Troubleshooting

The first step in TROUBLESHOOTING is to check the LED Status Indications at the base of the unit:

  • Solid Green: The unit is feeding PV (solar) power to the thermostat/element and the water temperature is below the thermostat's set cutoff point. The water is being heated
  • Flashing Green (slow flash): The unit is feeding PV (solar) power to the thermostat/element, but the water temperature has reached the thermostat's set cutoff point and the thermostat has switched off.
  • Fast Flashing Green: This indicates that the MPPT is synchronizing (should happen about every 10 minutes)
  • Solid Red: The unit is feeding AC (grid) power to the thermostat/element and the water temperature is below the thermostat's set cutoff point. The water is being heated
  • Flashing Red: The unit is feeding AC (grid) power to the thermostat/element, but the water temperature has reached the thermostat's set cutoff point and the thermostat has switched off
  • Alternating Red/Green:  The PV (solar) power is measured every 10 minutes and the appropriate weather conditions recalculated to maximize power harvesting OR an over temperature state has occurred in the unit and normal operation will resume once the internal controller has cooled sufficiently
  • Off: No power is connected

NB: PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL CONNECTIONS ARE TIGHT. THE INDICATIONS MAY APPEAR NORMAL, BUT IF THE CONNECTION IS NOT SECURE THEN THE CURRENT FLOW MAY BE RESTRICTED. 

  • It is good practice to use bootlace ferrules (collared ferrules) in all installations for safety and efficiency

The unit only uses AC (grid) power and doesn't switch to PV (solar) power

  • Check timer modes and settings. When AC is available it is always sent to the geyser, this is to ensure that the geyser can be manually forced to heat from AC during bad weather

The unit never uses AC (grid) power

  • Check timer modes and settings
  • Check connections
  • Check that the isolator switches at both the DB and at the geyser are switched on

The unit has no light coming on

  • Check that power is coming through to the unit
  • If power is coming through, it may be that your unit is faulty. Return for testing and repairs
Multi-meter reads 120Vdc on panels but varying 0-120Vdc on the element
  • This is normal and is how the weather conditions and PV characteristics are adjusted to the specific element

My panels are capable of 13A but the unit is not using all of it

  • This is normal. The element only draws what it requires at a certain voltage. See power throughput formula (Power = Volts²/Resistance)
  • Secondly, the Pi2R Micro limits itself to draw only 7.5A so as not to damage its internal components. The Pi2R iX limits current input to 15A.

The water in the geyser only heats up to a point and no further

  • Check the thermostat setting on the geyser itself
  • Check that the thermostat is not faulty

The water temperature reading on the display falls fast when using water, but the water coming out is still hot

  • This is normal in vertically mounted geysers. After using only a little amount, the new cold water entering the geyser gets measured and not the top layer