If your GivEnergy system isn’t producing any solar power or the PV generation looks lower than expected, there are several simple checks you can perform before contacting your installer or GivEnergy Support. This guide walks you through the most common causes and how to verify them safely.

Quick Checks

1. Restart the Inverter

A simple restart can often restore solar production if the inverter has temporarily stopped detecting the PV input.

• Turn the inverter off using the AC isolator.
• Turn the inverter off using the DC isolator.
• Wait 30 seconds, then turn DC and AC back on.

After the restart, wait a few minutes and check the app or portal again.

2. Check PV DC Isolator(s) Are Turned On

Your solar panels connect to the inverter through one or two DC isolators. If either is off, the inverter will show no PV generation.

• Ensure all PV DC isolators are in the ON position.

If you have two strings, both isolators need to be on for full PV generation.

3. Check Whether Anything Is Covering the Panels

• Snow or frost can fully block production.
• Heavy dirt, leaves, or debris can reduce or stop generation.
• Bird nests or shading from nearby buildings/trees can also affect output.

4. Check the Weather and Time of Day

• Solar production drops significantly in heavy cloud cover.
• In winter, generation may be very low even in daylight.
• No solar power will be produced in darkness (before sunrise or after sunset).

5. Check There Are Enough Panels in Each String

Each MPPT (string) requires sufficient voltage to start generating. If a string has too few panels or one panel in the chain has an issue, the inverter may not detect it.

This is more common on older installs or systems where one string is “just long enough” in summer but fails to wake up in winter due to lower panel voltage.

Deeper Checks

If the quick checks don’t resolve the issue, you can look deeper using the GivEnergy Portal. These checks help identify wiring or configuration issues.

6. Check PV Voltage on the System Data Page

Log into givenergy.cloud and check:

• Whether PV Voltage is shown for String 1 and/or String 2
• Whether PV Power (W) is shown

If one string shows voltage and the other shows zero, this may indicate:

• A disconnected panel
• A faulty panel in the string
• A loose connection on the roof or isolator
• A damaged DC cable

7. Check for Poor or Loose PV Connections (Installer Required)

If PV voltage is missing on one or both strings, or if generation drops sharply, an installer may need to check:

• MC4 connectors
• Panel-to-panel links
• Roof string wiring
• PV isolator terminals
• Inverter PV input wiring

Important: Homeowners should not open the inverter or disconnect PV wiring. If loose or faulty wiring is suspected, contact your installer immediately.

When to Escalate

If your system still isn’t producing solar power after completing the checks above:

• Restarted the inverter
• Confirmed PV isolators are on
• Checked panel conditions (snow, debris, shading)
• Checked PV voltage in the portal

—then contact your installer or GivEnergy Support with:

• A photo of the inverter screen (if available)
• PV voltage readings from the portal
• A photo of your PV isolators and their switch positions
• Details about weather conditions and time of day

Email support at support@givenergy.co.uk.