The sun is out. But your battery is not filling. Here is how to find out why.
Step 1: Look at the PV number
Your inverter screen shows PV (solar) watts.
| PV reading in daylight | Points to |
|---|---|
| 0W | Breaker, isolator, cable or panel fault |
| Low | Clouds, dirt, shade |
| Good, but battery not rising | Loads, settings or battery problem |
The 8 common causes
- Cloudy or rainy day. Normal. Read solar in rainy season.
- Dirty panels. Soot and dust. Read how to clean panels.
- New shade. A tree, tank or new building.
- Tripped DC breaker or isolator.
- Loose or burnt connector.
- Wrong settings after a reset or change.
- Daytime loads using all the solar (AC, pump, iron).
- BMS protection or ageing battery.
What you can safely do
- Check the weather.
- Look for dirt or shade.
- Switch off heavy daytime loads and watch the battery %.
- Check whether a breaker has tripped (do not open sealed DC boxes).
When to call us
- PV shows 0W on a sunny day
- Burning smell or melted connectors
- BMS or fault codes that will not clear
