Installer went out of business and need to replace Enphase microinverters.

[kpj]

Hello,

My installer went out of business and I have a couple of dead Enphase micro inverters that needs to be replaced. I think I heard Enphase would reimburse for the labor. Does anyone know how I should proceed? Should this be through a solar company who would handle the reimbursement process with Enphase?

And if anyone knows a reliable solar installer in San Jose, CA area who would do that, would you post here or PM me? The installers I contacted said they don't do that for the system installed by a different company.

Thanks,
K

[JFinch57]

Contact Enphase and they will open up a case, investigate the cause of the problem, send replacement parts and recommend an installer in your area.

[sensij]

Hello,

My installer went out of business and I have a couple of dead Enphase micro inverters that needs to be replaced. I think I heard Enphase would reimburse for the labor. Does anyone know how I should proceed? Should this be through a solar company who would handle the reimbursement process with Enphase?

Thanks,
K

Are the failed inverters M190's?

[Sunking]

My installer went out of business

Unfortunately you are going to start seeing a lot of them going out of business as 2016 approaches. Time to cash out and retire.

[ghoticov]

Are the failed inverters M190's?

I have the same question... and how old are they?

[solar pete]

Unfortunately you are going to start seeing a lot of them going out of business as 2016 approaches. Time to cash out and retire.

Ahh... the prophet of doom is at it again on his relentless crusade to prop up the status quo of the corporate power producers, not all hold SK's view. Will the market slow down after 2016? Probably, who knows, there are rumblings that the tax credit may be extended, dont have a crystal ball so dont know.

[ghoticov]

Ahh... the prophet of doom is at it again on his relentless crusade to prop up the status quo of the corporate power producers, not all hold SK's view. Will the market slow down after 2016? Probably, who knows, there are rumblings that the tax credit may be extended, dont have a crystal ball so dont know.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the tax credit is extended or another program is put in place.

[kpj]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, they are M190s and 5 years old. About five failed a while back and I hired a private contractor to replace them and paid out of my pocket without knowing that Enphase would reimburse. A couple more failed after that and someone told me that Enphase would reimburse up to a certain amount.

Last time when I contacted Enphase, they actually said they do not recommend any installers.

Is M190 known to be more failure-prone? This situation is very annoying since my installer is gone.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[JFinch57]

The system that I installed in NJ had M190s and about 3 out of 80 failed for the new owners. Technically I'm the installer and I noticed on Enlighten that the inverters failed. Doubt that they are looking at it that close. I called Enphase for them and they said they could give the names of installers that did their systems in the area. Guess that is not recommending, but they furnished a list directly to the new owners. I think that they also pay labor.

My new ground mounted system also has M190s and not one has failed since June 2014. I suspect that the added heat of a roof install might be part of the problem. I used them because I had 10 left over from NJ (3 panels were damaged in shipping but I installed them, took a box of inverters to cover the damage) and purchased the remaining 35 for about $90 each on eBay.

[slopoke]

Hello,

My installer went out of business and I have a couple of dead Enphase micro inverters that needs to be replaced. I think I heard Enphase would reimburse for the labor. Does anyone know how I should proceed? Should this be through a solar company who would handle the reimbursement process with Enphase?

And if anyone knows a reliable solar installer in San Jose, CA area who would do that, would you post here or PM me? The installers I contacted said they don't do that for the system installed by a different company.

Thanks,
K

The labor to remove and replace the micro inverters are not covered by the warranty. The only labor the warranty covers is labor to repair the defective micro inverter unit. The quote below is from the warranty page.

The Limited Warranty covers both parts and labor necessary to repair the Defective Product, but does not include labor costs related to un-installing the Defective Product or re-installing the repaired or replacement product.

[JFinch57]

Guessing that they had too many returns. The M190s advertised a phenomenally high MTBF when they first came out. That was quickly proven to be wrong!

[J.P.M.]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the tax credit is extended or another program is put in place.

Provided the Republicans retain control of both houses, any extension of solar tax credits at 30% is not likely.