This has just been a very disappointing experience, considering that I specifically chose the vendor based on their sales and technical support claims. Yes, the fact that they have members actively participating in these forums also led me to believe that they would stand behind their products. My experience has been quite the opposite, with them actually grasping anything out of thin air to avoid responsibility with their product.
I have recently purchased from them the following equipment:
- Growatt 8kw DVM-MPV
- 48V 100AH EG4
- Battery Cables
- AC Disconnect
The equipment above was purchased after a long back and forth conversations with their sales team, clarifying questions and compatibility with my existing condition (off grid with a 14kW LPG Kohler generator and 240V split phase panel). This being my very first DIY energy system, I can assure everyone that I tried to cover all angles and asked many questions during those calls:
- Will it work with my 240V split phase?
- Will it be able to turn on the generator automatically?
- How long would it take to charge the battery with the generator?
- Would I need any other equipment for this to fully work?
- Will I be able to simply add more energy storage as I please?
And the list of questions goes on, but at no point during any of the sales calls Signature Solar mentioned or raised questions regarding the compatibility of my $5,000 14kW Kohler generator with their inverter. To be quite honest, their attitude was quite the opposite: this is the package you need, everything will work, we are here to support it.
Well, this hasn't been the case. After installing the system I was only able to operate it in UTI mode, where if I turn the generator (manually) the power switches from battery to generator power and when generator is turned off, power goes back to battery source.
When trying to operate in the correct mode (SBU) the unit simply does not transfer between battery source to generator source. Additionally, the dry contact for the AGS does not click appropriately once the battery hits the SOC setpoints.
After a few unsuccessful calls with Signature Solar tier 1 technician, they bounce me to a tier 2 technician who basically is stating that my generator is not compatible with their unit and it is my fault to have purchased their inverter. They even went to say that their inverters are NOT compatible or meant to be used with generators, which was a shock considering they mentioned off-grid solutions, their inverters have a AGS contact and the inverter user manual explicitly mentions generator application.
But guess what is nowhere to be found anywhere in their website or inverter manuals? The "new generator requirements" they have recently created in order to avoid dealing with their defective products.
They are basically saying the inverter is not defective and the problem with my setup is due to the following:
1. My generator being only "14kW" instead of the allegedly required 16kW.
2. My generator only guaranteeing "up to 5% THD" when their inverter allegedly only works with 3% THD.
I had asked them to point me to where these requirements live but they were not able to produce anything concrete.
To be continued.
