Inverter at question is a Fronius IG Plus 10kW, installed in 2010. When I arrived, the AC was turned off. Turned AC back on, plugged Data Logger back in. The first time the inverter finished its startup cycle, the house lights kinda blinked a little bit and it threw a 301 error code (Overcurrent sensor, but typically an inverter problem) . Second time it finished the startup cycle, it successfully started producing at about 3500 watts. Given that it’s 10:30 AM and clear outside, I’d expect it to be producing much higher than that. After the Data Logger booted, it started beeping regularly, flashing all 4 signal lights as red.
Tech support confirmed my suspicions. We checked the other power stages’ states and both were 306 (Insufficient PV Power, which is not the problem here). The inverter keeps clicking like it’s trying to activate the upper power stages, but is unsuccessful. He also said the Data Logger was likely dead.
Two solutions: We can pay to send the inverter back to be rebuilt, which only holds a 1 year warranty for the repaired parts, or buy a new inverter. Tech support said once all is said and done, we’d already be in for the cost of at least half a new inverter anyway. Most sensible solution is to buy the new inverter. As far as the Data Logger, most new inverters these days come with monitoring, so no worries there.