# Solar Panel Repair Derby | Inverters, Faults, Refits > Solar panel repair in Derby for systems fitted by anyone: inverter faults and replacements, isolators, wiring, and panels taken off and refitted for roof work. URL: https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-repair/ 1. [Home](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/) 2. Solar Panel Repair # Solar Panel Repair in Derby [Eco Solar Panels UK](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/) repairs solar systems across Derby whoever installed them. That means inverter faults and replacements, tripping isolators, damaged cables and panels, and taking an array off and putting it back when the roof needs work. The fault is found first and the price is in writing before any part is bought. Call about a fault 01332 919162 (+441332919162) [Get a free quote](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/contact/) Lines open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. ![Engineer testing an opened solar inverter in a Derby garage](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/images/engineer-kneeling-at-open-inverter-in-garage-derby.webp) - Inverter fault codes read and traced - Like-for-like or hybrid inverter replacements - Isolators, connectors and DC cabling - Cracked or scorched panels - Panels off and back on for roof work - Systems from closed installers Last updated: 30 September 2026 ## When a solar system needs a repair Most faults show up in one of three ways. The inverter screen goes blank or shows an error code. The generation meter stops moving on a bright day. Or the monthly figures slowly fall away from where they used to be. The first two usually point to the inverter or something between it and the panels. A slow fall can be dirt, shade from a growing tree, a failing panel or one string of panels dropping out. A quick check you can do yourself is to read the generation meter at the same time on two sunny days. If the total hasn’t moved, the system isn’t producing, and it is worth a call. If it has moved but far less than it used to, a [maintenance visit](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-maintenance/) that measures output against what a Derby roof should make may be the better starting point. ## Inverter faults and replacement The inverter is the part most likely to fail. The Energy Saving Trust suggests planning for a replacement after about 12 years, well short of the 25 years or more that panels last ([Energy Saving Trust](https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/solar-panels/)). Some faults can be cleared, such as a tripped isolator or a grid voltage error. Others, particularly on older string inverters, mean replacement. When an inverter is replaced, it has to suit the array: the number of panels, how they are wired and the voltage they produce. That is also the moment to decide about a battery. A hybrid inverter costs more than a like-for-like swap but lets a battery go in later without another inverter change. If a battery is already on your list, [solar battery storage](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-battery-storage/) explains the options. [My solar inverter has stopped working](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-inverter-not-working/) walks through what to check before you call. ## Faults between the panels and the inverter Not every fault is in the inverter. Connectors on the roof can work loose or corrode, cables can be chewed where pigeons have nested under the array, and DC isolators can fail after years of heat and cold. A cracked or scorched panel can drag down a whole string. These are found by testing each part in turn, which is why we don’t quote for a new inverter until the rest of the system has been checked. If birds are the cause, the fix is to clear the nest material and fit mesh once any nest is no longer in use. [Solar panel bird proofing](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-bird-proofing/) covers how that works and when it can be done. ## Taking panels off for roof work If the roof under your panels needs replacing or repairing, the panels have to come off first. We disconnect the system safely, lift the panels and rails, store them, and refit and test everything once the roofer has finished. Planning the two jobs together lets the scaffold serve both. Published UK guides put the solar part of a reroof at roughly £1,300 to £2,500 on top of the roofing ([Depth of Light](https://www.depthoflight.co.uk/blog/replacing-roof-after-solar-panels/)), and the [roof replacement guide](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-panels-roof-replacement/) goes through what affects the figure. ## What a repair costs in Derby Checkatrade lists solar panel servicing and repair in Derby at £224 to £483, with £325 as the average ([Checkatrade](https://www.checkatrade.com/Search/Solar-Panel-Installation/in/Derby)). That is for finding and fixing common faults. A replacement inverter, panels or a removal and refit are priced separately, and you get that price in writing before any part is bought. ## What's included - A call first to go through the inverter screen, any error code and what the generation meter shows - Checks from the roof down: panels, connectors, DC cable runs and isolators - Inverter testing, including the event log where the model keeps one - A plain answer on whether a part can be repaired or needs replacing - A written price before anything is ordered - Replacement inverters matched to the array, with a battery-ready option if you want one later - Removal and refit of panels around roof work, with the system tested again afterwards - A note of what was found and done, for your records and any Feed-in Tariff query ## How the options compare Solar Panel Repair: options compared Compare Leave it General electrician Solar repair visit Finding the fault Output lost every sunny day Often limited to the consumer unit Panels, cabling, isolators and inverter tested Inverter replacement n/a May not stock or know solar inverters Matched to the array size and voltage Roof work around the panels Roofer works around them, or not at all Not usually offered Panels lifted, stored and refitted, then retested Feed-in Tariff records Generation keeps dropping Not usually considered What was changed is written down for your supplier Price Lost savings Varies In writing before any part is bought ## Related resources - [Learn My solar inverter has stopped working. What now?