Need new positive ground inverter?

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  • dndrich
    Junior Member
    • Jun 2021
    • 3

    Need new positive ground inverter?

    Solar Pals:

    I have a 14 year old system with Sanyo HIP-215 panels and a SunnyBoy 5000US positive ground inverter. The inverter is failing and needs to be replaced. Trouble is, you can’t get those. Nobody seems to make a positive ground inverter. I have contacted SMA and they have no answers. My panels are fine. Any ideas on how to get this system working again? I have looked at the Sanyo data sheet, and it says nothing about positive ground. But I know the inverter is positive ground. Any thoughts here appreciated. Otherwise my system will be dead in the water this summer.
    I have
  • Ampster
    Solar Fanatic
    • Jun 2017
    • 3650

    #2
    I have heard of some old solar panels being positive ground but I don't understand how the ground matters in the case of my inverter where neither the positive or the negative is grounded? My panels are grounded to the frame and the rails which is the biggest risk if there is a lighnng strike. My inverter case is grounded but there is no continuity between the case of my inverter and either the positive or negative DC inputs or outputs. Do you have continuity between ground and the positive side of your panel's output? I would test the assumption that you need to limit yourself to a positive ground inverter? That may be an artifact of an earlier design criteria which is now not important. Perhaps someone with more knowledge can chime in?
    Last edited by Ampster; 02-03-2024, 10:29 PM.
    9 kW solar, 42kWh LFP storage. EV owner since 2012

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    • oregon_phil
      Solar Fanatic
      • Jan 2019
      • 497

      #3
      I haven't read it all but there is an Oregon State University paper on it: SunPower Discovers the “Surface Polarization” Effect in High Efficiency Solar Cells

      Also, this thread Replace a positive ground, Sunpower SPR-7000 to a transformer-less inverter has info from youlovesolar refurbed inverters.

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      • J.P.M.
        Solar Fanatic
        • Aug 2013
        • 14939

        #4
        Originally posted by oregon_phil
        I haven't read it all but there is an Oregon State University paper on it: SunPower Discovers the “Surface Polarization” Effect in High Efficiency Solar Cells

        Also, this thread Replace a positive ground, Sunpower SPR-7000 to a transformer-less inverter has info from youlovesolar refurbed inverters.
        Not a plug and only FWIW but about 6 years ago I got an exact replacement for my inverter (a rebadged PowerOne string 5kW), a Sunpower SPR5000 positive ground from youlovesolar.com for when my inverter does eventually go south.
        Service was good - real people who were informed and spoke english as their first language. IMO the price was a bit better than fair.

        I checked their site just now and they seem to have no 7kW inverters but that's what their site said about my inverter when I bought it so I called anyway and got what I needed.

        Might be worth a phone call.

        Comment

        • dndrich
          Junior Member
          • Jun 2021
          • 3

          #5
          Originally posted by J.P.M.

          Not a plug and only FWIW but about 6 years ago I got an exact replacement for my inverter (a rebadged PowerOne string 5kW), a Sunpower SPR5000 positive ground from youlovesolar.com for when my inverter does eventually go south.
          Service was good - real people who were informed and spoke english as their first language. IMO the price was a bit better than fair.

          I checked their site just now and they seem to have no 7kW inverters but that's what their site said about my inverter when I bought it so I called anyway and got what I needed.

          Might be worth a phone call.
          I did call them and sadly they have nothing.

          Comment

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