Axpert SMD LynX 5000-48 Failed in Array

[DuncThePunk]

Hi,

Yesterday one of my Axpert SMD Lynx-48 inverters died. Beeped with error 53 for a while, then went off completely. Also a strong smell of fried electronics. Ouch. 

I have 3 of these running together, one per phase. The one that died was the master, but also connected to the biggest solar array and the highest loaded phase. It definitely was the one that worked the hardest. It was installed in 2018.

I need advice as to what to do to get it replaced. This looks very similar, but it obviously needs to run in an array with the other two, and I'm not sure this one will. 

https://www.takealot.com/mecer-axpert-v-5kw-pure-sine-wave-inverter-with-2400w-pwm-sol-i-/PLID92853226?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw59q2BhBOEiwAKc0ijbfugMjmGHmXrSJVbmYKce5UKOqHYFHHykxTSnv3YWaJdZin9mtbuBoCVpUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I've called a few companies, but they all don't seem clear about what to do, and I'm worried they're going to tell me I need to replace all 3. I'm very not keen for that. Is this a simple rip and replace job I can do myself, or is that a dumb thing to do? They are pretty old and are likely running on much older firmware, so I don't know if this is an issue to run them together or if I may need to replace all 3. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

[Coulomb]

3 hours ago, DuncThePunk said:

one of my Axpert SMD Lynx-48 inverters died.

So these are 145 V max PV models? If so, they are going to be hard to replace, I'm afraid.

3 hours ago, DuncThePunk said:

I need advice as to what to do to get it replaced. This looks very similar,

First you have to know exactly what you have. I assume that they are MPPT models (max PV 145 V; the one you linked to is a PWM model with max PV 105 V).

What is the main (U1) firmware version they are running?

The next thing is, do you really need them to be running in three-phase configuration? That is, do you have any true three-phase loads? If not, and you can't repair that one, it might be best to run them independently, still sharing the same battery. It's not like they can share the loads, as you don't have any actually paralleled.

3 hours ago, DuncThePunk said:

I've called a few companies, but they all don't seem clear about what to do,

This is a significant concern. Voltronic don't make it any easier, e.g. by telling you exactly what model it is, or even that it's made by Voltronic at all. You have to guess in many cases.

If my guesses are right, you have to distinguish between three models:

* 5 kVA PF0.8 (5 kVA but 4 kW) 58.4 V max battery voltage, 145 V max MPPT solar charge controller, running 72.xx (xx ≥ 40) or 73.00

* 5 kVA PF1 (5 kVA and 5 kW) 58.4 V max battery voltage, 145 V max MPPT solar charge controller, running 74.xx

* 5 kVA PF1 (5 kVA and 5 kW) 64 V max battery voltage, 145 V max MPPT solar charge controller, running 72.xx (xx <= 40)

If you happen to have firmware version 72.40, it could actually be either of the second two, and you have to check the maximum value for settings 26 or 27, so see if it stops at 58.4 V or continues on to 64.0 V.

4 hours ago, DuncThePunk said:

Is this a simple rip and replace job I can do myself, or is that a dumb thing to do?

If you're asking can you repair them yourself, this may be a good option, but you obviously have to have a reasonable level of technical expertise and suitable tools. If you mean can you just physically remove the old model and replace it with a new, compatible model, then yes, as long as the firmware versions are very close (they don't have to be identical). I have most of those older firmware versions anyway, if you do want to match them exactly.

If repairing, it sounds like it's the IGBTs that have failed. I would replace the battery-side capacitors as well, if possible on all three inverters, as a precaution. They are 6 years old now, which is about when the capacitors start drying out. If the battery-side capacitors fail, then that removes transient protection for the MOSFETs, so that's 16 MOSFETs and possibly also various gate driver components to replace. You really need a desoldering station to replace that many devices. It's also a good idea to replace the power supply capacitors, as these can cause various problems when they die; fortunately, when these die, they don't tend to blow up anything.

It's such a shame that these inverters don't come with the option of paying 10% more and getting longer life / better specification parts. I guess it's something that is invisible from the outside, so people are loathed to pay more. I have two of these in parallel (the PF0.8 models), which have been running since 2016 or so. I did have to repair them both after a nearby lightning strike, and I did pre-emptively replace MOSFETs (no longer needed) and capacitors in both, when they were basically still new. One of them has had the power supply capacitors replaced as well.

All the required repair information is in the repairs and hardware modifications topic. Good luck!

[DuncThePunk]

Thanks so much for this detailed response! I really appreciate it. 

 

 

Here is the info I have from the side of the unit. You are correct that the 3 phases don't share any loads or anything. I use Solar Assistant to change the mode from SBU to UTI when required based on the battery level which are shared between all 3. All I need is to make sure that they behave together and switch to SBU / UTI when needed and charge the batteries correctly. 

I don't have the firmware version on hand at the moment. I'll check it when I get home. 

Yeah, I have seen that PWM vs MPPT issue. This one looks like more of what I need. If the firmware versions are different, but they are running independently, should this (and I obviously am just looking for some advice and won't hold any grudges if it is not 100% correct) work? 

 

https://www.makro.co.za/hardware-auto/electrical/inverters-solar-panels/inverters/5kva-hybrid-inverter-80a-mppt-built-in-parallel/p/ffbb4015-28e0-4e63-85e8-35c1ab828e76?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADiAUi0CqCBb-aNP_e-2pMIDC2jq8&gclid=CjwKCAjwxNW2BhAkEiwA24Cm9Njv9qhMIe5-MpmZuJc-arYskLeOYmnt4kZMPrrRWI8vTOgsQvR6ChoCVksQAvD_BwE

[Coulomb]

7 minutes ago, DuncThePunk said:

Here is the info I have from the side of the unit.

