Solis Misleading Advertising

irishchris · 08-11-2022 2:52pm #1

I know many here have mentioned in the past but thought would start a thread for potential customers of Solis hybrid 5g inverters in relation to the incorrectly advertised charge and discharge rates of their inverters.

Held off on posting wanting to try to see if there was any form of solution from Solis support first . None from their email support and after one hour on hold the agent after acknowledging the explanation of low charge after 15 mins hung up. This is after a friendly exchange with no reason to hang up.

Disappointed to say the least from the lack of support from them and so surprised that legally they can mis-advertise this main feature. Short of reporting to advertising standards I thought it best to at least let potential customers know of this major flaw with their inverters and of the standard of afterservice

cobham · 08-11-2022 3:06pm

Could you elaborate?

irishchris · 08-11-2022 3:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119849660#Comment_119849660

No problem, on which bit ?

ELM327 · 08-11-2022 3:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119849766#Comment_119849766

Low charge?

Is this the inability to maintain 100A?

SD_DRACULA · 08-11-2022 4:11pm

Absolutely, and the worst part is that not even the installers know about this, I had to tell mine after confirming that's the case with Solis.

Nowhere in the documentation have I seen that 100A means 100A for 15 mins and then 70A continuously, and if under 60A for 25 mins then you back to 100A and repeat.

irishchris · 08-11-2022 7:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119849838#Comment_119849838

Yes the advertised 100a which encourages many to drop the 4g inverters to "upgrade" to these 100amp inverters that simply don't do it

irishchris · 08-11-2022 8:21pm

Think what disappointed me more was the manner of replies.

Few of the helpful parts of the replies below -

"Could you also please show me on one of our datasheets where we show continous current?

No indication of continous (also generally when inverter manufacturers say continous in my experience they mean 30minutes or a certain time frame). We base our datasheets on the semi-conductor datasheets which specify a peak current "milliseconds" and a continous current (then a temperature that needs to be maintained on it). We are using the continous but have temperature sensors which derate the current when it is exceeded. "

I then pointed out that I have very high cooling on the heatsink and temperatures are generally in the low to mid 20c range when charging and it still reduces after 15 mins. Also pointed out that others have been told by Solis that it is time based. He then changed his view that it was now time and temperature based. Also wanted to know why it doesn't state it anywhere that it is simply in small 15 minutes bursts and in reality is a 65A charging hybrid. Suggested to him is the same problem going to happen with the new high charging S6 Solis hybrids. Reply below

"We do not need to state time because we do not use the word "continous", we clearly use the word "max".

As far as I understand we have changed the S6 hybrid to be continous (as you define it) by changing the mosfet design. However as far as I can see again we still are safe about it and do not advertise a "continous" rating, thankfully. :)

Ubbquittious · 08-11-2022 11:25pm

Chinese amps are bigger than normal amps 😅

SD_DRACULA · 09-11-2022 12:14am

Starting to think this 190A is total BS, Solis style:

Notice the "max" which seems to mean anything but this value...

irishchris · 09-11-2022 7:35am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119851611#Comment_119851611

Yep that is my worry bout hoping it is just Solis and not all manufacturers. Hoping to hear soon from a sunsynk owner of max sustained charging or not

con747 · 09-11-2022 8:42am

No different to broadband providers, the good aul "up to" get out clause.

SD_DRACULA · 09-11-2022 10:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119852017#Comment_119852017

I called up sunsynk and asked about their charge/discharge rates and they said it doesn't derate like the Solis, it can sustain those numbers if the battery can, the tech support guy was like WTF when I explained what the Solis does 🤣

ELM327 · 09-11-2022 10:24am

I mean I'd have no problem if it were advertised correctly. Peak being 1.5 higher than continuous is quite normal.

irishchris · 09-11-2022 10:30am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119852478#Comment_119852478

That was the point I tried to make to Solis yesterday was that if it was advertised correctly I would have no issue but fooling people into thinking they are upgrading from a 60amp 4g Solis hybrid to a 100 amp one is ridiculous considering it only really does 68amps apart from 15 miserly minutes

irishchris · 09-11-2022 10:31am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119852475#Comment_119852475

Nice one will be definitely jumping onto one of these shortly once I hear back from a user here who recently got one as to the high charging rates being sustained. Solis have made me weary of anything but true actual usage now

SD_DRACULA · 09-11-2022 10:47am

Yeah trying to get the 8kw sunsynk as well, will post progress once I get it up and running.

irishchris · 09-11-2022 10:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119852587#Comment_119852587

Nice one, let me know if you do manage to find somewhere to source one. Do you have to submit a new nc7 when getting one?

unkel · 09-11-2022 11:24am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119852633#Comment_119852633

A new NC7?

ELM327 · 09-11-2022 11:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119852633#Comment_119852633

NC7 is an expensive form to submit especially when you have to pay even if you are not approved. It's not automatic like NC6.

bullit_dodger · 09-11-2022 12:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119851494#Comment_119851494

Ahh yes....."China number #1" !!

LOL

irishchris · 09-11-2022 1:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119852732#Comment_119852732

Assumed @SD_DRACULA had an nc6 submitted for original install so would need to submit an nc7 if going for the 8kw inverter?

con747 · 09-11-2022 1:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119853134#Comment_119853134

Only if intending to send more than 6kw back to the grid afaik.

unkel · 09-11-2022 1:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119853148#Comment_119853148

I'd say it will be a few years until we (with day / night meters) even get smart meters and anyone can measure how much we export. And I don't have much trust the FIT will stay good, it might even go below night rate value. I'm bulking up myself on panels, inverters and batteries. Even bought an eddi yesterday LOL 😂

And with several EVs, I intend to export very little indeed once we have the smart meters, should the FIT not be good.

SD_DRACULA · 09-11-2022 1:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119853134#Comment_119853134

Was thinking about this and nc7 form will only trigger another ESBN upgrade to smart meter from d/n which is a no go right now, the nc7 might get lost in the mail until the smart meters are worth it to me 😉

Jonathan · 10-11-2022 6:31pm

Discovered today that my inverter had been limited (I can only presume remotely by Solis) to 70A charge/discharge from batteries. I am on a firmware that supported the continuous 100A charge/discharge.

I changed it back to 100A, and have made wtf enquiries with Solis. To be honest, I could live with the 100A->70A self-derating bodge, but the silent limiting to 70A, was very sneaky.

unkel · 10-11-2022 6:50pm

So they have a firmware that can do 100A continuous and it is working faultlessly for you? Why don't Solis roll that out to other inverters, they can obviously do so remotely OTA

Jonathan · 10-11-2022 7:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119858653#Comment_119858653

Because the inverters will cook themselves if pushing 100A for too long apparently. Not a major deal for me at moment with the 9 hour night rate, but being able to push 100A for 15-20mins during the day is handy.

unkel · 10-11-2022 7:15pm

So why did they even give you that firmware, just for some remote testing? 100A is only 5kW, if you have a large PV array and large battery, you'd want to be filling up your battery at that rate. I was going to get a Solis hybrid inverter but it is absurd spending the guts of €2k on one when you can only get the same 60A from the likes of my ME3000SP, that I bought for just over €400

The SunSynk 8.8kW at only slightly more money than the Solis 6kW can do 190A continuous. Now there we are talking!