If I’d seen a post like this before wasting money on this particular inverter, I won’t have bought it.

That’s my number 1 reason for making this post.

In the spirit of sharing and learning, I’m writing about a recent experience I had when I bought a Schneider Homaya Inverter. I hope that this experience will help people who are thinking about buying this particular inverter and will also serve as a warning of the kinds of problems they can encounter.

In February 2023, I wanted to replace the inverter at my parent’s place with a Hybrid so there would be less connections.

I chose the Schneider Homaya Inverter after doing some study and reading through online forums. It seemed like a good idea at first. I had recommended both Schneider and TBB brands to a friend before. He got a TBB inverter in November 2022 and hasn’t had any problems since.

My experience hasn’t been nice at all, which is a shame considering I felt Schneider was a reputable brand.

The inverter was swapped in mid February and by the end of March, not up to 2 months later, I was called that the inverter isn’t working anymore.

1. The fan never goes off

2. When there is utility power, it doesn’t charge the batteries.

I sent an email support request on the 30th of March concerning this and got a response on the 3rd of April with another email address I should write to.

I wrote to this email in the first week of May and was told to call their support partners, First Option to go pick the inverter up.

The contact at first option first said they’d have to change the fan which they did and the issue didn’t stop.

I was called the next day that they need to change the board of the inverter and I’d have to pay almost half the cost of it – a less than 3 month old inverter.

This has taught me a lot about how to choose products and how important it is to give good customer service. The main reason I’m telling you this is to show you what problems you might run into if you buy this product. If I’d researched I would have seen the post below and avoided this issue.

Even though technology has made our lives much easier and more efficient, it doesn’t always do what it says it will. I hope that this post can help people who are thinking about buying a Schneider Homaya Inverter make a better choice. For me, I’ve gotten a replacement and left it in storage. It’s not worth it.

In the end, I think it’s important to share our stories and experiences. They’re not just funny stories, but they can also teach others something. One of those times is now.

Ps. I just sent a follow up message to the company last week and no response. (8th June)

10th July 2023 Update

My friend who got the TBB inverter I mentioned earlier called me on the 1st of July that his inverter has been struck by lightning.

He contacted the company on the 3rd of July, sent it to them on the 5th of July to Lagos and on Saturday, the 8th of July, got a Whatsapp message that he can send someone to pick it up. Video of his conversation is below (I’m just realising from the video he bought almost the same time I did)

Seamless & smooth customer service from TBB. Also another friend with a “Soccer Power” inverter (a brand I’ve never heard of before) described the same simple and smooth customer care experience when I described the stress I’m going through with the brand I thought wouldn’t stress me.

Meanwhile…. With my Schneider Inverter

After my last email  on 8th June was ignored,  I sent another on the 4th of July after seeing my friend’s quick response from TBB.

I received a response 29 mins later telling someone to reach out to me.

I sent another email on the 5th of July to remind the person that I haven’t been contacted.

He responded and someone from the Nigeria office later called me  asking for the serial number.

I sent the link to the Schneider Official store on Konga where I got it  from to the person from the Nigerian Office, no response.

I received a call from a +27 number on Wednesday asking if someone has reached out to me and I said yes

I had my dad read out the serial number to me and then I replied the email thread on Thursday July 6 with the Serial number (and link to the Konga store again).

The person from the Nigeria office rather than respond to my email, called asking why I sent the number to the entire thread (fortunately I record all my work calls),
Since  Thursday the 6th of July, he has refused to pick or return my calls or SMS or respond to my emails.

I’ve since bought a new inverter for my parents but:

1. I don’t waste my money
2. I’ve been in Business for 12 years and I’ve never and would never treat a client in this way.

So I’m going to follow up this issue to it’s conclusion.

18th July 2023 Update

I finally got a call/email 11th July and was told to return the inverter to the merchant I purchased it from

Return was done on the 15th of July and I sent an email confirming this.

I got confirmation on the 16th of July

On the 17th of July, I received a refund in credits from the vendor

Meanwhile the communication from the Schneider personnel seems to be neither here nor there.

Whichever I just want this to be over with

22nd July

The refund from the vendor was reversed (they claimed it was erroneous)

28th July (2 weeks later)

Seller confirms they’ve received the item.

First they say the warranty is void because the inverter was repaired before and I made it clear the repair was done by their branch office.

10 minutes later (after they confirm from the branch) they call that the damage was to the “board” so it is not covered by warranty which is ridiculous. If the inverter is basically the transformer, fan and board what then does the warranty cover? The fan?

I’ve messaged the company, let’s see what they say.

4th August 2023

I received a response that the inverter has been received by their partners and will be worked on and communication on its return will be shared in due time.

Update: December 18 2024
They haven’t replied any message since the one from August.