DIYrich
Solar Wizard
Too bad there isn't a millisecond adjustment for off grid frequency. Seems like your clock chip is running a little fast.
Sol-Ark's Comment on EG4 18k-PV-12-LV
- Thread starter HighTechLab
- Start date
Which software? The the data and web hosted stuff for the Sol-Ark was/is hosted from servers in China. They have started to change that so that new installs send data to the USA but older units are still sending to China.
Interesting comparison. I would never buy a BMW because I don't consider it really a product with a great track record. I've noticed there are a heck of a lot more old Fords still driving around (proportionally) than old BMWs. Probably because BMWs are expensive to maintain and repair, so when they get older they get junked because richy people won't be seen in an "old" car and middle class or poor people can't afford the repair bills on them!
And I'm not even a Ford fan in the slightest.
There is a common phrase about German cars. If you can't afford a new one, you can't afford a used one.
Having owned a few Mercs since new that have become quite high mileage, I completely agree with that phrase.
BlueMarblePA
Solar Enthusiast
I just used the Trina 280w panels which are easy to handle and carry. So I will carry the salt with you!
MrM1
I'm Here, But I'm Not All There
@HighTechLab
Can you post a link to the calculator used in your pics?
Can you post a link to the calculator used in your pics?
This one is also good: https://www.midnitesolar.com/sizingTool/index.php
MrM1
I'm Here, But I'm Not All There
Is the MS calc this calc ?
I am familiar with MS's calc. I have used it for the past 6 years to design systems. Just wasn't thinking what HighTechLab used was the same. I could be wrong. Often am.
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
exactly my thought
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
sorry , but nonsense
Honestly for me, the price isn't a huge differentiator (just a consideration), but the "properly sized" wiring compartment sure is. SolArk could really use an extended gutter option, as @HighTechLab is aware from his personal install.
I'll be trying to go into permit and utility application with a series of acceptable alternates listed on the plans for AIO inverters and maybe even the XW-Pro 6848 ecosystem.
I'll be trying to go into permit and utility application with a series of acceptable alternates listed on the plans for AIO inverters and maybe even the XW-Pro 6848 ecosystem.
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
and to add insult to injury.
deye( including sunsynk users, dc is in london) is moving data to uk for eu users, usa for north and south american users ( including sol-ark ) and the rest stays in china .
probably has more to do with strickter eu/uk laws on privacy and the general bad vibes between the us and china than anything
just saying
SignatureSolarJames
Try Solar, the Grid will always take you back
XW Pro is genuine gold some have 18 years under their belt lol
They're amazing, the issue is the balance of the system. It just adds up. I can get 3 xw pros for 5500cad each, but the balance of parts is another ~10k.
You guys really have an advantage with the lack of PDP, AGS, monitoring, etc. It's a really attractive alternative.
I understand quite well how business works, but thanks. My point is that IF Sol Ark didn’t have an exclusive deal with Deye in NA, then the same exact units would cost roughly to a little more than half of what they sell them for…. Off the boat here in the US. What I take issue with is the implication that you are paying for a specia American product at an all American price when we know that isn’t true at all. That’s it. If they didn’t take this approach, I would have zero issues with SolArk ??
. Again, as I posted on my original post, I have no problem ponying up premium money for premium items. Sure I like a bargain, but I’m definitely not the guy always looking to save a few bucks.
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
actually.. a lot less than half..I understand quite well how business works, but thanks. My point is that IF Sol Ark didn’t have an exclusive deal with Deye in NA, then the same exact units would cost roughly to a little more than half of what they sell them for…. Off the boat here in the US. What I take issue with is the implication that you are paying for a specia American product at an all American price when we know that isn’t true at all. That’s it. If they didn’t take this approach, I would have zero issues with SolArk ??
ex taxes and shipping they sell the 12k 3 phase eu versions for 2300 eur ( about 2600 USD)
they are about the same specs as the 15k
now to be fair.
sol-ark provides local support ( and in general good support too) , has us folks on their payroll ,keeps local stock and handles warrantee, and provides training for pros
they seem to do this excellent, and all of that costs money too.
plus, they were the first to take a leap of faith on this class of inverters.
nobody , including me, is against them making a good living , doing what they love, helping people along the way..
still not sure why they felt the need to do it making false statements or battering the competition
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Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
Gonna poke in here asking a Questions for Signature Solar
From what I can tell, EG4 is a "Signature Solar House Brand" just a Rebranding / Relabelling of existing products available.
None of this is available from any other vendor anywhere with the EG4 Label.
So WHY would I or anyone else want to purchase a House Brand ? Sure the Dollars & Cents factor is there but what other benefits if any come with it ?
Considering that https://eg4electronics.com/ leads to only 1 vendor... maybe a subtle and obvious thing but who knows...
From what I can tell, EG4 is a "Signature Solar House Brand" just a Rebranding / Relabelling of existing products available.
None of this is available from any other vendor anywhere with the EG4 Label.
So WHY would I or anyone else want to purchase a House Brand ? Sure the Dollars & Cents factor is there but what other benefits if any come with it ?
Considering that https://eg4electronics.com/ leads to only 1 vendor... maybe a subtle and obvious thing but who knows...
Tulex
Solar Wizard
Why? For the great customer service, that's why.
Quattrohead
Solar Wizard
Yep that is poor form.
jrcromer
Sol-Ark Senior Technical Manager
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2022
- Messages
- 102
All - full disclosure, I recently moved employers from Fortress to Sol-Ark, so I know a thing or two about both products. And yes, things do get cut throat when companies choose to rip off the product design of their industry partners, whether that be Fortress or EG4.
