My system was installed in Dec of 2022. I asked Tesla to please install 2 extra panels because I wanted to make sure to have enough for two electric cars in the future. Tesla was happy to accept the extra $1800 for the 2 additional panels, but what they didn't tell me and what is written NOWHERE in their contract is that the one (and only) inverter with their PW+ can only generate a maximum of 7.8 kW at any given time. So instead of Tesla telling me "There's no point adding two more panels" they went ahead and sold me a 10.4 kW system and 2 PWs for nearly $40K which I paid in full.
It didn't take long to notice the inverter clipping which began in March and continued through July 1 when the inverter failed. It took Tesla from 7/1/23 till 8/17/23 to come out to assess the issue. I had a feeling they would show up with no inverter, have to order a new inverter, and by the time it arrives and gets replaced summer will be long over.
That's exactly what happened.
On 12/13/23 Tesla finally arrived to replace the failed inverter and a failed PW. I also demanded they install a second smaller inverter to resolve both the clipping and the overdriven inverter that ultimately failed. My goal was to prevent this from happening again. If they simply replaced the one inverter it most likely would fail again, which wouldn't be too much of an issue except for the fact that they are so busy their response times are a nightmare and I'd again have to wait weeks, and ultimately months for the fix.
I have found examples of numerous others with this same problem - clipping and failure, and others with repeated inverter failures.
Tesla refused to pay the cost of the second inverter which they charged me $2,797.63 At one point I begged to split the cost of the inverter $1400 each. They told me "no".
Now I plan to sue Tesla Solar Inc. in small claims court for both the full amount of the new inverter as well as the True-up amount which was only $335. Fortunately, I had half the year with production, so the true-up wasn't bad. However, if my solar was working for the entire year I would have received a check or energy credits, so that is why I am seeking that amount as well.
I am considering if I should also ask for reimbursement for my time. I have literally 120 emails and there were dozens of calls trying to get this resolved. I'm still deciding about that part.
I am wondering if anyone has taken them to small claims court, and how did it work out?
I have many graphs showing inverter clipping, as well as the documented downtime from 7/1-12/13. This to me is a Tesla "design" issue and that is why so many inverters are failing. Instead of installing a 2nd smaller inverter for systems that are over 10 Kw they say/think their one inverter can handle systems up to "14 kW" which is BS because when they deploy them in that scenario the inverter melts, fails, and mine even leaked out the internal coolant.
