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Any updates?
January 19, 2023:
- We're well into Chinese New Year holidays--and the factory has failed yet another "date guarantee", which was a date they'd told us that at least something would have been shipped by. This is just another failure in a long list.
- We finally formally sent the factory a message saying that we need to "find a different manufacturer" for Genetry inverters, as they are completely failing us in every way. Obviously, hindsight is always 20/20--but it's hard to come to a difficult conclusion while trying to believe the best about someone. It's easy to dump someone if you don't trust them...but when some trust over several years has been built, it's much harder to come to grips with reality.
- The best "progress" they were able to provide before the CNY holiday, was a photo of half-wound transformers, "we need order more wire to complete them." I mean, what kind of half-baked joke is THAT?
- Obviously, while we need to move forwards without them...we do not want to directly torpedo the relationship and leave an ugly taste in either side. It's just time to move on. If they ever ship us some Genetry-spec inverters--that's great. But even if they didn't drag their feet (which I have no reason to believe that they will speed up!), I wouldn't expect any units to arrive anytime before March-April.
- In short, time to move forwards on our own 2 feet.
On our sourcing fronts:
- GS control board PCBs were promptly completed and shipped from the new PCB factory--and I have received the entire shipment. Quality is very good...there is just one minor issue on the boards resulting from a misunderstanding (pads for nonpopulated headers filled with solder instead of left open). But that's sort of to be expected with a new company.
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- Most of the delays there (originally agreed to 2 weeks turnaround, ended up with 4 weeks total time) were a result of the Covid situation in China, and factories working at partial capacity due to workers being home sick. In particular, it was the main relays (nonstandard/custom parts).
- Sean is working to get a sample inverter case produced at a local machine shop. I am not looking to source cases from overseas at this point--if we can't do that most basic step here, then America's in trouble 😉.
- Due to Chinese New Year holiday being in full swing right now, unfortunately, it puts us in a difficult position of NOT being able to source parts/order items right now. (The holiday officially starts on January 21st, but factories have been going on holiday since January 14th.)
- Figure first week of February before we can start ordering the remaining parts (hardware, some more boards, etc., etc.)
This fiasco with the factory was unexpected; both Sean and I apologize to the maximum extent we can for these delays/issues. Like I've said before, this will NOT be happening again--because we will not be ordering from the factory again.
Yes, I realize that things happen--and fully understand that business relationships do not have to be terminated over a single mistake. But in this case, this is not the first "unexplained long delay"--and nor have we been given any open explanation for what is actually going on with them failing to produce the order.
Yes, I realize that things happen--and fully understand that business relationships do not have to be terminated over a single mistake.
Jack should give Sean a full refund minus the expense Jack spent for his time in making the parts that are not finiish . Jack can ship the empty shell that he made so far .
On the parts page removing sold items will make it easier to see what's there
I am not in any hurry, so really kind of happy this all happened. This extra time and small changes we end up with a more refined inverter. My goal is to install by summer time, so a few more months isn't a big deal.
Great job with the video.
I currently am running the previous version 6K with updated parts so no rush here
On 12/26/2022 at 12:46 PM, Sid Genetry Solar said: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.
it seems your PowerJack Jack kicked you to the street as one YouTube commenter said of the 6 month non delivery of nothing (nada zilch, not even the small cardboard box with a crumpled up piece of paper)
maybe they did not like the competition bashing them???
they banned me when I complained through eBay,, but that seller disappeared and they sent me the huge replacement 160 pounder with dual lcd screens but 4 months later.... eBay listens to the big bucks not the buyer so they make new seller accounts and continue to this day....
as Sean says >>> he does not know but made a lot from PowerJack in the past.... just time for the divorce
but something happened ....
hopefully you get the money back and get more dependable supply lines....🤔🤔😎
As Sean says >>> he does not know but made a lot from PowerJack in the past.... just time for the divorce I was really surprise that Sean say he is able to buy his 5000 sq ft house with the money Jack pay him for doing repair of Powerjack inverter . He forgot to give his wife credit also . I believie Jack dump Sean because he do not answer his email and can not do repair fast enough . Like you say way eariler in this forum that Jack is losing a lots of money in paying for shipping back and forth in the USA plus giving full refund for returned inverter . I find that Jack keep making minor change to the trace on the control board so the it is almost impossible for anyone to repair older Powerjack unless you buy the new rev 11.3 control board and a matching rev 11.3 main board . That is what I call service security or job security for Walnut or East Langsing .
As Sean says >>> he does not know but made a lot from PowerJack in the past.... just time for the divorce I was really surprise that Sean say he is able to buy his 5000 sq ft house with the money Jack pay him for doing repair of Powerjack inverter . He forgot to give his wife credit also . I believie Jack dump Sean because he do not answer his email and can not do repair fast enough . Like you say way eariler in this forum that Jack is losing a lots of money in paying for shipping back and forth in the USA plus giving full refund for returned inverter . I find that Jack keep making minor change to the trace on the control board so the it is almost impossible for anyone to repair older Powerjack unless you buy the new rev 11.3 control board and a matching rev 11.3 main board . That is what I call service security or job security for Walnut or East Langsing .
