Start here · Inherited system

How your inherited solar system works — a plain-English guide

You have just bought a house with solar panels and a battery. You have a monitoring app you have never opened, a display you do not understand, and some questions. This guide explains what everything does and what the numbers mean.

Book a remote diagnostic New owner guides

Plain-English explanations — no jargon
Covers panels, inverter, battery, and monitoring
Explains what the numbers on your display mean

By the end of this guide, you will know:

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13 Trustpilot reviews

Trustpilot Google

I have a GivEnergy system consisting of two batteries, two inverters and a controlling EMS (Energy Management System) which has not worked since Nov 2025. After six months I discovered Solar Tech Support, reached out to them and Ron phoned me back – how often do you get that service? Could not be more helpful – worked directly with me over the phone, outside what I would call normal working hours. Lucid explanations and we were able to discuss the issues and history using camera and email history. As this was a very rare setup, Ron was able to access an EMS expert in the field to confirm the solution. One sunny day in, I am now only paying for standing charge and a few pence for spikes in grid consumption while battery catches up with house demand.

Ian · May 2026 Trustpilot

When my GivEnergy system had an issue, I was completely left without support and had honestly lost all hope. Thankfully, I searched online and found Ron, which completely turned things around. After sending him a message, he responded incredibly fast and called me to assure me that he would get the problem fixed. I really admire his dedicated, supportive nature and his determination to find a solution. With this kind of outstanding attitude and customer service, he has absolutely secured a future customer in me.

Sree · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron want out of is way to help, nothing was to much. He was very thorough in what he did Very knowledgeable I would highly recommend Ron and his company He did a fantastic job for me. if you have any problems, he'll do his best to help you out and resolve your problem. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them

Dennis Brown · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron took me through a diagnostic to confirm my GivEnergy Inverter had a fault. A common one as it turns out with the AC Inverter. As GivEnergy is defunct there is no immediate fix, aside from sourcing 2nd hand replacement. It may be that a fix becomes available over the summer which would make a lot of GivEnergy customers happy (Again)

Tony Deacon · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Ron with a problem and he sorted it out quickly with no problems at all. Very knowledgeable on anything solar/ batteries. I would recommend him to anyone

Phill · May 2026 Trustpilot

I've spoken to Ron a couple of times with issues with my Givenergy installation. Such a friendly knowledge guy very highly recommended. Thank you very much for resolving my issues

michael fairhurst · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support in desperation. After explaining the issues I had with my system a diagnosis was made and a solution proposed. Fantastic service, even contacted a manufacturer to arrange replacement parts for me. Great communications, explained all they were doing and what I had to do, clearly and precisly. Followed up to confirm all was ok. Excellent service.

Mr Machin · May 2026 Trustpilot

After GivEnergy went into liquidation, just my luck, my battery started playing up (internal board crashed). Contacted my installer - not interested! Found Solar tech support on a Google search. Sooo glad I found this company! Ron is extremely helpful and has plenty of experience. He soon confirmed what the fault was, and helped me to get my system up and running again. Now moved my GivEnergy account to Solar tech support, and will definitely use again if I have more issues. Unusual to find such a helpful company in these times, no morons reading scripts, just direct contact with the engineer.

Keith Ballard · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support when trying to understand what my Givenergy inverter problem might be and what might be my options. Received good/honest advise which backed up my thoughts.

Hugh Speirs · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Ron is a super star. Two months ago my GivEnergy battery failed a firmware upgrade leaving it a brick. My installer couldn't/wouldn't fix it. GivEnergy couldn't/wouldn't fix it. Then they went into administration and all hope was lost. A flurry of emails later and Ron had diagnosed the fault (failed USB flash drive, something I'd suspected) and talked me through resolving it. Two months of nothing resolved in about 3 hours. It's great to work with someone who pays attention to the details, knows that they're doing (not just following a script) and gets stuff sorted without a fuss or up-charging.

