Your SMA inverter has been fairly reliable up until this point, no doubt. Suddenly, when confronted with a wall of SMA error codes, your world of hassle-free solar energy generation comes crashing to a halt from this so-called reliable inverter brand. Overdramatic? Probably. Fortunately, we have your SMA error codes covered with this express resolution guide for whatever’s happening within your system.
Find your particular SMA event codes with ease, follow this process;Â
1. Record the number (or numbers) displayed on the inverter.Â
2. Jump to your relevant SMA event codes using one of the buttons below.
3. (example) if event code 502 is displayed, tap the 5xx button below, locate 502 and select the Event Code – #502 tab.
Need additional insight? Post your SMA event codes and related question within the comments at the bottom of this post.
Tap one of the bellow buttons to jump to your particular SMA event codes;
SMA inverter technology is some of the most advanced available from any era. With this in mind, the likelihood that something external from the inverter, the system, or the grid supply could be influencing your particular SMA error codes. That’s a good thing. Although inconvenient, your SMA inverter is simply responding in the manner it’s programmed to do.
Did you know? A common message that customers experience is loss of network communication due to a lost wifi connection. This sort of issue has a straightforward solution and does not disturb the energy production of your solar PV system.
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Most common SMA event codes.
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#1xx
SMA event codes.
Description: Grid fault – The grid voltage or grid impedance at the connection point of the inverter is too high. The inverter has disconnected from the utility grid.
What to do: This issue will rectify itself once the grid is back to normal. If the grid voltage is permanently within the permissible range and this message is still displayed, contact your solar installer.
#2xx
SMA event codes.
Description: Grid fault – The utility grid has been disconnected, the AC cable is damaged or the grid voltage at the connection point of the inverter is too low. The inverter has disconnected from the utility grid.
What to do: Ensure that the circuit breaker is switched on. Ensure that the AC cable is not damaged and that it is connected correctly. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
#3xx
SMA EVENT CODES.​
Description: Grid fault – The ten-minute average value of the grid voltage is no longer within the permissible range. The grid voltage or grid impedance at the connection point is too high. The inverter disconnects from the utility grid to maintain power quality.
What to do: If this message persists, contact your solar installer.
Description: Active power limit AC voltage – The inverter has reduced its power due to a too-high grid voltage to ensure grid stability.
What to do: If possible, check the grid voltage and observe how often fluctuations occur. If fluctuations occur frequently and this message is displayed often, contact your solar installer.
#4xx
SMA EVENT CODES.​
Description: Grid fault – The inverter has disconnected from the utility grid. A stand-alone grid or a very large change in the power frequency was detected.
What to do: If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
#5xx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: Grid fault – The power frequency is not within the permissible range. The inverter has disconnected from the utility grid.
What to do:Â If possible, check the grid power frequency and observe how often fluctuations occur. If fluctuations occur frequently and this message is displayed often, contact your solar installer.
Description: Active power limit AC frequency – The inverter has reduced its power due to a too-high power frequency to ensure grid stability.
What to do:Â If possible, check the grid power frequency and observe how often fluctuations occur. If fluctuations occur frequently and this message is displayed often, contact your solar installer.
#6xx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: Grid fault – The inverter has detected an excessively high proportion of direct current in the grid current.
What to do:Â If this message is displayed frequently, contact your solar installer.
#7xx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: The power frequency is not within the permissible range. The inverter has disconnected from the utility grid.
What to do: If possible, check the grid power frequency and observe how often fluctuations occur. If fluctuations occur frequently and this message is displayed often, contact your solar installer.
#8xx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: Grid failure – Waiting for grid voltage.
What to do: Ensure that the circuit breaker is switched on. Ensure that the AC cable is not damaged and that it is connected correctly. Check whether the grid voltage at the connection point of the inverter is permanently in the permissible range. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
#9xx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: PE connection missing – The grounding conductor is not correctly connected
What to do: Ensure that the grounding conductor is correctly connected. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
#1xxx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: L / N swapped – The connection of L and N is swapped.
What to do: Ensure that L and N are correctly connected. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Installation fault – A second line conductor is connected to N.
What to do: If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Installation failure grid connection – Check grid and fuses – L or N not connected.
What to do: Ensure that L and N are connected, that the circuit breaker is switched on and that the AC cable is not damaged and that it is connected correctly. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Reconnection grid fault – The changed country data set or the value of a parameter you have set does not correspond to the local requirements.
What to do: Ensure that the country data set has been configured correctly. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
#3xxx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: Unstable operation – There is not enough power at the DC input of the inverter for stable operation. The inverter cannot connect to the utility grid.
What to do: Ensure that the PV array is designed correctly, that the PV array is not covered by snow or otherwise shaded and that the PV array is free of errors. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Over-voltage at the DC input. This is critically harmful to the inverter. This message is signalised additionally by rapid flashing of the LEDs.
