My Givenergy battery stopped working nearly a month ago. After unsuccessfully reaching out to my installer, who looks like he's also busted, I found Solar Tech Support on a Google search. They fixed my issue in a couple of hours. Any frustrated Givenergy customers, I highly recommend these guys.
Huawei SUN2000 AFCI Fault — DC Arc Detection Alarm & Safe Reset
- Safety-critical — do not bypass AFCI
- 5-trip lockout within 24 hours
- MC4 and DC cabling inspection guide
Repeated arc fault trips need professional diagnosis. We can identify the likely fault location remotely using FusionSolar string data before an engineer attends site.
Book your free remote diagnosticBack to Huawei hubIndependent — not affiliated with Huawei Technologies.
I reached on behalf of a friend, who had lost control of their battery following a storm. A couple giv energy “dealers” had attempted and said different fixes. None worked. Solar tech support solved it remotely on the first attempt almost instantly. Genuinely a 10/10 service.
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
What a fantastic service. Had my fault diagnosed within minutes and actually managed to resolve the issue remotely within a few minutes more. This guy is like a “Solar Batman” helping consumers fix their problems using his extensive industry knowledge and expertise. Outstanding service. Thank you so much.
This company are a rare gem, I had a very unusual problem following a failed firmware upgrade on my GivEnergy kit. I then found out GivEnergy were in administration and had dismissed all their support staff! None of the usual fixes to try and restore my inverter comms would work, and I looked everywhere, forums, GivEnergy youtube support videos - even AI couldn't figure it out. My installer was talking about huge sums for system replacements, and being vague / evasive about if they'd even install replacement GivEnergy inverter. Enter Solar Tech Support, reassuring and knowledgeable from the very start, I've learnt loads about my solar system though the friendly chat while my engineer worked as he diagnosed the problem and figured out a fix procedure that I've not found anywhere else - amazing. If you need solar system repairs - especially if you like me have been left high and dry by GivEnergy, I cannot recommend this company enough. Give them a call.
Excellent response to diagnose a problem on our SolarEdge installation. Kept us informed at every step. Diagnosis quickly completed and solution implemented.
DC arc faults are a fire hazard. The AFCI system exists to detect arcing on DC solar panel wiring — the same type of fault that causes PV fires. If the alarm has triggered more than once, do not reset the inverter without inspecting the DC cabling first. If you see visible damage, smell burning, or notice discolouration around connectors, isolate the system at the consumer unit and call a qualified solar engineer.
6-step AFCI fault diagnosis
A single AFCI trip can be cleared with a power cycle (step 3). Repeated trips require a DC cabling inspection (step 4) before the alarm is cleared (step 5). Never bypass AFCI protection.
Check the alarm in FusionSolar and note the details
Open the FusionSolar app and check the alarm log. Look for a DC arc fault alarm. Note the time it triggered and — if shown — which PV string was involved. Check how many times the alarm has appeared in the last 24 hours.
Likely a nuisance event. A power cycle (step 3) is a reasonable first response. Monitor for recurrence.
A persistent fault on the DC wiring. Do not attempt a power cycle — go directly to step 4 for cabling inspection.
Understand the 5-trip lockout mechanism
The SUN2000 has a built-in AFCI auto-clearance system:
Each power cycle that results in another trip counts toward the lockout. Do not repeatedly restart the inverter to "get past" the alarm — this worsens the situation and accelerates the lockout.
For a single trip — power cycle and monitor
If the alarm has triggered only once, a power cycle is appropriate:
Monitor the system for the rest of the day. If the alarm does not return, it was likely a nuisance trip caused by moisture on a connector, a transient electrical disturbance, or environmental interference.
Inspect DC cabling and MC4 connectors
Repeated AFCI trips indicate a genuine DC arc fault. The wiring between the solar panels and the inverter must be physically inspected. This should be carried out by a qualified solar engineer with DC-safe PPE and insulated tools. Common fault locations:
If the affected string is identified in FusionSolar, focus the inspection on that string first. If not, all strings need checking.
Clear the AFCI alarm via the FusionSolar app
Once the DC cabling has been inspected and any faults repaired, clear the alarm:
The inverter will restart and resume generation. Alternatively, the alarm can be cleared via the FusionSolar web portal under Maintenance → Alarm Management using a non-owner account.
If you do not have installer-level FusionSolar access, your installer can clear the alarm remotely or you can book an STS remote diagnostic.
If the alarm returns after clearing — do not reset again
If the AFCI alarm triggers again after clearing, the DC fault has not been fully resolved. Repeated arcing at the same location increases the risk of fire. At this point:
STS can narrow down the likely fault location remotely using FusionSolar string performance data and alarm patterns before an engineer attends site — reducing time and cost.
What AFCI is and why it matters
AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) is a safety feature built into Huawei SUN2000 inverters that detects dangerous DC arc faults on solar panel wiring. A DC arc occurs when a connection is poor enough that electricity jumps across a gap — like a spark inside a loose connector. Unlike AC arcs that are interrupted every time the voltage crosses zero, DC arcs are continuous and self-sustaining, generating extreme heat at the fault point. This is why DC arc faults on solar installations are a leading cause of rooftop fires.
The SUN2000's AFCI system analyses the electrical noise pattern on each PV string to distinguish genuine arcs from normal electrical variation. When it detects an arc signature, it shuts down the affected string immediately. The system is enabled by default and under MIS 3002:2025 it must remain enabled — this is a mandatory requirement for UK solar installations, not an optional feature. AFCI works with standard PV modules and Huawei optimisers but does not support third-party optimisers or smart modules.
Nuisance trips do occur — moisture, transient interference, and certain environmental conditions can produce electrical patterns that resemble an arc. A single nuisance trip that clears after a power cycle and does not recur is not a concern. But any alarm that returns should be treated as a genuine fault until proven otherwise. The consequences of ignoring a real arc fault are severe.
AFCI arc fault — common questions
AFCI alarm keeps returning?
Repeated arc fault trips need professional diagnosis. We can identify the likely fault location remotely using FusionSolar string performance data and alarm history — reducing the time and cost of an on-site visit. Most AFCI issues are traced to a single degraded connector.
- No fix, no fee
- String-level fault location analysis
- AFCI alarm clearance and system restart
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