SolarEdge red light — what it means and how to diagnose it
Your SolarEdge inverter is showing a red light on the LED panel and you're not sure what it means. Is it dangerous? Can you restart it? We walk through LED patterns, fault codes, and safe troubleshooting — including the critical difference between a grid fault and an arc fault.
Solid or flashing, we help you read the fault code and identify the cause. Share your SetApp alert or monitoring portal screenshot.
Book remote diagnostic → Back to SolarEdge hubSafety: If you see AFCI (arc fault) in SetApp, do NOT restart. Isolate DC and AC switches and contact an engineer.
Safety: If SetApp shows "Arc Fault Detected" (AFCI), do NOT restart the system repeatedly. AFCI is a safety protection indicating a potential dangerous condition. Isolate the DC and AC switches and contact a qualified engineer immediately.
5-step guide to SolarEdge red light diagnosis
Work through these steps in order. The fault code from SetApp or the monitoring portal is your key to understanding the exact issue.
Observe the LED pattern — solid or flashing?
Look at the red light on the inverter's LED panel. Is it:
The inverter has a persistent fault and has stopped producing. This requires investigation or intervention.
The inverter has a transient fault and is attempting recovery. Often clears automatically in 5–10 minutes.
In both cases, immediately open SetApp or the monitoring portal to find the exact fault code — this will tell you the cause.
Check SetApp or monitoring portal for the fault code
Open SetApp (via Bluetooth) or the online monitoring portal (monitoring.solaredge.com). Look for the Alerts, Status, or Error Code section. Write down the exact code. Common red-light codes are:
Note: If no fault code appears in SetApp but the LED is red, try closing and reopening the app, or refreshing the monitoring portal.
Identify which LED is red — DC, communication, or AC/grid?
SolarEdge inverters have three LEDs: DC (usually leftmost), Communication (middle), and AC/Grid (usually rightmost). Each turns red when that system has a fault. Look at the inverter panel and note which LED is red:
For grid faults (flashing red, G-codes) — wait and monitor
If the monitoring portal shows a grid voltage or frequency code (G70–G99) and the red light is flashing, this is usually a brief grid quality issue. The inverter is designed to disconnect if grid voltage goes outside safe limits (typically 207–253V for single-phase UK) — this is a safety feature. Here's what to do:
Do NOT restart the inverter repeatedly if you see a grid fault code — wait for it to recover naturally.
For AFCI faults (arc fault) — DO NOT restart — ISOLATE IMMEDIATELY
If SetApp or the portal shows "Arc Fault Detected" or P700/P701, this is a safety event, not an arbitrary trip. Arc fault detection (AFCI) means the inverter detected abnormal current patterns on the DC side — typically a damaged cable, corroded connector, or failed optimiser. Do not attempt to restart or reset the system.
AFCI faults require on-site investigation to identify the underlying wiring or component issue. Repeated resets without fixing the cause can lead to further damage or safety risks.
How SolarEdge LED status works
SolarEdge inverters use three LED indicators on the front panel, each representing a different system: DC power, internal communication, and AC grid connection. When operating normally, all three are green. A red light on any of these indicates a fault in that system. The monitoring portal or SetApp provides the specific fault code — the LED colour and pattern narrow the category, but the code tells you the exact problem.
The key distinction is between transient faults (flashing red) and persistent faults (solid red). Flashing red usually means the inverter is attempting recovery — most often from a brief grid quality dip. Solid red means the fault is persistent and the inverter has stopped producing. A solid red light that doesn't clear within 10–15 minutes requires investigation.
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) is a critical safety feature. Unlike other fault codes, arc faults should never be ignored or reset repeatedly. AFCI detection means the inverter has identified abnormal current patterns consistent with an arc in the DC wiring — a serious electrical hazard. The system stops producing to prevent further damage. Investigation and repair by a qualified engineer is mandatory.
SolarEdge red light questions
First, determine if the red light is solid or flashing. Solid = persistent fault, the inverter has stopped producing. Flashing = transient fault, inverter is attempting recovery. Immediately open SetApp or the monitoring portal to read the fault code. The code tells you the exact cause. If you see "Arc Fault" (AFCI), isolate the DC and AC switches immediately — do not restart.
It depends on the cause. A red light from a grid fault (over/under voltage) is safe — the inverter is protecting itself. A red light from an arc fault (AFCI detection) IS potentially dangerous — it indicates abnormal current patterns suggesting a possible arc in the DC wiring. Arc faults require immediate isolation and engineer investigation.
No. AFCI is a safety protection indicating a potential dangerous condition. Do not reset repeatedly without identifying the cause. Isolate the DC and AC switches immediately and contact a qualified engineer. Repeated resets without addressing the underlying issue can cause further damage and increase safety risks.
Solid red = the inverter has a persistent fault and has stopped producing. Flashing red = the inverter has detected a transient fault (usually a brief grid quality issue) and is attempting to recover automatically. Flashing red often clears on its own within 5–10 minutes when the condition normalises. Solid red usually requires intervention or investigation.
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