How long do OpenEnergyMonitors Last

 Hey! We're trying to determine how long OpenEnergyMonitors last. Any sense for the MTBF for the componenets and how long the overall system lasts before it needs to be replaced? Our solar installations last 30 years - any sense for what the expected life on these systems are? We're using the monitors to monitor both energy production and energy consumption at homes in Mexico. Thanks for your help!

chaveiro's picture

Re: How long do OpenEnergyMonitors Last

The weak link are aluminum electrolytic capacitors. Rule of thumb, keep it cool and it will last longer.

http://mexico.newark.com/pdfs/techarticles/cornell/reliability.pdf

Robert Wall's picture

Re: How long do OpenEnergyMonitors Last

My money would have been on the connectors failing first through corrosion.

Bill Thomson's picture

Re: How long do OpenEnergyMonitors Last

The weak link are aluminum electrolytic capacitors.

The correlates with the use of Tantalum electrolytics used in the function generators I calibrated when I worked at the Wavetek factory in the early 80s. We ran the UUT in a hot room at 125F for a minimum of 24 hours before sending it to the QA/QC department.

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