Solar panels not producing? Safe first checks

If you see smoke, fire, damaged wiring or equipment affected by flooding, keep clear and contact emergency services or the appropriate utility. Solar equipment can remain energized in daylight. Do not touch damaged equipment, enter flooded electrical areas, climb onto the roof, open covers, or repeatedly reset breakers.

This guide covers observation and record gathering only. Electrical tests, isolation, repairs and equipment-specific reset procedures belong with qualified professionals and the manufacturer’s instructions.

Check the last-report time, selected date, time zone and any connection warning. A home internet outage or a monitoring gateway that cannot communicate can leave a blank or stale graph even when panels are generating.

Check whether other household devices have internet access and record the exact message in the app. Use your manufacturer’s official connectivity guidance for your model. Do not change inverter or electrical settings based on generic internet advice.

Solar production changes with daylight, clouds, temperature, shade and the season. Compare complete days or longer periods with similar conditions; do not compare a cloudy morning with a clear summer day. A recent tree, roof change or obstruction can also affect output.

A utility bill usually shows imports and exports, not necessarily total solar generation. More household electricity use can reduce export credits without a panel fault. Battery charging and tariff changes can also affect what the bill shows. Compare the production record and billing period before diagnosing a system failure.

• Last known normal production and the time the change started.
• Screenshots of production history, reporting timestamps and the full alert text.
• Known internet or grid outages, recent storms, new shade or work near the array.
• Any visible damage or debris observed from a safe ground-level position.
• Equipment make/model and warranty or installation records already in your possession.

Dirt is only one possible cause. Follow the module manufacturer’s care instructions; do not assume a fixed cleaning interval or that cleaning will restore a particular percentage of output.

Stale data or a reporting warning

Start with the monitoring platform’s support and model-specific connectivity guidance.

Fresh data showing persistent unexpected zero or low generation in daylight

Ask the installer, system owner or a qualified solar service provider to investigate. Include the evidence above; remote readings alone may not identify the fault.

A grid outage or utility-meter concern

Check the utility’s official outage information. Many grid-connected systems stop supplying power during an outage unless specifically designed and configured for backup operation.

A lease or PPA

Contact the contract’s system owner or service provider before authorizing outside work.

If your installer is gone, use the installer-closed checklist to recover records and find replacement support.

Bring your production history and alerts to our team for help understanding what to check next. Explore monitoring and support options for the system you already own.

See what monitoring includes · Compare plans · Ask about your system

• Enphase homeowner resources—find support for your installed equipment and monitoring app.
• SolarEdge support—use the documentation and support route for your model.

Manufacturer links do not imply XSolar compatibility or affiliation. Your equipment manual and qualified service provider take precedence over general guidance.