Power's back, but your solar isn't? Here's why.
Solar systems are required to shut down during a grid outage for lineworker safety, and they deliberately wait before restarting. Most systems come back on their own — here's how to tell if yours needs a nudge or a service call.
Safety first: every check below can be done from the ground with equipment covers in place. Never climb on your roof, open an inverter or electrical panel cover, or touch wiring — solar equipment carries lethal voltage even when the sun is down. When in doubt, just call us.
Safe checks you can do yourself
First, just wait — reconnection delay is normal
By design, grid-tied inverters wait after power is restored — typically five minutes, but some sit out longer if the grid voltage is still unstable. If the outage just ended, give the system an hour on a sunny day before doing anything.
Check the solar breaker in your main panel
Outage-related surges can trip the solar breaker. Open your panel door (never remove the metal cover) and find the breaker labeled 'Solar' or 'PV'. A tripped breaker sits in the middle position. Push it fully off, then firmly back on — once. If it trips again, stop and call us.
Check any dedicated solar disconnect switch
Many Colorado systems have a gray disconnect box near the meter with a lever or handle. Confirm it's in the ON position — utility workers or a previous contractor occasionally leave these off. If it's already on, leave it alone.
Watch the inverter come back up
After power is restored to it, the inverter will run a startup sequence — blinking lights for roughly five minutes are normal. Solid green means you're producing again; confirm in your monitoring app (data can lag by 15 minutes or more).
If you have a battery, check its status too
Battery systems (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ Battery, etc.) have their own app status. If the battery carried your home through the outage, it may prioritize recharging before you see exports. A battery showing an error or stuck at 0% is worth a call.
When to stop and call a pro
If the system won't rejoin the grid on its own, the fault usually isn't something a homeowner can — or should — fix. Call us if:
- The solar breaker trips again after one reset — repeated tripping means an electrical fault
- The inverter is still dark or faulted 24 hours after power was restored
- Monitoring shows zero production a full sunny day after the outage
- A breaker, outlet, or the inverter feels hot, smells burnt, or buzzes — turn the solar breaker off and call immediately
- Your battery shows a persistent error or won't charge
Still stuck? We'll fix it.
Our licensed Colorado technicians repair every major brand — even systems we didn't install. Call and a real person on our Denver team picks up.