Christopher · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I can add to the list of customers who had already 'given up' on GivEnergy due to their appalling customer service, and that was before they went into administration (their Trustpilot reviews don't lie!). So you can imagine my desperation when, having changed my ISP and my Inverter, predictably, proving to be the only device that didn't connect automatically to my new network, I found zero prospect of any customer support with GivEnergy having called in the administrators just five days earlier! The salvation came from Solar Tech Support. My IT advisor stumbled across their web site and some very helpful tips for beleaguered GivEnergy customers, as well as an offer to provide direct assistance. Nothing ventured, I decided to drop them an E-Mail, with very low expectations based on my experience of GivEnergy customer support. Within an hour Ron had responded with some pin point advice, and after a few exchanges of E-Mails he had nailed the problem, enabling the combined efforts of my IT advisor and solar installer to resolve it and reconnect my Inverter. Thank you Solar Tech Support, and Ron in particular, for coming to the aid of a deserted and despondent GivEnergy customer. Expert, razor sharp advice and first class customer service, even though I wasn't officially a customer.

customer · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

This company are a rare gem, I had a very unusual problem following a failed firmware upgrade on my GivEnergy kit. I then found out GivEnergy were in administration and had dismissed all their support staff! None of the usual fixes to try and restore my inverter comms would work, and I looked everywhere, forums, GivEnergy youtube support videos - even AI couldn't figure it out. My installer was talking about huge sums for system replacements, and being vague / evasive about if they'd even install replacement GivEnergy inverter. Enter Solar Tech Support, reassuring and knowledgeable from the very start, I've learnt loads about my solar system though the friendly chat while my engineer worked as he diagnosed the problem and figured out a fix procedure that I've not found anywhere else - amazing . If you need solar system repairs - especially if you like me have been left high and dry by GivEnergy, I cannot recommend this company enough. Give them a call.

Andy Thomas · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I sent a message on their website regarding a problem I have on my Givenergy system. Although not supplied by Ronald, I thought it was worth an email. Within the hour on a Saturday, he phoned and we discussed the problem. He logged in remotely and gave excellent advice. I'm too far away for his on-site help but he did diagnose the problem and was happy also to chat through my thoughts about an upcoming solar/battery install I'm planning. Great bloke.... if only he was nearer!

Philip · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Ian · May 2026 Trustpilot

Sree · May 2026 Trustpilot

Dennis Brown · May 2026 Trustpilot

Tony Deacon · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Ron with a problem and he sorted it out quickly with no problems at all. Very knowledgeable on anything solar/ batteries. I would recommend him to anyone

Phill · May 2026 Trustpilot

I've spoken to Ron a couple of times with issues with my Givenergy installation. Such a friendly knowledge guy very highly recommended. Thank you very much for resolving my issues

michael fairhurst · May 2026 Trustpilot

Mr Machin · May 2026 Trustpilot

Keith Ballard · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support when trying to understand what my Givenergy inverter problem might be and what might be my options. Received good/honest advise which backed up my thoughts.

Hugh Speirs · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Christopher · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

customer · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Andy Thomas · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Philip · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

The basics: panels → inverter → home → grid

Here is how your solar system works in four simple steps. All of this happens in real-time, and your monitoring system shows each flow as it happens, measured in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW).

1. Solar panels generate DC power

When sunlight hits the panels on your roof, they generate direct current (DC) electricity. The amount varies with the intensity and angle of the sun. A sunny midday summer day produces far more than an overcast winter morning.

2. The inverter converts DC to AC

Your house needs alternating current (AC) electricity — the type that comes from the grid. The inverter sits between the solar panels and your home's electrics, converting the DC power to AC. This is why the inverter often has the most information on its display.

3. Your home uses what it needs

As solar power is generated, your home consumes what it can (lighting, heating, appliances, etc.). In summer or during a sunny day, you might produce much more than you use. This surplus goes either to the battery (if you have one) or out to the grid.

4. Surplus is stored or exported

If you have a battery, surplus solar energy is stored for use when the sun is not shining (evening, night, cloudy days). If you do not have a battery, or the battery is full, surplus power is exported to the grid — and you get paid for it via the Smart Export Guarantee.

What happens to excess electricity

Any solar electricity you export to the grid can earn money. This is called the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) in the UK, and it is one of the main ways a solar system pays for itself over time.

How the Smart Export Guarantee works

When you export electricity to the grid (because your system produces more than your home uses), your energy supplier pays you for it. The rate is typically between 3p and 15p per kilowatt-hour (kWh), depending on your supplier and tariff. The previous owner registered a SEG tariff with their supplier. You need to transfer this to your name and bank account.

Three steps to claim your SEG payments

Most SEG contracts are registered to a specific person and bank account. Payments are likely still going to the previous owner's account.

