Compare like with like before suspecting a fault
A lower daily total does not, by itself, identify a broken panel. Day length, cloud cover, roof orientation and seasonal shading all affect production. A sunny winter day is not equivalent to a sunny summer day. Start with the expected seasonal range supplied at handover and several comparable days rather than the single highest day in the app’s history.
Also separate production from export. A new daytime appliance can reduce exports while solar generation stays unchanged. Read what monitoring data measures before treating a smaller feed-in credit as a system fault. If generation really has fallen, the records below make a solar repair assessment more useful.
A safe observation sequence
| Observation | Possible explanation | Useful record |
|---|---|---|
| Only the app stopped updating | Internet or monitoring communication gap | Last update time and whether historical data later returns |
| Output lower across cloudy days | Weather rather than equipment failure | Daily totals and local weather notes |
| Repeatable dip at a similar time | Seasonal shadow or an operating limit | Time-stamped generation trace and ground-level shade notes |
| A persistent fault message | Requires model-specific assessment | Exact message, date and inverter model from existing records |
Keep observations non-electrical
Look at the app or an externally visible display only if it is safely accessible. Do not climb onto the roof, remove covers, unplug solar connectors or operate isolators as a diagnostic experiment. Solar equipment can remain energised when the mains are off. An online reset sequence for a different inverter is not a safe substitute for advice about your installed system.
Separate dirt, shade and equipment questions
From ground level, you may notice a growing tree, new building shadow or obvious debris. None of these observations confirms the size of a generation loss. The panel-cleaning assessment guide explains why a cleaning visit should not be sold as a universal cure. Ask the assessor to consider design and network operating constraints as well as physical faults.
A sudden persistent change after a storm, an explicit fault alert or generation remaining unexpectedly absent on otherwise comparable days is a reason to contact the installer or a qualified electrician. Do not wait for a long comparison dataset if there are signs of danger. Keep away from damaged equipment; for immediate danger or fire, call emergency services. This is a safety boundary, not a remote diagnosis.
Prepare a repair evidence pack
- System installation date, inverter model and warranty documents already in your records.
- Daily totals before and after the change, with comparable dates and weather.
- Exact alert wording, first occurrence and any recurrence pattern.
- Recent changes: internet provider, household loads, building work or outages.
- Previous professional service findings and the best safe access arrangements.
Ask what the initial inspection includes, how a warranty claim is handled and whether a separate repair quote follows diagnosis. If the inverter is implicated, compare repair and replacement factors rather than assuming its age alone decides the outcome. Ongoing solar maintenance should follow the installed equipment’s documentation and site conditions.
Sources and scope
Source check: 5 October 2026. General educational information, not an electrical design or a site assessment. Product instructions, local rules and contract terms must be checked for your circumstances.
- Australian Government — Look after your solar system
Weather and seasonal variation; soiling and shade; qualified cleaning and repairs; solar can remain energised with mains off.
Scope: Australia. Source date: No publication date displayed.
- Australian Government — Monitor your solar system
Generation versus usage monitoring; extra measurement devices; app connectivity; battery operating configuration.
Scope: Australia. Source date: No publication date displayed.
- Australian Government — Design considerations
Roof direction, slope, shade, condition, future loads, network limits and expansion constraints.
Scope: Australia; local network and planning rules vary. Source date: No publication date displayed.
Discuss your project or system
Share your goals and the information you have collected. Ask what assessment is appropriate for your circumstances.