Solar Repair - Identify the Issue

Nearly four in ten solar PV owners we surveyed that have had a problem with their solar energy system, reported issues with their inverters—accounting for 40% of all of the problems and faults that homeowners with solar problems referenced. Solar inverter issues were also the most serious, and, in some cases, with string inverters, it can prevent the entire solar panel system from generating any usable energy. Solar microinverters allow each solar panel to act independently, making it much easier to diagnose and repair compared to string inverters.

Read on to find out the next most-common issues faced by owners of solar panels, and expert tips on how to solve them. Or check out our advice on buying solar panels.

- Hot Spots
- Interconnection
- Glass Breakage

Hot Spots – Hot spots typically occur when panels are locally shadowed. Hot spots are the most common issue that impacts the efficiency of a solar panel system. The great news is, it is typically preventable when whatever may be causing the localized shading is removed. Localized shading generally is addressed when you do your installation. Your solar energy system installer will help point out areas of shading that can impact your solar energy system.

IC Discoloration -This is a discoloration of the interconnection (IC). This discoloration is typically seen when the interconnection changes to more of a rusty hue. It is a sign that there could be corrosion in your panels. It isn’t a failure necessarily but could highlight the need to ensure proper monitoring of how much your solar system is generating.

Glass Breakage – This is due to a few different applications. Typically panels are incredibly durable, and the glass is exceptionally resilient. However, enough blunt force can crack and break the glass that encases the solar panels.
Most solar panels are well built, ensured to last for years. They are tested under some of the harshest scenarios to check for their reliability. Read more about solar panel reliability, quality and testing. Regardless of the weather conditions, your solar panels are built to undergo some extreme conditions to ensure it stands the test of time.

Reliability Tests

Damp Heat (DH) – Induces stress resulting from high humidity at very high temperatures.
Testing Conditions: Constant Temperature of 185* and humidity of 85%
To Test For: Corrosion, discoloration, and connector issues.

Thermal Cycling (TC) – Induces stress with high and low temperatures.
Testing Conditions: Solar Panels undergo multiple cycles in 185F to -40F environments.
To Test For: Cell Cracks, Mechanical instability.

Humidity Freeze (HF) – A combination of the damp heat and thermal cycling.
Testing Conditions: 85% Relative humidity which fluctuating the temperature from super hot to super cold (185F while cycling to -40F).
To Test For: Cell Cracks, Mechanical Instability, and Delamination

Read more about solar energy reliability tests.

Are the most common problems with solar panels. They are the most common reason for solar system issues. Even a slight loss of production can be very bothersome and even annoying if you don’t know how to improve the efficiency of your solar panels. Not to mention that this will also make your Net Energy Metering (NEM) electricity bill higher than usual. Throughout regular use, your inverter will fail, and most solar inverters are guaranteed for up to 10 years.

Dirty solar panels can be a nuisance, both to look at and in terms of efficiency. Although the dirt on your solar panels may seem like it is substantially impacting the performance of your solar panels, their overall performance is affected by only 1% - 5%. Though cleaning your solar panels may seem to be an easy job that will substantially improve how much electricity your solar will generate, but sometimes, it isn’t worth it. Consider calling a professional to deal with this problem to save you on your cleaning time.

DIY Solar Cleaning

If you are looking to ensure you don’t see a loss in performance from dirty panels, we recommend that you get your solar panels cleaned once or twice a year. Using a garden hose with a cleaning mixture made from everyday household items should help keep your solar panels looking clean at operating at maximum efficiency.

Solar Panel Household Cleaning Mixture:

- 1 Part Vinegar
- 2 Parts Water Solution

Solar Tip: We recommend that any rinsing be done in the early morning when the solar panels are still cool.

Updated WiFi Password/Account

There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with your home WiFi. From working with your internet provider to set up your password, the process can be very annoying and inconvenient. Nobody should expect you to be a tech wizard when you install your solar. So if you are experiencing a problem right after you updated your WiFi password/account, you may have diagnosed that you need to resync your WiFi account to the solar inverter.

Electrical Faults

A solar energy system often experiences electrical faults that can come about from poor solar panel installation workmanship. These faults are often a result of bad wiring practices, or improper wiring. The areas that are typically impacted from these faults are at the point of connection, tension and areas where wires can have friction.

These are the typical places where you can find your electrical fault. If you have a string inverter, each solar panel will need to be lifted to see where the fault is coming from. With microinverters, it will be much easier to diagnose where the electrical fault is occurring. Through proper preparation, materials and quality workmanship during the installation process can reduce the risk of ground faults and short-circuits the PV circuit.