First off, Sol-Ark did create its inverter - how else would they have exclusivity from their contract manufacturing partner this late in the game? Did anyone see the Sol-Ark form factor on a Deye inverter prior to Sol-Ark? Tom (our CEO) has been consistent on this point for years - even when I worked for one of Sol-Ark's partners (and now competitor / imitators). Sol-Ark is also exclusively focused on inverter manufacturing - and ancillary hardware like DC optimizers. It's not primarily a material distributor with an import agreement.
In fact, I would strongly suggest Sol-Arks exclusivity in the USA market is a key difference between a manufacturer and a white labeller. It's incredibly common for a manufacturer to have an OEM partner, and part of that deal is exclusivity in the USA market in exchange for the OEM doing whatever they want overseas. So be it. The path to USA-based manufacturing of residential renewable hardware lies in writing your congressional representatives to remind them that people should be valued more than corporations, and that the domestic content adder to the tax credit should apply to the residential tax credit, not just the commercial tax credit.
Secondly please reference comment #17, James (the founder of EG4) mentioned the 21kW is designed with "the shift in mind to m10 and M12 in the years ahead". Okay then - if the 18kW spec is only achievable with future modules, then what long-term endurance testing been done by EG4/Luxpower at the 18kW output spec? Sorry EG4, but I'd like to see receipts for the 18kW claim.
The simple fact is anyone saying these inverters are equivalent, or that the EG4 is better, or that the price difference is game changing has yet to perform a complete design to validate the specs they are touting. As indicated by the founder of EG4, to max out the inverter, you will need to look towards "yet to be released" modules, which should carry a premium price. The $/W cost difference alone in premium vs. economy solar panels more than makes up for the price difference between the two inverters when optimizing the inverter capability. And that's with Sol-Ark (founded in 2013) carrying the warranty rather than EG4 (founded in 2021).
I hope my long windedness was not without content density and that you will carefully consider the statements above.
First off, Sol-Ark did create its inverter - how else would they have exclusivity from their contract manufacturing partner this late in the game? Did anyone see the Sol-Ark form factor on a Deye inverter prior to Sol-Ark? Tom (our CEO) has been consistent on this point for years - even when I worked for one of Sol-Ark's partners (and now competitor / imitators). Sol-Ark is also exclusively focused on inverter manufacturing - and ancillary hardware like DC optimizers. It's not primarily a material distributor with an import agreement.
In fact, I would strongly suggest Sol-Arks exclusivity in the USA market is a key difference between a manufacturer and a white labeller. It's incredibly common for a manufacturer to have an OEM partner, and part of that deal is exclusivity in the USA market in exchange for the OEM doing whatever they want overseas. So be it. The path to USA-based manufacturing of residential renewable hardware lies in writing your congressional representatives to remind them that people should be valued more than corporations, and that the domestic content adder to the tax credit should apply to the residential tax credit, not just the commercial tax credit.
Secondly please reference comment #17, James (the founder of EG4) mentioned the 21kW is designed with "the shift in mind to m10 and M12 in the years ahead". Okay then - if the 18kW spec is only achievable with future modules, then what long-term endurance testing been done by EG4/Luxpower at the 18kW output spec? Sorry EG4, but I'd like to see receipts for the 18kW claim.
The simple fact is anyone saying these inverters are equivalent, or that the EG4 is better, or that the price difference is game changing has yet to perform a complete design to validate the specs they are touting. As indicated by the founder of EG4, to max out the inverter, you will need to look towards "yet to be released" modules, which should carry a premium price. The $/W cost difference alone in premium vs. economy solar panels more than makes up for the price difference between the two inverters when optimizing the inverter capability. And that's with Sol-Ark (founded in 2013) carrying the warranty rather than EG4 (founded in 2021).
I hope my long windedness was not without content density and that you will carefully consider the statements above.
HighTechLab
AKA Dexter - CTO of Current Connected, LLC
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2019
- Messages
- 1,774
Does no one consider the value add of US companies? For the example of Sol-Ark it's the firmware and customer service.
Sol-Ark has invested a LOT OF MONEY developing their intellectual property (firmware). If it had factory firmware it wouldn't be anything more than another inverter off alibaba/aliexpress.
EG4 has also improved the product - different breaker ties and larger wiring box.
SOK 48v batteries that my company carries - we've improved the product too...and we must make money for our efforts, otherwise there is no point in developing a new product.
Otherwise, go ahead, buy that stuff from alibaba and have fun when it has bugs. I hope you speak Chinese!
Sol-Ark has invested a LOT OF MONEY developing their intellectual property (firmware). If it had factory firmware it wouldn't be anything more than another inverter off alibaba/aliexpress.
EG4 has also improved the product - different breaker ties and larger wiring box.
SOK 48v batteries that my company carries - we've improved the product too...and we must make money for our efforts, otherwise there is no point in developing a new product.
Otherwise, go ahead, buy that stuff from alibaba and have fun when it has bugs. I hope you speak Chinese!
Tulex
Solar Wizard
What exactly are the false statements again?
Of course. But this is not the issue many folks have with Sol Ark. I don’t buy things off if AliBaba.
houseofancients
Solar Wizard
Tulex
Solar Wizard
Sorry, I don't get it. I'm searching their page, I see engineered, assembled, tested in USA.
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