About 25,000 Xantrex grid tie solar inverters are being recalled by Schneider Electric because of a safety issue. The parts were made in China by Xantrex Technology, which is a subsidiary of Livermore, Calif.-based Schneider.
The problem lies with a component within the inverter that can degrade, causing out-gassing within the wiring compartment. Gasses can build from arcing and blow the compartment cover off with enough force to injury a bystander. Schneider has received five reports of blown covers, but there were no injuries or property damage in those cases.
The part converts photovoltaic voltages into utility grid voltages, allowing the owner to feed power into the electrical grid. The recalled units were made between September 2005 and August 2010 cost between $2,500 and $4,000. They were sold from September 2005 through January 2011 under the Xantrex, Sunpower and General Electric brands in the U.S. and Canada.
If you have one of these inverters, you should contact your authorized dealer to get it fixed; or call Xantrex Technology at (800) 714-7176 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Affected part numbers, printed on the top of the unit, include the following:
| 864-0002 | 864-0117 | 864-0128 | 864-0139 | 864-1006 | 864-1011 | 864-1019 |
| 864-0107 | 864-0118 | 864-0130 | 864-0140 | 864-1006-02 | 864-1012 | 864-1021 |
| 864-0108 | 864-0119 | 864-0131 | 864-1001 | 864-1007 | 864-1013 | 864-1022 |
| 864-0111 | 864-0124 | 864-0132 | 864-1001-02 | 864-1008 | 864-1014 | 864-1032 |
| 864-0112 | 864-0125 | 864-0133 | 864-1002 | 864-1009 | 864-1015 | 864-1032-02 |
| 864-0114 | 864-0126 | 864-0135 | 864-1004 | 864-1009-02 | 864-1016 | |
| 864-0116 | 864-0127 | 864-0136 | 864-1005 | 864-1010 | 864-1018 |
|
| X-864-0002 | X-864-0117 | X-864-0128 | X-864-0139 | X-864-1007 | X-864-1014 | X-864-1032 |
| X-864-0107 | X-864-0118 | X-864-0130 | X-864-0140 | X-864-1008 | X-864-1015 | |
| X-864-0108 | X-864-0119 | X-864-0131 | X-864-1001 | X-864-1009 | X-864-1016 |
| X-864-0111 | X-864-0124 | X-864-0132 | X-864-1002 | X-864-1010 | X-864-1018 |
| X-864-0112 | X-864-0125 | X-864-0133 | X-864-1004 | X-864-1011 | X-864-1019 |
| X-864-0114 | X-864-0126 | X-864-0135 | X-864-1005 | X-864-1012 | X-864-1021 |
| X-864-0116 | X-864-0127 | X-864-0136 | X-864-1006 | X-864-1013 | X-864-1022 |
