"If you just want it to work well day after day, and you want the firmware/software to get out of the way and just do its job, others here can suggest options. Victron for sure, but I'm guessing maybe Schneider as well. "
Thank you for putting it that way! Thats exactly what I want. I don't mind spending money to get a quality basic off grid ground mount system. Our average monthly use is only around 1000 KWH. I thought I had it all figured out with the equipment mentioned above and 3 Brightmount ground mount kits. Looks like I'll have to find a professional who designs and installs Victron or Schneider. Any suggestions for the Placerville California area?
Almost everyone I know in most occupations says software issues are in the top 5 of the biggest problems they deal with now. I don't remember it being that much of an issue until recently.
For a quality large off-grid system, consider Sunny Island with Sunny Boy set to "island" (offgrid).
2x or 4x SI for split-phase, 3x SI for 3-phase. Up to 12kW of Sunny Boy per Sunny Island.
MSRP and street prices are high, but you can get a box with 2x SI and ancillary equipment for about $4000 delivered (liquidation on eBay), and you can get SB used or old stock at a range of prices.
Right...
This is why 10 year old Tesla's still receive updates..
Or my wife's 2014 vw gets new software every service.
You're living an illusion my friend
I just commissioned a new in the box SMA Sunny Island 5048US, with 2008 firmware.
No reason to ever update that, unless I want closed-loop communication with BMS for lithium.
From SMA I have found one firmware bug, SB 10000TL-US-12 when set for "backup" didn't implement frequency-watts.
I've attempted firmware update once. Sunny TriPower 30000TL-US didn't talk to WebBox, and didn't display an option called "Rule-21".
After firmware update of TriPower, still didn't talk to WebBox (maybe the latter needs the upgrade), and still didn't show the label "Rule-21", but still had parameters which performed frequency-watts.
Documentation, including regarding configuration and which updates do what, seems to be the shortcoming. But firmware is pretty solid.
Cars - our 1997 Sable I took in for firmware update once, emissions recall. Still driving it.
Test equipment, I'm using HP and Tektronix equipment with GPIB dating back to the 1980's.
Furnace and A/C, 24VAC thermostat controls. The thermostat is now digital programmable.
Key to timelessness is self-contained function with no communication, simple analog interface, or standard digital protocol with documented command set.