Classic with Perlight panels with Tigo junction boxes —urgent help needed

[Narrowboat boy]

Hi as some you know I have just bought my first classic . It arrived today and i eagerly opened the box to be confronted with a warning letter telling me that if my panels have Tigo junction boxes installed this will kill my classic .

Help ! No one ever mentioned this before I bought it is not in any online docs I have seen ,has not been mentioned in my threads here and the distributor who sold me both the classic and the Perlight panels that have Tigo junction boxes as standard never mentioned it . This is the first I knew about it .

Is my classic just a piece of junk then and I have to return it and get something else ? I can’t change the panels as they are the only ones that fit the boat space .

Why is this info only hidden in the printed user manual that comes with the classic ? Also I have A std classic and the Manuel is for the SL model only ?

Thanks
Simon

[Vic]

Hi Simon,

Please read the following link:
https://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/Tigo_white.pdf

Vic

[ClassicCrazy]

Seems like the white paper talks about optimizers .
Do your PV panels have those ?
Certainly worth a direct contact to Midnite and Tigo to clarify if you don't find an definitive answer on the forums here.

Larry

[Vic]

AND,   Simon,

Perhaps the following chart will help you see what is in the Classic, vs the SL:
http://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/Classic-Lite-SL-Chart.pdf

The latest Classic Manual covers the standard Classic and the SL.

Vic

[Narrowboat boy]

Hi Vic

Thanks for the link , yes my panels have tigo ts-4 modules so looks ok , thanks god for my blood pressure , I also think I have classic std just a very old and out of date manual and a distributor who is also out of date and knows little it seems , they are pushing out the incorrect very old manuals and attaching the warning notices to new classics still . Midnite this is not good for your rep . Suggest a word with the Europe disti to get them up to date might be advised.

I now think I may have an very old clsssic that has been gathering dust in the distributor office so firmware maybe very out of date , is it quite easy to update .

At least my excitement bubble is still intact 😂

Sorry for rant ..

😳

[Vic]

Hi Simon,

Regarding FirmWare Updates,   MN came up with new software to do Updates from (generally)   PC computers.   It almost always seems to work,   these days.   There are very few folks reporting problems updating.

Did send Ryan (FNG) a PM,   regarding your report of just receiving s "stale" Classic via EU Distribution.

Have fun  getting your new system installed and running.

Please DO let us know how things are going.    Vic

[Narrowboat boy]

Hi again

Can I check I am not going mad , A new classic should come with temp sensor  ? At least that’s how I read latest manual . I dont have one with my new Classic , Also what is the lastest firmware revision ? is it 1933 ?

Simon

[Vic]

Hi Simon,

FirmWare version 2193 appears to be the latest:
http://www.midnitesolar.com/firmware.php?firmwareProduct_ID=1

In days of yore,   each Standard Classic came with a BTS.   It might now,   be Optional,   as often there are multiple Classics in a single system,    and   some users would probably not need,   or want to pay the added cost of Classics that included the potentially unneeded BTSes.

Will check further,   others will know just what is the current status of BTS inclusion.

Later, vic

[Vic]

Simon,

On the site of a popular US solar reseller,   it states that the BTS IS included with the Standard Classic 150:

https://www.solar-electric.com/mnclassic.html

FWIW,    Vic

[Narrowboat boy]

Ok update :
I have an SL model not the std I ordered . I am sending it back tomorrow and hope to receive the correct product next week . I would have kept the SL if they had sent me the temp sensor but I did need the internet / WiFi connectivity so no go .

Hope it will be all sorted soon

Simon

[ClassicCrazy]

yes you don't want the SL model compared to the regular Classic  .

Larry