Why Your Solar Is Not Working Properly - 8 Common Mistakes
If your solar system is not delivering the expected units, keeps tripping, or shows strange inverter readings, chances are it's not "bad solar"—it's one or more avoidable mistakes in design, installation, or maintenance. Many rooftop systems lose 10–30% of their potential simply because of issues that were never checked or corrected.
This guide explains 8 common mistakes that cause solar systems to underperform and gives you simple, practical actions you can take to restore performance, improve safety, and protect your return on investment.
Key Insight:
Many rooftop systems lose 10–30% of their potential due to avoidable mistakes. Identifying and fixing these issues can significantly boost your generation and ROI.
Mistake 1 – Shading on Panels (Even Partial)
Even small shadows—from water tanks, railings, trees, or neighbouring buildings—can drastically cut output, especially when panels are wired in strings. A single shaded panel can pull down the entire string's performance.
✓What you can do:
- →Observe your roof between 9 AM and 3 PM and note any moving shadows.
- →Trim trees, reposition obstacles, or ask an installer if re-stringing or adding optimisers/microinverters can reduce shading losses.
Mistake 2 – Wrong Tilt or Direction
Panels facing the wrong direction or at a poor tilt angle will never generate to their full potential. In most Indian locations, panels should face true south with a tilt roughly equal to the site's latitude for best yearly output.
✓What you can do:
- →Check if your panels are south-facing and roughly at the right tilt.
- →If they are almost flat or significantly misaligned, discuss structural adjustments with a certified installer to improve orientation.
Mistake 3 – Dirty Panels and No Cleaning Schedule
Dust, bird droppings, pollution, and leaves form a thin but powerful barrier between sunlight and your solar cells. Over time, dirty panels can lose 10–25% of their production, especially in cities and dusty regions.
✓What you can do:
- →Set a regular cleaning schedule (every 1–3 months, more in dusty seasons).
- →Use soft water flow, mild soap (if needed), and a soft brush or sponge—never abrasive tools or high-pressure jets.
Mistake 4 – Poor Quality Installation and Loose Wiring
Even high-quality panels and inverters can underperform if the wiring, crimping, MC4 connectors, earthing, or structure are poorly done. Loose or corroded connections lead to voltage drops, heating, and frequent tripping.
✓What you can do:
- →Check for visible signs like exposed wires, loose conduits, or rusting structures.
- →If the inverter frequently shows fault codes or trips under load, schedule a professional inspection to test connections, DC voltage, and earthing.
Mistake 5 – Wrong System Sizing vs Your Actual Load
Sometimes the solar system is simply too small (or badly matched) for the way you actually use power. If your usage pattern is very different from what was assumed during design, you may feel "solar is not working" when it is actually undersized.
✓What you can do:
- →Compare your average monthly units with the estimated generation of your solar system (kW capacity × local kWh/kW).
- →If the system is under-sized for heavy AC loads, motors, or new appliances, consider adding capacity or optimising usage timings to daytime.
Mistake 6 – Ignoring Inverter Errors and Monitoring Data
Inverters usually "tell you" when something is wrong through error codes, warning lights, or app alerts. Many systems keep losing energy for months because owners never log in to the monitoring app or check daily generation trends.
✓What you can do:
- →Note down any error codes or warning lights on the inverter and share them with your installer or service provider.
- →Review daily and monthly generation once in a while; sudden drops usually mean a fault, not bad weather.
Mistake 7 – No Maintenance or Annual Health Check
Solar is low-maintenance, not no-maintenance. Over years, structures can loosen, seals can degrade, and junction boxes can accumulate moisture or insects. Without periodic checks, small problems turn into bigger failures.
✓What you can do:
- →Schedule an annual or bi-annual preventive maintenance visit: check structure, wiring, earthing, inverter logs, and insulation.
- →Keep a simple log of service visits and what was fixed; this helps track recurring issues.
Mistake 8 – Mismatched or Cheap Components
Mixing mismatched panels, using non-compliant inverters, or cutting corners on cables, junction boxes, and breakers can all impact performance and safety. Cheaper components may degrade faster, causing hidden losses over time.
✓What you can do:
- →Check that your system uses certified panels and inverters with clear warranty documents.
- →If frequent issues persist, discuss with a reputable installer whether upgrading critical components (e.g., inverter, cables) might resolve chronic underperformance.
How to Quickly Diagnose If Your Solar Is Underperforming
If you suspect your solar is not working properly:
Compare current daily units with your installer's original estimate for this season.
Check for obvious issues: dirt, shading, error codes, tripping MCBs.
Note whether problems are all-day or only at certain times (e.g., morning shade, afternoon overheating).
Contact a qualified technician with these observations so they diagnose faster and more accurately.
By avoiding these 8 common mistakes and correcting the ones already present, you can restore much of your lost generation, extend system life, and make your solar investment work the way it should.
Need help diagnosing your solar system? Arkahub's team can help you identify issues, suggest fixes, and ensure your system performs at its best.
Get started on your Solar journey today.
Request a call back from one of our experts to learn more about how you can achieve your saving goals with ArkaHub.
FAQs
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