Residential

OverviewRooftop PV at volumeRoof & dronePlanes measured on the roofAttic & structureRafters recordedElectricalPanel and interconnectionDesign & engineeringModel to stamped set

Commercial & Industrial

OverviewBig roofs, real structureOn-site surveyRoof, structure, switchgearDesign & engineeringPE stampedVisual inspectionModule resolutionThermal inspectionFaults as heatElectroluminescenceCell-level cracks

Utility-Scale

OverviewThousands of acresLiDAR topographyTerrain before earthworkLand surveyingBoundary and topographicConstruction monitoringProgress, measuredThermal & ELEvery string

Across every scale

Site surveysRoof and electrical, one visitPermitting & engineeringStamped plan setsInspectionAerial thermal and ELShading analysisSA, TOF and TSRFSurvey locationsState and metro guides

The platform

Platform overviewPortal, 3D models, live dataFeature guidesWho it serves and how it worksShading analysisMove the sun yourselfCost calculatorWhat bad field data costs you

Sign in

Vanguard AccessInvite only · survey data portalScheduling & DispatchCrewLink · all verticals

Solar reference

Solar questions answeredResidential, commercial and utility-scaleSurvey methodologySources, measurements and limitsCompany factsOfficial services and capabilities

Field Notes · build vs. buy

What a survey really costsPart 01 · the full modelUtilization is the whole gamePart 02 · a real TuesdayThe break-even headcountWhen hiring pays offTwo technicians, two roofsVariance, measuredThe hybrid crewIn-house plus outsourced

Field Notes · reference

Site survey checklistBuilt backwards from reworkHow long a survey takesHour by hourDo panels need a permit?What goes in the packageStorage site surveysThe capture listCompare survey vendorsQuestions to ask any vendor

Company

All servicesAll Field NotesAboutBook a 15-min call

Home / Homeowners / Solar troubleshooting

Homeowners · Free solar monitoring review

Solar not working?
Start here.

Safe, step-by-step checks for the most common home solar problems, by symptom and by brand, with links to each manufacturer’s own guidance.

Before you start

Most problems fall into three groups: the system stopped reporting (internet or gateway), it stopped or reduced producing (inverter, breaker, shade, snow or a fault), or production is normal for the season but looks low. The guides above help you tell which one you have. Try the underperformance check for a quick comparison.

Safety first

Only do the checks on this page that need no tools: read the app, look at the inverter or gateway lights, reset a tripped breaker that is labelled for the solar system or gateway, and look at the array from the ground. Never open an electrical panel, inverter, combiner or junction box, never touch wiring or connectors, and never climb onto the roof. Solar equipment can stay energized while the sun is up even when the grid is off. If a breaker trips again, you smell burning, or you see scorch marks, water in equipment or damaged wiring, stop and call your installer or a licensed electrician.

Free for homeowners

Get a free remote review of your system

Tell us which monitoring app your system uses (Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla, SMA, Fronius, Generac or another brand). We send you the steps to add our team as a viewer or installer from inside the provider’s own app. You never share your password with us. Once access is granted, our team connects your system and runs a free remote review of your production and alerts, then tells you what we found and the next step.

  1. 01Tell us your monitoring brand
  2. 02Grant viewer or installer access in your app
  3. 03Our team reviews it and reports back

Remote data can show when and where production changed, but it cannot always find the physical cause. Some issues need an on-site visit or your installer. We never ask for your monitoring password.

Get a free solar review