# Solar Fault Finding and Diagnostics

When a solar system stops generating or output drops, diagnostics trace the cause, whether it is a tripped isolator, a failed string, an inverter fault or bad connections. A provider tests methodically rather than swapping parts blind. PPA Funding introduces you to a vetted specialist for a no-obligation quote.

## Common reasons a system stops or drops

Solar faults range from the obvious to the hidden. An inverter may have faulted or shut down, a DC or AC isolator may have tripped, a string fuse may have blown, or a breaker may be off after other electrical work. Output can also fall from a failed panel, a bad connection arcing under load, water ingress, or a monitoring fault that is only cosmetic.

Because the symptoms often look the same on the bill, a proper diagnosis is what tells you which of these you are actually dealing with. That first diagnosis is also what stops good money going after the wrong part.

## How a provider diagnoses the fault

A specialist works through it in order: reading inverter error codes and the monitoring history, checking isolators, fuses and breakers, then testing strings for voltage and current and inspecting connectors for heat damage. Thermal imaging or string testing narrows it to the exact panel or component, all carried out to the relevant standards by a qualified provider.

Because the DC side of a solar system carries high voltage even in daylight, this testing is qualified work and should not be attempted by untrained staff.

## From diagnosis to fix

The result is a clear answer: what has failed, why, and what it takes to put right. Sometimes it is a reset or a single connection; sometimes a part needs replacing. Either way you get a quote based on the real fault, not a guess, so you are not paying to replace things that were fine.

Tell us what your inverter or app is showing and the rough size of the system, and we pass your enquiry to a specialist who can diagnose it and quote for the fix.

## Frequently asked questions

**My system shows zero generation. What now?**

First check the inverter display or app for error codes and whether isolators or breakers have tripped, then report what you see. A provider can often narrow the likely cause from that before attending, which keeps the visit efficient.

**Does PPA Funding diagnose the fault?**

No. We are an introducer. We connect you with a vetted solar diagnostics specialist and pass on your enquiry; they carry out the fault finding and any repair directly with you.

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Source: [Solar Fault Finding and Diagnostics](https://ppafunding.com/operations-and-maintenance/solar-fault-finding-and-diagnostics) · Updated: 2026-08-03

PPA Funding is an independent introducer operated by DVC Group Ltd (Companies House 10462808), Shrewsbury — not the funder, the installer or the maintenance provider. The service is free to use; a commission may be earned from a partner at no extra cost. Content is educational and is not financial or tax advice.