If your solar system’s production has dropped, stopped, or your inverter is flashing a code you don’t recognize, you’re not alone — inverter issues are the single most common reason homeowners call a solar service technician. The good news: most inverter problems are diagnosable from the symptoms alone, and knowing what you’re looking at helps you decide how urgently you need a technician.

This guide covers the inverter as a system — what it does, how failures show up, and how to navigate a diagnosis — regardless of manufacturer. For codes specific to your brand, jump to the detailed guides linked below.

Why the Inverter Fails Before Anything Else

Solar panels themselves are remarkably durable — most degrade less than 1% per year and rarely fail outright. The inverter is the electronics in the system, converting DC power from your panels into usable AC power for your home. Electronics generate heat, house capacitors that degrade over time, and sit exposed to temperature swings — which is why the inverter is almost always the first major component to need service, typically somewhere between year 8 and year 15.

Common Ways Inverter Failure Shows Up

  • A red, amber, or blinking LED on the inverter unit itself
  • A specific error code on the inverter’s display or companion app
  • Zero production despite full sun — the clearest sign of total failure
  • Partial production — output that’s noticeably below your system’s historical average, often the harder failure to catch since the system still “works”
  • Monitoring showing individual panels or microinverters offline while others report normally
  • An unexplained increase in your utility bill despite having solar

Manufacturer-Specific Error Codes

Every manufacturer uses its own numbering and terminology for faults. If you know your brand, go straight to the relevant guide:

Arc Fault Codes Deserve Special Attention

Not all inverter codes are equal. Most faults mean reduced or stopped production — an inconvenience. An arc fault code is different: it’s a safety signal, not just a performance one. If your inverter is displaying an arc fault error, treat it as urgent. Read our full breakdown: Solar Arc Fault Errors: Causes, Risks & What to Do.

When Repair Makes Sense vs. Replacement

Whether a failing inverter should be repaired or replaced depends on age, warranty status, and part availability:

  • Under warranty: Manufacturer-covered repair or replacement is usually the right call, and documentation from a licensed technician is typically required to file the claim.
  • Out of warranty, under 10 years old: Often repairable — a blown capacitor or fan failure doesn’t always mean total replacement.
  • Out of warranty, over 10-12 years old, or discontinued platform (Aurora, PVI, older SunPower): Replacement is usually more cost-effective than sourcing obsolete parts.

For a full breakdown of options if you own an aging string inverter, see Your String Inverter Is Failing: Repair, Replace, or Upgrade?

What a Professional Diagnosis Actually Involves

A proper inverter diagnosis isn’t guesswork — it includes checking DC input voltage from the panels, verifying grid-side AC parameters, inspecting for physical damage or corrosion, reviewing historical monitoring data, and cross-referencing the specific error code against the manufacturer’s fault documentation (per NFPA 70 / National Electrical Code Article 690 requirements for solar system safety).

Get a Professional Diagnosis

ElectriCare services all major inverter brands and platforms — string inverters, microinverters, and hybrid battery inverters — regardless of who originally installed your system. If your original installer is out of business, that doesn’t affect your manufacturer warranty; see our orphaned solar system help page for details.

Schedule an Inverter Diagnostic →

Sources & Further Reading