I hate to say this @dickson, but pretty much all of the above is baseless speculation.
as Sean says >>> he does not know but made a lot from PowerJack in the past.... just time for the divorce
If only they'd shipped the goods, we'd be OK. But non-delivered goods is reason enough to break away and develop our own supply lines. And being in that position, if we have a problem with /one/ part, we can easily start looking for alternates/substitutes.
Which frankly is where we're at right now--except that the "one part" we're having issues with is pretty much "the whole thing."
And being in that position, if we have a problem with /one/ part, we can easily start looking for alternates/substitutes.
IF you go to the UL listed web site you will find that any substitutes of any internal parts will require a new application to get re UL listed again so it will be almost impossible for the GS inverter to get UL listing with all the tinkering and changing of internal parts . Most of the China inverrter are not UL Listed . They claim UL certified which is not UL Listed . All Grid tied inverter are UL Listed if it need to pass city permit in most states but on a farm it may not need be UL Listed .
IF you go to the UL listed web site you will find that any substitutes of any internal parts will require a new application to get re UL listed again so it will be almost impossible for the GS inverter to get UL listing with all the tinkering and changing of internal parts . Most of the China inverrter are not UL Listed . They claim UL certified which is not UL Listed . All Grid tied inverter are UL Listed if it need to pass city permit in most states but on a farm it may not need be UL Listed .
And??
Oh and any firmware change also requires a U.L. recert. (In order to maintain U.L. status in field-updated units, all updates must also be U.L. cert.)
But nobody said we were U.L. cert in the first place (if we are, that's news to me), so this is a bit of a nebulous point at the current time.
for off-grid use in places that have lax electrical permitting requirements then the UL listing may not be important....
but in most places anything connected to the electrical grid monopoly may require UL listing...
my solar PV electrical is all done off-grid and is not connected to the electrical grid monopoly in any way....
I have purchased electrical permits at another house to install a new breaker box as the homeowner and no one ever even came to look but the permit is still posted next to that new main 200 amp electrical breaker box some 25 years later and the local electrical company had a computer controlled water heater installed in that same 200 amp main breaker panel...((((the water heater could be shut down in high demand times via radio control and the grid electrical company gave the homeowner a $6.24 per month credit for this ability.... i had that in 2 different houses years ago...))))
I have installed several new 200 amp main breaker panels in houses I own without problems from the permitting folks in rural Iowa and rural South Dakota.... in the city the permitting is a lot more restrictive as they want to charge more to pay for their bloated work crews... and one usually will need a licensed electrician who will not use non UL equipment for liability issues....
in the city I always have to hire a licensed electrician for major electrical upgrades 🤔🤔😎
it is likely to be a bigger issue of insurance when something goes awry and the insurance may not cover the non-permitted outlaw installations...the non UL equipment
if they (GS inverters) get to the point of being UL listed and updates certified >>>> then their buying clientele would likely increase....
good luck 😎
UL listed equipment typically costs more than Chinese manufactured copycat el cheapo stuff... so then again a premium price for proven premium products...!!!!
I like Square D brand QO breakers and panels
actually the same rural electrical company came and ran the overhead electrical service underground without even telling me anything as the owner of the property..... i just found it was changed some time afterwards....
this same type of activity occurred on another house of mine in a small town( a different electrical cooperative company)....these are electrical cooperatives and they told me they are not required to follow the same rules as the bigger public utility companies as they are member owned....go figure...
the electrical companies do what ever they choose without getting permits but likely have some sort of blanket approval...with the local yocals 🤔😎🤣
I have installed several new 200 amp main breaker panels in houses I own without problems from the permitting folks in rural Iowa and rural South Dakota.... in the city the permitting is a lot more restrictive as they want to charge more to pay for their bloated work crews... and one usually will need a licensed electrician who will not use non UL equipment for liability issues....
in the city I always have to hire a licensed electrician for major electrical upgrades 🤔🤔😎
it is likely to be a bigger issue of insurance when something goes awry and the insurance may not cover the non-permitted outlaw installations...the non UL equipment
if they (GS inverters) get to the point of being UL listed and updates certified >>>> then their buying clientele would likely increase....
You are right on every point . There are a lot of house fires in my city . Now off grid solar inverter require permit and UL Listing for insurance coverage . My city manager say if one house catch fire because of solar installation that may burn down the whole neighborhood so permit and inspection are now require . Houses are only 20 feet apart . NOT every states is like this . I hide my solar from street view .
Insurance will mainly be interested in fire service reachability, personal hazards, and other practical safety matters. Their job is to mitigate risk - codes be damned.
There are no electrical or building codes here. (makes for some interesting houses) But many can get home insurance if they are within fire service boundaries and pass a very easy inspection by the insurance company.
FWIW, on the topic of U.L. listing, maybe you could have U.L. as a firmware update "channel" (or maybe a filter "UL Only") along side Tech,Major, and Minor. In theory just release the inverter with 1 U.L. firmware. The user can decide if they want to run a non-U.L. firmware at their own risk.