So it's one of the two PF1 units (second or third models I listed). It's scandalous that they don't say whether it's a 58.4 V or 64 V model on the label.

9 minutes ago, DuncThePunk said:

This one looks like more of what I need.

Yes. But again, which of the two models is it (i.e. is it the 64 V model or the 58.4 V model)?

The other thing is what the age of the stock would be. I'm pretty certain that Voltronic have not manufactured this model for years. They won't age nearly as fast on the shelf, but they do age.

11 minutes ago, DuncThePunk said:

You are correct that the 3 phases don't share any loads or anything. I use Solar Assistant to change the mode from SBU to UTI when required based on the battery level which are shared between all 3.

Ah. I don't know whether Solar Assistant can change effectively two inverters at once. Maybe you can run two copies of Solar Assistant on two Raspberry Pis. If not "paralleled" (in three-phase mode), then they won't all change at once with just one command. But with suitable settings, the inverter should do it on its own. It may not change over at exactly the same time, but that should not be a big issue.

Gathering data won't be as convenient if they are not "paralleled".

As a point of interest, can you actually run the other two inverters now that the first one has stopped working? Or does it work well enough to still act as a master, even though it will be in fault mode all the time? Does it still charge the battery from its own solar? That's something that the high PV voltage models can't do. With these 145 V max models, the solar charge controller is quite independent. The faulty unit presumably can't charge from its AC-in.

16 minutes ago, DuncThePunk said:

If the firmware versions are different, but they are running independently, should this (and I obviously am just looking for some advice and won't hold any grudges if it is not 100% correct) work?

Yes, different firmware versions, even totally different models, does not matter if they are not being "paralleled".

[Calvin]

22 hours ago, DuncThePunk said:

 

https://www.makro.co.za/hardware-auto/electrical/inverters-solar-panels/inverters/5kva-hybrid-inverter-80a-mppt-built-in-parallel/p/ffbb4015-28e0-4e63-85e8-35c1ab828e76?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADiAUi0CqCBb-aNP_e-2pMIDC2jq8&gclid=CjwKCAjwxNW2BhAkEiwA24Cm9Njv9qhMIe5-MpmZuJc-arYskLeOYmnt4kZMPrrRWI8vTOgsQvR6ChoCVksQAvD_BwE

What a rip-off!

If you do decide to replace, you can (almost) buy 3 new Kings for this price. See KODAK Solar Off-Grid Inverter King with UPS 5KVA/5KW 80A MPPT 48V — Newsphere Solar (Pty) Ltd (thepowerstore.co.za)

It may not be a terrible idea - these inverters have a very finite lifespan and yours are clearly quite old.

Edited September 4 by Calvin

[DuncThePunk]

26 minutes ago, Calvin said:

What a rip-off!

If you do decide to replace, you can (almost) buy 3 new Kings for this price. See KODAK Solar Off-Grid Inverter King with UPS 5KVA/5KW 80A MPPT 48V — Newsphere Solar (Pty) Ltd (thepowerstore.co.za)

It may not be a terrible idea - these inverters have a very finite lifespan and yours are clearly quite old.

Thanks so much for this! This seems like the best option for me. I have found someone who may be able to repair it, but I need to ship it to JHB and even then, 50/50 at best. 3 of these are probably the best option. Thanks again for posting this!

[Calvin]

1 hour ago, DuncThePunk said:

Thanks so much for this! This seems like the best option for me. I have found someone who may be able to repair it, but I need to ship it to JHB and even then, 50/50 at best. 3 of these are probably the best option. Thanks again for posting this!

You are welcome.

[GerhardK83]

On 2024/09/03 at 4:38 PM, DuncThePunk said:

https://www.makro.co.za/hardware-auto/electrical/inverters-solar-panels/inverters/5kva-hybrid-inverter-80a-mppt-built-in-parallel/p/ffbb4015-28e0-4e63-85e8-35c1ab828e76?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADiAUi0CqCBb-aNP_e-2pMIDC2jq8&gclid=CjwKCAjwxNW2BhAkEiwA24Cm9Njv9qhMIe5-MpmZuJc-arYskLeOYmnt4kZMPrrRWI8vTOgsQvR6ChoCVksQAvD_BwE

Geez, do they really think that anyone would buy that inverter at that price?

I would also look at the Kodak Max 7.2Kw which is currently priced at R9874.06 from The Powerforum Store, https://powerforum-store.co.za/collections/inverters/products/kodak-solar-off-grid-inverter-max-7-2kw-48v if the PV input voltage of the solar panels currently installed can be reconfigured to be high enough, also bear in mind that the older Axpert units with a maximum PV input voltage of 145V or less uses solar panels in parallel in order to get the rated power in from the solar panels, so I would suggest that the currently installed solar panels must be reconfigured to 1 string in series depending on which solar panels is installed to make sure that the PV input on the inverter is not damaged by an over current or over voltage. If there is PV surge protection installed then that must also be upgraded in order to accommodate the higher PV input voltage.

The Kodak Max 7.2Kw has 2 PV inputs each rated at 4Kw with a maximum open circuit voltage of 500V and the MPPT voltage range is from 90 - 450V and a maximum PV input current of 18A.

If the data (Pmp in Watt, Voc in Volts , Isc in Amps, Vmp in Volts, Imp in Amps) location (North, South, East, West) and configuration (2S2P, 2S3P etc) of the solar panels are available then one can calculate the optimal PV input configuration for the solar panels, why location would you ask, for some installations to get the maximum amount of solar panels installed on a roof they install some of the panels on a eastern slope of the roof or on a western slope of the roof and depending on the angle of the slope that is when the power output of the solar panels decline.