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Solar panel repair and fault finding
If your system has stopped working, or isn’t producing what it used to, our solar panel repair service starts by finding the cause. We work on systems we didn’t fit as well as our own, replacing failed inverters, upgrading older equipment and adding a battery if you want one, across Devon and Cornwall from our base near Okehampton.
Or call 07441 369 505
- Workmanship
warranty10years - Family run
since2022 - The Solar Owners
Club included1year
Signs to look for
Signs your solar panels need a repair
Some faults announce themselves. Others don’t: many older systems have no way of telling you something has gone wrong, so a fault can go unnoticed for months. Our guide to spotting an underperforming system goes into more detail.
| What you notice | What it can mean |
|---|---|
| Generation lower than at the same time last year | Something is holding the system back, from build-up on the panels to a fault in the wiring or the inverter |
| Bills creeping up despite sunny weather | The system may be producing less than it should, or nothing at all |
| Red or flashing lights, or an error code | The inverter has flagged a problem. Every manufacturer is different, so check the manual |
| A blank inverter screen in the middle of the day | The inverter may have tripped or failed entirely |
| Unusual humming from the inverter | A warning sign worth having checked |
| An alert from your system’s app | Newer systems can flag a fault on your phone. Take it seriously, even if the panels look fine |
| Trees near the panels have grown | More shade on the array, which can hold generation back over time |
On the roof
What we find and fix
Panels generate whenever there’s daylight, so the cables between the roof and the inverter can still be live with the inverter switched off. Fault-finding is a job for a qualified electrician, and our team includes a solar PV (photovoltaic) electrician. On the roof, these are the problems we look for.
Wiring and connections
Birds love the warmth under panels, and their nests can lead to chewed wires. Damaged cabling can stop part or all of the system working, and needs putting right properly.
The panels themselves
Heavy build-up of moss, dust or bird droppings can create hot spots that permanently damage solar cells. We check the panels and tell you whether any need replacing.
Mounts and fixings
High winds and time can loosen the mounts that hold an array to the roof, or let them rust. We check them and secure what needs securing.
How we work
From the first call to a working system
Our own team handles the work, whether we installed the system or not, and we keep you informed along the way.
Tell us what’s happening
Call us or send us the details of the fault, and tell us what you’ve noticed.
We test and inspect
We visit, test and inspect the system to find the cause, rather than guessing from the symptoms.
We explain what we found
You get a clear account of the fault and what it would take to put it right. No pushy sales pitches, ever.
We fix it
We repair or replace what’s needed, from wiring and fixings to the inverter itself.
Keep it running
After the repair, ask us about membership of The Solar Owners Club. It brings an annual system health check and a dedicated support line, so you’re not starting from scratch next time.
Inverters
Inverter replacement and upgrades
The inverter turns the electricity your panels make into the kind your home or business runs on. It’s the part of a system most likely to fail, and when it does, the panels can sit in full sun and produce nothing you can use.
When an inverter has failed, or an older one is holding the system back, we can replace it. If you’re thinking about a battery, tell us before you choose a replacement: a hybrid inverter runs the panels and a battery together, and Sigenergy, for example, says owners of its hybrid inverter can add its battery at any time.
We choose equipment around your system, and the inverters and batteries we fit come from makers including Sigenergy, EcoFlow and Fox ESS.
We’re not loyal to a box.
We’re loyal to the right system, and we’ll recommend what makes sense for yours.
While we’re there
Adding a battery to the system you have
Already have solar? A repair visit is a good moment to look at what else your system could do. We can add battery storage to an existing solar system, so the electricity you don’t use during the day is there for the evening. If your inverter needs replacing anyway, it makes sense to decide on both together.
- We start with a look at how your current system is set up.
- We size storage to how and when you use electricity.
- Backup power where it’s included and suitable. We’ll tell you plainly whether yours can.
- If a battery isn’t right for you, we’ll say so.
