A significant number of 'not working' inherited systems are simply isolated — the previous owner turned off the isolation switches and didn't turn them back on. Check the inverter isolation switches and the solar circuit breaker before assuming a fault.
Brilliant support to get my solar battery working again. I didn’t expect help on a Saturday but Ron answered the phone, listened and sent me the information I needed to get it going, answered questions etc. A brilliant service I’d happily recommend.
Ron was brilliant. He really tried to help. He spent hours trying to fix our GivEnergy AIO and ultimately it became apparent that it needed parts to fix the BMS management system. As there appears to be no replacement parts available on the market, he gave excellent advice on what options are now available to move forward. He is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable.
Called back within a day and gave good advice.
Ron was extremely helpful and tried his best to repair/reset our GivEnergy inverter remotely. In the event he was unsuccessful but he couldn’t have been more helpful. If you have problems with a GivEnergy system please contact him. Highly recommended
Big thanks to Ron. He was incredibly patient and helpful over the phone, taking the time to walk myself and the installer through every troubleshooting step. Through lots of testing he figured out the issue was definitely a hardware issue, which allows us to consider our next steps. Support fees are clear and they operate a “no fix no fee” policy. It is rare to find that kind of honesty combined with dedicated phone support nowadays. I highly recommend Ron, if you need help with your solar system don’t hesitate to give him a call.
A superb service from Ron who went beyond the normal service received from other Tech support companies. I live abroad and was badly let down when my givenergy system failed (and the company went bankrupt) and the local supplier ran away from the problem. Ron sorted the problem and even accessed specialist coding for the inverter that would not be available for suppliers. Ron also ran a full diagnostic to insure that all was in good working order afterwards. Without Rons support and patient assistance I doubt I would ever have got the system back up and running. Well done and thankyou and you have a customer for the future.
Brilliant support to get my solar battery working again. I didn’t expect help on a Saturday but Ron answered the phone, listened and sent me the information I needed to get it going, answered questions etc. A brilliant service I’d happily recommend.
Ron was brilliant. He really tried to help. He spent hours trying to fix our GivEnergy AIO and ultimately it became apparent that it needed parts to fix the BMS management system. As there appears to be no replacement parts available on the market, he gave excellent advice on what options are now available to move forward. He is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable.
Called back within a day and gave good advice.
Ron was extremely helpful and tried his best to repair/reset our GivEnergy inverter remotely. In the event he was unsuccessful but he couldn’t have been more helpful. If you have problems with a GivEnergy system please contact him. Highly recommended
Big thanks to Ron. He was incredibly patient and helpful over the phone, taking the time to walk myself and the installer through every troubleshooting step. Through lots of testing he figured out the issue was definitely a hardware issue, which allows us to consider our next steps. Support fees are clear and they operate a “no fix no fee” policy. It is rare to find that kind of honesty combined with dedicated phone support nowadays. I highly recommend Ron, if you need help with your solar system don’t hesitate to give him a call.
A superb service from Ron who went beyond the normal service received from other Tech support companies. I live abroad and was badly let down when my givenergy system failed (and the company went bankrupt) and the local supplier ran away from the problem. Ron sorted the problem and even accessed specialist coding for the inverter that would not be available for suppliers. Ron also ran a full diagnostic to insure that all was in good working order afterwards. Without Rons support and patient assistance I doubt I would ever have got the system back up and running. Well done and thankyou and you have a customer for the future.
In order of how commonly we see each cause on inherited systems.
The AC or DC isolation switch near the inverter is in the OFF position. This is the most fixable cause — takes 30 seconds to check and resolve. Check these first before anything else.
The solar circuit breaker in the consumer unit has tripped. Reset it (push to OFF then ON). If it holds, the system may recover. If it trips again immediately, there's a fault on the circuit that needs an electrician.
The inverter has detected a problem and stopped generating. The display will show a fault code or error number. Some codes are self-resolving (grid faults); others require engineer attendance (isolation faults, hardware errors). Note the exact code.
