How to Replace a SolarEdge Optimizer

If you have a SolarEdge system, odds are you've had an optimizer go out. If you haven't, you definitely will!

Luckily, they're very easy to replace.

[taylormills]

Great video Ben, going out to swap an opti for an HD Wave system.
I used this as a quick reminder to make sure I had all the necessary tools.

[fisherus]

It's been my experience that Solar Edge finds any edge to jab you with, by blaming something else for the problem. Scared the bejesus out of me watching you carrying the panel single handed down your ladder, Ben.

[billjohnson]

Thanks for the video sharing real-world occurrence of the failure and fix. One thing - you should not power down the inverter as was done with the DC disconnect switch. This places a huge arc on the contacts, and if you do this a few times under load you risk damaging those contacts. The correct way to power down the system is to deactivate it, then wait for the voltage to bleed down, then switch the DC disconnect to off.

[riftvalley]

Hey Ben you should repost this video under different topic like "Testing Solar Edge Optimizer" or "Testing Optimizer" This is the only video I was able to track in over a year so,

[kc]

i have 84 of these optimizers for my first solar system. first day we found a few DOAs. humming along for 9 months till the next summer, 2 went dead. it's been about 1 a year since. keeping my fingers crossed that the remaining are heat hardened enough to last 😅

[christopherstout]

Hi Ben. Thanks for the video. How do I get into the website and register the new optimizer? I only have the owner monitoring app…. Is there a different website I should use? Or is this where an installer comes in?

[ryanvt]

Thanks for this video! I’m in VT also. My solar company wanted to charge $290 to replace my optimizer! Told them we are all set and to ship our part. Will be tackling this next week.

[michealsailor]

I had 2 bad optimizers 3 years after I install my own system. I called Solar edge and they were able to diagnose the 2 optimizers and surprisingly they sent me 2 optimizers no question asked. Fast forward 2 years to today and I noticed one optimizers Not working I called solar edge and they said the optimizer is producing 1 volt and that I need to trouble shoot to make sure it’s not the panel or connection for them to send me a new one. My guess is that these optimizers made in China are failing left and right and they are making it harder on the home owner to get a replacement based on the 25 year warranty. I will jump through the hoops and hopefully get the optimizer replaced. The panel has no moving parts so I can’t see the panel being the problem. Maybe a connection but I doubt it. They are pretty easy to replace especially when it’s a panel on the outer parameter. Also I recommend getting an installer account on Solaredge monitoring platform so you can update the optimizer once your replace it. If your have solar edge optimizer you will probably be replaying optimizers 1 or 2 every couple of years. :(. Nice video by the way!
One more thing if you are thinking about getting solar it is way cheaper to do it yourself. You can subcontract some electrical work and the plans. Everything else is pretty self explanatory and it will save you anywhere from 60%-70% after tax credits! That was about $20, 000 in my case!

[wobby]

That’s straight forward in the US. Not so in the U.K. our roof are much steeper pitch, normally slate or cement tile and mainly two story buildings. That make access a nightmare. I’ve a three year old installation and already three optimisers have failed. Never again would I use Solar Edge equipment, as in my opinion it too unreliable.

[joecampbell-ln]

I have changed out probably 5 or 6 optimizers since I have my 36 panels. Thanks God I have mine on the ground and not on Roof. Own my inverter just went out. All under warranty

[jmstrsn]

well now I have my suspicions about lousy generation failed optimizers ?, but my inverter says 30/30 yet we r not seeing power over 3800 watts with a 9kw system ? solar edge inverter, was installed 2018 march. on sunny day today 3600watts ?

[vincei]

Beautiful day up there! Excellent day to pick to get out there and do stuff!

Haven't really looked into them but I kind a feel like optimizers are just another moving part with added complexity that can go fail .... do you really see a benefit having the optimizers on the panels? I've got 31 panels at the moment but they all run directly to the two MPPT's on the SolArk. One of the arrays is shadowed by a tree in the morning would an optimizer help?

I've spent this beautiful spring day in the basement wiring up an additional critical loads panel so that I can make good use of the extra 6KW I added at the beginning of the year.

[pippycat]

The dc doesn't drop until you flip the on/off switch, then it gives you a count down on the dc voltage

[stevemocilnikar]

Great instructions. Very helpful. Thank you very much.

[billthompson]

Great video, pretty sure one of my optimizers is out. I will use your procedure to check it out. Would you recommend trying to re pare all of the optimizers before going forward with the diagnostic process? Once the new optimizer, if needed, is pared how do I communicate that to my solar edge account? Thanks in advance, my system is 5 years old and this is the first problem. The system was installed by a solar co they charge $200 just to show up. i need to learn to help myself. Thanks Bill

[philiploizides]

Very good video thank you for your effort with this. Unfortunately, you stopped just short of my problem. I have replaced 12 low-powered panels and optimisers with 10 much higher-powered panels meaning 2 of the original optimisers are not required. How do I remove the unwanted optimisers from the monitoring platform?

[jasonschlegel]

Ben, thank you for sharing and I appreciate your insight. The company that installed my SolarEdge system went out of business, sadly. My SolarEdge inverter has now died for a second time and the next replacement is on its way which must be installed by an electrician to be under warranty ($700 each time). Can you advise me on what data to ask solar edge for regarding my system's health so that I can better understand my inverter problems?

[johntisbury]

Thank you for this. It's a task that I need to do.

[izdagrimeyone]

When I install those, the control box comes with the little tool to disconnect the wires. Its flimsy plastic and breaks if you keep it your pocket, but works like a key. Solar edge should of included it when they shipped the optimizer

[xcencal]

Great video man ! Great info good explanation . How long did it take you ?