Pre-Order Discussions

I hope we get some picture here of one of the inverters in the factory.  I watched the video this morning and came over to see if Sean posted anything.  I now not much is going on just like seeing little stuff makes it fun. 

1 hour ago, AquaticsLive said:

I hope we get some picture here of one of the inverters in the factory.  I watched the video this morning and came over to see if Sean posted anything.  I now not much is going on just like seeing little stuff makes it fun. 

All we have gotten was a photo of (presumably GS) transformer cores on a pallet.  But we have no idea if they're at the factory or not.  I mean, I know this is inexcusable.  But what else can we do?

I was going to wait on posting the photo here, as it really doesn't prove much, but here it is anyway:

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We are so disappointed in the factory.  But we're gonna get the orders fulfilled, one way or another.

on a brighter note, the (completed) custom sample 12kw transformer I sourced from Alibaba is in the States; I should have it this week for testing.  I have had zero issues sourcing parts from China (and getting them here to the States)--the problem with the factory definitely ain't U.S./China tensions, nor is it a lack of raw materials.  We just don't know what it is exactly.

All we have gotten was a photo of (presumably GS) transformer cores on a pallet.

The big core  look like for the ASL 11.0  transformer  and the little  core  look like for the  ASL5.0  transformer  maybe for inverters   in   production now  ??       

On 12/20/2022 at 7:15 AM, Sid Genetry Solar said:

I was going to wait on posting the photo here, as it really doesn't prove much, but here it is anyway:

Thanks, yeah not sure the picture is something related.  Well its something though.  Sorry all these problems are coming up, not anything was done wrong just the way stuff is going currently.  Once the order is complete, if you stick with them they will have it all figured out should go much faster.  Not going to comment about any of the future though, I understand whatever way you end up going. 

I can't prove that it is.  But there's a fairly high likelihood that they are the GS transformer cores--just I have no idea where they are...whether at the core factory, or at the PJ factory.

Let's just say: this problem will NEVER happen again 😉.  We might've been hit over the head a few times since the beginning, but this is going to be the LAST time this sort of delay will ever happen.

The only practical way to get consistent quality out of China factories at scale is to have boots on the ground on a regular basis.  Dozens of Apple engineers/techs visit on their China factories every month to ensure low defect rate before things get shipped.

December 26, 2022...

• still no updates from the factory...but Sean's been persistently asking.
• There is NOW for the first time at least a half an excuse for delays/problems: some of you may have heard on the news that the CCP has lifted their "Zero Covid" policy...and a lot of businesses are having difficulties with up to half of their workforce being home sick.  The factory has not admitted to this, but all of the suppliers I've been working for have either noted it, or apologized for delays resulting from a lack of workers.

On the home front, I finally had an opportunity to test/examine the transformer from the new manufacturer.

• It has a notably lower idle wattage (20.16W vs 22.08W), which is of course a significant benefit...it will reduce our already low "no load current" on GS inverters!  Interestingly, the core voltage efficiency sweep has about the same voltage range--it's just a lower loss the entire way.  Which is great, of course.
• Winding resistances are the same--as would be expected for the same winding spec.
• Yes, it is possible to solder aluminum!  This transformer supplier aluminum-soldered the crimp terminals, and the results look really good!  It's not like we've had too many issues with the current crimp terminals--I just plain don't like them!
• the only issue with the sample transformer is that they did not fully understand the "wire location requirements" per the specification (where all of the transformer wires on a GS inverter have to be on the same half of the core).  This is a minor issue...well...kinda major for the prototype, but a minor inconvenience in the long run.  Just needs addressed and sorted out before a production order.

sure, everyone wants to see a photo of the sample transformer from the new supplier 😉

<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2022_12/tranny.jpg.9ac432fa595f1c90faad4b1f4231ba70.jpg

yeah, proper high-temp braid over the single-bundle wires, not unshrunk heatshrink tubing over split-up bundles!

They did use silicone wire on the secondary side...here's to hoping the internal conversion from aluminum wire to the silicone copper wire is solid & doesn't cause failures.  As a professional transformer company, I would expect this to be good though.

• the box with power buttons, thermistors & current sensors has shipped to Sean.
• heatsink supplier has gone dark for the past few days...I suspect the CCP policy change is likely to fault here--lack of workers or salespeople!

 This transformer supplier aluminum-soldered the crimp terminals

Solder all  terminal is better than  the Powerjack transformer which is   only crimped  .     Two  secondary  windings is like the  new  Powerjack AMG  transformer .        The new AMG transformer  is a lot better  than any old  Powerjack transformer   with  balance secondary  119vac  L1 and  L2  119vac   and 2  N  wires .     

Just need to load it up and see how it handles 

The only practical way to get consistent quality out of China factories at scale is to have boots on the ground on a regular basis   

Jack will not allow  visitors  to watch his  sloppy  unskill  workers  .     Sean do not own his factory  and have no say on how Jack  should do things .          Foxcom  depend on Apple so Apple  can  visit  and have some input on how Foxcom do things .      

1 hour ago, dickson said:

Jack will not allow  visitors  to watch his  sloppy  unskill  workers  . 

Seriously <a contenteditable="false" data-ipshover="" data-ipshover-target="/profile/49-dickson/?do=hovercard" data-mentionid="49" href="/profile/49-dickson/" rel="">@dickson do you really know what or who you're talking about?

We have much closer connections to the Power Jack factory--and have been invited multiple times over the past years to visit the factory in person.  And like I said, I've gotten video tours on several occasions.  Seen the employees working.  Seen the equipment.  Seen the people.

That's next.  My tests are through; I'm getting it to Sean this week for the load testing side of things.

Seriously @dickson do you really know what or who you're talking about?

I  only know how difficult it is  to make money  selling on ebay .  I   made very little money selling  and now stop .  Jack is a master  in selling on ebay and  get around all the  ebay and paypal  regulations .         Jack  seem to know every  ebay orders and  respond  to  any complaint   and  will  refund  in any dispute .      I see a lot of complaint  on Sean not knowing  how to answer complaint  and  orders  being block on his phone .        Jack is a one man show  and his factory  is doing  very  well   from the  production  run now of the 2 boxes design .      It like a  salesman selling a  new model  car  every year  but Jack  make a new model  every  3 months .       

No he isn't.  He's got a whole factory of workers + secretaries and assistants.

Chinese manufacturers are nothing if not forthright. As a customer, they will readily show off their factories to increase your confidence. If you ever use Alibaba, you'll notice they often post pictures of their production lines - about as public facing as a factory can get.

In my experience, American manufacturers are far more private. Though that's probably more a function of regulatory burden rather than concern of scrutiny by the customer.

1 hour ago, dickson said:

I see a lot of complaint  on Sean not knowing  how to answer complaint  and  orders  being block on his phone .

Honestly, a pretty big problem. Would imagine it has at least some business impact.