It's an unheard of inverter brand which claims to have a maximum efficiency of 98%. So supposedly 1% more efficient than the Sunnyboys 5000TL made by SMA, the leading inverter brand in the world.
That's like saying a Hyundai was saver than a Mercedes.
The inverter is only allowed to be installed in Australia since mid June 2010.
But there are already reports in forums about problems with that unit.
5 August 2010:
A 10 kW system in Sydney, NSW performed very irregular. It has two identical arrays of 5 kW each and with two 5 kW Sunteams 5000 inverters.
One array is producing 30% less power during 2-3 hours in the day than the other one. There is no shade at all and it is an identical set up.
Something seems wrong. But what can you expect from an inverter out of a $2 shop?
20 August 2010: The story ends as one of the sunteams inverters did not start up anymore - dead.
The link to that report (in German)
If you know more about these inverters, please leave a comment.
Cheers
http://www.photovoltaikforum.com/download/file.php?id=5266&mode=view
ReplyDeletesame as the CMS units which have been as reliable as houses. <1% failure rate
ReplyDeleteReason for better efficiency is single MPPT vs two MPPT.
As for reliability the 2800, 4000 and 5000 have had some software issues that have now been resolved.
Go for it and buy all your gear, get a spark to install and save yourself thousands of bucks.
i did a 5kw system for under $13K after RECS
I run a solar company in Perth that use these and have had no problems. We offer SMA as well and these come up pretty good when compared. No problems so far and on some occasions are performing better than the SMA. From what I understand, when the crew that made the Orion inverter sold out to EATON they went off and started making KLNE (Sunteam) inverters. Their Orion monitoring software runs exactly the same when plugged into the KLNE.
ReplyDeleteany more recent experiences with sunteam inverters -performance , efficiency? appreciate you input or comments.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Vasu
Spoke to an installer last week (end of May 2011), he told me "when we install a KLNE Sunteams inverter, it's almost a guarantee that I will see that customer again... pretty soon they are calling me with a problem. So I only install them for customers I want to see again" and he's laughing.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore he says "when I install a SMA inverter or AURORA, I will never see that customer again, because they never fail".
I own a solar company, have been installing KLNE SUNTEAMS myself and my experience is that they are shocking, so I stopped using them after we had too many failures. They don't cost much, but it's not worth the money to pay someone to replace them all the time. Some units have been replaced multiple times. It's a serious problem.
ReplyDeleteRecently I had the occasion to contact the service department of Kinglong New Energy for assistance. They attended to my problem in the most prompt and efficient manner and had the matter resolved within a couple of days. I have nothing but praise for their attentive service and wish more companies would follow their example.
ReplyDeleteTay Sinyan
We have had our Sunteams installed for only 8 months and it has stopped working already. Obviously a substandard system.
ReplyDeleteOur 2kw KLNE Sunteams system has stopped working for the third time in 12 months and the company that installed it has dissapeared. Any suggestions as to where I should go from here?
ReplyDeleteI HAVE A SUNTEAMS 5KW UNIT AND IT ONLY WORKED FOR
ReplyDelete6 WEEKS
Good Luck
DeleteSparky Sydney
ReplyDeleteI have my InspireSolar OEM KLNE 2800 for a year. It has god output efficiency but it has Grid V fault now. The Grid voltage is only 197V. It is no longer working. The company sold it to me has gone under. Where can I get service?
i have a recently installed sunteams 5000. and i have an error message.... sensor damaged.. i tried to reset inverter but nothing??
ReplyDeletei bought through greenphase and still waiting for a tech to call me?? any suggestions?
I am now on to my 4th sunstream and after 5 weeks have an error "sensor damaged". The other 3 showed "sci damaged" and no one could tell me what that means. I am at my witts end with these inverters...help
ReplyDeleteI have another lable for the kinglong inverter series, Inspire Solar Australia was installing the King Long inverters with Inspire Solar lable.
ReplyDeleteInspire solar have gone into liquidation in AU so any waranty on the materials supplied is unavailable.
