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General: Company failure Kill Switch

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  1.  
    Yes the industrial SY cable had a lot of numbered cores, all black IIRC. The wiring diagram was used to work out which numbered core did what, typically a switched live and a neutral for each function. The outer braid was earthed for interference and touch protection, but was not the main/only earth and so could never be melted.

    Edit: for domestic/PV it would depend if the fitter has a separate local earth for the equipment (shed?) at the far end or whether they are using domestic practice and exporting the earth from the house. And whether they are treating it like SWA or not.

    Further edit: thinking about it now, if the SY cable had been pinched or rubbed, a live core could perhaps have been exposed and in contact with the braid, and a CPC core might not have been exposed.. If the braid resistance was too high for the fault current to trip the CB then a current could flow in the braid for long enough to melt it somewhere. Then the braid on the fault side of the melted bit would be left live to touch. Dunno how we dealt with that risk but something doesn't seem right with the whole business.
    • CommentAuthorphiledge
    • CommentTimeDec 9th 2025
     
    That link states SY is used in garden lighting and other domestic applications. I've seen it used for suspended ceiling lights and trailing floor lamp leads. I assume those applications are using it for its additional tensile strength to support a ceiling light and for its additional mechanical protection for a trailing lead.

    From an industrial perspective SY is typically used for power applications where theres EM conerns or additional mechanical protection needed and CY specified for control applications where EM screening is needed...YY otherwise. It's used throughout UK industry for fixed installations but only used in intermittently flexing applications. Although it's flexible relative to SWA or T+E it's not rated for repeated regular flexing. It's certainly not dangerous when used within its limitations but the same is true for SWA and T+E and probably every other cable on the planet
  3.  
    @revor
    earlier you said
    "The opinion of my original supplier who broke ties with the Italian manufacturer about 2 to 3 years ago is that the inverter should work albeit without any form of monitoring."
    And
    "Could quite easily be a fuse inside or a trip and the inverter worked out of the box when new, without hosting software."

    Perhaps this is worth pursuing. Get the supplier (under warranty) to check the kit off line to see if there is a hardware fault causing the failure.
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeDec 10th 2025
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryPerhaps this is worth pursuing. Get the supplier (under warranty) to check the kit off line to see if there is a hardware fault causing the failure.


    Would be good if I could. The can bus not working everything on the inverter is dead in terms of output 230 V going in but not responding. Have not gone into the innards to check anything yet as not much point unit I get an answer as to when the hosting was switched off. If the timing is correct then it is not a hardware issue, I have contacted the organisations that know when it was turned off but get no reply. The UK agent I bought from claimed they had a technical support section and stocked spares etc. Thinking if they had that, they would have servicing manuals and troubleshooting guides so asked and got sent the installation and operating manuals which I had anyway as they were supplied at time of purchase.
    Just had the reply (the only one) from a query I made to the parent company which are on the same site right next-door, family owned business if they would assist. Basically got stonewalled.
    I have got a couple of other queries sent out but base on whats not been reponded to before I am not holding my breath. It is a simple question when did hosting get switched off no response weird.
  5.  
    If you can't get a response as to when the hosting was switched off then act the no-knowledge customer and just say my inverter doesn't work, please come and look at it under my warranty. This puts the ball in their court to do something. If it turns out that it stopped working because hosting was switched off then the supplier should say so or come and look at the kit to see why it doesn't work off-line.

    Just a thought - is there a switch or jumper that says 'work under host control' or 'work off-line'? If so the manuals should detail this.

    I find it a bit strange that an inverter needs an internet connection to work. so loose the internet and the inverter goes down - not very acceptable. Also the manual should say if an internet connection is required for basic function.
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeDec 10th 2025
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryI find it a bit strange that an inverter needs an internet connection to work. so loose the internet and the inverter goes down - not very acceptable. Also the manual should say if an internet connection is required for basic function.


    Yes it is strange but until I find out when plug was pulled I won't know. The inverter worked out of the box without internet but they did make changes remotely when i first got it. So I do not know.
    I tried a different Ai and it said that Metide and Delios ceased the arrangement they had in November 2023 but the same Ai did not pick up if Delios was in receivership even when asked. So confidence on AI got a bit dented.

    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryIf it turns out that it stopped working because hosting was switched off then the supplier should say so or come and look at the kit to see why it doesn't work off-line.


    Supplier no longer interested as stopped as agent a couple of years ago. He knows it is not working and I keep asking questions that don't get answered.

    I have found another link. A battery manufacturer in Italy who sells inverters with their name on which look exactly the same as the Delios ones. I guess Delios made them. Another link I found was that a contact I had with Delios has an email address at this new manufacturer I have come across. So a definite connection that I have followed up.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeDec 10th 2025
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryIf you can't get a response as to when the hosting was switched off then act the no-knowledge customer and just say my inverter doesn't work, please come and look at it under my warranty.
    But the supplier isn't providing the warranty, the manufacturer was and they've gone broke. So unless it was an insured warranty, the paper is worthless now. AFAICT, the supplier has been helpful so far as he can be without getting into a mess that no longer concerns him. Maybe if he was paid, he'd have a look, but I don't think revor is at that point.

    I think I would be opening the box and looking for a fuse, unless the box is sealed.

    Getting an answer to when an internet service was turned off might be difficult. There might be confidentiality clauses and if one party no longer exists it might require paid legal advice to answer seemingly simple questions.
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeDec 11th 2025
     
    Posted By: djhGetting an answer to when an internet service was turned off might be difficult. There might be confidentiality clauses and if one party no longer exists it might require paid legal advice to answer seemingly simple questions.


