Alternative Technology Assn Forums

1. 

   Fab
   Member

   The PV supplier Beyond Building Energy went into liquidation recently.
   There was a newspaper article advising that a solvency accountant would advise former customers of where they could get their inverters repaired if need be, as the sunnyboy inverters supplied by Beyond were beginning to fail.
   This happened about six months ago and as my inverter was working well I was not concerned.

   Last monday the inverter was stone cold on a sunny day without its digital display working.
   I phoned the insolvency company and was told they were no longer referring calls to repair companies as they had been inundated with calls.
   The Sunnyboy distributor has gone out of business also as they could not keep up with the number of claims.
   There was a web page advising that this particular company would repair/replace any inverters sold by Beyond.
   I got a quote from this firm that was twice as much as other quotes I received.
   Big hearted blokes.

   I purchased an inverter from a reputable family electrical business who had been around for over 40 years here on the coast and I am confident they will be around to honour any claim I may have in the next five years.

   Posted Monday 12 Nov 2012 @ 11:32:17 pm from IP #
2. 

   Bushwalker
   Member

   Are you sure it was a Sunny Boy Inverter?

   Sunny Boy is the Brandname of SMA Solar Technology, a leading German solar company. If the Inverters were actual SMA products and not fakes, purchased through normal channels then I cannot imagine why SMA Australia would not honour the legitimate claims of their retail customers even if the retailer had gone into liquidation.

   Additionally, consumer protection laws exist that would compel SMA to offer service for faulty product withing the warranty period,

   Did you contact SMA Australia with your inverter problem? http://www.sma-australia.com.au/en_AU/products/solar-inverters/sunny-boy.html

   For what it is worth, my experience of SMA service and warranty is exemplary.

   BW

   Posted Tuesday 13 Nov 2012 @ 7:49:58 pm from IP #
3. 

   Sunshine
   Member

   Fab,

   I think you may need to check the label on the inverter.
   http://forums.energymatters.com.au/introductions/topic3449.html
   Sure it's not Sunnyroo?
   Sunnyboy are very reliable inverter and are contactable in Sydney.

   BBE offered very cheap systems, pretty much what I foresaw happening which I mentioned in previous posts.
   If you buy a solar PV system, and if the manufacturer doesn't have a presence in Australia, and the installation company closes, you really don't have any warranty to stand on.

   Posted Wednesday 14 Nov 2012 @ 1:00:58 pm from IP #
4. 

   Fab
   Member

   You are both right gentlemen.
   I have got out the user manual and it was a Sunnyroo inverter after all.

   Posted Thursday 15 Nov 2012 @ 5:16:28 am from IP #
5. 

   johnmath
   Member

   Sunnyrooted LOL - oops sorry Fab.

   Posted Thursday 15 Nov 2012 @ 5:33:28 am from IP #
6. 

   Fab
   Member

   Asked for my solar credit from Origin to be paid to me so should nearly cover the cost of my replacement inverter.
   Seems a lot of companies go under up here on the Gold Coast.
   Second one I have had dealings with in a year.

   Posted Thursday 15 Nov 2012 @ 6:31:59 am from IP #
7. 

   alfresco24
   Member

   Sunnyroo developed a bad reputation after a range of failures and apparent poor support, however the Sunnyboy range wasn't bullet proof or suitable for all applications either. Early in the piece the sunnyboy inverters were found to have a lower than ideal maximum AC tracking range. I couldnt use one at my house because the mains here at my suburban home, with the service connection only 1 meter from the distribution transformer, regularly goes to the maximum allowable in SA which still 264VAC. At that time Sunnyboy inverters couldn't sustain operation at 264VAC.
   I believe Sunnyboy improved their inverters in the meantime.
   The other limitation among inverters is the DC input range, both lower limit and upper limit. An inverter with a lower DC input voltage capability means it turns on sooner and turns off later when light conditions are dim, such as morning, evenings, and cloudy days.

   Posted Thursday 15 Nov 2012 @ 6:41:33 am from IP #
8. 

   Fab
   Member

   Pulled my sunnyroo apart to see how it was put together.
   Used the induction rings to tie down a tarp over the kayak.
   The wires might come in handy someday also.

   Posted Friday 16 Nov 2012 @ 1:51:39 am from IP #
9. 

   Lance
   Key Master

   Am sure the case is usable for something too

   There's an inverter guide in the next ReNew, out in about a month if you can wait that long, hell of a range of GI inverters out there nowadays...

   Posted Friday 16 Nov 2012 @ 5:22:08 am from IP #

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