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Analysis by Marcus & Team

SolarEdge App Showing Production at Night

Troubleshoot SolarEdge app showing nighttime production. Diagnose ghost readings, inverter faults, & sensor errors. Ensure accurate solar data.

Frequently Asked Questions

•What are common causes of communication issues between the SolarEdge inverter and monitoring portal?

Potential causes include a weak Wi-Fi signal, outdated inverter firmware, or issues with the SolarEdge server infrastructure.

•How can I determine if the battery is discharging at night?

Check the battery settings in the SolarEdge monitoring app or via the SetApp to determine if the battery is programmed to discharge overnight. Use a DC clamp meter to measure the battery current.

•What NEC guidelines relate to safe solar PV system installations?

NEC Article 690 covers solar PV systems, addressing wiring methods, overcurrent protection, grounding, and disconnect requirements for safe installation and operation.

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Marcus leads the technical research department at Storage Faults. Together with a team of systems analysts, he specializes in translating complex solar storage error codes into actionable diagnostic steps for the US market.

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Technical Background:

Hybrid inverters convert DC power from solar panels to AC power for household use and grid export. They also manage battery charging/discharging. Erroneous nighttime production data can stem from sensor malfunctions, inverter control issues, or communication errors within the monitoring system. Power flow should be zero at night unless grid charging or battery discharge is occurring. DC input current from the PV array should also be effectively zero at night due to the inverter's MPPT algorithm and near-zero solar irradiance.

Symptoms:

The SolarEdge monitoring app displays production data (kWh) during nighttime hours, when solar panels should not be generating power.

Possible Causes:

Current sensor offset: The inverter's internal current sensor may have a DC offset, resulting in a small, falsely positive current reading even with no solar input.
Inverter control board malfunction: A faulty control board may be misinterpreting voltage or current signals, leading to incorrect power calculations.
Communication error: The inverter's communication module may be sending erroneous data to the monitoring portal due to firmware bugs or hardware issues.
Monitoring platform glitch: The SolarEdge monitoring platform itself may have a software bug causing incorrect data display.
Battery discharge: The system might be configured to discharge the battery at night, which is being misinterpreted as "production".
AC Coupling Loop: If AC coupling is implemented, other inverters or loads might be feeding a false reading to the SolarEdge System.

Solution:

1

Verify the date and time settings on the SolarEdge inverter. Incorrect time settings can cause misinterpretation of production data.
2

Check the inverter's event log for any error messages related to sensor failures or communication issues. Use the SolarEdge SetApp to retrieve detailed logs.
3

Use a calibrated DC clamp meter to measure the actual DC current from the solar panels at night. Confirm that the current is near zero (less than 0.1A).
4

Use a calibrated AC clamp meter to measure the current from the inverter at night. This value should be very low unless batteries are discharging.
5

If batteries are installed, check the battery state of charge (SOC) and discharge settings. Verify that the battery is not set to discharge at night, or is discharging according to a pre-programmed setting.
6

Update the SolarEdge inverter firmware to the latest version. Firmware updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements.
7

Contact SolarEdge technical support to report the issue and request further assistance. Provide detailed information about the system configuration and the troubleshooting steps taken. NEC 705 addresses interconnected power sources.

Safety Warning:

High DC voltages are present in solar panel systems. Always disconnect the DC disconnect switch before performing any maintenance or troubleshooting. Arc flash hazards can occur when working with energized DC circuits. Only qualified electricians should perform invasive measurements. Follow NEC Article 690 for safe solar PV system systems. NEC 705 covers interconnected power systems.

Prevention:

• Regularly monitor the SolarEdge monitoring portal for any unusual data patterns. High AC voltage at night or high DC voltage readings during no production may highlight early problems.
• Schedule periodic maintenance checks by a qualified electrician to inspect the inverter and battery system for any signs of damage or wear.
• Keep the inverter firmware up to date to ensure optimal performance and security. Check the system for unbalanced strings as well.
• Perform periodic capacity testing of the battery system to assess its state of health (SOH) and identify any degradation issues. Use a calibrated impedance tester to measure the internal resistance of the battery bank.

Expert Tip:

Access the inverter's service menu by pressing the 'Enter' button five times within 10 seconds. Navigate to the 'Sensor Diagnostics' section to view real-time voltage and current readings from the inverter's internal sensors. Compare these readings to measurements taken with external meters to identify sensor calibration issues.