What to do: Immediately disconnect the inverter from all voltage sources. Contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Insulation failure – The inverter has detected a ground fault in the PV array.
What to do: Check the PV system for ground faults. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: High discharge current. – The leakage current of the inverter and the PV array is too high.
What to do: Check the PV system for ground faults. Once the fault is eliminated, the inverter automatically re-connects to the grid. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Residual current too high. – The inverter has detected a residual current due to temporary grounding of the PV array.
What to do: Check the PV system for ground faults. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: DC overcurrent – Overcurrent at the DC input. The inverter briefly interrupts feed-in operation.
What to do: If this message is displayed frequently, contact your solar installer and ensure that the PV array has been correctly rated and wired. Â
Description: Waiting for DC start conditions – The feed-in conditions for the utility grid are not yet fulfilled.
What to do: Ensure that the PV array is not covered by snow or otherwise shaded. Alternatively, wait for higher irradiation. If this message is displayed frequently with medium irradiation, contact your solar installer and ensure that the PV array is correctly rated.
#4xxx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: Bridged strings detected. The DC inputs A and B are connected in parallel.
Description: No bridged strings detected The DC inputs A and B are not connected in parallel.
#6xxx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: Self-diagnosis – Interference device. The cause must be determined by the SMA Service Line.
What to do: Contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: Over-temperature – The inverter has switched off due to excessive temperature.
What to do: • Clean the cooling fins on the rear of the enclosure and the air ducts on the top using a soft brush. • Ensure that the inverter has sufficient ventilation, the ambient temperature +40°C has not been exceeded and that the inverter is not exposed to direct solar irradiation. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.Â
Description: Minimum operating temperature not reached – The inverter will only recommence feeding into the utility grid once the temperature has reached at least -25°C.
What to do: If this message continues, contact your solar installer.Â
Description: Self diagnosis. Overload – The cause must be determined by the Service.
What to do: Contact SMA Service line or your solar installer.Â
Description: Communication disturbed – Error in the communication processor, the inverter continues feeding in, however.Â
What to do: Contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: Input A defective.
What to do: Check whether a string is connected to input A. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Input B defective.
What to do: Check whether a string is connected to input B. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
#7xxx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: Sensor fault – A temperature sensor in the inverter is defective and the inverter interrupts the feed-in operation. The cause must be determined by the Service.
What to do: Contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: Parameter file not found or defective – The parameter file was not found or is defective. The inverter continues to feed in.
What to do: Copy the parameter file to the correct folder again. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Parameter  setting failed – Parameters could not be set using the memory card. The inverter continues to feed in.
What to do: Ensure that the parameters are set correctly and that the SMA Grid Guard code is available. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Update file defect. The update failed and the inverter continues to feed in.
What to do: If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: No update file found – No new update file was found on the SD memory card. The inverter continues to feed in.
What to do: If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Update file successfully copied.
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Description: Update file successfully copied.
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Description: The memory card is full or write-protected.
What to do: If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Data storage not possible – Internal error. The inverter continues to feed into the utility grid.
What to do: If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Update main CPU failed – The cause must be determined by the Service.
What to do: If this message continues, contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: The device with serial number [x] was successfully updated to firmware version [x]. The firmware update was completed successfully.
Description: Condition test successful – The testing of the update conditions was successful. The firmware update package is suitable for this inverter.
Description: Condition test failed – The testing of the update conditions was not successful. The firmware update package is not suitable for this inverter.
What to do: Retry update. Ensure that the selected update file is suitable for this inverter. If this message is displayed again, contact the SMA service line or your solar installer.Â
Description: Update transport started – Update file is being copied.
Description: Update transport successful – Update file was copied successfully to the inverter’s internal memory.
Description: Update transport failed – Update file could not be copied to the inverter’s internal memory. In the event of connection with the inverter via WLAN, a poor connection quality can be the cause.
What to do: Retry update. For WLAN connection: Improve the WLAN connection quality (e.g., via WLAN repeater) or establish connection with the inverter via Ethernet. If this message is displayed again, contact the SMA service line or your solar installer.Â
Description: Update Bootloader – The inverter is performing a bootloader update.
Description: Update Bootloader failed – The bootloader update failed.
What to do: Retry update. If this message is displayed again, contact the SMA service line or your solar installer.Â
Description: Incompatible file – The configuration file is not suitable for this inverter.
What to do: Ensure that the selected configuration file is suitable for this inverter. Retry import. If this message is displayed again, contact the SMA service line or your solar installer.Â
Description: Incorrect file format – The configuration file is not of the required format or is damaged.
What to do: Ensure that the configuration file is not of the required format or is damaged. Retry import. If this message is displayed again, contact the SMA service line or your solar installer.Â
Description: Incorrect login rights for configuration file – The user group logged in does not have the user rights necessary to be able to import a configuration.
