Solar Inverter Error Codes Explained
If your solar inverter is flashing a code like F18 or F64 and you have no idea what it means, this guide is the plain-English overview. Error codes are not a sign your system is ruined. They are the inverter telling you exactly what it noticed, so you can act on the right thing.
What an error code actually is
A solar inverter constantly monitors itself, the grid, the panels and the battery. When a reading falls outside safe limits, it stops the affected function and shows a fault code to explain why. Many of these are protective and temporary; a few are genuine warnings. The code is how you tell them apart.
Where to read the code
The code appears in two places: on the inverter's own LCD screen, and in its monitoring app (such as SolarMan for Deye, or SunSynk Connect for Sunsynk), usually under an "Alarms" or "System Alarms" menu. Note the exact code and whether it cleared on its own before you do anything.
The F01 to F64 range
Many popular hybrid inverters, including Deye and Sunsynk, use an F-code system numbered roughly F01 to F64. The same number generally means the same thing across those brands because they share a hardware family. Other brands use different schemes: Growatt, for example, uses numeric "Error" codes rather than F-codes.
The three urgency levels
On this site we rate every code so you know how worried to be:
Self-clears a passing grid or weather event; the inverter recovers on its own.
Check & restart do a few safe checks and a proper power cycle.
Stop, call a pro a safety or hardware fault; do not keep resetting it.
The main families of faults
- Grid faults (voltage or frequency out of range, no grid). Usually the utility's doing, and they self-clear. Examples: F35, F42, F47.
- AC overcurrent (too much load on the output). Usually fixed by reducing load and restarting. Examples: F18, F34.
- DC faults (panel and battery side). Examples: F20, F55, F56.
- Battery faults (communication or BMS protection). Examples: F58, F60.
- Thermal (the inverter got too hot). Example: F64.
- Safety faults (ground fault or arc fault). These are the serious ones. Examples: F08, F24, F63.
What to do next
Find your exact code, because the right fix depends on it. Type your code on the home page, or browse the full list for Deye or Sunsynk. And before you do anything hands-on, read our guide on how to safely restart your inverter.