Well, this has been a long read as I've read the entire thread from #1 to #779.
I'm not young. I have been working with electrical power equipment, distributors and manufactures longer than many of you have been alive, since the mid 70's. That doesn't mean I know everything, but I have a lot of experience. I am now a software and controls contractor, probably very much like Watts Happening, but just a bit older.
Lux power needs to grab a hold of Signature Solar and do some shaking. Serious shaking! Their customer support and customer interaction (even in public!) is abysmal. If I was running Signature Solar, I would have some of their spokespeople relinquish their log on credentials to email and internet access and show them to a broom and a new pay schedule. They know who they are!
I can relate to Watts Happening. As a contractor with a real business, I can probably buy a Sol Ark significantly cheaper than retail if I dig into it. That doesn't make me a distributor! If you have a company, you can do things you can't do as a retail buyer. I can buy equipment at a discount and resell it. That's doesn't make me a distributor or shill. That makes me a contractor.
Support on smart devices, like these inverters is extremely important obviously. The support attempt here by Signature Solar was again, abysmal.
Anyway, as a newbie to home solar systems, I won't be buying much from Signature Solar with any expectation of support. Signature Solar is like Walmart. You can buy it. I may or may not work. Just make sure you buy it with a credit card so you can force a return if needed.
In the industrial controls and power world there are a few different classes of distributors. They is the big box distributor. These guys sell boxes that contain equipment and when it breaks, you don't bother to call the distributor because they are worthless technically. They won't call you back. Emails are returned after days of waiting. But they are cheap because they don't provide a reasonable level of support.
Then there are distributors that provide a midrange of support. Most people will be happy with them, but if anything really complicated like this OP suffered occurs, they fall back to manufacturer support.
Then there is the engineering/system houses that will sell parts and equipment but can also diagnose and solve very complex problems with little to no help from the manufacturer. Yes, they are more expensive, but they are true experts in what they sell.
I've been fortunate enough to work with all of these types of distributors as a manufactures engineer and salesman in the past.
Signature Solar would like to be a big box distributor, but they suck at support and sales. In this situation, they have slandered their customer (in public!!!) rather than deal in a respectful manner. Their best technical support seems to be in Germany!?!? All of this adds up to a grade of "horrible" from me.
I suspect there are other ways to buy Lux Power inverters. I'm at this forum because I need to learn who the players are. This thread has been VERY informative. If you are in the market to buy solar equipment, you should read this entire thread. It’s taken me hours. But it has been very worthwhile! Thanks Will Prowse for maintaining this forum! Lux Power, Signature Solar, you know what has to be done! Do it!
