GoodWe PV Over Voltage
PV Over Voltage (error 17) means the DC voltage coming from your solar panels has exceeded the maximum the GoodWe can safely accept. This matters: over-voltage on the input can damage the inverter, which is why it stops and why you should not just keep restarting it. The common cause is a string with too many panels for the inverter's window, and it shows up most on cold, bright mornings.
Why PV voltage goes too high
- Cold weather. Solar panels produce a higher voltage when cold, so a string that is fine in summer can spike over the limit on a freezing, sunny morning.
- Too many panels in a string for the inverter's maximum input voltage. A design issue if it happens regularly.
- A transient spike at start-up.
What to do, safely
Over-voltage can damage the inverter. If PV Over Voltage is showing, the priority is to stop pushing high voltage into it. Turning off the DC isolator is the safe action; measuring string voltages and changing the array is an installer's job.
- Turn off the DC isolator. This disconnects the panels and stops the over-voltage reaching the inverter.
- Note the conditions. Did it happen on a cold, sunny morning? That strongly points to PV string voltage, and it may ease as the panels warm up.
- Do not just keep reconnecting. Repeatedly feeding over-voltage into the inverter risks damage.
- Call your installer. They measure each string's voltage with a meter and, if a string is over the limit, redesign it with fewer panels. That is the real fix for a recurring PV Over Voltage.
When to bring in a professional
A recurring PV Over Voltage means your array voltage is exceeding the inverter's input limit, which your installer needs to correct by checking the string design. Don't keep reconnecting a system that is over-volting the inverter.
Related GoodWe codes
FAQ
Why would cold weather cause PV Over Voltage?
Solar panels produce a higher open-circuit voltage when they are cold. On a freezing, sunny morning a string can briefly spike above the inverter's input limit, triggering the fault until the panels warm up.
Helpful guides
Sources
- GoodWe inverter user manual and error-message list (PV Over Voltage / error 17 = DC input voltage exceeds the maximum; do not restart, contact installer).
- GoodWe installer documentation.
⚠️ Safety disclaimer. Solar inverters carry lethal DC and AC voltage even when "off", and PV inputs are live in daylight. This guide covers turning off the DC isolator only. String measurement and array changes must be done by a licensed installer.