I hope everyone realizes the defective nature of the design of this inverter. There is no means to safely de-energize the PV prior to separating the top and bottom sections. Foolishly SMA put the PV disconnect in the top half.
Read the service manual and you will see SMA recommends putting foil over the PV modules prior to servicing. https://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/case_studies/SMA_40_Series/Whats_wrong_with_40_Series.html Stay safe! William William Miller Miller Solar.com 805-438-5600 www.millersolar.com On Sat, Jan 31, 2026 at 12:42 PM Tyrone Houck via RE-wrenches < [email protected]> wrote: > My belief is that most GT inverter failures are caused by grid surges of > some kind. > > I'm surprised they would deny a warranty and unsure how they would prove > the utility caused the problem. I've had several AC side failures of sunny > boy inverters and never had SMA deny a warranty especially once sending > device logs and onsite voltage readings. Open the top half and inspect for > physical damage then document with photos. Should be an automatic RMA. > > Its common for them to send "top half" replacements. The online > connectivity corresponds with the connection unit in the lower half and the > top half serial needs to be added online so definitely keep track of all > top and bottom serial numbers. > > As for a third party source for older inverters, I don't have any advice > there. Ebay would probably be my first thought too. > > Best of luck! > > > > On Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 9:06 AM Bill P. Battagin via RE-wrenches < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Fellow SMA Lovers, >> >> I have an installation that has 10, SMA SB-1SP-US -40 and >> -41's PG&E thought it would be a good idea to send a surge into the >> service of this install so 3 off the inverters were compromised. >> >> 1) I've gone to Ebay for replacements sometimes as SMA would not >> consider this a warranty issue. Anybody have a source for new or >> refurbished other than Ebay? >> >> 2) Also it would be good to know, can the bottom connection box covers >> with displays be swapped/interchanged between different inverters and >> between -40 and -41 versions? >> >> Thanks as always, >> Bill >> >> Feather River Solar Electric >> Bill Battagin, owner >> 4291 Nelson St. (Shipping)5575 Genesee Rd >> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/5575+Genesee+Rd?entry=gmail&source=g>. >> (USPS, UPS) >> Taylorsville, CA 95983 >> 530-284-7849, 258-1641(cell) >> CA. C10 Lic # 681552/874049 >> Solar Powered since 1982 >> Home of the Sunny Side Up >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >> >> List Address: [email protected] >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > >
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