At this point Solara AG has offered to provide me with new panel(s), but
that offer came before Christmas and nothing has transpired since. The
reason that I said "panel(s)" is because both of my panels failed and
they've only offered to replace 1. I'm trying to work that issue, but
it's days and days between e-mail replies. I have to pay 50% of the
shipping, which works out to $130 for me. I have no problem with that.
Both panels suffered the same failure. Basically they simply stop
outputting any voltage. One panel is completly dead and the other will
output first thing in the morning unit it gets warm. Then it simply
stops outputting. I suspect that thermal heating is causing a contact
to break somewhere. I think that it's in the black connector, which
interfaces the panel with the power cable, but I don't want to go
tampering with that as I might void any possible warranty.
I utilize a MorningStar TriStar regulator. I don't know what you're
talking about regarding the protective circuit and cable length. You
can find a copy of the SM225M installation manual he
http://www.solarlink.de/PDF-Files/So...gSM_60_bis_225
_englisch.pdf
When the panels worked, they worked great. I was very happy with them.
The issues came when I had a problem and tried to get replacement
panels. Hopefully yours will work just fine and you'll never be in this
predicament.
-- Geoff
"plano" wrote in news:ep0rm6$odc$1
@lust.ihug.co.nz:
You got me really worried now!
You mention that Solara AG decided to re-open the conversation after
your posting of the problems on the Internet. What was the final
outcome of that or is it still on-going?
Can you say anything more about the "failure" or did the panels simply
stop working? Had you installed them with a Solara regulator? Which
model do you have and does it have an inline tube with a protective
circuit? Did you stay within the maximum bending curve?
My panels work fine and are very efficient, but there was a practical
problem with the installation. I have model SM160M. The tube with
protective circuit required a big hole in the deck to feed it through.
The installation manual states (literally): "Do not cut this
protective circuit off the cable and do not shorten the cable!
Otherwise the warranty ends immediately". I cut the cable anyway and
reconnected under deck. It was either that or drilling a 3/4" hole in
the deck to feed the tube through. I think they are nervous about
cutting the cable because if any light falls on the panel while the
cable is cut, the shorting will damage the panel. I shielded the panel
from light and as an extra precaution I carefully cut open the
insulation and then cut wire by wire, rather than a cutting the cable
in one go. I will probably have a problem if it ever comes to a
warranty claim, but from what you're saying I will have a problem
anyway.
Plano
"Geoff Schultz" wrote in message
.. .
As the person who has had the warranty problem with Solara AG, I can
assure you that I've done everything possible to communicate with the
company. I have dozens of e-mails to them. The problem is that they
just stopped answering my e-mail. I was having a very good exchange
with their export manager until he just stopped replying. Once I
posted my problems with Solara AG on the Internet they decided to
re-open the conversation.
Please also note that it wasn't just me that they were ignoring.
They were ignoring the US distributor and the dealer who sold it to
me. I will also state that I e-mailed their general info address and
the president and received no response. My phone calls to the export
manager weren't returned. There is no customer service number and
whoever answers their general number only speaks German, which is
definately limiting.
I will also state that others appear to be having the same failure
that I'm having. Just this morning I heard from a cruiser in Turkey
whose panels appear to have the same failure mode.
All of this is probably moot as I don't believe that anyone carries
Solara panels in the US any more. The USD/Euro ratio has made their
panels way too expensive.
-- Geoff
"plano" wrote in
:
Solara, Hamburg, Germany. The only one I could find.
Excellent product. Highly efficient panels. I've got 3 x 40W,
rather expensive but worth it I think. They had a bit of bad press
here because of a warranty problem, but that may have been due to a
communication problem. A direct phone call to their customer
services dept. might have helped. Plano
"Jim Conlin" wrote in message
... Please
identify makers and vendors for flexible solar panels suitable
for a curved boat deck.
Yes, i know they're less efficient.