    Have come across another possible complexity in that the Battery manufacturer I mentioned above had definitely a co-manufacturing agreement to produce all in products i.e battery and inverter combined as one product aka Powerwall type.

    https://midacbatteries.com/residenziale/

    Delios has been in administration for almost 2 years from what I can make out which might mean people involved are being non communicative due to the business triangle involved so unlikely to part with any "workshop" manuals I have aked for.
    Might be time to take a look inside the inverter to see if anything obvious if I can make time today.
  9.  
    @Vrevor
    If you have the installation manual it might be worth going through the installation procedures to check the initial settings and reset any that are now different.
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeDec 11th 2025
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_Hungary@Vrevor
    If you have the installation manual it might be worth going through the installation procedures to check the initial settings and reset any that are now different.


    Thanks PIH. Yes been throught the startup procedure but it relies on accessing the programming via the touch screen display which does not come on. When I removed the casing there were 2 attached cables to the display one going to the main board the other to the internet router.

    I have had a look inside today and there is no obvious faults like blown capacitors or burnt bits. Inside it was like new pristine no dust or debris says a lot for the quality of the case. There were 3 individual LED pc lights flashing on the main board so power was getting to it. None of the coils /transformers were getting any power to them totally dead. In something so sophisticated I would have thought there would be signs of life in some of the main components. Could be down to a CPU gone or programme completely wiped.
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeDec 11th 2025
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_Hungary@Vrevor
    If you have the installation manual it might be worth going through the installation procedures to check the initial settings and reset any that are now different.


    Thanks PIH. Yes been throught the startup procedure but it relies on accessing the programming via the touch screen display which does not come on. When I removed the casing there were 2 attached cables to the display one going to the main board the other to the internet router.

    I have had a look inside today and there is no obvious faults like blown capacitors or burnt bits. Inside it was like new pristine no dust or debris says a lot for the quality of the case. There were 3 individual LED pc lights flashing on the main board so power was getting to it. None of the coils /transformers were getting any power to them totally dead. In something so sophisticated I would have thought there would be signs of life in some of the main components. Could be down to a CPU gone or programme completely wiped.
  12.  
    Anecdotally I have found that flashing lights often mean an error.
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeDec 11th 2025
     
    I agree problem is without any documentation what does it mean?
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeDec 13th 2025
     
    From the countless emails I have sent out I got a response yesterday from someone who worked at Delios and is now with Midac batteries. He wanted to clarify the problem, which I have done,so I am hoping he can shed some light on the issue and get me going again or not as case may be.

    I mentioned the collaboration between the two companies in an earlier posting so it is now good to have a contact that bridges the 2 manufacturers.
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeDec 16th 2025
     
    Consider this problem closed. My contact came back to me and thought the problem would be the power supply. In the future may have a look at the back of the boards to see if there is something obvious. My contact left Delios about a year ago and reckoned no service manuals were ever produced and if they had he would not have been able to get his hands on them.
    I am considering replacing with Victron or SMA sunny boy as they are compatible with my battery. Anyone got any thoughts on either of these brands?
  16.  
    Whilst you have closed the problem if you suspect the power supply then consider that often power supplies are generic items bought in as a unit and often are not very sophisticated.
    It might be worth asking a general electronics fixit man if he could have a look at the power supply as this would be cheaper than a new inverter.

    Just a thought !
    • CommentAuthorowlman
    • CommentTimeDec 18th 2025
     
    I have two grid tied arrays 4 & 6 kW both are on SMA inverters. They were installed in 06/2011 and 12/2015 respectively, both OK. I hope that's not the kiss of death. :smile:
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeDec 20th 2025
     
    Posted By: Peter_in_HungaryWhilst you have closed the problem if you suspect the power supply then consider that often power supplies are generic items bought in as a unit and often are not very sophisticated.
    It might be worth asking a general electronics fixit man if he could have a look at the power supply as this would be cheaper than a new inverter.

    Just a thought !


    You are quite correct with your suggestion. When I have got sorted with the replacement I will have a look at the inverter in greater depth to see if anything obvious. If I can get it operating again i will get it set up for horticultural use supplementing the energy I use for our veg growing little business. I won't have time to sort for this Spring, when we use a lot of electricity on propagation and LED growing lights.



    Posted By: owlmanI have two grid tied arrays 4 & 6 kW both are on SMA inverters. They were installed in 06/2011 and 12/2015 respectively, both OK. I hope that's not the kiss of death.https:///newforum/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/smile.gif" alt=":smile:" title=":smile:" >


    They have done well for you I have gone for Victron in the end because it is more expandable althought a bit more installation work and more costly. Think would have got up and running quicker with an SMA. There is also a very active Victron community to fall back on. . Ordered the bits yesterday.
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeMar 14th 2026
     
    JJust to close the loop on this one. I commissioned the install this Wednesday just gone. It has been one heck of a learning curve. I had particular issue with getting the BMZ battery to talk to the inverter, lost quite a bit of time on that. Building a Victron from scratch is not for the faint hearted. I am absolutely gobsmacked as to what Victron can do and the detail one can get out of the data. e.g. When I looked at the app this morning it had a forecast of the expected amount of solar generation I would get today. It forecast 12 to 15 kWh I got 14. I guess it must have got the forecast from my location and what it knows about my system. I have yet to complete the UPS its CU is in place I just need to move over some of the critical circuits to it. I have had the old inverter on the bench and it definitely looks like the problem is the power supply. The original supplier has been very unhelpful completely ignoring my messages for information. Him being in the trade I asked for a suggestion of any inverter repairers, a simple request, ignored. Shame we do not allow name and shame on here. I suppose he made his sale now moved onto other things.

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