5 Signs Your Solar Inverter Is Failing
Your solar inverter is the hardworking heart of your PV system. Here is how to tell if it's skipping a beat.
Solar inverters typically work tirelessly in the background, converting DC power from your panels into AC power for your home. However, like any electronic device, they have a lifespan—usually between 10 to 12 years. Recognizing the early signs of failure can save you hundreds of pounds in lost generation payments.
Here are the top 5 signs our engineers look for when diagnosing a faulty system.
1. Error Codes & Red Lights
The most obvious sign is a visual one. Most inverters have a status LED system: Green means generating, Red means fault. If you see a red light, check the display screen for an error message.
Common Fatal Errors:
- Isolation Fault: Often indicates moisture ingress or degrading internal insulation.
- Relay Failure: A mechanical click-test failure inside the unit.
- GFI / Ground Fault: A serious safety issue indicating current leakage.
2. Blank Screen During the Day
Your inverter is powered by the DC electricity from your solar panels. If it is the middle of the day, the sun is shining, and your inverter screen is completely blank (no lights, no text), this usually indicates a failure of the internal power supply board or the DC input stage.
3. Significantly Reduced Generation
Have you noticed your electricity bills creeping up? Or perhaps your feed-in tariff payments are lower than usual for the time of year? Inverters can sometimes fail "softly," where they continue to run but at significantly reduced efficiency, clipping the power output much lower than they should.
4. It's Over 10 Years Old
If your system was installed during the solar boom of 2011-2015, your inverter is now entering its twilight years. Electronic capacitors dry out over time. If your unit is 12 years old and starts acting strangely, it is almost certainly more cost-effective to replace it with a modern unit than to attempt a repair.
5. Strange Noises
While inverters do make a slight humming noise and occasionally "click" when starting up or shutting down, they should not make loud buzzing, grinding, or continuous clicking sounds. Continuous clicking usually means the relays are trying to engage but failing.
Think Your Inverter is Failing?
We offer free initial advice over the phone. If you have an error code, call us and we can tell you what it means.