The system has been non-generating for an extended period — sometimes months or years — because the previous owner had no monitoring access and didn't notice. Dormant faults include failed optimisers, corroded connections, and degraded inverter components.
DC string fuses inside the inverter protect the panel circuits. If a fuse has blown, that string produces no output. Multiple blown fuses can take the whole system offline. Fuse replacement is a straightforward electrical job but requires qualified access to the inverter internals.
The inverter itself has failed — either a component failure or end-of-life. Inverters typically last 10–15 years. If the system is over 10 years old and showing no output with no obvious cause, inverter failure is a realistic possibility. May be covered by remaining warranty.
Work through these in order during daylight hours. Many cases are resolved at step 1 or 2.
Stand in front of the inverter during daylight hours — ideally on a sunny or partly cloudy day between 9am and 4pm. A generating system will show output in watts or kilowatts on the display. If the display is dark, the inverter has no power. If it shows zero, the inverter has power but is not generating. If it shows a fault code or error number, note it down exactly — this is your most important diagnostic data.
If the display is showing a generation figure above zero — even a small one — the inverter is working. Your issue is likely monitoring access, not generation.
Near the inverter — sometimes directly on the inverter casing, sometimes on the wall beside it — there will be isolation switches. Look for:
If either is OFF, turn it to ON and wait 2–3 minutes. The inverter will go through a startup cycle (this is normal — most inverters have a 30–300 second grid check before they begin generating).
Open the consumer unit (fuse board). Look for a circuit breaker labelled 'Solar', 'PV', 'Inverter', or with a sun or lightning bolt symbol. The switch should be fully in the ON position. If it is in the middle (tripped) position, push it fully to OFF and then firmly to ON. If it trips immediately on reset, stop — there is a fault on the circuit that needs an electrician to investigate. Do not keep resetting a breaker that is tripping.
If the inverter is powered but showing an error code, write it down exactly and search for it with your inverter brand name. Common inherited system fault codes:
For Growatt-specific error codes, see our Growatt fault code guide.
If steps 1–4 haven't resolved the issue, you have an underlying fault that needs professional diagnosis. Before booking an engineer visit, a remote diagnostic session can:
It is more common than people expect to inherit a system that hasn't been generating for a long time. Without monitoring access, the previous owner may not have known the system was inactive — or may have known and chose not to disclose it.
Check the inverter installation date on the label. The inverter label shows the manufacturing or installation date. If the system is over 8 years old, component failure becomes more likely — particularly for older string inverters with electrolytic capacitors that degrade over time. Newer hybrid inverters (under 5 years) are less likely to have hardware-level failures and more likely to have configuration or wiring issues.
Inspect the visible wiring and connections for obvious damage. Without opening any electrical panels yourself, look for visible signs of damage near the inverter — scorching, melted insulation, condensation or corrosion on visible connectors, or cables that appear to have been disturbed. Any of these indicate the system needs an electrician's assessment before it is operated.
Consider whether there may be a warranty or disclosure claim. If the system was non-generating at the point of sale and the previous owner was aware, this may constitute a failure to disclose a material defect. Contact your conveyancing solicitor with any evidence of extended non-generation (from monitoring data if you can access it) to assess whether a claim is viable. Inverter and panel warranties transfer with the property — check the remaining term.
Get a professional assessment before investing in repairs. On a dormant system, a remote diagnostic can confirm whether the issue is a configuration or data fault, or whether it requires physical engineer attendance. A full electrical inspection by a qualified solar engineer is advisable before spending money on component replacements — the scope of the issue needs to be understood first.
Inherited a solar system that isn't working? We start with a remote diagnostic to identify the fault, then visit on-site for repairs if needed — across our full coverage area from Leeds to Sheffield, York, Hull, and beyond.
See all areas we cover →For a new homeowner with a non-generating system, an independent solar inspection is the right starting point — a written report covering system condition, fault diagnosis, documentation, and a clear repair or warranty route.
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