Ah, solar energy. As those power bills soar all around you, you’re pretty glad you made the switch, right? It really is the best eco-friendly investment you can possibly make in your home or business – especially given Brisbane and Australia’s abundant and free sunshine. But even the best systems run into trouble occasionally, and that’s where knowing how to reset solar inverter systems can come in more than handy.
As experienced solar power electricians who work with these systems regularly, we know that many inverter issues can be solved with a simple reset. Whether it’s due to a power outage or a minor system glitch, resetting your inverter is often the first troubleshooting step to take before considering more in-depth fixes and repairs.
When should you reset your solar inverter?
There are several scenarios where a solar inverter reset is necessary. These typically involve faults or interruptions in the system, like:
- Power outages: For solar panels not working after power outage situations, the inverter might just need a reset to resume normal operation.
- Inverter faults: Inverters can show fault codes or make noises – like beeping – that indicate an issue. If you’re wondering why is my solar inverter beeping, a reset can often resolve these faults.
- No power generation: If your system isn’t generating power and your solar inverter is not working, resetting can help resolve the issue.
Signs you need to reset the inverter
Inverter on the blink? It could just need a simple reset, especially when:
- You see a blank or unresponsive display
- You see error messages, warning messages or fault codes
- The system is not producing power as expected
How to reset a solar inverter: Generic step-by-step instructions
Yes, all solar inverters are different – so it’s always a good idea to check the specific manual for your brand and model. However, we’ve seen more inverters than you can possible imagine! That’s why we can come up with a generic guide to reset solar inverter systems of just about any type across Brisbane, Queensland, and elsewhere in Australia and even the world. But before we start, let’s consider a couple of things separately:
What to do after a power outage
Just gone through a blackout? You might be wondering: Do I need to reset solar after power outage? Well, while many systems will automatically restart after power is restored, sometimes the inverter doesn’t come back online as it should. If your solar panels aren’t working after a power outage, resetting the inverter using the steps below can often resolve the issue.
Inverter faults & beeping
If your inverter is showing an error or making unusual sounds, you might be wondering how to reset inverter fault messages. A reset is often the quickest way to clear these faults and return the system to normal operation. If the fault persists, it may indicate a more significant issue that needs professional attention.
Ready to reset your solar inverter? Here’s how:
1. Turn off the solar supply main switch
This is usually located in your switchboard and controls the power supply from your solar panels to the inverter. By turning it off, you’re safely stopping the flow of electricity.
2. Turn off the solar inverter
Find the on/off switch on your inverter and turn it off. This will shut down the inverter completely.
3. Wait for 5 to 10 minutes
Allow the system to rest for a few minutes – and the delay is probably quite a bit longer than you’d like or expect. But this is to ensure absolutely all residual power has drained from the inverter, preparing it for a complete and total reset.
4. Turn the solar inverter back on
After that impatient wait, switch the inverter back on. This is the start of powering the system back up.
5. Turn the solar supply main switch back on
Go back to your switchboard and turn the solar supply main switch back on again. This will restore the connection between your panels and the inverter.
6. Check the inverter display
Once everything is back on and rebooted, check your inverter’s display panel. It should now be functioning normally, with no error codes or warnings.
Have you run through these 6 simple steps? Is your solar inverter still not working – or still showing an error? It will require a closer and deeper look by qualified solar electrician.
Or perhaps these common questions about solar inverters might help:
- How to reset solar panels after power outage?: This involves resetting the inverter using the steps we’ve outlined above.
- How to turn on solar inverter?: After completing the reset process, you can switch the inverter back on by following the same steps, starting with turning on the inverter itself.
- My solar inverter is not working – what should I do?: If resetting doesn’t fix the issue, it’s best to contact a professional to investigate further.
Call in the solar electrical experts
Did resetting your inverter resolve the issue? Or are you still dealing with the problem? If it’s the latter, something has gone wrong that is a bit more complicated for a simple system reset to deal with – so it’s time to call in the professionals.
Solar inverter not working? At Static Electrics, we’re experienced with all types of solar inverters and can help you get your system back online quickly. We are accredited licensed solar panel systems technicians on the Sunshine Coast and across Brisbane – and beyond. So for any and all solar system issues, repairs, servicing or installations, get in touch with our friendly team of experts right here at Static Electrics today.
