Axpert Inverters COPY or ORIGINAL

[Brian J]

Good day to you all and compliments of the new season.

After waiting for three weeks i finally received my 5KV Axpert ? , my heart skipped a bit when i opened the box. I also had my doubts when i lifted the box in appearance the machine look like a 3KVA.

The first thing i noticed on the inverter- no heat sink on top as compared to the Mercer/ RCT -secondondly the spec is as follows. highlighted is what i query compared to mercer.

Inverter mode (Rated pwr-5000va/4000w AC output-48VDC/87A) ( Mecer/RCT 90A)

AC Charger Mode (AC Input 230VAC 50Hz 36A DC Output 54VDC 10-60A AC Output 230VAC 50Hz 22A)

Solar Charger Mode (Rated Current 80A System Voltage 45VDC Max Solar Voltage voc 145VDC) Mercer/RCT 60A

Should i be worried about this unit and return it or its just me who is reading too much,

Regards Brian

To eventually Install 1 x 5KVA Axpert 3 x 265W Amerisolar Pannels (Batteries work in progres)

 

 

 

 

[Chris Hobson]

Photo of the label on the side?

Newer units have built-in heat sink for the SCC which now rests on top of the inverter if laid flat.

 

[Brian J]

15 hours ago, Chris Hobson said:

Photo of the label on the side?

[Chris Hobson]

1 hour ago, Brian J said:

Doesn't look legit.

 

[Brian J]

2 minutes ago, Chris Hobson said:

Doesn't look legit

Thanks cris, I will send them an email and revert back, 

17 hours ago, Chris Hobson said:

Photo of the label on the side?

Attached photo

[Dex_]

On 2018/01/09 at 1:14 PM, Chris Hobson said:

Doesn't look legit.

 

Any idea on pointers to check it is legit?

[Coulomb]

See my AEVA post Do I Own a Clone?

[Dex_]

6 hours ago, Coulomb said:

See my AEVA post Do I Own a Clone?

thank you sir!

[WhiteMist]

Good Day All

I have Exact same model as shown. Bought it a year and a bit ago and it still works. Have had some issues like the Error 90 and some burnt components. 

@Brian J Did you achieve or receive any info by emailing them?

@weber Do you guys know if the firmware works on these. After the Error 90 I received a new CC board from them and installed it. This passed weekend I also installed a pylontech 3.4Kw Battery.  I also set the relevant settings on the Inverter as suggested by Weber in one of his posts. But to the point, I get fast switch overs as soon as the sun gets low and have to manually change Preferred Output Source (Setting 1) back to utility to avoid the flickering of lights. I suspect that it has to do with how the inverter measures SOC of the battery as the Pylontech never drops below the first LED on the SoC Status. The load is about 1.1kw All the time. and I have 12 * 275Watt Solar panels on the Roof.

It currently has v 72.40 installed on it.

Any suggestions? Will other firmware possibly improve my problem?

 

Edited May 14, 2019 by WhiteMist
Added some info

[Coulomb]

24 minutes ago, WhiteMist said:

Have had some issues like the Error 90 and some burnt components. 

Burned components? Is there a story to tell there? 

Quote

Do you guys know if the firmware works on these.

It's a clone. Who knows what's in there. [ Edit: so no, we can't tell if it will work or not. ]

Quote

After the Error 90 I received a new CC board from them and installed it. ... It currently has v 72.40 installed on it.

Huh. So they fixed the error 90 problem by giving you an older version of firmware? Bizarre.

Quote

But to the point, I get fast switch overs as soon as the sun gets low and have to manually change Preferred Output Source (Setting 1) back to utility to avoid the flickering of lights.

I've heard that one elsewhere. I have no idea what's going on there.

Quote

Will other firmware possibly improve my problem?

An interesting question. It might; 73.00e with KettleKomp™ might help with the switch-overs.

What I suggest is this:

• First see if you can load 72.40 back on top of itself. You should be able to find it in the AEVA site; if not, PM me and I'll send it. That will establish whether it has a boot-loader at all; maybe they still haven't sorted that one out. If it works, presumably you are running standard 72.40, and it's a pretty standard clone.
• If that works, load 73.00e over the top and give it a go. If weird things happen, you know you can always go back to 72.40 (assuming that the 72.40 is the standard Voltronic Power 72.40, I may be assuming too much there).
• If you can't update the firmware, you know there is nothing that can be done firmware-wise, so just put up with it.
• The problem is if standard 72.40 spazzes out, you're sunk, and will have to beg for or pay for another control board.
• Edit: if 73.00e does work, then don't neglect to read the AussieView™ and KettleKomp™ manual, and select the correct compensation. This is important! Without this step, you could possibly make things worse.

Edited May 14, 2019 by Coulomb

[Brian J]

2 hours ago, WhiteMist said:

Did you achieve or receive any info by emailing them?

i eventually gave up on the matter, from the last conversation with the supplier there were going to issue a certificate of authentication for there product from voltronics that never materialised. The unit works well of grid setup with 4 x 265w panels & 8 x 100ah royals have not had an opportunity yet to run the full panel array size. Will probably open the machine and take some pictures.

 

[WhiteMist]

Thank you very much for all the quick and satisfying replies. I will try as Coulomb suggested. And get back with the results for these inverters.

To answer the questions...

18 hours ago, Coulomb said:

Burned components? Is there a story to tell there? 

Yes ... I suspect a floating Neutral. They said the mainboard burned so I'm not quite sure how to take that.

 

[WhiteMist]

Good Day All 

So finally got the time and the motivation to try an upgrade on my Axpert. So the reflash tool runs and opens the port but after that it fails on connect error.

Does anyone have a bit of advise on how to proceed?

