Do you want to know how to repair solar inverter? Yes, I want to know. In this article, I am going to teach you. Some solar repairs need a complete replacement, especially when the inverter’s main part is damaged.
I was only 14 years old when I first fixed an abardon inverter that I found in a nearby repair technical store. I discovered that a loose connection was the cause of the inverter’s malfunction and connected back.
Can a solar inverter be repaired?
Yes, a solar inverter can be repaired, but you will need a professional in some situations because solar inverters are complex to fix.
Let get stated.
Read Also: What Maintenance Is Required For A Solar Inverter.
What Are The Steps To Repair Solar Inverter?
To repair a solar inverter, you must first diagnose the problem, frequently indicated by an error number on the display panel.
Once the problem has been detected, you can proceed with the inverter maintenance.
However, the inverter is a complex device, as I said earlier, and it requires a technical understanding.
It would be better to work on the prevention process than to wait until it develops faults.
Prevention comes along with regular maintenance by inspecting your inverter for signs of errors.
Troubleshooting Solar Inverters
The basic work for the solar inverter is to convert the energy from the solar panels into AC electricity.
But sometimes, they will no longer function as expected. The cause can only be known when you diagnose.
However, in this section, we are going to see some simple steps to troubleshoot the solar inverter:
1. Examine the display and Indicator lights
When a sudden shutdown happens with my inverter, the first place that I check is the display panel and indicator lights.
This is where we can get the problem codes or warning messages.
These codes are important because they signal the issues within the solar inverter and will assist in making the troubleshooting process easy.
2. Check the wiring and connections.
While troubleshooting, ensure that all the cabling and connections between the solar panels, inverter, and electrical panel are secure and corrosion-free.
Ensure that there are no loose connections and clean up the joint contacts.
3. Check solar panel output.
The amount of voltage that comes into your solar inverter from your panels is critical, and it should provide the correct power for your solar inverter to function properly.
As a result, ensure that the solar panels get the required amount of sunlight. You can use a multimeter to ensure it is within the desired range.
4. Overheating Issues
Check to ensure that your solar inverter is not overheating. Most of the time, you may tell by the strange burning odor you can smell around your solar inverter.
You can also observe a discoloration on the solar inverter. Overheating can be caused by insufficient airflow around the inverter, indicating internal component problems.
Reset the solar inverter.
A quick reset can address minor issues in some situations. You can easily accomplish this by the reset button.
Follow the instructions to reset the inverter and see if the problem persists securely.
5. Check the error logs.
Contemporary inverters frequently maintain error logs that might give significant insights into previous failures.
Access the error logs using the inverter’s interface and examine the reported faults to detect recurring problems.
6. Get a professional solar inverter service.
If you cannot detect or address the problems with your solar inverter, consider calling a professional solar specialist for assistance so they can do more in-depth diagnostic testing.
Most often, each device has its manual; always refer to the troubleshooting section for particular instructions on typical difficulties and their solutions.
Read Also: Smart Solar Inverter.
How Long Does A Solar Inverter Last
Depending on the inverter type. In general, solar inverters have a lifespan of 10 to 25 years.
Two major inverters are used in home applications: String inverters and microinverters.
String inverters are frequently outfitted with module-level power electronics and DC optimizers.
Microinverters and DC optimizers are commonly used on rooftops with shade.
String inverters typically have normal warranties ranging from 5 to 10 years, and you can extend the warranty to 20 years.
Some solar contracts provide free maintenance and monitoring for the duration of the contract, so consider this while picking inverters.
Microinverters have a longer lifespan, they may typically last 25 years, nearly as long as their panel counterparts.
Typically, these inverters come with a 20-25-year standard guarantee.
While microinverters have a long guarantee, they are still a relatively young technology, and it remains to be seen if the equipment will live up to its 20 year claim.
On the other hand, a string inverter can only supply as much electricity as the array’s weakest solar panel.
As a result, if one panel becomes darkened or coated in debris, the entire system suffers.
Another downside is that they are normally warranted for 8-10 years, less than half the estimated lifespan of microinverters.
Microinverters are tiny inverters typically put on one for each solar panel.
They operate in a parallel circuit, so if one solar panel is obstructed or fails, it does not affect the others.
In principle, a microinverter-equipped array may provide steady, dependable power in most situations.
What To Do If A Solar Inverter Is Not Working?
When a solar inverter stops working, the first step is to check on the connections.
If that is done, you can now examine the placement of the panels and make sure they are correctly positioned.
You can also remove any possible dirt over the solar panels. Do some cleaning on the terminals, monitor the voltage, and also charge the batteries.
But you should know that many factors could be the reason for the inverters to stop working.
These include defective wiring, wrong connections, and even the complete failure of the inverter.
However, if the problem continues, contact a professional solar inverter service for a complete diagnosis and fix the solar inverter.
Solar Inverter Maintenance Tips
Maintenance is an important aspect of the inverter. If you want your inverter to work well and last for a very long time, you must form the habit of regular maintenance that you can always schedule.
The solar inverter plays an essential role in the solar system but can also develop problems more often when improperly handled.
Let me use these sections to direct you with these 4 solar inverter maintenance tips that will help keep your inverter running well:
1. keep Inverter in a cool place
Inverters become hot when in use, which is normal; the only thing is to ensure that it does not exceed the maximum operating temperature limit specified by the manufacturer for the inverter, which usually ranges from 0°C to 40°C.
Allowing it to operate above this range can lead to performance issues or even damage.
However, the first rule about installing solar inverter placement is to ensure your inverter system is installed in a well-ventilated, dust-free environment.
Some of the inverters have a cooling fan that will serve as ventilation.
That can manage the temperature and ensure the airflow surrounding it is not restricted.
Remove any obstruction on the airflow and the fan cooling capacity because that can cause the inverter to overheat and disturb efficiency.
2. The inverter air intake filter.
The inverter air intake filter plays a vital role with the inverter because it helps maintain indoor air quality, traps dust, debris, and contaminants, and ensures clean air circulation.
When the air intake filter becomes clogged in any way, it will affect the cooling system and reduce the inverter’s working capacity quickly.
When this happens, try to have the filter cleaned mainly by a professional instead of doing it yourself.
3. Avoid Inverter overload.
When an inverter is overloaded, you will surely expect heat. Overloading your inverter system with electrical gadgets and appliances over time can leave the inverter exposed and damaged completely.
4. Keep the inverter away from children.
It would be best if you did not allow your children around the inverter; I need to add this because I have seen inverter issues that develop by children.
In my case, we had a separate room that was entirely out of the reach of the children for the inverter.
This is important because children can play with them and sometimes even get injured when things go wrong with the inverter, and you never can tell.
Read Also: Choosing The Right Hybrid Solar Inverter.
Final Thought
Now that you know what a solar inverter can be, you must also realize that not all issues need repairs; instead, a complete replacement of the solar inverter has to be done.
Common solar inverter issues include faulty capacitors, Corroded wiring connections, overheating components, and firmware glitches that can be repaired in solar inverters.
But if you have a problem with the main circuit board or power transistors or have physical damage, you will need professional solar inverter repair services to help you check.
It is often cost-effective to replace the entire inverter rather than attempting to repair these complex components.
Read Also: How Does A Solar Hybrid Inverter Work?
