SMA Solar Inverter

Have been an SMA America customer for 20+ years, 12 kW system. Mutiple inverter failures. They will not refer independent service techs. The reason: most just want to do installs, not support. Worse, in-house tech support as touted on their website is pure [Content Re,moved]. File a ticket, zero response. Long holds trying to get through. … Read more

Different advice from different techs. Recently spent weeks, multiple tickets unanswered, to diagnose a new issue, no help. After hours of my time problem turned out to be a bug in their web portal, not real.

Will never buy from them again.

Quality seems to be lacking. I've had my system for less than 10 years and I'm in the process of trying to get an inverter replaced for the 2nd time. They have 10 year warranties and they don't seem to last any where near that. And honestly what good is a warranty if they don't follow through with replacing bad equipment to begin with. I've been… Read more

waiting for a month for them to send a replacement inverter. Hopefully this one will be better quality the the previous 2. Proceed with caution.

SMA fails to honor warranty – I have an sma sunny boy inverter. It only works about half of the time. When I contacted SMA to have them honor their warranty I got the run around and had to get an attorney involved. I would recommend going with anyone else.

ARE YOU SURE YOU NEED THIS EXPERIENCE – I also offer this advice about these Inverters. POINT to NOTE. They DON'T have a panel LCD display anymore. So, the only way to monitor them or even to confirm they are working effectively, is to connect to them via a smart phone app or computer app. This also requires a Smart Phone Wi-Fi connect or an Internet Service, Router Wi-Fi… Read more

configuration, and an installed SMA app loaded onto your smart phone /computer, SMA with more passwords & configuration, plus online registration etc. You will be compelled to spend hours on your smart phone /computer with this process to configure your unit to establish a WIFI link. If your unit is located to far from your router, you may be frustrated with frequent unreliable lifetime communications If you would rather simply walk out to your inverter (other brand) with an LCD screen & get all the info at a glance within 1 minute, I recommend, DO NOT buy a SMA inverter & avoid their comms system like the plague. Their comms connect is a step backwards for consumers. Further when you get all the Technical Communications configured, you will be very disappointed how little the SMA app will tell you. Yes, you will get is a basic total solar power generated that day. & a vague time graph for each DAY, and bar graph for each month or year. However, when trying to check your total power generated the previous day or any nominated day, this basic info is not available. Yes, you may be able to alternatively download some data on an hour-by-hour power output, but if you just want a TOTAL for a previous day - if you are keen and much time to waste, add it up yourself. Then at times even with an established WI-FI connection your software via the WI- FI connection will regularly say "NO DATA AVAILABLE". Previous older models with LCD screens provided this info on the panel screen & even told you about the volts / amps in real time per solar panel strings. Not so with the latest SMA units & unless you perhaps upgrade to their Pro software for a price. Then think of the repeat mess it will be to reconfigure your unit if you change internet service providers, replace or upgrade your smart phone/router/sell your house, retain & then transfer to new owner ensuring to have "Installer's password" if you were privy to obtaining it. An overall BAD experience

Don't trust anyone who claims that this is a good product – While buying a house with a 12kw SMA installed, it was observed that the inverter wasn't working. I got the original installer to assess. The unit was 6 years old. The unit was fried and based on the assurance that SMA was a top brand and nothing like this had ever happened before, I was talked in to replacing the unit with a second hand one. Fast… Read more

forward two weeks and I now own the house, and the second inverter is fried. Now I have to find over $5000 for a replacement. Based on my limited experience, SMA is no better than Chinese units at half the price. If the cheap ones only last the life of the warranty, you will be ahead.

Faulty and terrible support – Our SMA Sunny boy inverter has a fault after 4 years. Installer was unable to diagnose as there was no to access without password which we had lost during a renovation. Very unclear technical customer support. requests in end via facebook messenger for support. Then set up a case number in SMA online help which had no response and then was then… Read more

wiped by SMA (without even being made a closed case). Installer managed to finally diagnose the inverter fault and 10 days since there is no ETA at all around when will be sent out. Over a month now without solar. Would not recommend this company at all.

Over rated for over priced inverter – Update, it took them 6 months to send a warranty replacement. Not recommended. Not recommended. It's now been more than 4 weeks since my Sunny boy 6.0 failed after only 3 years. No support in sight. "Regarding your case #xxxx unfortunately we have been experiencing supply chain delays as we transition to a new Service Partner in Mexico. I… Read more

can assure you we are actively working to resolve these delays. Unfortunately, I don’t have a set date of material availability at the moment, but will reach out to you as soon as I have more information from our various teams working on this.

I do appreciate your patience and business with SMA."

I cannot believe how bad it can be for the amount of money you spend on a product – I cannot give you the whole story because it's to long and depressing. In short buy victron or anything else. If a system is off grid and the support system is on a internet connection and you don't have that well, don't buy sma.

Terrible after sales service – I am unable to link my new SMA inverter to the app on my iphone. No useful help forthcoming from SMA at all. Just long complex unhelpful technical instructions. No response to my request for a telephone call to explain the procedure. Two capable technically aware people, one a computer engineer have also failed to make the apps work.

