What is a Ground Fault or Arc Fault?
Understanding Safety Features and How They Protect Your System
If your solar monitoring system shows a ground fault or arc fault error and your inverter has shut down unexpectedly, your system is doing exactly what it’s designed to do: protect itself and your home. While it can be frustrating, this is a safety mechanism, and there are clear next steps you can take to get back up and running.
What Is a Ground Fault or Arc Fault?
A ground fault happens when electricity from your solar system takes an unintended path to the ground — usually through damaged wiring or compromised equipment. It’s like electricity leaking out of the system where it’s not supposed to.
An arc fault happens when electricity jumps across a gap in a damaged or loose wire, creating an electrical arc. This can happen if wires are frayed, connectors are loose, or wiring is degraded.
Arc faults are dangerous because the electric arc can generate heat that might cause fires. That’s why your solar system’s safety equipment immediately stops power production if it detects one.
When either type of fault happens, your inverter or Rapid Shutdown unit detects it and automatically shuts down solar production to protect people, equipment, and your home. It’s worth noting that modern solar inverters are equipped with extremely sensitive and sophisticated means to detect faults and instantly halt the system when they occur.
Why It Matters
The biggest reason a fault matters?
Your solar system stops producing power.
Until the fault is resolved, your system won’t generate energy — and that can mean higher utility bills if it goes unnoticed. Catching and fixing faults is key to getting your solar back online – and an important reason to regularly check your monitoring platform.
What Causes these Faults?
Ground faults and Arc faults can be caused by a few different things, but one of the most common culprits is squirrel damage. Rodents love to nest under solar arrays and may chew on wiring, especially in colder months.
Other causes include:
- Moisture intrusion into electrical connectors
- Cracked wiring insulation or conduit
- Mechanical wear and tear over time
You might even notice signs, like debris or a squirrel nest under your solar array.
What Should I Do?
- Your system is responding exactly as it should — it has shut down safely, and there is no fire hazard.
- Try power cycling your system:
- Follow your shutdown/startup procedure (usually turning off the AC disconnect, then the built in DC disconnect on the inverter, waiting 10 minutes, and powering back on in reverse order).
- This can sometimes clear false alarms from weather or momentary electrical issues.
- If the fault comes back, contact the Ecotech Solar service team. We’ll inspect the system, identify the issue, and recommend next steps.
What You Need to Know
Ground faults and Arc faults aren’t uncommon over the life of a solar system, especially in our PNW environment where critters and moisture can be a factor. While the fix may require professional service, your system is doing its job by shutting down safely and alerting you.
If a fault message doesn’t clear after power cycling, we’re here to help. Contact Ecotech Solar’s service team to get your system producing again — safely and reliably.