1. Find out which supplier the previous owner was registered with (ask them, or check with your solicitor)

2. Contact that supplier to notify them of the property sale

3. Transfer the tariff to your name and bank account, or apply for a new SEG tariff with a different supplier

Early action matters

SEG contracts may have expiry dates. If the previous owner's tariff expires and you have not claimed it, you lose that income. We recommend acting within the first month of purchase. See our full export guide for more details.

If you have a battery

A hybrid inverter with a battery gives you much more control over your solar energy. Instead of immediately exporting surplus to the grid, you can store it and use it when you need it most.

Daytime (sunny): Solar → Battery → Home

During the day, excess solar power charges the battery first. As the battery charges (and when it is full), any remaining surplus is exported to the grid. Your home draws from both solar and the battery as needed.

Evening / Night: Battery → Home

When the sun sets and panels stop generating, your home draws power from the battery. The battery discharges until either it is empty or you have reached your programmed minimum State of Charge (SoC) limit.

Late night: Grid → Home (or Battery charge schedule)

If the battery is fully discharged and you still need power, your home draws from the grid. Some systems are configured to automatically charge the battery from the grid at off-peak times (usually 23:30–05:30 on Economy 7 tariffs) to take advantage of cheaper rates.

Configuration issues: where problems usually hide

Most issues with hybrid systems come from three common places:

1. Battery charge schedule

The previous owner may have set the battery to charge from the grid at specific times (e.g., off-peak hours). If the schedule is wrong, the battery might charge at the wrong time or not charge at all. Check your inverter's settings menu or monitoring app for 'Charge Schedule', 'Battery Settings', or 'Tariff'.

2. State of Charge (SoC) limits

The battery may be set to never go below a certain percentage (e.g., 20%) or above a certain percentage (e.g., 95%) to prolong its life. This can look like the battery has stopped charging. Verify these settings in your monitoring app.

3. Tariff time settings

Economy 7 or other time-of-use tariffs require correct clock settings on the inverter. If the time is wrong, the battery will charge and discharge at the wrong times. Check your inverter's date and time settings.

What your monitoring system shows

Your solar system's monitoring app or display is your window into what is happening in real-time. Learning to read it tells you whether your system is working correctly and what it is earning.

Real-time metrics (today, right now)

Generation / PV Power

How much power your panels are producing at this moment, measured in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). Sunny day midday: 5–10+ kW. Cloudy day: a few hundred watts. After sunset: 0W. This is normal.

Battery State of Charge (SoC)

The percentage of energy in the battery right now, from 0% (empty) to 100% (full). On a sunny day, this should slowly increase. At night or on very cloudy days, it should decrease as you use the stored energy.

Home Load / Consumption

How much power your house is using at this moment (all appliances, heating, lighting, etc.). Overnight or quiet daytime: 0.2–1 kW. Busy daytime with appliances: 2–5+ kW. Heating on: can jump to 3–10+ kW.

Grid Power (Import / Export)

Power being pulled from the grid (import) or sent to the grid (export). Shown as positive (import) or negative (export). Positive numbers mean pulling from grid. Negative numbers mean sending to grid and earning SEG payment.

Daily and historical data

Daily Generation

Total kWh generated today. Summer days might show 25–40+ kWh. Winter days show 5–10 kWh. Cloudy days show less.

Daily Export

Total kWh exported to the grid today. This is what earns you SEG payments. Usually a portion of daily generation if you are not using it all.

Historical performance charts

Graphs of generation, consumption, battery charge/discharge over days, weeks, months. These show trends and help spot issues (e.g., sudden drops in generation or battery not charging on sunny days).

Common things that confuse new owners

Why is it showing zero generation on a cloudy day?

This is completely normal. Solar panels only generate when sunlight is available. On heavily cloudy or overcast days, generation may drop to zero or a few hundred watts. This is not a fault. If you see zero generation on a clear sunny day between 9am and 4pm, something may be wrong.

The battery is not charging even though the sun is shining

Check three things: (1) Is there enough surplus solar generation after your home's consumption? If you are using most of what the panels generate, there is nothing left to store. (2) Is the battery SoC limit set too high (e.g., only charges to 80%)? (3) Is the charge schedule configured correctly in your inverter settings? Most often it is a settings issue. A remote diagnostic can confirm.

Why does generation change so much throughout the day?

This is perfectly normal. Solar generation depends on sun angle, cloud cover, and shadows. Generation is highest at midday (when the sun is highest), lower in the morning and evening, and zero after sunset. On sunny days, generation typically follows a smooth curve peaking around noon.