What to do: Log in as Installer. Import configuration file again. If this message continues, contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: Transfer of a configuration file has started – The configuration file is being transferred.
Description: Update WLAN – The inverter is updating the WLAN module.
Description: Update of WLAN not successful – The update of the WLAN module failed.
What to do: Retry update. If this message continues, contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: Update time zone database – The inverter is updating the time zone database. Â
Description: Update of time zone database not successful – The update of the time zone database failed.
What to do: Retry update. If this message continues, contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: Update WebUI – The inverter is updating the inverter user interface.
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Description: Update of the WebUI not successful – The update of the inverter user interface failed.
What to do: Retry update. If this message continues, contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: Fan fault – Check inverter electronics and fan.
What to do: If this message continues, contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: Communication fault with meter unit – Check communication to meter -The inverter is not receiving any data from the energy meter.
What to do: Ensure that the energy meter is correctly integrated into the same network as the inverter (see energy meter manual). For WLAN connection: Improve the WLAN connection quality (e.g., via WLAN repeater) or connect the inverter with the DHCP server (router) via Ethernet. If this message continues, contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: Interference device The cause must be determined by the Service.
What to do: Contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
#8xxx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: Active power limit Temperature – The inverter has reduced its power output for more than ten minutes due to excessive temperature.
What to do: Clean the cooling fins on the rear of the enclosure and the air ducts on the top using a soft brush. Ensure that the inverter has sufficient ventilation, the ambient temperature +40°C has not been exceeded and that the inverter is not exposed to direct solar irradiation. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Communication disturbed – The cause must be determined by the Service.
What to do: If this message continues, contact SMA service line or your solar installer. Â
Description: Timeout in communication for active power limitation – Communication to the system control absent.Â
What to do: Ensure that the connection to the system manager (e.g. Sunny Home Manager) is intact and that no cables are damaged or that no plugs have been pulled. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Timeout in communication for reactive power spec. – Communication to the system control absent.
What to do: Ensure that the connection to the system manager (e.g. Sunny Home Manager) is intact and that no cables are damaged or that no plugs have been pulled. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Timeout in communication for cos-Phi spec. – Communication to the system control absent.
What to do: Ensure that the connection to the system manager (e.g. Sunny Home Manager) is intact and that no cables are damaged or that no plugs have been pulled. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
#9xxx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: SMA Grid Guard code invalid – The SMA Grid Guard code entered is incorrect. The operating parameters are still protected and cannot be changed.
What to do: Enter the correct SMA Grid Guard code. If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Grid parameter locked – Changes to the grid parameters are now blocked.Â
What to do: In order to be able to make changes to the grid parameters, from now on you must log in using the SMA Grid Guard code.
Description: Changing of grid parameters not possible – Ensure DC supply – This error can have the following causes: • The parameters to be changed are protected. • The DC voltage at the DC input is not sufficient to run the main CPU.
What to do: Enter the SMA Grid Guard code. Ensure that at least the DC start voltage is available (green LED is flashing, pulsing or glowing). If this message continues, contact your solar installer. Â
Description: Abort self-test – The self-test (Italy only) was terminated.
What to do: Ensure that the AC connection is correct. Restart the self-test.Â
#1xxxx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: Time adjusted / old time.
Description: Time adjusted / new time.
Description: Time synchronisation failed [x] – No time information could be called up from the set NTP server.
What to do: Ensure that the NTP server was configured correctly. Ensure that the inverter is integrated into a local network with Internet connection. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
Description: Parameter upload complete – The configuration file was loaded successfully.
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Description: [Interface]: network busy – The network is busy. Data exchange between the devices is not at an optimum and is greatly delayed.
What to do: Increase the query intervals. If necessary, reduce the number of devices in the network. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
Description: [Interface]: network overloaded – The network is overloaded. There is no data exchange between the devices.
What to do: Reduce the number of devices in the network. If necessary, increase the data query intervals. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
Description: The package error rate has changed. If the package error rate is high, the network is overloaded or the connection to the network switch or DHCP server (router) is disturbed.
What to do: Ensure that with an Ethernet connection, the network cable and the network connector are not damaged and that the network connectors are correctly plugged. If necessary, increase the data query intervals. If necessary, reduce the number of devices in the network. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
Description: [Interface]: communication status goes to [OK / Warning / Error / Not connected] – The communication status to the network switch or DHCP server (router) has changed. An additional error message may be displayed.
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Description: [Interface]: communication disrupted – There is no valid signal on the network line.
What to do: Ensure that with an Ethernet connection, the network cable and the network connector are not damaged and that the network connectors are correctly plugged. Ensure that the DHCP server (router) and any network switches are signalizing correct operation. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
Description: [Interface]: connection speed goes to [100 Mbit / 10 Mbit] – The data transfer rate has changed. The cause for the status [10 Mbit] can be a defective plug, a defective cable or the pulling or plugging of the network connector.
