Solar Inverter Repairs
Thousands of Solar Inverter Repairs Completed
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What does an inverter repair cost?
The cost of a repair can be as low as $80 if we just need to replace an external plug, switch or consumable part and don’t have to remove the inverter.
Repairing and reconditioning the internal electronics of an inverter ranges from $195 to $450.
There may also be removal and installation costs depending on your situation. Just ask and we’ll let you know.
How to quickly check if your inverter has a problem
Have you tried the shutdown procedure?
First take your inverter through the shutdown procedure. This often fixes minor issues.
The shutdown procedure should be found on your inverter or in the meter box.
Always remember
Disconnect the AC supply before the DC supply. To restart your inverter carefully reverse this process.
Is the inverter display blank?
If so, a specialist can test your system to learn if there’s an issue with the panels, the DC isolator, the inverter or just the display itself.
Is there an error message displayed?
Check the manual – what does the message mean? Record any error messages as they may change, or the display may shut down.
What does the user manual recommend?
If the manual says take the inverter to the factory service centre, it generally means an internal component has failed.
Error messages often describe inconsistent DC power issues coming from the solar panels.
Is it time to Replace your solar inverter?
Sometimes a solar inverter cannot be repaired. Parts may be unavailable or it’s not cost-effective.
In this case you will need a new solar inverter. Solar Uptime can provide most inverters from any manufacturer – most importantly, the right one for your system.
So, if you have none of the problems mentioned above and your inverter has a major internal component issue then a replacement may be the best option
Is your inverter really the issue?
Here are some common issues which may suggest the inverter is faulty when it’s not:
Burnt out/malfunctioning DC isolator
This will stop power from reaching the inverter and appear as if the inverter is not working.
Solar cell micro-fractures
Solar cells can develop micro-cracks which are often invisible to the naked eye. They can still cause performance issues and often develop into dangerous hot spots.
Arcing or burnt out connections
This often happens when DC voltage connectors under the panels have failed because they weren’t installed properly.
Burn lines across rooftop solar cells
Hard to spot but increasingly common, these often lead to short circuits and major performance issues. Look for dark blue or grey lines generally no more than two or three millimetres wide – usually, but not always, within individual cells.
Solar cell hotspots
Overheating in a concentrated area of a solar cell can melt solder and/or silicon. This can also deteriorate the encapsulant, which can catch fire or melt through the backsheet.
Seal failure
Degradation of the seal between the solar panel glass and the metal frame can let water in. This often leads to total panel failure.
Bond delamination
Deterioration of the bond (or encapsulant) between layers of materials within the solar panels causes visible oxidation of the cell ribbons and leads to air gaps forming. This attracts moisture, resulting in panel failures. A very common issue, it starts with a visible browning of the back plate behind the solar cells.
If you have none of these problems and your inverter has a major internal component issue then a replacement may be the best option.
Solar inverter repairs FAQ
Yes, providing the damages are not exceptionally severe – here are some examples of solar inverter brands we have repaired:
- ABB / Aurora / Power One
- Aerosharp
- CMS / Carbon / Management Solutions
- Clenergy
- Delta
- Effekta
- Eversolar
- Five Star Energy
- Fronius
- Geoprotek
- Ginlong / Ningbo Ginlong / Eko
- Goodwe
- Growatt
- Imeon
- Ingeteam
- JFY
- JSI
- KACO
- KLNE
- Latronics
- Macsolar
- Oelmaier
- Omnik
- Orion
- Samil / Samil Power
- Solar River
- S.E.A.
- Sharp
- SMA
- SolarEdge
- Solar King
- SolarMax
- SolaX
- Solco
- Solis
- Sungrow
- Sunna
- Sunny Roo
- Sunteams
- Xantrex
- Zeversolar
- Zeus Apollo
The cost of the repair can be as low as $80 if it is simply a matter of replacing an external plug, switch or consumable part and it isn’t necessary to remove the inverter.
Standard workshop repair costs range from $195 to $495 – Please note there may be additional site visit fees applicable.
We provide a full range of solar inverter replacement options if repairs are not possible.
You will need to review your insurance policy details to determine if coverage is applicable for your solar system damages. If you’re not sure, contact your insurance company for clarification.
If required we can identify the cause of damage to the solar inverter by conducting a workshop-based electrical component forensic investigation and report.
To find out if your inverter is covered under warranty, first establish when the warranty period began. This is generally the date the system was installed.
The most common inverter warranty period we see is 5 years. However we recommend checking your paperwork as extended warranties are not uncommon and some manufacturers offer up to 10 years – we can assist you with the manufacturer warranty claim process.
Don’t worry. This information is available from your local electricity generator, which is Energex in South East Queensland, Ergon in North and regional Queensland and Essential energy for Northern New South Wales.
It looks like your options are limited and your inverter will need repairing or possibly replacing.
