Thanks, good to hear, I’m still waiting
Try to press them for a more detailed explanation. Especially make sure to clarify whether
the batteries are out of warranty
vs
the problem is not covered by the warranty
the UP5000 only has a 5 year warranty which commences 6 months after manufacture or on installation (whichever occurs sooner). So, it is not impossible (though unlikely) that the batteries are no longer covered by a warranty at all.
If they claim the warranty terms have been breached, then they need to specify what specifically.
1 Like
Also contact Pylontech head office. The local distributors are (well at least one is) known to reject claims on flaky bases that sometimes get overruled by Pylontech after they have reviewed the logs.
2 Likes
Thanks, I am pushing my supplier to push their supplier for feedback, the basic / generic feedback given is not acceptable.
The crappy thing is that the Victron easysolar needs a battery to be able to work. Stuck a bit now without battery, paying Eskom all the time.
While I battle still to get my battery supplier to provide proper information of why the pylontech cells had swollen up, I need to look at other options.
Currently my system cannot function without the batteries, so I am looking at what my options is to get my system functional again, as it seems the process can take a long time, and I don’t get any use of solar. I now have an expensive white elephant sitting doing nothing.
What batteries have proofed to work well with the victron easy solar 5kVA system without problems? Weighing up this option to get system functional while trying to get issue resolved.
Guidance and support appreciated.
See if someone has a 48v battery for you to borrow… or a 2nd hand battery.
I guess you will not need any battery backup but want to PV during the day.
Yes, my plan is to do that, to get my solar system working.
1 Like
My Pylontech saga:
I had 4xUS2000, they all are under the standard 7 year warranty plus extended 10 year warranty.
1- the 1st one lost SOC, cells became swollen, casing bulged and it leaked juice and was replaced through @JacoDeJongh - indeed I upgraded to a US3000 during that process - it was a long, costly and tedious process but ended well.
2- the 2nd one lost SOC, started swelling, lost SOC and was sent to Solar Advice [ Armando Da Silva, Cape Town], the seller - initial good comms with them has resulted in total silence and zero results after I couriered the battery to them
3- The 2rd US2000 has just started acting up [rather down] SOC dropped and casing started swelling indicating cell damage, I’ll check my records and get in touch with Pylontech directly as it seems contacting the supplier is not always the best course of action - obviously I will detach it, wrap it in plastic and store it somewhere safe…
Now I sit with a bank consisting of one remaining US2000 and the above mentioned US3000 who do their job.
The bottom line is it is winter and I have lost most of my bank and notwithstandig good reports about Pylontech in general there must have been a batch of US2000s, of which I purchased three [or maybe even 4] which are sub standard and as such a potential fire hazard not being LifePo4 but ordinary LiOn -
I suggest Pylontech does the honourable thing and withdraw those batches and replace them as they are already getting a bad rap and most likely will have to pay the consequences in the marketplace - also they are a fire hazard and a class action suit is not an impossibility!
Definitely a rather large bad batch of U2000’s. All four of mine were swollen.
Out of interest sake, did you send it to their CPT or JHB warehouse?
-
My first swollen battery I sent to their JHB warehouse is the one that is already replaced. This one needed very little communication from my side. Just received the email out of the blue I need to send a courier to go pick up a new battery.
-
My second swollen battery, was delivered to their JHB warehouse, and I received an email that they have received it and sent it to their guys that does the investigation and repair etc. Haven’t received an update on this one yet.
What I can say is, the second one I logged the return and heard nothing for weeks, so I sent them an email and all off a sudden then said I can courier it to them. They also stated, I shouldn’t expect this second one to be replaced even though the first one was.
Doesn’t hurt to contact them once in a while I think just to ask if there is an update. They probably also swamped with all the returns.
2 Likes
Tx @tinuva , I just had a long and productive chat with Chinel Gibson at Solar Advice during which I pieced together the following.
The bottom line is that there is a ‘supplier’ in Jhb, name unknown, who provides all kinds of batteries [especially from China] to a company there called CNBM [https://www.cnbmoverseas.com] [might be the same team].
They then supply stock to local suppliers who in some cases just sell the batteries or also install them.
If there is a warranty problem or otherwise, we, the client [wat soos julle sien eintlik aan die agterste speen suig] then take up the matter with the local supplier/installer who has to go via CNBM who either directly or through another team have to contact Pylontech in China. So that is the 'chain of command - as chairman Mao would say.
Yet if you get the Pylontech and register it directly via the Pylontech website [https://en.pylontech.com.cn/] you skip all these SA hurdles and get directly in touch with Big Brother, so to speak.
Hence if you have a warranty issue it might be prudent to go directly to Pylontech in China, as they gave the warranty to you personally via e-mail AND NOT TO THE LOCAL SUPPLIER AS THE LATTER WILL HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH ALL THE LOOPS MENTIONED ABOVE.
If you take the matter up with Pylontech in China directly all they need is send the team in SA an email and your problem might be solved fast and efficient.
I am not in the business but the above makes some sense to me… if I err kindly correct me.
The above method could save frustrating you and counter any possible heart attacks resulting from such stress - can thus be classified as a ‘health advisory’ 
2 Likes
Hmm, that to me, just highlights, why it is so super duper important to do that battery registration.
1 Like