Error Message on Solar Inverter: What Does it Mean?

Solar inverters, the component of the solar system that converts the DC electricity produced by solar panels into usable AC electricity, are questionably one of the most important parts of the solar system. If your inverter isn't working properly, it doesn't matter if the rest of your system is working, you will not be reaping the benefits of your solar power. To get the most out of your solar system, ensuring that the inverter is working properly is of utmost importance.

Most of the time, when something is wrong with your solar inverter, it will display an error message. This is how you can identify what is wrong with it. If you can identify the error, you can either fix the problem yourself, or, you can call your solar provider with the error and they will be prepared to fix it faster. So, in the name of transparency, here is a list of common solar inverter error messages you may encounter, and what they mean:

Common Solar Inverter Error Messages

• 101 - 103: The inverter has disconnected from the utility grid, due to the grid voltage at the connection point of the inverter being too high. 
• 202, 203, 205: The inverter has dis­connected from the utility grid, due to the AC cable being damaged or the grid voltage at the connection point of the inverter being too low.
• 301: The average value of the grid voltage, usually in the 10 minute range, is no longer in that range. The grid voltage at the connection point is also too high. The inverter has disconnected from the grid to maintain power quality.
• 401: The inverter has halted feeding into the utility grid, as it s no longer in grid-parallel operation. 
• 501: The inverter has dis­connected from the utility grid, as the frequency of is not within the typical permissible range. 
• 601: The inverter has detected a very high proportion of DC power in the grid current.