Why Check Your Inverter?
Your inverter is the heart of your solar system. Its display screen shows real-time data about how much power your system is generating, its daily and lifetime production totals, and any error codes that might need attention. A quick glance at your inverter every few weeks can help you catch issues early.
Common Display Readings
Most residential inverters display the following information:
- Current Power (kW): How much electricity your system is generating right now
- Daily Energy (kWh): Total energy produced today
- Total Energy (kWh or MWh): Lifetime energy production since installation
- AC Voltage (V): The output voltage being fed to your home (typically 230-240V)
- AC Frequency (Hz): Should sit at approximately 50Hz in Australia
- DC Voltage (V): The input voltage coming from your panels
What's Normal?
On a clear sunny day in Brisbane, a 6.6kW system should show between 4-6kW of current power around midday. Daily production in summer should be 30-40kWh, while winter days typically produce 18-25kWh.
Reading a Fronius Inverter
Fronius inverters have an LED ring and digital display. The LED ring colour indicates status:
- Green pulsing: System is generating normally
- Green steady: System is in standby (e.g., night time)
- Red: An error has occurred (check the error code on screen)
- Orange: A warning or temporary condition
Press the button on the front to cycle through display screens showing power, energy, voltage, and system status.
Reading a Sungrow Inverter
Sungrow inverters typically have an LCD display with multiple screens. Use the navigation buttons to browse through:
- Home screen: Current power output
- Daily/monthly/yearly/total energy: Historical production data
- System info: Inverter model, firmware version, serial number
- Fault log: Any recent errors or warnings
Use the App Instead
Both Fronius and Sungrow offer mobile apps that provide the same data (and more) from your phone. See our guide on monitoring your system for setup instructions.
What to Look For
When checking your inverter, keep an eye out for:
- Unusually low production on sunny days, which could indicate panel shading, soiling, or a fault
- Error codes that persist: note the code and contact your installer
- Significant drops in daily production compared to the same season last year
- Flashing or unusual LED behaviour: consult your inverter manual or contact us
If anything looks unusual, take a photo of the display and get in touch with our support team. Early detection of issues saves time and money.
