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Fault guide · GivEnergy battery / DC circuit

GivEnergy Battery DC MCB Keeps Tripping

The DC MCB (battery isolator) on your GivEnergy system has tripped and the battery is disconnected from the inverter. The two main causes are poor cable termination at the battery DC connections and buck-boost converter failure inside the inverter. This guide covers how to tell the difference — and what happens next. For related symptoms, see our inverter not turning on guide.
  • DC MCB reset is safe to try yourself
  • Immediate re-trip = inverter fault, not battery
  • Cable termination and buck-boost causes covered
DC MCB faults need proper diagnosis

A tripping DC MCB can mean a £50 cable re-termination or a £795+ inverter replacement. The fault codes and trip pattern tell us which — we can check remotely before anyone visits site. Send us your fault codes and we'll tell you what you're dealing with.

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5.0
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

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
Understanding the DC MCB

What the battery DC MCB does — and why it trips

The DC MCB (miniature circuit breaker) sits between your GivEnergy battery and the inverter. It is the primary safety device protecting the DC battery circuit from overcurrent and short-circuit faults.

NORMAL OPERATION

Closed circuit — handle UP

When the DC MCB handle is in the UP position, the battery is connected to the inverter. DC current flows through the MCB in both directions — charging from the inverter and discharging to the inverter. The MCB is rated at 100A on most GivEnergy systems, matching the maximum battery discharge current.

TRIPPED STATE

Open circuit — handle DOWN or mid-position

When the MCB trips, the handle drops to the DOWN position (or a middle position on some models). The battery is completely disconnected from the inverter. No charging or discharging occurs. The battery LEDs may still show green because the battery itself is fine — the MCB has simply isolated it from the inverter.

WHY IT TRIPS

Overcurrent or short-circuit detected

The DC MCB trips when it detects current exceeding its rating. This is a safety mechanism. The fault is almost never the MCB itself — it is doing its job. The underlying cause is either a wiring fault creating a short-circuit path, or an inverter component failure drawing excessive current from the battery.

The DC MCB is not an AC breaker. Do not confuse it with the MCBs in your consumer unit. The DC MCB is specifically for the battery-to-inverter DC circuit. If the MCB in your consumer unit is also tripping, see our inverter not turning on guide — that is a separate issue affecting the AC side.
Cause 1 — most common
Most common

Poor cable termination — loose or missing ferrules on DC battery cables

The battery DC cables carry up to 100A. If the cable ends were not properly ferrule-crimped during installation, or if the terminal screws have loosened over time, the connections develop high resistance. High resistance at these currents causes arcing, heat build-up, and intermittent overcurrent spikes that trip the DC MCB.

How this happens

GivEnergy specifies 16mm² tri-rated cable with bootlace ferrules crimped onto the stripped ends before insertion into the inverter DC terminals.
If the installer stripped the cable and inserted bare copper strands directly into the terminal block, the strands splay and the connection loosens over time with thermal cycling.
A loose terminal develops micro-arcing under load — especially during high-current events like the battery ramping to full discharge. The MCB sees this as an overcurrent spike and trips.
The problem is intermittent. The MCB may reset fine and hold for days or weeks before tripping again. This makes it hard to diagnose without a physical inspection of the cable ends.

How an engineer fixes it

Isolate the DC circuit (MCB off, battery shutdown procedure)
Remove the battery DC cables from the inverter terminal block
Inspect cable ends — look for discolouration, heat damage, or bare strands without ferrules
Crimp appropriate bootlace ferrules (16mm²) onto each cable end using a proper ratchet crimping tool
Re-insert the ferrule-terminated cables into the terminal block and torque to manufacturer specification
Test under load — confirm no further tripping over a monitoring period
How to tell this is your problem: the DC MCB holds after a reset for a period (minutes, hours, or days) before tripping again — typically during a high-draw event like the battery ramping to full discharge in the evening. If the MCB trips immediately when you flip it up, that pattern points to cause 2 below (inverter buck-boost failure) rather than cable termination.
Cause 2 — inverter fault
Inverter internal fault — requires repair

Buck-boost converter failure — MOSFET short-circuit inside the inverter

The GivEnergy hybrid inverter contains a buck-boost DC-DC converter that regulates voltage between the battery pack and the inverter's DC bus. This converter uses power MOSFETs (transistors) as high-speed switches. When a MOSFET fails short-circuit — which can happen due to a power surge, thermal stress, or manufacturing defect — it creates a direct low-resistance path that draws excessive current through the DC MCB.

How to recognise this fault

The DC MCB trips immediately when you flip it to the UP position — it will not hold even for a second
You hear rapid clicking from the inverter (10–12 cycles) as the relay attempts to connect, followed by the MCB tripping to red
The GivEnergy portal or app shows the fault message Battery short circuit; inverter fail
The battery LEDs are green when the DC MCB is OFF — the battery itself is healthy, the fault is in the inverter's power electronics

What happens next

Leave the DC MCB in the OFF (down) position to prevent further damage to the MCB contacts
The inverter will continue to operate solar generation on the AC side — you only lose battery charging and discharging
Check your GivEnergy warranty status — the standard warranty is 5 years, extended to 12 years on some models and purchase agreements
If under warranty, GivEnergy will arrange inverter replacement (we can manage the warranty claim for you). If out of warranty, inverter replacement starts from £795
Do not repeatedly reset a DC MCB that trips immediately. Each reset attempt forces the failed MOSFET to conduct high fault current through the MCB contacts. This degrades the MCB itself over time and can cause contact welding, which turns a replaceable breaker into a more costly repair. If the MCB trips on the first reset, leave it off and arrange a diagnosis.
Cause 3 — less common
Battery BMS

BMS protection event — battery management system triggers a disconnect

The battery management system (BMS) inside the GivEnergy battery monitors cell voltage, temperature, and current. If it detects a condition outside safe limits, it can trigger a protection disconnect. In some configurations this causes the DC MCB to trip as a secondary protection layer.

