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Enphase System Controller shows a fault or its relays won't close
The Enphase System Controller shows a fault message or event, or its relays won't close. This page covers what the lights and codes mean, what to check first, and the causes behind it.
What the lights mean
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| IQ Battery LED flashing red after a system restart | The battery is not yet getting 240 V from the System Controller. It turns green once the controller's relays close and grid voltage reaches it. |
| LED at the combiner flashing red four times, repeating for about five minutes after a system restart | Read as communication starting to come up during a manual restart. The full restart takes 10 to 15 minutes. |
| IQ Gateway power production LED solid red | At least one microinverter is not producing. |
| IQ Gateway device communications LED solid red | At least one device is not communicating with the gateway. |
Error codes that go with this problem
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| System Controller has detected a voltage imbalance on Line 1 and Line 2 | The System Controller is not working properly and has suspended going off-grid to protect your appliances. The message asks you to contact your installer or Enphase support. |
| Rapid Shutdown event for the System Controller | The System Controller is in a system shutdown state, whether or not the physical shutdown switch is off. |
| Operation mode shows Manual Override | The System Controller's MID switch is in manual override. That is expected only while waiting for permission to operate after commissioning; otherwise it needs a site visit. |
| MID relay stuck closed or open | An error in the installer app: the microgrid interconnect device (MID) relay is stuck and needs a manual reset procedure. |
| System Controller PV breaker open | Event raised when the PV breaker inside the System Controller is open. |
| Cannot communicate with Gateway/Combiner 5 | A communication warning between a System Controller 3 and IQ Battery 5P setup and the combiner. |
| All microinverters not reporting and no power produced | The app shows every microinverter as not reporting and the solar produces nothing. |
What to check first
- If the app says the System Controller has detected a voltage imbalance on Line 1 and Line 2, it has suspended going off-grid. Contact your installer or Enphase support, as the message says.
- After a restart, a battery LED flashing red is expected until the System Controller's relays close. It turns green once grid voltage reaches it. The full restart takes 10 to 15 minutes.
- During a restart, listen near the System Controller. Two clicks after 3 to 5 minutes, then a single click every couple of minutes, is normal. A burst of rapid repeated clicking is not; tell the installer.
- If the batteries didn't take over in an outage and only worked after switching to off-grid by hand, or the outage log shows backup starting minutes late, note it for the installer.
- Tell the installer if anyone moved the manual override switch while the system was on, or flipped the System Controller's own PV breaker by hand while the panels were producing.
- A System Controller fault message, or a battery LED still flashing red after the full restart time, needs the installer or Enphase support. Enphase support has cleared stuck relays remotely.
Safety. Several switches may need to be off before the System Controller is fully de-energized, so never assume its terminals and conductors are dead; check with a meter first. Working on it live can also damage it.
The causes and the fixes
Partners see the causes behind this problem, most common first, the checks that tell them apart, and the fix for each, with part numbers and recent prices when a part is involved.