The battery is discharging even though the solar is generating

Your home's consumption may be higher than the solar generation at that moment. The system prioritizes powering your home, so it pulls from the battery first (because it is available), then from solar, then from the grid. This is normal behavior. You will see the battery charge when solar generation exceeds home consumption.

The monitoring app shows different numbers to the inverter display

This usually happens if there is a time sync issue between devices, or if one is updating faster than the other. Both should match if you wait a few seconds. If they differ significantly (e.g., generation is 5kW on the app but 0kW on the display), there may be a communication error. Try restarting the inverter.

When to call a professional

Some issues are beyond troubleshooting and need specialist help. This is important for your safety, your warranty, and protecting your investment.

Book a remote diagnostic if:

• You see red error codes on the inverter display

• Generation drops to zero on clear sunny days

• The battery will not charge from solar despite sunny conditions

• You need to adjust charge schedules or SoC limits safely

• You want a health check of your entire system

• Your export meter is not submitting readings

Book a site visit (electrician) if:

You should not attempt these yourself. They require a qualified electrician:

• Circuit breakers are tripping repeatedly

• There is a suspected ground fault or wiring issue

• The inverter or battery shows signs of physical damage

• You need to change inverter settings and do not understand the implications

Some settings are locked by the inverter manufacturer for safety or warranty reasons. Others require specialist knowledge to change correctly. If you adjust charge schedules or SoC limits incorrectly, you could damage the battery, void the warranty, or stop the system from exporting to the grid. We recommend getting specialist help before making changes.

Related guides

This guide is part of our Bought a House With Solar hub. Explore related topics:

Check your export payments

How to transfer your SEG tariff and make sure you are receiving payment for exported electricity.

Lost monitoring access?

What to do if you cannot log into your monitoring app or portal after inheriting the system.

Identify your inverter

How to find your inverter model, serial number, and brand from the device or paperwork.

Solar Health Plan

Annual maintenance and monitoring plan to keep your system running at peak efficiency.

Available on-site across Yorkshire & beyond

If you need hands-on help understanding your inherited solar system, we offer on-site walk-throughs across our full coverage area — from Leeds and Bradford to York, Sheffield, Hull, and beyond.

See all areas we cover →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if the solar system is generating?

Check your monitoring app or the inverter display during daylight hours. You should see a figure in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW) under 'Generation' or 'PV Power'. On a sunny day, this should be several kilowatts. On a cloudy day, it may be a few hundred watts. At night, it will be zero. If you see zero during the day on a clear sunny day between 9am and 4pm, the system may not be generating correctly and should be checked by a qualified technician.

Should the battery charge from solar or the grid?

The battery should prioritize charging from solar during the day. Many hybrid systems are configured to charge from the grid overnight at off-peak times (usually 23:30–05:30) if you are on an Economy 7 or time-of-use tariff. This stores cheaper grid energy for daytime use. The exact settings depend on your tariff and the previous owner's configuration. Check your inverter settings or monitoring app to see the 'Charge Schedule'.

The monitoring shows zero generation — is the system broken?

Not necessarily. If it is after sunset, very early morning, or heavily overcast, zero generation is completely normal. Solar panels only generate when sunlight is available. However, if you see zero generation on a clear sunny day between 9am and 4pm, then yes, something may be wrong. Check for circuit breaker trips, inverter error codes, shading on the panels, or debris. If unsure, book a remote diagnostic with STS Solar Tech Support for peace of mind.

What is the difference between a hybrid inverter and a solar-only inverter?

A solar-only inverter (string inverter) converts DC power from the panels to AC power for your home, but has no battery capability. A hybrid inverter does the same thing but also manages battery charging, discharge, and grid export. Hybrid inverters are more complex but give you the ability to store solar energy for later use. If you have a battery installed alongside your inverter, you have a hybrid inverter. If you only have solar panels and no battery, you have a solar-only inverter. You can always add a battery to a solar-only system later, but it requires upgrading to a hybrid inverter.

Technical help

Something on your system not behaving as expected?

If something doesn't match what this guide describes — error codes, no generation, odd readings — a remote diagnostic is the fastest way to a clear answer. Fault identified within 30 minutes. Health check from £145.

Remote — no engineer visit needed to start
Fault identified within 30 minutes
Written summary of findings included

Call 07944 877 329 Book free diagnostic