BMS fault codes to look for

STORAGE_WARN_BMS_SHORT_CURRENT_DISCHARGER The BMS has detected a short-circuit condition on the discharge side. Most commonly caused by incorrect cable polarity or a wiring fault — check that the DC cables are connected to the correct positive and negative terminals.
STORAGE_ERROR_BAT_UNDER_VOLTAGE_FAULT The battery has been deeply discharged — often because the DC MCB was tripped for an extended period and the battery drained its own standby power. The BMS prevents reconnection until the cells are recovered.
STORAGE_WARN_BMS_COM_FAIL The BMS communication cable between battery and inverter has failed. The inverter cannot read battery state, so the BMS disconnects as a safety precaution. Check the communication cable (typically a Cat5-type data cable separate from the main DC power cables).

What to check

Check the GivEnergy portal event log for the specific BMS fault code — this tells you whether the issue is electrical (polarity, wiring) or communication-related
If the battery has been isolated for more than a few days, the cells may have self-discharged below the BMS threshold. A controlled recovery charge may be needed
If STORAGE_WARN_BMS_COM_FAIL is present, check the BMS data cable connection at both the battery and inverter ends — it should be fully seated with the clip engaged
A battery restart (hold the restart button on the battery for 3–5 seconds) can clear some transient BMS faults. Only do this after checking fault codes first
Reference
Where to find it

DC MCB location by GivEnergy system type

The location of the DC MCB varies depending on which generation of GivEnergy hardware you have. Knowing where it is helps you check its state and communicate clearly with your engineer.

DC MCB / isolator by system type
Gen 1 hybrid External DC MCB — a separate DIN-rail mounted MCB in an enclosure between the battery and inverter. Battery connects via ring terminal lugs on 16mm² tri-rated cable. The MCB handle is typically green or red.
Gen 2 hybrid Integrated DC MCB — built into the battery's all-in-one plug connector system. The isolator handle is on the side of the battery cabinet. Green handle UP = on, handle DOWN = tripped or isolated.
Gen 3 hybrid Integrated DC MCB — similar to Gen 2, built into the battery connector. The Gen 3 batteries (5.12kWh and 9.5kWh) use the same all-in-one plug system with integrated DC protection.
All-in-One Internal DC isolator — the AIO has the battery and inverter in one unit. The DC isolator is accessed via a switch on the unit. On older AIO firmware, EPS-related MCB trips can also occur during grid-to-backup transitions.
External 100A Standalone accessory — GivEnergy sells a standalone 100A DC MCB (rated 80V DC) for systems that need an external isolation point. This is the most common MCB on Gen 1 systems and is sometimes retrofitted on Gen 2/3 installations as an additional safety device.

This is a brand-specific guide. For other GivEnergy issues, see the GivEnergy problems hub. For general battery troubleshooting across all brands, see solar battery not charging.

FAQ

DC MCB tripping questions

The two most common causes are poor cable termination and inverter buck-boost failure. Poor termination means the battery DC cables were not properly ferrule-crimped or the terminal screws have loosened over time, causing intermittent arcing that trips the MCB. Buck-boost failure means a MOSFET inside the inverter's DC-DC converter has failed short-circuit, drawing excessive current the moment the MCB is closed. A third cause is a BMS protection event — the battery management system detects an abnormal condition and the MCB trips as a secondary protection measure.
You can safely flip the DC MCB handle back to the UP position as a first step — this is no different from resetting a tripped breaker in your consumer unit. If the MCB holds and the battery reconnects normally, the trip may have been caused by a transient event such as a grid surge. If the MCB trips again immediately or within minutes, do not keep resetting it. Repeated tripping under a short-circuit condition can damage the MCB contacts and worsen the underlying fault. At that point you need an engineer to diagnose the root cause.
This fault message indicates the inverter has detected a short-circuit condition on its DC battery input. In most documented cases this is caused by failure of the buck-boost converter MOSFETs inside the inverter — the power transistors that regulate voltage between the battery and inverter have failed in a short-circuit state. The battery itself is usually fine, which is why the battery LEDs stay green when the DC MCB is switched off. The inverter typically needs repair or warranty replacement.
A free remote diagnostic reviews fault codes and event logs — pay only if we fix. If the cause is poor cable termination, an on-site visit to re-terminate and re-torque the DC cables is typically £145–£245 depending on the number of connections and accessibility. If the inverter's buck-boost circuit has failed, the inverter may be covered under GivEnergy's 5-year or 12-year warranty — we can check your serial number and handle the warranty claim process. Out-of-warranty inverter replacement starts from £795.
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DC MCB keeps tripping? Send us the fault codes — we'll tell you what you're dealing with.

The trip pattern and portal fault codes tell us whether this is a cable re-termination job or an inverter replacement. We can diagnose remotely before anyone visits site — saving you a wasted call-out if it turns out to be a warranty claim.

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