The Solar Tech Support company was the only one to respond to a request for someone to supply and fit a new inverter for our solar panels after our old one finally expired after 26 years. Ron kept us well informed throughout, came and ascertained that the issue was down to the inverter having failed then sourced and fitted a new one. He got the system up and running again, set up the wi-fi performance feedback and took away the old inverter for disposal. By acting promptly and fitting the job around existing commitments we were able to get our solar power unit back in operation with minimal delay in the short while before we were due to go away for a week. The work was carried out very professionally and we were asked to confirm that all was in order the following day. I was impressed that, having recently taken on additional work for GivEnergy customers we were able to keep our solar panel down-time to a minimum. I would highly recommend for prompt attention and first-rate service.
GivEnergy Inverter Not Turning On — No Display, Won't Start
- Isolator checks and battery restart covered
- Deep discharge recovery explained
- Firmware failure and fault codes included
If you've checked all isolators, the battery has charge, and the system still won't start — the fault is likely hardware or a failed firmware flash. We diagnose remotely first to rule out recoverable faults, then scope an engineer visit only if hardware is confirmed faulty.
Book your free remote diagnosticBMS Comm Fail guideIndependent — not affiliated with GivEnergy Ltd.
Roland is a true gentleman. He provided a refurbished inverter when my givenergy one failed. The install was a pain and took him hours. I was expecting a big bill but he honoured his price despite the extra effort. While here he diagnosed a battery fault. He helped me get the battery down and recommended an excellent company who could repair the battery. Absolute legend of a person and company
Ron is a super star. Two months ago my GivEnergy battery failed a firmware upgrade leaving it a brick. My installer couldn't/wouldn't fix it. GivEnergy couldn't/wouldn't fix it. Then they went into administration and all hope was lost. A flurry of emails later and Ron had diagnosed the fault (failed USB flash drive, something I'd suspected) and talked me through resolving it. Two months of nothing resolved in about 3 hours. It's great to work with someone who pays attention to the details, knows that they're doing (not just following a script) and gets stuff sorted without a fuss or up-charging.
I wholeheartedly recommend. Many thanks to Ron. Amazing. Everything is fixed. And I feel safer now that I know where to come for support if anything else happens. I contacted STS for help via their extremely useful website which told me exactly what I had done wrong to require support. My GivEnergy battery had been dead for a while and an attempted firmware update had stopped the inverter. The support was prompt and very professional and over and above what I expected. I was helped every step of the way with clear instructions and e-mail support for questions. The issue was resolved within 24 hours and a technical report produces from log data to share with Octopus to try to get to the bottom of how the original issue occurred. Despite Ron saying that mine was a familiar issue with Octopus Intelligent Flux, this to me was service over and above expectations.
I work for a Solar Company and had a customer with a GivEnergy system that we are not versed in. Ron took the time to explain the issues my customer was having and between us managed to rectify the issues. 10 Stars ... Thanks again STS
Very happy with the support I got from Ron at Solar Tech Support with my GivEnergy battery problem. The battery having operated perfectly for 3 years suddenly stopped discharging. He sorted it out in minutes.
Safe checks before calling an engineer
Most GivEnergy startup failures are caused by one of three things: an isolator in the wrong position, a battery that needs restarting, or a battery that has deeply discharged. These are all safe to check yourself before escalating.
The AC isolator (red or black rotary switch near the inverter) must be in the vertical/ON position. Also check the MCB labelled "Solar" or "Inverter" in your consumer unit — it must not be tripped. A tripped MCB is a common cause of complete system shutdown after a fault or surge.
The battery isolator (DC MCB) handle must be in the UP position. Gen 2 and Gen 3 batteries have it built in, under the plastic cover on the battery; Gen 1 batteries have none of their own, so it is a separate breaker between the inverter and the batteries, usually in its own enclosure (a Gen 1 battery mixed with Gen 2 or Gen 3 can mean an extra one). If it is horizontal or pointing down, the battery's power is cut off from the inverter, even if the battery still shows in the app. Lift it to the UP position once, then press the battery restart button (hold for 3–5 seconds) if the battery LEDs are not illuminated. If it trips again, leave it off: see DC MCB keeps tripping.
