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Deye F63: Arc Fault Detected (AFCI)

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed for technical accuracy · ~3 min read
This is a fire-risk safety code. F63 means the inverter's arc-fault detector (AFCI) sensed an electrical arc in the DC (solar panel) wiring. An arc is a real fire hazard. Do not just clear F63 and walk away, and do not keep resetting it. Treat it seriously.

F63 is an arc-fault alarm. The inverter watches the DC side for the electrical signature of an arc, which usually comes from a loose, corroded or damaged connection in the panel wiring (often an MC4 connector). Because arcs can start fires, the inverter shuts down and raises F63 on purpose.

What causes an arc fault

  • A loose or poorly crimped DC connector (MC4), the most common cause.
  • Corrosion or water ingress in a connector or junction.
  • Damaged or chafed DC cable insulation.
  • A burnt or melted connector from a previous hot joint.

What to do, safely

Important DC inspection and repair on the panel wiring is a qualified-installer job. PV strings are live whenever there is daylight and cannot be switched off at the panel. The steps below are about doing the safe thing, not about you opening connections.
  1. Stop and look for danger signs. If you can safely see the inverter and DC cabling, check for smoke, burning smell, or scorch/melt marks. If you see or smell any of these, shut the system down at the isolators if safe to do so and treat it as an emergency.
  2. Do not repeatedly reset F63. Clearing the alarm without finding the arc just re-energizes a possible fire hazard.
  3. Shut down per your system's procedure. Turn off the AC breaker and the DC isolator following your installer's shutdown sequence.
  4. Call your installer or a licensed solar electrician. They will inspect every DC connector and cable, find and fix the arcing joint, then clear the fault. This is the correct and safe path.

Quick decision flowchart

F63 appears
↓ any smoke, burning smell, or scorch marks?
🔴 Yes → treat as an emergency. Shut down at the isolators if safe, keep clear, get professional help now.
🟠 No visible signs → still a real fault. Shut down and book your installer to inspect the DC connections.
↓
Do not keep clearing F63 to "make it go away". The arc must be found and fixed.
Why we don't give a DIY fix here Unlike a load or cooling code, an arc fault is a fire-safety issue in live DC wiring. The responsible advice is to shut down and get a qualified person to inspect and repair the connections. We won't tell you to open DC connectors yourself.

Related Deye codes

F24, DC insulation failure F20, DC overcurrent F58, Battery comms fault

FAQ

F63 cleared by itself. Am I fine?

Not necessarily. An intermittent arc can come and go with temperature, load and movement. If F63 has appeared even once, have the DC connections inspected. An arc that "went away" can return as a worse fault.

It only happens on hot or sunny afternoons. Why?

Higher current and thermal expansion at peak sun can make a marginal connection arc. That pattern still points to a connector or cable that needs to be found and fixed.

Is F63 a false alarm?

AFCI can occasionally nuisance-trip, but you should never assume that. Treat every F63 as a real arc until a qualified inspection proves the wiring is sound.

Sources

  • Deye Hybrid Inverter User Manual (F63 = "Arc fault", AFCI; check PV module cables and clear fault after inspection).
  • General PV arc-fault (AFCI) safety guidance for DC string wiring.
⚠️ Safety disclaimer. An arc fault is a fire hazard. Solar DC wiring is live in daylight and cannot be switched off at the panels. This guide is educational only and deliberately does not instruct you to open or repair DC connections. Shut the system down per your installer's procedure and call a licensed solar electrician.