SolarEdge System Not Producing - No Errors

[steveholtam]

Hi all. I have a four year old system that I chose thanks to this great site. Never had a problem with system until I noticed no power generation since the 17th.

The inverter looks happy, no errors, but no production. I turned everything on and off, and tried resyncing the panels, but nothing worked.

I can call service on Monday, but wondering if there is anything simple I can try this morning.

The only thing that changed was around this time a large breaker tripped near the solar breaker. The power to the house was turned off to repair.

Thanks for any tips.

https://hubinternational4-my.sharepoint.com/:i:/g/personal/steve_holtam_hubinternational_com/EU80toOOhkNBhNCCW_QNWIsBJo3QZQgRlHeXbTFmVvU_8Q?e=fayf89

[Mike90250]

Any idea what was repaired that allowed the large breaker to function properly again ? The more info you can give, the more we can help.

My first impression with a tripped breaker, is a surge that fried things, maybe there are other breakers that tripped too.

[steveholtam]

Another bit of info I discovered, the inverter is in Night Mode. And online the status is Sleeping.

Actually I just looked and the fuse tripped on the 8th, but production stopped the morning of the 17th, at 8:15 am on a Wednesday. So I don't think the fuse had anything to do with the current problem almost 10 days later of normal production. The solar breaker itself never tripped, nor did any others that I know of. I did turn the power to the house off a few times, including the big solar disconnect switch. But this was all on the 8th.

I called my installer and the "repair guy" is out sick with covid. Might be a few weeks before they can make it out.

[PVAndy]

Another bit of info I discovered, the inverter is in Night Mode. And online the status is Sleeping.

Actually I just looked and the fuse tripped on the 8th, but production stopped the morning of the 17th, at 8:15 am on a Wednesday. So I don't think the fuse had anything to do with the current problem almost 10 days later of normal production. The solar breaker itself never tripped, nor did any others that I know of. I did turn the power to the house off a few times, including the big solar disconnect switch. But this was all on the 8th.

I called my installer and the "repair guy" is out sick with covid. Might be a few weeks before they can make it out.

In my experience inverter stuck in night mode can sometimes befixed with firmware upgrade which SolarEdge can push remotely or may need hardware replacement. Try sending email describing problem to ussupport@solaredge.com

Andy

[steveholtam]

Thanks. SolarEdge updated the firmware from 3.18 to 2.25 yesterday and still stuck in Night Mode. The tech there thinks either the inverter has stopped inverting, or there is a connection issue from the panels. Such as a ground or a short. I'll be waiting for my local company site technicians to recover from covid I guess at this point.

[PVAndy]

Thanks. SolarEdge updated the firmware from 3.18 to 2.25 yesterday and still stuck in Night Mode. The tech there thinks either the inverter has stopped inverting, or there is a connection issue from the panels. Such as a ground or a short. I'll be waiting for my local company site technicians to recover from covid I guess at this point.

Email back SolarEdge and see if they will do an RMA so that the installer will have it when they can install. Either that or have installer initiate RMA.

Depending on your installer’s status with SoalrEdge they may be able to request RMA on the monitoring portal

Andy

[steveholtam]

Great idea. I just sent SunWorks that request. SolarEdge pretty much told me that the inverter is probably the issue. That or the power from the panels is flowing to the earth. Not really thinking that is the issue since there has been nothing physically changed on the roof or the lines.

Edit: They said no. lol. Has to be trouble shot first on site. I'm on the list.

[solarix]

Night mode implies that the inverter is not seeing voltage from the array. Try turning the inverter off and measure the shutdown voltage (will be shown on the display). Each optimizer puts out 1volt when shutdown so if you have 23 panels, it should be pretty close to 23volts. If this proves Okay, then you have inverter problems. (I don't know about everywhere else, but I've replaced about half the SolarEdge inverters I ever installed...)

[steveholtam]

Dead inverter. The tech i srequesting the RMA on the phone now. Glad I chose a solar company that is still in business. 25 year warranty on all parts and labor through them. I'm sure I'll need this again in another 5 years.

[soby]

Out of curiosity: what model inverter do you have?

[steveholtam]

The inverter is a SE7600A model. With the screen. I asked for the replacement to be one with a screen as well, but they said they get what they get. A mix of re-conditioned and newer equivalent models. Some without the little screen. Still waiting for my call for the swap out.

[soby]

Ugh. That’s the one I have. Not looking forward to the first time mine dies.

[steveholtam]

Hopefully you have the installer or mfg. warranty. Seemed like it was a new model only five years ago so you must.

Maybe it's best it died now and the new one will be better? At least I now know how to open the bottom section to test the incoming panels voltage for future issues. People suggested I do that but I had no idea how to open, or where to test.

[J.P.M.]

The inverter is a SE7600A model. With the screen. I asked for the replacement to be one with a screen as well, but they said they get what they get. A mix of re-conditioned and newer equivalent models. Some without the little screen. Still waiting for my call for the swap out.

Another class act from SolarEdge all the way around.

[soby]

Hopefully you have the installer or mfg. warranty. Seemed like it was a new model only five years ago so you must.

Maybe it's best it died now and the new one will be better? At least I now know how to open the bottom section to test the incoming panels voltage for future issues. People suggested I do that but I had no idea how to open, or where to test.

I had a deadbeat installer so no labor warranty. It was operational February 2020 and the standard SolarEdge warranty is 12 years so I guess I’m covered there for the foreseeable future. Who knows what inverters will be available in 2032.