QLD AU I have now had 2 5KW inverters failed on the same pair of strings nothing on display, have checked internal fuses etc and panel string supply voltage found OK. The other 5KW strings ok, effeciency down 20% to 25% lower than expected.
We have a kinglong inverter which was installed end of May 2011. Now it has stopped working and the company Solart who provided the system have disconnected their phone and removed their website and the installation company who they used tell me they have not been able to get hold of them for months for payments due to them, mmmm.. what does this tell you. Looks like we all have been ripped off.
ReplyDeleteI have had 3 Sunteams 2800 replaced, i purchased mine from GreatSolar in South Australia. Not happy at all with this inverter.
ReplyDeleteSeems the KLNE inverters are very efficient, but not reliable. Mine lasted 9 months before the "High DC Inj" fault occured. The installer (Inspire Solar) is in liquidation so I think I blew my money :-(
ReplyDeleteMy Sunteams 4000 was installed 27 May 2011 and died (blank screen and red fault light on). It was hooked up to the grid by AGL (Finally) end of September 2011 and failed approximately 2 weeks later. :( Sunteams have offered to replace it without even sending someone out to look at it. What does this tell me? They obviously know that there is a problem with them. I have read the fine print and found that I can be compensated $ on the model taking into account its age. Then I can go and buy a decent one. They won't pay for installation of the new one. I do not want to have to keep paying for installs if they fail. It is not my fault.
ReplyDeleteI have received a refurbished second hand Sunteams inverter to replace my inverter which only lasted 2 weeks. It has some rust, serial no. fading, gecko poo, dirt, water stains. I am not happy. Wondering if it belongs to any of you. The serial no. stickers is a different style to the one I currently have. It is definately alot older than mine. Suggestions?
ReplyDeletePurchased a system from Platinum solar from the central coast nsw they fitted a Kinglong inverter that has stopped working.Now they are working hard not to do anything about it.
ReplyDeletehey the review was very detailed and useful. thanks for sharing such an informative post.
ReplyDeleteSMA Inverters
i have 18 sunteams 4000 in perfect condition of work after 2 years of good services , and 3 sunteams 2000 , all the sunteams have been upgraded with version 8 /3 program and since last march , the mppt is far best , i have near( same panels , same roof , one german inverter from refusol ( 18 k ) and the production with same panels is higher with chineeses inverters !!!
ReplyDeletei buyed that because they is nothing avaible fast in 2010 , and i realy not regret , sunteams send all upgrades and they answer under 24 h to all questions ,
i know many person got problem around me with sma , one with aurora , and another one with siemens !! so it seem all the brands have problems ! but 0 problem in 2 years on 21 inverters is good reliability
I purchased a 1.5KW solar system in June 2011 and it came with a Sunteams inverter. The inverter is guaranteed for 5 yrs and comes with a full replacement warranty. It has performed flawlessly for 15mths.
ReplyDeleteI think you have to be very careful as to the location of the inverter. As with all electronic devices, they are frail and need protection from weather, water, direct sunlight, insects, and all the things that affect performance, and cause degradation.
As with motor cars, you can expect serious and rapid degradation if left exposed to the vagaries of weather and direct sunlight constantly.
My inverter is installed high up under the garage roof, where is is well protected from direct sunlight, does not get water or condensation on it, and is away from insect attack.
Spiders, bees, wasps, ants, mice and 100 other species of insects and vermin are always looking for places to live, and inverter boxes look good to them.
Just found out today that my inverter has fried.... 18 months after installation. Company that I purchased the system from is no longer. KLNE have sent me a claim form... lets hope it is replaced with no dramas
ReplyDeleteI installed the sun teams 2000 around 3 months ago have not turned it on until I was connected to the grid used it for 2days now and was working good was a nice hot day today thought I would of clocked up some kw's unit now seems not to turn on tried to reset it nothing ..... fin peace of shiiit
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteIt's a excellent one.The maximum efficiency of the inverter can reach 96.50%.KLNE products have already acquired many international certifications including CE, TUV, VDE (Germany) and AS4777 / AS3100 for the Australian market.Thanks
12 volt inverters
Actual trend of wearing the watches on wrist came to existence after the World War 1, because at that time soldier found it so much difficult to carry a watch in their pockets as at the time of Warfield they have to run, jump and perform several other difficult tasks during which they misplace their watches. To overcome this problem they tied that watch on their wrist. Many people followed them by saying that if the real soldiers can wear why they can’t. In the very beginning all the watches were fully mechanical as technology developed to great extent scientists have replaced the mechanical formula with the quartz vibrations or electronic pulse. As the technology developed the watches came with several features like GPs navigation, alarm, timers and many more. The famous companies are Rolex, Timex, Casio, Seiko, Fossil etc. The watches are available in different price ranges ranging from a few hundred to crores.