What to do: Corrective measures if the status is [10 Mbit]: – Ensure that with an Ethernet connection, the network cable and the network connector are not damaged and that the network connectors are correctly plugged. – Ensure that the DHCP server (router) and any network switches are signalizing correct operation. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
Description: [Interface]: duplex mode goes to [Full / Half] – The duplex mode (data transfer mode) has changed. The cause for the status [Half] can be a defective plug, a defective cable or the pulling or plugging of the network connector.
What to do: Corrective measures if the status is [Half]: – Ensure that with an Ethernet connection, the network cable and the network connector are not damaged and that the network connectors are correctly plugged. – Ensure that the DHCP server (router) and any network switches are signalizing correct operation. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
Description: [Interface]: Network load OK – The network load has returned to a normal range after being busy.
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Description: [User group]-Login via [protocol] locked – After several incorrect login attempts, login has been blocked for a limited time. In this case, the User login will be blocked for 15 minutes, the Grid Guard login for 12 hours.
What to do: Wait until the given time has expired and then retry login.
Description: WLAN module faulty – The WLAN module integrated in the inverter is defective.
What to do: Contact your solar installer.
Description: No WLAN connection possible – The inverter does not currently have a WLAN connection to the selected network.
What to do: Ensure that the SSID, the WLAN password and the encryption method have been entered correctly. The encryption method is specified by your WLAN router or WLAN Access Point and can be changed there. Ensure that the WLAN router or WLAN Access Point is in range and is signalizing correct operation. If this message is displayed often, improve the WLAN connection by using a WLAN repeater. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
Description: WLAN connection established – Connection to the selected WLAN network has been established.
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Description: WLAN connection lost – The inverter has lost WLAN connection to the selected network.
What to do: Ensure that the WLAN router or WLAN Access Point is still active. Ensure that the WLAN router or WLAN Access Point is in range and is signalizing correct operation. If this message is displayed often, improve the WLAN connection by using a WLAN repeater. If this message continues, contact your solar installer.
Description: Webconnect enabled – The Webconnect function has been enabled.
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Description: Webconnect disabled – The Webconnect function has been disabled.
Description: Active power limited AC frequency – The inverter has reduced its power due to a too-high power frequency to ensure grid stability.
What to do: If this message is displayed often, contact your solar installer.
Description: Start self-test [xx]. The self-test is running.
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Description: Uac RPro [xxx] V. Preliminary result of the self-test.
Description: Uac Max [xxx] V. Preliminary result of the self-test.
Description: Uac Min [xxx] V. Preliminary result of the self-test.
Description: Uac Min Fast [xxx] V. Preliminary result of the self-test.
Description: Fac SwMax [xxx] Hz. Preliminary result of the self-test.
Description: Fac SwMin [xxx] Hz. Preliminary result of the self-test.
Description: Fac Max [xxx] Hz. Preliminary result of the self-test.
Description: Fac Min [xxx] Hz. Preliminary result of the self-test.
Description: Disconn. threshold [xxx] [xx]. Preliminary result of the self-test.
Description: Stand. Val. [xxx] [xx]. Preliminary result of the self-test.
Description: Disconn. time [xx] s. Preliminary result of the self-test.
#2xxxx
SMA EVENT CODES.
Description: Set parameter – The parameter changes are being adopted.
Description: Parameters set successfully – The parameter changes were successfully adopted.
Description: Update file OK – The update file found is valid.
Description: Update communication – The inverter is updating the communication component.
Description: Update main CPU – The inverter is updating the inverter component.
Description: Update completed – The inverter has successfully completed the update..
Description: Installer code valid – The entered Grid Guard code is valid. Protected parameters have now been unlocked and you can adjust the parameters. The parameters will be automatically locked again after ten feed-in hours.Â
Description: Self-test – The self-test is in progress.Â
Description: Installer code valid – The entered Grid Guard code is valid. Protected parameters have now been unlocked and you can adjust the parameters. The parameters will be automatically locked again after ten feed-in hours.Â
Description: Grid parameters unchanged – Changing the grid parameters is not possible.Â
Description: Self-test.Â
Poll:
Most common SMA event codes.
Haven’t contributed yet? Your SMA event codes matter. Contribute to a global audience with Solar Analitica polls and compare how common your particular SMA event codes are;
Safe select with Solar Analytica® Polls.
Reference.
SMA’s error code library is big, after all, they’ve been around a long time and have, well, a big range of solar inverters over time. Below are the references from which we were able to collate this extensive guide;
- SMA global (de) download centre (external site).
- Sunny Boy single-phase 1.5-2.5 manual.
- Sunny Boy single-phase 3-6 manual.
- Sunny Tripower three-phase manual.
