5 Common Solar Inverter Problems You Need to Watch Out For

Perhaps, we already know that solar panels can last up to 20 years but not solar inverters. As estimated by experts, inverters are effective for only around 10 to 15 years of use. In fact, inverter problems are the most common and the most serious a lot of solar energy system owners encounter. Inverter repair or replacement costs are a bit high but having knowledge about the matter lets you financially prepare for what’s to come. Here are the most common power inverter problems to watch out for.

  1. Incorrect installation

Your inverter won’t work if there was no connection to the grid in the first place and therefore your panels won’t function, too. There’s no way you can take advantage of your solar panels with a ‘no utility’ error on display. It needs to be fixed right away by a seasoned service technician if you want to enjoy clean energy.

A very common problem, the installation error could be in the form of a physical misconnection or incorrect programming. So, it’s really important to hire installers who are highly knowledgeable about solar power system installation. They will perform a battery of tests to ensure that the inverters are properly connected.

  1. Failure to restart following a grid fault

Sometimes, cut-outs in power in the solar energy system occur due to a grid fault. Usually, a voltage peak occurs when the system is suddenly deactivated nevertheless the inverter is expected to restart by itself. But if it doesn’t, then you must call the service team quickly. To avoid such problems, make sure that your inverter’s brand and quality are of high repute. As well, a 24/7 monitoring system helps spot the problems in the inverter’s functionality.

  1. Display of a relay failure

You’d know there’s a ‘relay failure’ on display as soon as you see a red light otherwise known as a fault light that appears on your inverter. When a relay failure message shows, it means you’ll have to replace your inverter. Experts suggest rebooting your system in case the problem happens but if you’re not confident enough, might as well contact your professional solar installer.

  1. Showing an isolation fault

Your inverter sometimes reports an ‘isolation fault’ error. This is due to a short circuit between the different components of the circuit because of several factors. These include moisture in the panels or isolators, damage to the cabling, poor connection, and faulty installation, among others.

  1. Overheating

The electric components of inverters are temperature-sensitive. You’d know when the maximum operating temperature has been reached if electricity production starts to decline or worse, has stopped. 

An expert installer knows the right cooling technology appropriate for your solar panels yet there are doable things you could do to prevent the problem. For instance, experts say that installing dust filters and cleaning them regularly prevents extremely high temperatures. Or if an undergrowth is observed, you must remove it immediately so as not to hinder airflow.

Only qualified solar technicians know how to deal with the most common Samil power inverter problems. Click this link to know more about inverter problems and their fixes.

Comments are closed.