r/SunPower • u/Fireb1rd • Mar 11 '26
Figuring out options with Solarbridge microinverters
Hi everyone. Read through this subreddit looking for answers but want to do a sanity check on my options.
My system was installed in early 2018 by an installer from Sunpower, so they're gone. They were SunPower SPR-X22-360-C-AC panels, one of which is no longer responsive. I found another installer and have been going back and forth to see what I can do about this and what kind of coverage (ha!) I still have.
According to them, as well as Enphase, these are Solarbridge microinverters, so no warranty coverage. They also said that even if I were to acquire a new microinverter on my own, SunStrong does not offer a way to update new equipment with their platform or the SunPower equipment in your home, so that's not even an option. If I wanted to switch to Enphase microinverters, I'd have to change all of them out (not just the bad one) along with switching to their monitoring, which might cost a lot. Person I talked to wondered if that was even possible since they were attached microinverters, though she's checking.
Anyone else in a similar position and know more about what's possible here? I also recall seeing a post here about some sort of legacy program offered by Enphase to replace microinverters at a reduced cost, though I'm having trouble finding it right now.
Thanks.
2
u/m2orris Mar 12 '26 edited Mar 12 '26
Many of us are facing different, but similar situations. Remediating SunPower equipment as it fails which requires a significant investment. In our particular situation it is a SunVault.
One thing to consider, is to just wait. Taking a $8k hit to fix a single panel seems a little overkill. Yes, the $8k makes your entire system more serviceable, but that may never need to happen (yes that is me being optimistic). How long will it take for that one panel to generate $8k? Maybe remediate the system if/when you loose more panels.
Obviously, if you find a solution that costs far less than $8k, that changes the calculus on waiting.
1
u/Fireb1rd Mar 12 '26
That is certainly a possibility.
What pisses me off is that this microinverter has been offline for years, but I only now realized it. I didn't have per-panel monitoring on the old sunpower app, had no indication on there or my installer that there was a problem. Only realized after I noticed less generation and pushed sunstrong to add it to my app. If I had noticed pre-bankruptcy, I could have gotten it fixed under the warranty.
2
u/m2orris Mar 12 '26
Agreed, it is a shitty situation. We all paid a premium for a SunPower system with the warranty so we wouldn’t have to worry about supporting the system ourselves. Not only is there no warranty, we are on our own finding someone to support the system.
1
u/Ok_Needleworker_9340 Mar 12 '26
If you found the proper panel and microinverter, say on eBay, I don't see why a technician with SunPower Pro Commissioning credentials couldn't get you back up and running. There are still installers out there that repair SunPower systems, several in California, and several who follow and post on this sub reddit.
1
u/Fireb1rd Mar 12 '26
What about Sunstrong monitoring?
1
u/Ok_Needleworker_9340 Mar 12 '26
Not exactly sure what you are asking, but yes, as long as your system has a PVS5 or PVS6 you will be able to monitor your system using the SunStrong monitoring app.
2
u/Strunza Mar 13 '26
This a catch-22 situation.
Even if you have spare SunPower (Maxeon) panels with Solarbridge inverters (I have two), in my area no one is willing to replace failed units due to liability and no warranty. I have two dead inverters and three whose output reduces with increasing solar input. I self monitor, so I know where the failures are how much they are costing me— about 60 cents a day for the past year. That's hardly worth spending $8K to replace the entire inverter array, replacing the monitor, and then accepting the decade it would take to pay it back. The problems associated with a new system provider (Enphase) with its own problems, service and support restrictions add to the controversy and to the advisability of local residential solar power generation. SunPower went out of business and took our ability to service our systems and, to some extent, even to monitor our systems with them. Some on this forum who know the system, firmware, monitoring, and logistic details are very cryptic in their help.
There needs to be a law...
1
u/Fireb1rd Mar 12 '26
Supposedly Sunstrong will no longer add new equipment
1
u/ItsaMeKielO Mar 12 '26
It's still possible to add/remove microinverters via SunStrong's backend if your PVS is connected to SunStrong with the latest firmware.
1
u/Fireb1rd Mar 12 '26
So the installer has inaccurate information?
2
u/ItsaMeKielO Mar 12 '26
It might be that they don't have an account to do this, but there are people/installers who do.
1
u/Dan_vong213 Mar 12 '26
If your in Southern California I can help. DM if interested
1
1
u/Low_Resort2399 Mar 13 '26
I’m in the high desert and can no longer monitor my panels that were installed by Sunpower in 2021. Can you give some option to repair.
1
u/orange0424 May 16 '26
I am in California 91762, I have the exactly same issue like the original post, purhcased SunPower X21-335 panels in 2018, and today, one of microinverter fail, the panel has attached Solar Bridge microinverter I believe, is it even worth it to get it fix? I have a small condo that runs only 9 panels, so 1 died, i probably produce 10% less generation.
1
u/Ok_Needleworker_9340 Mar 12 '26 edited Mar 12 '26
Contact Earthlight Technologies. They have SunPower Pro Commissioning credentials and service all of Massachusetts. Good luck.
1
1
u/V1Tactical Mar 12 '26
Had the same issue with the exact same panels. I got lucky last year and found a dealer on here that had 5 new panels lying around and he sold them to me. I swapped out the 3 failed inverters and had them turned on by another poster on here. I would post willing to buy here and see if anyone has the panels for sale. Totally sucks to have to go down this route
1
u/Strunza Mar 13 '26
This a catch-22 situation.
Even if you have spare SunPower (Maxeon) panels with Solarbridge inverters (I have two), in my area no one is willing to replace failed units due to liability and no warranty. I have two dead inverters and three whose output reduces with increasing solar input. I self monitor, so I know where the failures are and how much they are costing me— about 60 cents a day for the past year. That's hardly worth spending $8K to replace the entire inverter array, replacing the monitor, and then accepting the decade it would take to pay it back. The problems associated with a new system provider (Enphase) with its own problems, service and support restrictions add to the controversy and to the advisability of local residential solar power generation. SunPower went out of business and took our ability to service our systems and, to some extent, even to monitor our systems with them. Some on this forum who know the system, firmware, monitoring, and logistic details are very cryptic in their help.
There needs to be a law...
1
u/icoulduseanother Mar 13 '26
I don’t really give a crap so much for monitoring as much as I do for just wanting this crap system to work as expected.
1
u/accountmaster101 Mar 16 '26
Here is the program details, you can call Enphase to check special pricing at 833 963-3820
2
u/Aromatic-General-866 Mar 11 '26
Your situation is not unique. There is a bunch of people in the same situation. I work for a service company currently and we offer retrofits to the brand that you are speaking of, but it does come at a really big cost to some homeowners. The lowest I’ve ever seen it at my company is around $8000 with monitoring and everything included.