Besides being concerned about picking the best solar inverter for homeowners who want to switch to a solar inverter, I’m sure another topic you are worried about is how to read the solar inverter display. Most solar inverters convert DC power to AC power. So most solar inverter displays are the same. We have written an article on the basics of solar inverter displays that can apply to many solar inverter brands.
How to read solar inverter display
Standby
Solar Inverter display is waiting for sufficient DC voltage from the PV or battery. It occurs when the sunlight is not sufficient to make the inverter work and battery SOC is low.
Fault
The inverter or the system had malfunctioned. The inverter will stop working unless the fault or error is fixed.
Flash
When the inverter’s firmware is upgraded, the solar inverter display will operate in flash mode.There are two ways to upgrade the inverter’s firmware:
- Solar inverter displays remote upgrading based on remotely connected server through the wireless communication module.
- Locally upgrading through RS485 communication connection.
PV Grid On
The inverter is working normally on-grid, and the all the power generated by PV will export or feed-invia the AC grid connection to your general loads and the grid.
PV Charge
The inverter is working normally, the power generated by PV is within a range that all the PV power is used to charge the battery, while there are no excessive power rested to output from neither the AC Grid connection nor UPS connection.
PV Charge + Grid On
The solar inverter display is operating normally on-grid, the PV power generated is sufficient and within a range, and there is still extra PV power available to export or feed-in via the AC grid connection.Your normal loads will either use power from PV or power from the grid, or both at the same time, if your inverter is working properly. The specific circumstance is determined by the PV power output range and the power demands of your general loads.
Battery Grid On
When the solar inverter display is running on-grid with no PV power input and enough energy stored in the battery. The inverter discharges the battery and exports the power to your system via an AC grid connection.
PV+Battery Grid On
When the solar inverter display is running on-grid with no PV power input and enough energy stored in the battery, the inverter discharges the battery and exports the power to your system via an AC grid connection.
AC Charge
The solar inverter display is working normally on-grid with no PV input power. And is using the AC power from the grid to charge the battery as configured previously (the function should be enabled firstly as Chapter Inverter Settings – h) AC Charge Settings described).
PV+AC Charge
The growatt inverter display is working normally on-grid with limited PV input power, and the batter SOC is not sufficient. If at this time the inverter is configured to charge the battery with both PV power and AC grid power, then solar inverter display will run in this status.
Battery Grid Off
The solar inverter display is working normally off-grid with no PV input power, and the battery SOC is sufficient. When growatt inverter display works at this status, the battery is discharging to output power via the UPS connection.
PV Battery Grid Off
The solar inverter display is working normally off-grid with limited PV input power, and the battery SOC is sufficient. When inverter works at this status, the battery is discharging together with the PV power to output via the UPS connection.
PV Charge Grid Off
The growatt inverter display is working normally off-grid with sufficient PV input power, and the battery SOC is insufficient. When inverter works at this status, the inverter is charging the battery using PV power and there are excessive power rested to output via the UPS connection.
So how do I read my solar inverter display?
- Click any of the four buttons located right beneath the display. This will turn on the panel’s backlight and display the information.
- To reach the main menu, press the MENU button.
- Select [Total] from the options presented at the top of the inverter display by pressing the right button (second from the left) numerous times.
- Click the Enter key (on the far right). The displayed value represents the total amount of energy or power generated since the system was installed.
Common error codes for solar inverter displays
If your solar inverter display shows an error code, please don’t panic. This does not mean that your solar inverter is necessarily broken. Because many problems can cause error codes to appear, here is a list of the different regulations and their respective meanings. LXP Hybrid 3-6k as an example:
| Code | Description | LCD Display | Troubleshooting |
|---|---|---|---|
| E000 | Internal communication fault 1 | E000 | Restart inverter, if the error still exist, please contact us |
| E001 | Model fault1 | E001 | Check the parallel CAN cables between inverters, and balance resistor is in the right place |
| E008 | Parallel CAN fault | E008 | Reset model, check if the safetystandard switch is in right place |
| E009 | Master loss | E009 | 1.Check the parallel CAN cables between master to slaves. and balance resistor is in the right place 2.Check if the parallel system is lack of a master inverter, and reconfigure a master. |
| E010 | Multiple master | E010 | 1.Check if the parallel system have two masters at less. 2.Only allow one master, reconfigure the others to slaves. |
| E011 | Parallel AC inconsistent | E011 | Check the AC connection between parallel inverters |
| E012 | BMS fault | E012 | 1.Check UPS L,N connection2.Disconnect the UPS connector,if the error still exist, contact us |
| E013 | UPS power reversed | E013 | Restart the inverter, if the error still exist, contact us. |
| E015 | Parallel phase abnormal | E015 | Check the AC connection between triphase parallel system |
| E016 | Relay fault | E016 | Restart the inverter, if the errorstill exist, please contact us. |
| E017 | Internal communication fault 2 | E017 | Restart inverter, if the error still exist, please contact us |
| E018 | Internal communication fault 3 | E018 | Restart inverter, if the errorstill exist, please contact us |