A GivEnergy battery that has discharged to 0% and sat empty for several days may enter deep discharge protection — a safety state where it will not start normally. If this has happened, the recovery path depends on whether solar generation is available. See the deep discharge section below.
Before touching any isolators: Only switch isolators that are in the OFF position back ON. Do not switch isolators that are currently ON to OFF and back on again unless you have confirmed there is no active fault. If a circuit breaker trips again immediately after resetting, stop — there is a wiring fault that requires a qualified electrician.
Correct GivEnergy restart sequence
If the system has been fully powered down, the restart sequence matters — energising components in the wrong order can cause grid detection errors or communication faults. The correct sequence differs between AIO and Hybrid systems.
AC back on first and the unit itself last. Follow the AIO full restart step by step.
AC back on first, with the DC isolator on the bottom of the inverter back on straight after it (the step people forget; AC-coupled inverters have none), then the battery DC MCB, and the battery last. Follow the Hybrid full restart step by step. On Gen 2 and Gen 3, the toggle switch in GivEnergy's own guide is this same DC isolator.
After restart: Wait 5–10 minutes before checking the app or portal. A blank display during the first 60–90 seconds is normal — do not interrupt. The battery status light should be solid green (operating normally). If it shows solid red or no LEDs respond, the battery has a fault — see the fault diagnosis section below. The DC isolator on the bottom of the inverter should also be in the ON position for solar generation to begin.
What causes a GivEnergy inverter to not start?
If the basic checks haven't resolved the issue, the cause falls into one of these categories. The display state is the most important diagnostic signal.
Completely blank display — no LEDs, no response
Power supply faultConfirm all isolators are ON, the MCB hasn't tripped, and the battery has been restarted. If everything checks out and the display is still blank, this is an engineer job — do not attempt to open the unit.
Fault code in the app or portal, system won't generate
Fault stateNote the exact event name from the app (Event History) or portal (Event Log) and look it up in the GivEnergy fault code index. A ground fault (INV_GFCI_FAULT or STORAGE_ERROR_GFCI_FAULT) indicates a potential wiring insulation fault and must not be reset without an inspection.
Clicking noise on startup — system doesn't progress
Grid detection issueIf accessible, check the grid voltage on the inverter display or portal. Persistent clicking at correct grid voltage indicates a relay or internal fault — contact STS for a remote diagnostic before booking an engineer visit.
Inverter starts but generates no power, no output
Configuration issueCheck the portal Remote Control page — confirm Pause Battery shows Not Paused, system mode is set to Normal, and the export limit is not 0W. If a smart tariff has control, see the smart tariff lockout guide.
GivEnergy not restarting after a grid outage
GivEnergy inverters are designed to restart automatically when grid supply is restored. When this doesn't happen, one of three conditions is usually preventing it.
Power surges at the moment of grid restoration sometimes trip MCBs. Check the consumer unit — reset any tripped breakers. If the MCB trips again on reset, there is a wiring fault on that circuit that needs electrical inspection before the inverter is energised again.
If the power cut was long and the battery ran down to 0%, the BMS enters deep discharge protection. The inverter cannot restart normally in this state. During daylight hours with solar available, the system may recover autonomously as the solar input charges the battery above the minimum recovery threshold (typically around 5%). At night with no solar, an engineer visit with specialist equipment may be needed to initiate a controlled recovery charge.
Immediately after grid restoration, voltage and frequency can be briefly unstable as load reconnects across the network. GivEnergy inverters wait before reconnecting to a restored grid, as the network operators' connection standards (G98 and G99) require. Wait 5–10 minutes after the grid is restored before concluding the inverter hasn't restarted. If the inverter still hasn't started 10 minutes after grid restoration, check the event log in the app or portal for fault codes.
