Cold weather charging issues are almost always configuration — not hardware. The portal temperature graph tells us exactly which threshold is being hit and when. We review this remotely and advise on the right winter schedule.
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I’ve used Ron a couple of times regarding issues with my Givenergy inverter and batteries after Givenergy went bust. My system stopped working properly so it was a stressful time but Ron resolved the issues and got my system working properly again. He’s really helpful and knowledgeable and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him and to use him again if the need arose.
After 7 months of not being able to access/control my system following a change of wi-fi provider, followed by the news that GivEnergy had ceased trading i was left high and dry. I was unable to get any help whatsoever from my installer, tried various electrical tradespeople etc but no-one knew how to help me. Changed the Dongle but then couldnt get this change recognised in the inverter. Found Solar Tech Support while researching yet again online. Ronald has been amazing. Responding very quickly to my emails and very knowledgeable on the system. Managed to give us the information we needed to get the Dongle up and running and created me another account which now works as it should. His help has been invaluable. Thank you so much. Reviews I saw from other people said Solar Tech Support are very good, but i would say they are Outstanding!! Thanks again for all your help- Mick & Sandra
Thank you for your diligence. On this occasion the battery was able to be saved but they have given a route to hopefully arrange a repair from the manufacturer.
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Excellent knowledge and service. Ron responded to my initial query really quickly (same day), and confirmed that he could add extra panels and battery to my existing GivEnergy setup - something I’d been told by other installers wouldn’t be possible. Two weeks later (!), scaffolding was up and Ron and his team were on site to fit the extra 5 panels and two more GivEnergy batteries. I now have a truly optimised system, which has made the most of the south facing roof space I have, without having to start again with new kit. I’m now generating enough on the solar to fill my batteries, and avoid using the grid. I’ve also exported far more than before. Brilliant experience, well recommended.
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All thresholds below apply to the internal cell temperature — not the outdoor or room temperature.
~10°C
Mild efficiency drop begins
Small reduction in charge/discharge efficiency. Not usually noticeable in day-to-day operation. System functions normally.
Verdict: Normal — no action needed
~5°C
Up to 10% capacity reduction
Temporary reduction in usable capacity — the battery appears to run out faster than usual. This recovers fully as the cells warm up.
Verdict: Normal — adjust winter schedule
Below 0°C
Charging inhibited by BMS
The BMS pauses charging to prevent lithium plating damage. Discharge still works to about −1°C. This is protection, not a fault.
Verdict: Expected — see fixes below
Before adjusting anything, confirm what the internal temperature actually is. This rules out other issues and tells you exactly which threshold your battery is hitting.
The temperature graph is available on the portal — some versions of the mobile app also show it, but the portal has the most complete history. Select your inverter from the dashboard.
In the Power graph view, click the series selector and enable Battery Temperature. Alternatively, tap the battery icon in the app → More Information → per-battery details (availability varies by model and firmware).
Look for the overnight temperature pattern. If the temperature dips below 5°C between 3am and 6am — after the charge finishes but before morning consumption — that's the cold-soak window causing the problem. If it drops below 0°C, charging would have been inhibited at that point.
Compare when overnight charging completed (SoC reaching your target) with when the temperature started dropping. If there's a 3–4 hour gap between charge completion and morning use, the battery is cooling down significantly during that idle window. The fix is to push the charge start time later so it finishes closer to when you need the battery.
The BMS is protecting the cells from damage — charging below 0°C can cause lithium plating which permanently reduces capacity. This is expected behaviour, not a fault.
Schedule a short grid charge earlier in the night to gently warm the cells. Even 30–60 minutes of gentle charging will raise the internal temperature above 0°C, after which the full charge window will complete normally.
Set your charge window to start shortly before off-peak begins — even a short high-rate discharge before the charge window briefly warms the cells, making the subsequent charge more efficient.
Once the internal temperature climbs above 0°C, the BMS will resume charging automatically — no manual intervention needed.
Up to 10% temporary capacity reduction is normal at 5°C. The capacity returns when the battery warms up. You can reduce the impact by keeping the battery warmer through the night.
Extend overnight charging to spread across more of the cheap window — a longer charging period at a moderate rate (3.8–4.2 kW for AIO) keeps cells warmer for longer and finishes closer to morning use.