Unreliable with poor support – 14/04/2015 purchased SMA Tripower STP 8000TL-20 S/N 304940344 Date of manufacture 25/09/2013 then just under 3 years later; 01/03/2018 STP 8000TL-20 S/N 304940344 Date of manufacture 25/09/2013 Error code 6438 and displaying "Interference Device" 6/3/2018 Forced to find and pay “local contractor” $198 to come out, look and fill in the SMA report.… Read more

6/4/2018 still nothing done, unit still offline. 26/4/2018 still nothing done “local contractor” blaming SMA for still not sending out a replacement. 9/5/2018 still nothing so followed up with “local contractor” who claim the replacement arrived at theirs the day before. 17/5/2018 “local contractor” attended site without notification or advising they had been and swapped unit over Unit had been offline for more than 78 days 28/05/2018 “local contractor” attempted to invoice us another $198.00 service call 28/05/2018 Also advised “local contractor” that the replacement unit STP8000TL-20 SN 304623571 date of manufacture 31/1/2018 was not communicating with Sunny Portal, they advised they didn’t know anything about Sunny Portal and to contact SMA 25/5/2018 commenced contact with SMA By 4/6/2018 it was decided by SMA service the Webconnect port of replacement unit STP8000TL-20 SN 304623571 date of manufacture 31/1/2018 is faulty Would never ever use “local contractor” ever again so completed the online exchange form and had the replacement swapped over using someone else. Very interesting to note the TNT driver who picked up that SMA return unit commented "Oh one of these, we are picking these things up all the time." 28/6/2018 the replacement STP8000TL-20 SN 304941865 date of manufacture 12/2/2018 was installed. 2/1/2022 STP8000TL-20 SN 304941865 DOM 12/2/2018 failed to switch to exporting to grid and has not connected since. the unit is displaying code 6408 "Interference Device" Input voltages and insulation resistance tests are all well within spec. After 3 SMA units in less than 7 years now zero confidence in wasting any more time or money on any SMA devices. SMA response to all this was “We just checked the warranty status for the SN: 304941865, and unfortunately it is out of warranty. Its warranty as per our records was expired in 2018.” Technically yes but STP8000TL-20 SN 304941865 date of manufacture was 12/2/2018 and the unit purchased in 2015 had five years warranty so a warranty replacement cancels the original warranty??? Purchased a Fronius Symo replacement inverter.

SMA Sunny Tri Power 10kW – I got mine installed in last week of Feb-21 and it failed on 31 Dec 2021. Now waiting for the warranty replacement. I am now told that I should expect a replacement inverter in February. I was told this is the best so paid more for it.

Sma owns majority of zeversolar – My extended warranty I purchased and sent in 3 yrs ago and sales staff tried as well to send through to the warranty department. Just found out I paid extra for warranty and no extra warranty even though I sent registration in many times with no reply only from sales staff who sent it in as well on my behalf and sent me email showing they did (my… Read more

proof). 3 yrs in and inververter died. So SMA you own them now and you are responsible. The warranty department not once have replied to my dozen emails, 3 yrs ago and now. Extended warranty I was scammed.

1/11/20 Update, received email today from zeversolar confirming my extended warranty, apologise for the late reply, 3 yrs late mind you. So have given an extra star for that.

Poor Quality – We had a SMA Sunny Boy 2.0 Kilowatt Inverter installed with a solar panel installation the warranty period was 5 years , it died after 5 years and 8 months , error code pertaining to internal fault , you would think that with such a short period out of warranty that SMA Australia would offer a discounted replacement or low priced repair , and I… Read more

quote " No it is out of warranty " . With such an expensive brand that is " Made in Germany " one would expect more then 5 1/2 years out of an inverter , to add insult to injury I was informed that there was an optional 10 year warranty that I was not told about at the time of purchase !

Warranty not worth the paper its written on – I have a Sunny Boy SB 5000 TL installed 9/14, An error fault varistor defect, rang the installer said the varistor not covered on warranty $214 to do the job, rang sma they don't cover the varistor, I thought the varistor was part of the inverter, I'll be bagging sma from now on, here I was saying sma sunny boy are good inverters but the company wipe there hands with this part. Not happy.

No service – Had 2 sma inverters installed a year ago. One died 2 months ago. Still unable to get the replacement. Can't get through when calling them. Extremely disappointed as I have been promoting them in our area and to friends.

Impossible to get help – I had a Sunny Boy SB 5000 TL installed 6/14. An error fault displayed last week 'varistor defect'. Spoke to the installer who asked me to contact SMA, but it's impossible. The phone extensions go dead and despite 2 emails to the service department I've had no replies. This is supposedly a premium inverter but with sub prime back up. They really need to get their service house in order. I will keep trying.

SMA sunnyboy 2.5 inverter no lcd screen – I got a jinko solar panels with a sunnyboy 2.5 inverter installed. The inverter is new design with no lcd screen. It does have a wi fi system so that you can used it on your computer or mobile phone. Sometimes the next morning you cant get it to connect to your phone. Then you have to go to your meter box outside turn every thing off for 1/2 min… Read more

and back on to reset. Once on the net and see how it works i got a date of august 2015 now December. IT is not adjustable. I sent a email to head office in Germany who gave me details of SMA Australia. Try and get hold of them for 2 days. I spoke to some lady who tell me their technicians are busy. Their after market service does not exist. The system with the jinko panels work great. Their computer program? i don't know. Their after market service?