The short answer
Start by finding the first day output fell, then ask what changed that day: a storm, snow, a power outage, an internet change, or new work on the house. A drop to zero often points to a tripped breaker, an inverter error or a reporting outage. A partial drop, where part of the system keeps producing, often points to one inverter, panel group or new shade.
Safe checks you can do now
- Find the exact day it changed
Use the daily view in your monitoring app. Note whether output went to zero or dropped partway.
- Check for a reporting gap
If the graph is blank rather than low, the system may still be producing but not reporting. See monitoring app offline.
- Read any inverter or app alert
Record the exact code. Brand guides: Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla, SMA.
- Think about what happened that day
Power outage, storm, snow, roof or electrical work, a new router or internet provider: each can explain a sudden change.
- Check labelled breakers only
Look for a tripped breaker labelled for solar or the gateway. Reset it once. If it trips again, stop and call a licensed electrician.
- Look at the array from the ground
Check for snow, debris, a fallen branch or visible damage after a storm. Do not go on the roof.
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.
Zero vs. partial drop
If everything stopped, look first at the inverter, breakers and grid events. If part of the system dropped, look at which inverter, string or microinverters fell behind and when. That split is exactly what a remote review can show quickly, though the physical fix may still need your installer on site.
When to call your installer or an electrician
- Output went to zero and a reset did not restore it.
- A breaker trips again.
- The drop followed a storm and you see damage.
- An alert names a ground, isolation or arc fault.
If you are not sure, treat it as a job for a professional. Our free remote review can help you decide what to ask for, but it does not replace a licensed electrician or your installer.
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.
- 01Tell us your monitoring brand
- 02Grant viewer or installer access in your app
- 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.
Prefer not to use the form? Start your free review here.
Questions homeowners ask
Why did my solar production suddenly drop to zero?
Common reasons include a tripped breaker, an inverter error, a utility outage or a reporting outage that makes the app look empty. Find the first day it changed and check alerts before anything else.
Can a power outage stop my solar?
Yes. Grid-tied systems are designed to stop exporting during a grid outage, and some inverters log grid events. SMA, for example, documents events for grid voltage and frequency problems.
Should I reset my inverter?
Only follow reset steps your manufacturer gives to homeowners, and never open the inverter. Safety events such as arc or ground faults should be handled by a qualified person.
Related guides
Sources
- Enphase: Troubleshooting and support
- SolarEdge: mySolarEdge app does not display production data
- Tesla Support: Troubleshooting your system (solar panels)
- SMA manual: Event 401
- U.S. DOE (FEMP): Operate and maintain an existing PV system
Brand-specific facts and error-code meanings come from the manufacturer’s own documentation, linked above, checked 2026-10-09. Manufacturers update their guidance; follow the current version for your equipment. Published by Solar Survey AI. Our safe-action advice is our own, not the manufacturer’s.