Fixing a Sunny Boy Solar inverter - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Cobaltblue · 2nd Aug 2016, 6:08 pm

The story starts with the very kind offer of this inverter https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=128090

I had an interest in Solar technology and this was made more accute with a number of our products going .....Solar around 10 years ago.

It was clear each generation of PV was becoming more cost effective.

Unfortunately for me the need to use inverters was quickly overtaken but I did get a basic understanding of the technology.

For the sake of efficiency everything is powered from the PV side, this is counter intuitive but in efficiency terms makes absolute sense.

Don't waste mains power when the sun doesn't shine

Fast forward to the last couple of days.

Once I was able to find enough DC to wake the inverter up it came up with a fault code.

I had already had a prod at the usual suspects the fuses attached to the MOV's

I was able to find a Sunny Boy Tech alert for this problem and folowing the procedure the Inverter returned to normal operation.

I left if run for a couple of hours and am now looking for some solar panels to feed it.

This really is a well made solid piece of kit so thank you to Richard.

I was almost disappointed there was no hardware to fix!

Cheers

Mike T

Cobaltblue · 2nd Aug 2016, 6:40 pm

And still running

If anyone wants to check it out the tech alert is #3174

Cheers

Mike T

mole42uk · 3rd Aug 2016, 11:30 am

Excellent result!

Tha SMA inverters were always top quality, we installed hundreds back in the day and never had a failure. The one you have is a very early one but it may go on for years!

Cobaltblue · 3rd Aug 2016, 3:15 pm

Hi Richard

Yes indeed the amount of power this has already contributed is quite amazing.

I suspect most of the new converters are not built as well as this one

Cheers

Mike T

2nd Aug 2016, 6:08 pm	#1
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Fixing a Sunny Boy Solar inverter The story starts with the very kind offer of this inverter https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=128090 I had an interest in Solar technology and this was made more accute with a number of our products going .....Solar around 10 years ago. It was clear each generation of PV was becoming more cost effective. Unfortunately for me the need to use inverters was quickly overtaken but I did get a basic understanding of the technology. For the sake of efficiency everything is powered from the PV side, this is counter intuitive but in efficiency terms makes absolute sense. Don't waste mains power when the sun doesn't shine Fast forward to the last couple of days. Once I was able to find enough DC to wake the inverter up it came up with a fault code. I had already had a prod at the usual suspects the fuses attached to the MOV's I was able to find a Sunny Boy Tech alert for this problem and folowing the procedure the Inverter returned to normal operation. I left if run for a couple of hours and am now looking for some solar panels to feed it. This really is a well made solid piece of kit so thank you to Richard. I was almost disappointed there was no hardware to fix! Cheers Mike T Attached Thumbnails __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

2nd Aug 2016, 6:40 pm	#2
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Fixing a Sunny Boy Solar inverter And still running If anyone wants to check it out the tech alert is #3174 Cheers Mike T Attached Thumbnails __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

3rd Aug 2016, 3:15 pm	#4
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Fixing a Sunny Boy Solar inverter Hi Richard Yes indeed the amount of power this has already contributed is quite amazing. I suspect most of the new converters are not built as well as this one Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

3rd Aug 2016, 11:30 am	#3
mole42uk Nonode Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Resolven, Wales; and Bristol, England Posts: 2,608	Re: Fixing a Sunny Boy Solar inverter Excellent result! Tha SMA inverters were always top quality, we installed hundreds back in the day and never had a failure. The one you have is a very early one but it may go on for years! __________________ Richard Index: recursive loop: see recursive loop