Solar inverter faults and system repair: who to call

Safe checks you can do from the ground

Solar wiring on the roof stays live whenever the sun is out, even with the main breaker off. Do not open junction boxes, cut cables or touch wiring on the roof. These checks are safe from the ground:

1. Read the inverter display or the app. Write the error code and a photo.
2. Confirm the inverter’s AC disconnect and the solar breaker at the main panel are on.
3. Check whether the neighborhood is out. A grid-tied inverter stops with the grid.
4. Look for snow, shade, debris or new shade that was not there before.
5. Wait ten minutes and look again, since some codes are temporary.

If a code stays, an inverter reads zero all day, or you smell burning plastic, stop and call. A burning smell or a hot disconnect box is an emergency.

What rapid shutdown is

The National Electrical Code requires a rapid shutdown system on rooftop solar so firefighters cutting into a roof are not exposed to high voltage. The rule is NEC 690.12. Under the 2017 NEC, conductors outside the array boundary, which is one foot from the array, must drop to 30 volts within 30 seconds, and from 2019 conductors inside the boundary had to drop to 80 volts within 30 seconds. Microinverters, optimizers and similar module devices became common because they meet that. The 2023 NEC, which California’s 2025 code is based on, requires a listed PV hazard control system, with the 80 volt and 30 second limit kept in the rule.

What this means for you:

• There is a rapid shutdown switch or device, often near the meter or the inverter, labeled for firefighters.
• If the system will not start after the switch was used, it may need a reset in the right order. Follow the maker’s steps or call for service.
• Do not jumper or bypass it. That removes a safety feature the inspector approved.

Who to call

Symptom	First call
Inverter error code, no production	Solar installer or manufacturer service
Panels cracked, roof wiring damaged	Solar contractor
Burning smell, hot disconnect, tripped main	Licensed electrician now
Solar breaker trips, panel problem	Electrician. See breaker keeps tripping
Battery or gateway error	Battery installer or C-10 electrician
Installer is gone	See solar installer bankrupt

California’s contractor rules let both C-10 electrical contractors and C-46 solar contractors install photovoltaic systems. A C-46 license can install and repair solar systems but is limited to work needed for them. A C-10 license covers the wider electrical system. Verify any bidder’s license. The license guide shows how.

Detach and reset for roof work

If the roof needs re-roofing or repair, the panels must come off and go back on. That is called detach and reset. The sequence is:

1. The solar contractor or electrician shuts the system down and disconnects the array.
2. The panels and racking come off.
3. The roofer replaces or repairs the roof.
4. The panels are re-mounted, wired and tested.
5. The city inspects and the utility is told, if required.

Do not let a roofer disconnect panels without a licensed contractor, because wires remain live in daylight. Get the detach and reset written into the roofer’s bid, and ask who pays for it. Check your solar warranty first, since roof penetrations may affect it.

Ask about the battery

If you have a battery, the shutdown has to include it. Battery systems add a gateway and extra disconnects. See solar and battery tie-in and home battery installation.

What to have ready

• The inverter model and serial number
• A photo of the display and any error code
• Date of installation and the installer’s name
• Your utility account and interconnection papers
• Photos of the main panel and the solar disconnect

Warranty and records

Inverters often carry a longer warranty than the workmanship on the install. Before anyone replaces a part, find the paperwork: the installer contract, inverter manual, permit and interconnection approval. Manufacturers usually need a serial number and an error log. Keep photos of the display from before and after the repair, and ask the contractor to note any new part numbers on the invoice.