Home / Solar System Not Producing
Solar System Not Producing
When production drops, a few simple checks can separate a minor issue from a service call. Stay on the ground, stay out of electrical equipment, and document what you see.
Safe Checks You Can Do
- Check the monitoring app or display. Note the date production changed and whether it is the whole system or one panel or string. If the app shows offline, see Solar Monitoring Stopped Working.
- Look at the inverter from a safe distance. Photograph any error code or colored light.
- Check your main panel. A tripped solar breaker is worth noting. If it trips again after one reset, leave it off and call a pro.
- Look at the panels from the ground. New shade from tree growth, debris, or heavy dirt can cut output. See Solar Panel Cleaning.
- Compare to last year. Weather and season change output, so compare the same month year over year, not week to week.
Common Causes
| Symptom | Possible Cause |
|---|---|
| Zero output in daylight, error code | Inverter fault. See Solar Inverter Replacement. |
| Data missing but power works | Network or account issue. |
| One panel far below the rest | Shade, dirt, or a failed optimizer or microinverter, depending on your equipment. |
| Output slowly declining over years | Normal panel aging, dirt, or shading. Compare to your warranty output guarantee. |
| Output dropped after roof work | Wiring or connector problem from the work. Call the roofer and the solar contractor. |
What To Gather Before You Call
- Screenshots of production for the last 12 months
- Photos of the inverter label, error code, and the array
- Your contract, equipment list, and warranty papers
- The date things changed and anything that happened around then, such as a storm, roof work, or a router change
Who To Call
- The original installer, if it is still in business and under workmanship warranty.
- The equipment manufacturer, with serial numbers, for equipment faults.
- If you lease, your leaseholder, since they are usually responsible for maintenance.
- A licensed independent solar service company if none of the above applies. See Solar Monitoring, Repair, And Inspection.
Keep A Production Log
A simple note each month with total kilowatt hours produced makes problems easier to spot. After a few years you will have a baseline, and a service company can use it to tell a seasonal dip from a fault. If your monitoring service keeps history, export or screenshot it once a year in case the account changes hands.
Panels produce voltage in daylight even when the inverter is off. Do not climb on the roof or open equipment yourself.
Related: Monitoring, Repair, And Inspection, Solar Warranty Help, Installer Went Out Of Business.
Get A Cleaning Quote
Tell us about your system. We match you with one local solar cleaning company and tell you who it is before anyone contacts you.
Get A Cleaning Quote