Looks like I need a DC ammeter.

 

[DanET1983]

....and I just checked that it will take line voltage from the generator and is charging the batteries. They were being charged earlier today with full sun and now show 0 volt PV input. If I apply logic, knowing that this was all working earlier today, I'm thinking that one of our dogs or something may have pulled at one of the PV cords.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

....and I just checked that it will take line voltage from the generator and is charging the batteries. They were being charged earlier today with full sun and now show 0 volt PV input. If I apply logic, knowing that this was all working earlier today, I'm thinking that one of our dogs or something may have pulled at one of the PV cords.

You are ignoring the possibility of spontaneous failure, which is how they typically fail. It's working one moment, and the next it's not.

I hope you're right!

 

[DanET1983]

I dodged a bullet! I went back out to the solar panels and checked every connection and found one of the connectors pulled out! It must have been one of our three dogs running thru the area. I have the panels low to the ground because we are on the side of a mountain and the wind can be a bit much in the winter.

This definitely makes me think that I should consider a backup plan for a sudden failure of the MPPT though. This unit has been reasonable, but have been looking at the EG4 6000 unit for our future cabin.

If I had a future setup with 2 units connected, and one fails I could temporarily set it up with a single unit while waiting for a replacement.

 

[idrisalan]

I know it can be a pain but first isolate the panels. The first thing is to check all the MC4 connectors they must engage with a click sound it only takes one in a series string and then you will have a problem. I have added to my system over the last six years I have had one of my Growatts fail with a 09 error. Inverter was replaced under warranty.