ReplyDeletehydro electric
hydro electric power
what is hydro electric
inventhistory
power generator
wind power generator
solar and power
electric transportation
My neighbor is on his third KLNE Sunteams / Quantum inverter since his new PV install 3 years ago. The last inverter ran <12 months before failure. He expects to see the service man again next year.
ReplyDeleteI really like your post, this is what i was looking forward to know.
ReplyDeleteyour info was really very important for me and others to know too.
Keep sharing more.
china inverter
I in stalled a solar system in 12/2010 with a Sunteams 4000 inverter in 11/2012 the inverter failed and was replaced with same inverter. In 11/2013 failed again waiting to have it replaced . My opinion may make good boat anchor.
ReplyDeleteA inverter is a device that converts DC power to AC power.
ReplyDeleteHad Sunteams 4000 inverter installed Sep last year. It is now showing fault light and 'sensor damaged' on display. Purchased it from Sunburst Solar who have now shut shop and are now running under a different name of Standard Solar. Feeling very screwed over.
ReplyDeletemy unit just does not disply anything.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any service information?
or fault comments?
john
I had a 1.5Kw solar system installed by Solar Harness in Perth, W.A. in July 2011. This system was installed in a very professional manner, and I am very pleased with their workmanship.
ReplyDeleteThe inverter is a Sunteams model 1500, and there is no indication on it where it's made. It appears to be a very professionally-constructed unit.
This entire system has performed faultlessly for nearly 3 yrs and I have reduced my power bills to virtually zero.
I originally calculated around 4 years to recover my total investment in the system, but the way things are going with increased power prices, I will have recovered my total investment very shortly, or in a little over 3 years.
My panels face NE and are not in 100% perfect position, but they produce adequate power, as expected.
The only thing I have noticed is that the system has never produced the 1.5Kw as rated, it has produced around 1.45Kw maximum.
I consider by far, the most important feature of solar systems is the location or siting of the inverter.
I notice many are poorly sited - being exposed to the weather, and to severe temperature extremes - by being exposed to direct sunlight, rain, and dew.
Inverters are sensitive electronic devices that need protection from weather or temperature extremes. The LCD screens are particularly sensitive to exposure to weather.
I have my Sunteams inverter located under the carport roof where it is not exposed to direct sunlight, rain, or dew.
By doing so, I eliminate problems such as UV light damage to the LCD screen and the inverter body - eliminate corrosion incurred by rainwater or dew penetration - and eliminate electronics damage caused by severe temperature extremes.
Awesome stuff! It's so great to see you guys continuing to make fast progress... yorkshire
ReplyDeleteWe had a sunteams KLNE 1500 system installed in 2011 it has failed I hve sent 3 emails to China no reply I have know tried Melbourne , it seems as through no one wants to help to any one reading this & all the other comments please BEWARE,
ReplyDeleteEBAY BUYERS, dont buy sunteams, youll be sorry
ReplyDeleteGreat post you shared, you have now become top of my list. You were unknown to me before but have found your content to be fantastic.
ReplyDeleteSo great work for informing us of the possibilities and following a certain path.
I really appreciate your hard work an giving us some information and inspiring others to follow.
Thanks so much.
I hope for more post in the future.
solar power
I have a Sunteams 2000 inverter that was installed in May 2011. It's still working...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your blog with us I am very inspired by your article kindly share some knowledge about huawei solar inverter want to know about it
ReplyDelete