Fault codes that prevent GivEnergy from starting
If the inverter won't start, check the event log first. The names below are the event names exactly as the GivEnergy app shows them (device → Event History) and as the portal shows them (My Inverter → Event Log). Match yours to this table. Some are recoverable; others require an engineer.
| Event name | Meaning | Recoverable? | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| INV_NO_UTILITYSTORAGE_ERROR_NO_UTILITY | No AC supply detected at the inverter | Often yes | Check the AC isolator is on and no breaker on the solar circuit has tripped in the consumer unit |
| Grid voltage too highGrid voltage too low | Grid voltage outside the allowed range, so the inverter disconnects | Often yes | Check the live grid voltage in the portal. Persistent high voltage above 253V: notify your DNO |
| INV_GFCI_FAULTSTORAGE_ERROR_GFCI_FAULT | Ground fault: DC voltage to earth detected | Engineer required | Do not reset. Isolate at the consumer unit. Potential wiring insulation issue, inspection required |
| INV_OVER_TEMPERATURE | Inverter over temperature | Yes, wait & cool | Ensure ventilation around unit. Clears once temperature drops |
| STORAGE_WARN_BMS_COM_FAILSTORAGE_ERROR_BMS_COM_FAIL | BMS Comm Fail: the inverter has lost communication with the battery | Often yes | Full restart. If persistent, check the communication cable between inverter and battery. See BMS Comm Fail |
| STORAGE_WARN_BMS_UNDER_VOLTAGESTORAGE_ERROR_BAT_UNDER_VOLTAGE_FAULT | Battery voltage low, or below the safe minimum with the BMS in protection | Varies | Check the full event history. Do not keep restarting it while the battery light stays solid red |
The GivEnergy fault code index covers the common event names in the app and portal event log, with the likely cause and the first thing to check for each. If your event is not in the table above, look it up there.
When to call STS — beyond the self-help steps
The diagnostic steps above resolve a large proportion of GivEnergy startup failures — isolator positions, deep discharge recovery, startup sequence, and fault code identification. If you have worked through all the steps and the inverter still won't start, or if a fault code persists after a controlled restart, the root cause is likely a hardware failure that requires a professional assessment. Should that assessment write the unit off, a replacement GivEnergy inverter can be supplied and installed at a fixed price — so you know the full cost before deciding anything.
Call STS immediately — safety-critical faults
Call STS after exhausting self-help steps
A remote session establishes whether the fault is recoverable without a site visit — retrieving portal event logs, fault history, and last-known system state. We confirm whether hardware failure has occurred before committing to an engineer visit. Most GivEnergy startup faults are diagnosed in a single remote session — free; £125 only if we fix it.
The common event names from the app and portal event log, with actions.
See GivEnergy fault code index →Correct shutdown and restart sequence for AIO and hybrid systems.
See full restart procedure →BMS communication faults between inverter and battery: causes and fixes.
See BMS Comm Fail →Battery isolator keeps tripping — cable termination, buck-boost MOSFET failure or a breaker failing early.
See DC MCB tripping →How to restart a faulty or disconnected battery on its own
See Battery-only restart →Complete problem-solving guide index
See All GivEnergy Problems →GivEnergy inverter not turning on — questions
Inverter still won't start? Let us investigate.
If you've worked through the isolator checks and battery restart and the system still won't power up, we can review your fault codes and DC isolator status remotely to diagnose whether it's a firmware issue, hardware fault, or deep discharge recovery situation.
- Not affiliated with GivEnergy Ltd
- No fix, no fee
- Fault code and DC isolator review
GivEnergy problems? Remote fixes: no fix, no fee.
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.
We use cookies to measure traffic and ads, sharing limited hashed data with Meta and Google. Decline keeps only essential cookies. Privacy policy
Got a solar fault or need a quick answer? Drop us a message and we usually reply within a few minutes. Mon–Fri, 9am–7pm.