I'm new to the solar world and doing some research before getting a system going to power the house.

I've seen various inverters advertised; the two most common are the mecer 3/ 5kw inverters and the five-star 5kw inverters which are cheaper. 

Are they the same inverter ie. Axpert 

Is Axpert, the Chinese company that manufacturers the inverter?

Does anybody have experience with the five-star inverter?

Advice is greatly appreciated.

Edited October 28, 20196 yr by Donwil

the only place I have seen those is at the china mall. I doubt they would be fit for installation into a DB board but I might be mistaken.

Thanks Dex

Would the mecer one be the best way to go? Is Axpert the generic name for them?

Voltronic makes the inverter and others rebadge them. There are also cheaper copies of the (already cheap) Voltronic inverters that are best avoided. In terms of quality... the Voltronics are good value for money for the simple reason that they cost so little money. You get what you pay for though. They don't have the same level of support or the same kind of warranty as other better inverters.

Agreed they are good value for money, but obviously not the best you can get, I am very happy with mine though, personally I would say spend a little more and at least get the king

So Voltronic manufacturers them and mecer rebrands them...is it basically the same inverter as the American bpp model, I see on YouTube videos?eg

https://youtu.be/ikDLxnf1ePQ

 

Edited October 28, 20196 yr by Donwil

7 hours ago, Donwil said:

So Voltronic manufacturers them and mecer rebrands them...is it basically the same inverter as the American bpp model, I see on YouTube videos?eg

https://youtu.be/ikDLxnf1ePQ

 

you are referring to the axpert here or the five star?

9 hours ago, Donwil said:

So Voltronic manufacturers them and mecer rebrands them...is it basically the same inverter as the American bpp model, I see on YouTube videos?eg

https://youtu.be/ikDLxnf1ePQ

Yes, MPPSolar are another rebrander, and sell on Ebay under the maximum_solar seller. I use two MPPSolars myself. There are perhaps a dozen rebranders; as far as I know there are no Voltronic branded models. The genuine Voltronic machines are designed in Taiwan and manufactured in mainland China.

Thanks for the reply. So what is the Ferrari of inverters? Is it a Victron?

Perhaps a Schneider for the equivalent of a Ferrari. Victron is more Toyota. Axpert is perhaps Great Wall. I'll get persecuted for this, I'm sure 😬

I'm sure @plonkster would have an opinion, if slightly biased (only because he works for Victron). Fronius as Mercedes? I know these guys love to talk cars, so...

7 hours ago, Coulomb said:

Schneider for the equivalent of a Ferrari

Don't know if I would rate Schneider that highly, but the rest is not far off 🙂

There are two things one might consider, the one is how modern the design is, the other is how well it is built. Some people build old designs really well. The Victron design is not the most modern for example, neither is the SMA SunnyIsland, but they are really well built. Conversely, the Voltronics are more modern designs but they are built to a price. The Toyota analogy is actually not far off. Family member of mine used to work for Toyota. He asked a fellow engineer one day why Toyota still persists with the torsion-bar curved-arms hinge on the boot of the sedans (you know... then you always have to pack your luggage to leave room for the boot hinges!) when everyone else are using gas struts. The response was: *shrug*.... it works, why mess with it?

🙂

 

Thanks guys I'm learning so much.

Hi All

I just purchased a Fivestar 10KVA, 48V inverter - it's actually just arrived but after checking the reviews and after speaking to a couple of installers I am not even going to unpack, I m sending it straight back.

John

Im an installer have installed more than 100 units, some even completely off grid and not 1 problem so far.

Shaun182, which units are you referring to?

Hi, 

Can someone please assist me with my Fivestar Hybrid Solar Inverter settings

I've got the 24V 3kW model, with two 12V 105ah deep cycle Lead Acid batteries, at the moment all parameters are on default, where do I set my charging current, what must the battery type set too, and what should I set all the parameters too?

On 2023/01/13 at 8:19 AM, Gieljam said:

Hi, 

Can someone please assist me with my Fivestar Hybrid Solar Inverter settings

I've got the 24V 3kW model, with two 12V 105ah deep cycle Lead Acid batteries, at the moment all parameters are on default, where do I set my charging current, what must the battery type set too, and what should I set all the parameters too?

Im also looking to get one of these, they sell them at the chinas and some other stores.

I see they have a serial port and saw a video on youtube of a guy saying you need an old laptop with a serial port to do their settings? 

Anyone have some experience on this? 

57 minutes ago, Ecomm Auctions said:

HI, we have sold more then 400 fivestar inverters, lithium batteries, solar batteries and no comeback. We sell all their goods on auction. google Ecomm auctions

And who supports them, do you have a repair centre? 

1 hour ago, Ecomm Auctions said:

HI, we have sold more then 400 fivestar inverters, lithium batteries, solar batteries and no comeback. We sell all their goods on auction. google Ecomm auctions

And does  the FiveStar use geniuine Voltronic parts and subassemblies.? 

Nothing says trusted like "Online WhatsApp Auctions"

 

 

Website claims company started in 2020

Facebook Page only created in 2021

Facebook Page lists business as "opening soon" so therefore no customer reviews or complaints

All social media mentions are from "giveaway" draws

Yeah, this stinks. Buyer Beware

Website doesn't list actual terms and conditions of auctions

Only listed policy is for returns damaged in transit

On 2023/01/17 at 6:54 AM, Hardusb said:

I see they have a serial port and saw a video on youtube of a guy saying you need an old laptop with a serial port to do their settings?

No, you use a USB to serial adapter. It just has to be one of a few known-good brands. You can also do settings from the display and buttons.

My consulting rate is R1000/hr, with a R5/KM travel fee. Payable in advance if you want me to visit

 

From your FB Page and website: (https://www.ecommauctions.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/E-Comm-Auctions-Terms-and-Conditions-buyers.pdf) - Established in 2020

Your website domain was only registered in 2021... curious - https://coza.net.za/cgi-bin/whois.sh?Domain=ecommauctions&Enter=Enter

This 2010/2011 Takealot/BoB story, lol. Just LOL

You have 8k Bidders, but ONE single Google Review, I wonder why?

Here's an example of one of your fans on Facebook, one "Amy Johnston" - https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073256284388

Every single post of her profile is for  "giveaways". I'm sure she and others are completely real people who only post about giveaways and nothing else

 

You did dodge the important question. Who is doing the aftersales support for FiveStar, and is there a local repair center. Do you keep spare parts inventory? Is that available for purchase by end users or installers?

@madness_za  And usually, they employ a couple of people to monitor the bids, they keep on outbidding you until it reaches a price that is profitable for then.