| E019 | Bus voltage high | E019 | Wait for the inverter automatically restart complete, if this error repeats, please contact us |
| E020 | UPS connection fault | E020 | Check UPS and AC connections |
| E021 | PV voltage high | E021 | Check PV input connection and If PV voltageis in range |
| E022 | Over current | E022 | Restart inverter, if the error still exist, please contact us |
| E023 | Neutral fault | E023 | Check neutral connection |
| E024 | Both PV short circuit | E024 | Disconnect both PV connections. If the error still exist, contact us |
| E025 | Pvin volt high | E025 | Check NTC Connection |
| E026 | Internal fault | E026 | Restart inverter, if the error still exist, please contact us |
| E027 | Sampling inconsistentbetween main and slave CPUPvin temperature high | E027 | Restart inverter, if the error still exist, please contact us |
| E031 | Internal communication fault 4Pvin SPD warning | E031 | Restart inverter, if the error still exist, please contact us |
| W000 | Communication failurewith battery | Bat Com Fault | Check if the communication cable is right and you have chosen the right battery brand . If the warning still exists, contact us |
| W003 | BMS Warning | Meter Com Fault | Fix communication cable, if the warning still exist, contact us |
| W004 | Battery failure Meter communication fault | Battery failure | Restart battery, if the warning still exist, please contact us and battery manufactyre |
| W005 | Auto Test failure | Auto Test failure | Restart inverter, if the warning still exist, please contact us |
| W016 | No AC connection | No AC connection | Check AC connection |
| W017 | AC voltage out of range | AC V Outrange | Check AC grid voltage |
| W018 | AC frequency out of range | AC F Outrage | Check AC grid frequency |
| W020 | PV isolation low | PV isolation low | Restart inverter, if the error still exist, please contact us |
| W022 | DC injection high | DC injection high | Restart inverter, if the error still exist, please contact us |
| W023 | PV short circuit | PV short | Check and fix PV input connection |
How to restart a solar inverter display(LXP Hybrid 3-6k as an example
Solar inverters are like our cell phones. When there is a malfunction, our first reaction may be to go and restart the solar inverter display. So how do we restart to minimize the damage to our inverter? You can restart your solar inverter using the following steps.
- Turn off the AC isolator, which is the main switch on the solar power distribution board
- Turn off the system’s DC isolator. The switch is available under the solar inverter display. Wait until your system is entirely powered down. This usually takes about 10-15 seconds
- Turn on the DC isolator, followed by the AC isolator
- wait a few minutes for the inverter to restart.
How to maintain a faulty solar inverter display
- First turn off the input PV switch on the photovoltaic inverter side, then turn off the PV input DC switch of the LSP100K machine, and finally turn off the battery switch
- Wait at least 5 minutes until the internal energy storage components are discharged before performing maintenance or overhaul operations inside the equipment
- The maintenance and replacement of the fan must be performed by professionals. The fan of the converter cools and dissipates the heat of the machine to ensure the normal operation of the machine. If the fan does not work properly, it will cause the system to work abnormally. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the fans clean and maintain the problematic fans in a timely manner.
The steps for replacing the fan are as follows:
- Turn off the converter system.
- Loosen the screw on the fan cover on the left side of the fuselage.
Should my inverter be turned off at night?
There is no need to worry about this at all. At night, our solar inverter display will automatically sense. After that, the solar inverter display will always turn off. This is because the solar inverter display only starts working when the sun is shining.
How to determine if there is a problem with the solar inverter
If your solar inverter blank screen isn’t working properly, it’s time to replace it. Then you need to know if you can troubleshoot it on your own. Alternatively, you can contact your solar installation or a repair service to inspect and correct the problem. Solar inverters, like appliances, are complex equipment that are bound to fail at some point.
To avoid future problems, it is frequently recommended that you select the appropriate solar inverter.However, the problem could be with another component of the solar system, such as the panels, rather than the inverter. The first thing you may do if the solar inverter blank screen or does not show any lights is to restart or reboot it.
The problem with the solar inverter may not be solved by restarting the solar system. That’s why it’s crucial to be aware of other potential issues with your inverter and how to address them. Here are some possible causes for your solar inverter’s failure and what you can do about it.
Improper installation
A solar inverter display that has been installed incorrectly may not function properly. This is why the installer’s experience is crucial during the installation procedure. It is critical to follow the instructions supplied in the inverter manufacturer’s paperwork to ensure that the initial installation is completed correctly.
You can save money by ensuring that the initial solar installation is done correctly. If you believe an issue with your solar inverter is the result of incorrect installation, you should contact the installer again.
Unable to restart after grid failure
The solar inverter should be able to restart in the case of a grid loss. If the inverter fails to begin on its own, you must contact or phone the service team for assistance in restarting the solar system.
Alarms that persist
If your solar inverter alarm continues to sound, it could be due to a number of reasons. But it’s important to pay attention and make sure your battery passes the test.
LCD displays incorrect code or error message
If an error code or error message appears on the solar inverter LCD display, you can restart your solar system. If the solar inverter display still shows an error code, you can contact a staff member. Or check the error code manual.