 

 

[Coulomb]

15 hours ago, WhiteMist said:

how to proceed?

It looks like the new control board with 72.40 on it still doesn't have a bootstrap loader, though there is still a chance that your USB to serial adapter isn't compatible. You could try another brand of USB to serial adapter. Can you use WatchPower or ICC with that adapter?

If that's not the issue, you're pretty well stuck. A bootstrap loader could be added using a JTAG interface, but there re legal implications. You would be adding proprietary software without paying for it. I suppose it's no worse than the clone maker stealing the bootstrap loader and providing it to you, except whoever does the work is circumventing a copy protection mechanism (something that the United States Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) makes illegal. Few of us are strictly bound by that, but it sets a precedent.)

Sorry for the bad news. You're a (presumably) unwitting victim of trade wars.

[plakkie]

Good day,

I am looking at purchasing an Axpert inverter for use in my caravan/camper and came across a very well priced unit from Full Circle Solar. Does anyone perhaps have any insight as to whether these units are fakes or originals? The pricing seems very good for the combination of abilities - 1000W pure sine, 500W/40A MPPT, 20A AC charger - purchasing these as standalone components comes out at way more than double the price.

http://www.fullcirclesolar.co.za/index.php/product/fcs-1kva-vm-1000w-mpptinverter-vat-incl-copy/

[Coulomb]

46 minutes ago, plakkie said:

whether these units are fakes or originals?

They appear to be genuine Voltronic Power inverters, with Full Circle Solar branding. However, I can't be sure without a look at the sticker on the side of one. A quick search of this forum seems to indicate that customers are happy with their product, and indeed that they are a good place to get your Voltronic Power inverter repaired, should that be necessary. That seems to indicate technical competency on the part of the seller, which is always refreshing.

Perhaps readers who have bought Full Circle Solar branded inverters could comment further.

[Jaco De Jongh]

47 minutes ago, Coulomb said:

Full Circle Solar branded

 

1 hour ago, plakkie said:

Full Circle Solar.

I have done business with them. Paul is the owner.  All my previous Voltronic inverters came from him and he was always very helpful when I ran into problems. He imports directly and I guess thats why he can offer good prices. 

[plakkie]

Paul from FCS sent me a pic of the data sticker on the side of the unit. Looking at the serial number it is an original so I feel confident that I won't be purchasing a fake.

[Dex_]

7 minutes ago, plakkie said:

Paul from FCS sent me a pic of the data sticker on the side of the unit. Looking at the serial number it is an original so I feel confident that I won't be purchasing a fake.

looks legit

[Gerrie]

I have a clone inverter, when I bought it I did not know that, but I installed it and found out later through this forum. I only paid R8000 for the unit, so my thinking is when it pops I can look for a legit one, as I now know what to look for.

But sofar I cannot complain about this inverter it is working perfectly since installed in April 2019. It is currently running of grid and is home alone while I’m on holiday for the last 12 days, and I check in on it once a day to make sure its o.k. sofar so good. This is a test for me to see what this inverter can do.

Hopefully I get good service from this inverter for few more months or years. I thought I just share this info on my clone experience.

 

[Gerrie]

On 2019/12/24 at 8:18 PM, Gerrie said:

12 days, and I check in on it once a day to make sure its o.k. sofar so good.

2020 update. With all the fireworks and other activities over the last few days, I actually forgot about my clone inverter back at home. This morning I remembered to check the CCTV’s back at home and it’s now going for 21days home alone off grid power.

[Tony Swash]

I have to say that the label looks a bit on the iffy side. But if its working then great. I bought some genuine 5Ks the other day with parallel boards in for R9999.00 so maybe not worth buying a clone.

[JAvandermerwe]

On 2019/05/14 at 6:41 PM, Brian J said:

i eventually gave up on the matter, from the last conversation with the supplier there were going to issue a certificate of authentication for there product from voltronics that never materialised. The unit works well of grid setup with 4 x 265w panels & 8 x 100ah royals have not had an opportunity yet to run the full panel array size. Will probably open the machine and take some pictures.

 

I stumbled across this post and replies, and I too have the exact same Easypower 5Kva machine, which appears to be a clone. I am pretty pissed off, to be honest. I didn't buy directly from Easypower but from an installer who got his hardware from them. At the time I was a bit naive not aware of the clone issue, and just remember being told this is a rebranded Axpert. Now that I have played and learnt a bit more, I want to resolve the premature float bug (well-discussed Axpert thing) through @Coulomb's deftly patched firmware. But I realise I don't know which exact Axpert model of inverter this clone is "supposed" to be, nor whether the firmware will brick the fake. 

I've contacted Easypower directly and asked them to confirm the exact underlying Axpert model as I wish to update my firmware (I'm on LC1 72 70) . Did mention to them that the firmware only works on "genuine" Axpert, without suggesting that mine is a clone. But the undertone should be clear, and I would like to see how they respond.

I am baffled and frustrated at how companies are allows to operated on this basis, pushing clones/fakes into the market. Really grinds my carrot...

@Brian J and @WhiteMist was there ever any subsequent process/luck/feedback on your discussions with them?

 

 

[Gerrie]

On 2020/10/20 at 9:32 PM, JAvandermerwe said:

I am baffled and frustrated at how companies are allows to operated on this basis, pushing clones/fakes into the market.

I also think there should be some sort of buyer protection of warning the buyer that the product is a clone or a original product. Unfortunately there are so many suppliers selling solar equipment and most of these sales people don’t even know they are selling clones. That was my experience with the clone I bought, the sales lady had no idea they sold me a clone or even what a clone is. Fortunately my inverter still running without problems, but I’m too scared too try and upgrade the software as I don't know what might go wrong. 

[tonio]

It looks original to me, or copy ?