Avoid fully charging early then leaving the battery idle for hours — a battery that hits 100% at midnight then sits cold until 7am will cool significantly and the capacity reduction will be more pronounced.
Adding a small additional grid charge during daytime (e.g. 1 kWh extra midday on cold days) compensates for the capacity reduction cheaply — the cost is typically a few pence.
Systems that rely solely on solar in winter often suffer from cold soak — the battery charges slowly from low solar generation, never fully warms up, and underperforms all day.
Add a nightly grid top-up — even 2–3 hours of overnight charging at a modest rate provides warmth and a useful reserve. The cost is typically tens of pence per night on an off-peak tariff and is usually more than offset by improved daytime performance.
Allow the battery to discharge gradually through the day rather than staying at a high SoC waiting for solar — discharge activity keeps cells warmer than sitting idle.
The right winter schedule keeps cells warm, maximises usable capacity and makes full use of your cheap tariff window. Charge across most of the off-peak window rather than blasting at full power and finishing early.
Less effective — winter schedule
Charge start: 00:00
Charge end: 02:30
Rate: 5 kW (max)
Target SoC: 100%
Battery hits 100% at 02:30. Sits cold and idle until 06:30 morning use. By 07:00 the internal temp may be 3–5°C lower than when charging finished.
✓ Better for winter
Charge start: 00:00
Charge end: 05:00
Rate: 3.8–4.2 kW (AIO optimal)
Target SoC: 100%
Charging spread across the window. Battery reaches 100% closer to 05:00. Much warmer when morning consumption starts at 06:30–07:00. For AIO systems, GivEnergy recommends 3.8–4.2 kW during cold months — this rate fills most of the cheap window without finishing too early, keeping cells warm through the morning.
Some GivEnergy firmware versions include a Winter Battery Management feature that monitors internal temperature and automatically triggers short 30-minute charge cycles when the temperature drops below approximately 2°C. This keeps the cells warm without overcharging.
Check: givenergy.cloud → My Inverter → Settings → Battery Management. If this option is available for your model, enable it for the winter months. It is typically only available on certain firmware versions. If you don't see it, don't start a firmware update from the GivEnergy portal or app to get it: we don't advise self-service updates. We update firmware manually, to our own written procedures, either on a callout or by talking you or your electrician through it remotely. Contact us if you think your system needs one.
✓ Better locations
Challenging locations
Insulating external enclosures
If the battery is mounted in an external enclosure, simple insulation significantly reduces overnight temperature drop. GivEnergy's guidance: add insulation to reduce heat loss, but always maintain the ventilation clearances specified in the installation manual and avoid trapping moisture. A basic insulated cover that doesn't block the vents can make a meaningful difference without voiding warranty or creating a fire risk.
Note: Relocating an existing installation requires a qualified MCS-certified installer. If cold weather is causing persistent problems that winter schedule adjustments don't solve, relocation to a warmer location may be worth considering.
Normal cold weather behaviour:
Get in touch if:
If the battery didn't charge on a cold night, this guide covers all causes — including cold inhibition and schedule issues
See Battery Not Charging Overnight →Full guide to setting winter schedules — timings, tariff-specific slots and the midnight boundary rule
See Charge Schedule Setup →If capacity still seems low after warming up, calibration drift may be a factor alongside the cold weather effect
See Battery Calibration →Reserve SoC, mode and schedule causes for a battery that won't power the home in winter
See Battery Not Discharging →Reading state-of-charge history and daily energy in the app and portal
See GivEnergy app & portal guide →All GivEnergy guides, fault fixes and configuration help in one place
See GivEnergy Hub →Guide to running system diagnostics
See Hardware Diagnostics →Complete problem-solving guide index
See All GivEnergy Problems →If the battery is still inhibited when the temperature is well above 0°C, or capacity isn't recovering when it warms up, it may need investigation. Tell us what's happening and we'll help figure out whether it's a configuration issue or something that needs a site visit.
I’ve worked on hundreds of GivEnergy systems and know the kit inside out. If yours is playing up, my promise is simple — no fix, no fee: just £125 if we fix it, free if we don’t.
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