Whoever fitted it
We repair systems we didn’t install, too
You don’t need to have bought your system from us. If your original installer is no longer trading, or you simply can’t find them, we can look at your system and tell you what it needs.
The work is done by our own team. Solar Upgrades is family run, founded in 2022 by Ellie and Adam, and everyone on the team is DBS-checked. We carry £2 million public liability insurance.
We’re MCS certified for solar PV and battery storage (certificate NIC-601527) and a member of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC). Our TrustMark registration (licence 3428547) covers the installation, maintenance and replacement of both.
Not sure anything is wrong? An Annual Solar Health Check, a one-hour test and inspection at your property, is a good place to start, and regular solar panel maintenance helps spot problems early.
Reviews
In our customers’ words.
-
Excellent service. Polite and friendly while carrying out the work. Very knowledgeable about their trade. After care five star too. Very helpful for helping me set up the app. I can't recommend them enough. Thank you for stress free and a lovely service.
Andrew B. Customer -
Adam and Ellie are great to work with; they use sensible technology and are reasonably priced. Very pleased with everything they have done for me.
John K. Customer -
They fitted my panels, kept me informed about the process and Ellie and Adam are passionate about all that they do, great service at a great price.
Chris & Debbie G. Customer -
I couldn’t rate the quality and professionalism any higher.
Jon H. Google -
Finally, someone who responds, listens and helps in the solar world. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
M&J, Somerset Owners Club member -
Chuffed to bits with our upgraded system - working better than ever! Thanks guys.
P&M, Devon Owners Club member -
We've already saved the full membership cost in our battery upgrade alone! Great value for money.
I&N, Cornwall Owners Club member
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Where we work
Repairs near you
From our base at Lewdown, near Okehampton, we work in every part of Devon and Cornwall: Launceston, Tavistock, Okehampton, Bude, Plymouth, Exeter and Truro among them. Launceston, Plymouth and Exeter have their own pages below, as do both counties, and every town and county we cover is on one map.
Related services
From the blog
Read before you decide.
AftercareHow Do I Know If My Solar Panels Are Working? Signs Your System Needs a Health CheckLower generation, inverter warning lights and visible wear: how to tell if your solar panels are working, and when to book a health check.
AdviceFrom False Promises to Hidden Fees: Your Complete Guide to Solar Panel Scams in the UKFree-panel offers, pressure selling, fake firms and hidden fees: how UK solar panel scams work, the red flags to spot and how to check an installer.
AftercareDoes Solar PV Need Maintenance? Why Future-Ready Solar Starts with The Solar Owners ClubSolar PV is low-maintenance, not no-maintenance. Why dirt, shade and inverter faults matter, and how an annual health check keeps your system working.
It depends on the fault and the parts involved. Once we’ve found the cause, we’ll explain what putting it right involves and what it will cost, so you can decide. Members of The Solar Owners Club get discounted upgrade products and fixed, discounted rates for labour.
Yes. We find and fix faults on any system, whoever fitted it, including systems whose installer has since stopped trading. Tell us what the system is doing and what equipment it has, and we’ll start from there.
It depends on what’s wrong and on the rest of the system. We’ll explain what a repair involves and whether an upgrade would make more sense, and we’ll only recommend what genuinely benefits you.
If it has an app, compare today’s generation with the same time last year, and check the inverter’s lights and display against the manual. Many faults can’t be seen from the ground, so if the figures look low, have it tested.
The make of your inverter and what its display shows, roughly how old the system is, and what you’ve noticed, such as lower generation or higher bills. Any paperwork from the original installation helps too.
Next steps
Tell us what your system is doing
Whether we fitted it or not, solar panel repair starts with finding the real cause. Call us or send the details through, and we’ll test and inspect your system, then explain what we find and how we’d fix it.
Call us07441 369 505
- Lines open
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- Find us
- Allerford Farm, Lewdown, Okehampton, Devon EX20 4PU
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