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-inverter-not-working/) - [Decision Guide Removing solar panels for a new roof: what does it cost?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-panels-roof-replacement/) - [Learn Pigeons are nesting under my solar panels. What can I do?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/pigeons-under-solar-panels/) - [Learn Buying a house with solar panels: what should I check?](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/buying-a-house-with-solar-panels/) System stopped generating? 1. 1Look at the inverter screen or lights and write down any error code or message. 2. 2Stay off the roof and leave the DC cables alone. Burning smell or smoke: keep clear and call 999. 3. 3Call us with the code and roughly how old the system is, 9am to 7pm, 7 days. 01332 919162 (+441332919162) Rules this work has to meet - Grid notification to National Grid Electricity Distribution where the change needs one - Permitted development rules for any panels moved or added - Manufacturer warranty terms checked before any part is replaced Step by step ## How a repair visit works 1. ### Tell us the symptoms A photo of the inverter screen and the generation meter reading narrows the fault down before anyone visits. 2. ### Trace the fault We test each part in turn, from the panels down to the inverter, until the cause is found. 3. ### Written price You get the repair or replacement cost in writing, with the reason, before anything is ordered. 4. ### Fix and retest The part is fitted, the system is tested under load, and any change the network needs to know about is notified. The work ## How the work looks Illustrative photos of the methods and finish described on this page. They are not records of particular customers' jobs. - ![Scorched solar connector next to its replacement during a repair, Derby](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/images/dc-connector-pair-in-gloved-hand-derby.webp) Scorched solar connector next to its replacement during a repair - ![Solar panels lifted and stacked on the scaffold for roof work, Derby](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/images/panels-lifted-off-for-reroof-on-scaffold-derby.webp) Solar panels lifted and stacked on the scaffold for roof work ![Old garage inverter showing a fault light, Derby](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/images/garage-inverter-with-fault-light-derby.webp) **Before:** Old garage inverter showing a fault light ![New solar inverter with tidy cabling on a garage wall, Derby](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/images/garage-wall-with-new-inverter-derby.webp) **After:** New solar inverter with tidy cabling on a garage wall Inverter showing an error? Send a photo of the screen with your postcode and we will call you back. Lines open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. 01332 919162 (+441332919162) [Get a free quote](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/contact/) Where we work ## Where we work in Derby and the East Midlands Based on 219 Burton Rd, Derby DE23, we work across Derby and the East Midlands. These towns have their own local pages: - [Solar panels in Belper](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-belper/) - [Solar panels in Matlock](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-matlock/) - [Solar panels in Burton upon Trent](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-burton-upon-trent/) - [Solar panels in Long Eaton](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-long-eaton/) - [All areas we cover](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/areas-we-cover/) Questions ## Solar Panel Repair: common questions ### How much does a solar panel repair cost in Derby? Checkatrade puts solar servicing and repair in Derby at £224 to £483, with £325 as the average. That covers finding and fixing typical faults. A new inverter or replacement panels cost extra. You get a written price before any part is ordered. ### How long should a solar inverter last? The Energy Saving Trust says to expect to replace an inverter after about 12 years, while panels last 25 years or more. So on a system from the early 2010s, an inverter fault is most likely down to age, and replacement is usually the sensible fix. ### Will replacing the inverter affect my Feed-in Tariff? Ofgem says you can repair or replace some or all of the equipment without affecting your accreditation, as long as the system still meets the scheme rules and isn't removed altogether. For most home systems you only need to tell your FIT licensee what changed. [Ofgem's FIT guidance](https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/feed-tariffs-fit/feed-tariffs-fit-generators) has the detail. ### Can you take my panels off for a new roof and put them back? Yes. We lift the panels before the roofer starts, store them, and refit and test them when the new roof is on. Book us alongside the roofer so the scaffold can be shared. [The roof replacement guide](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/guide/solar-panels-roof-replacement/) covers costs and timing. ### Do you cover my area? We are based at 219 Burton Rd, Derby DE23, and cover Derby, including [Belper](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-belper/), [Matlock](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-matlock/), [Burton upon Trent](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-burton-upon-trent/) and [Long Eaton](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panels-long-eaton/), plus Swadlincote, Chesterfield, Ilkeston, Ashbourne, Ripley, Heanor, Alfreton and Duffield. Lines are open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. Call 01332 919162 (+441332919162) with your postcode and we will confirm. [All areas we cover](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/areas-we-cover/). ### Can I call outside opening hours? Lines are open every day from 9am to 7pm. If a panel, cable or inverter is smoking, sparking or smells of burning, stay clear of it and ring 999. A system that has simply stopped or is making less than usual is not an emergency, and a call the next morning is fine. Related ## Related services - ### [Solar Panel Maintenance](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-maintenance/) A health check that compares what your system makes with what it should make for a Derby roof, then tests the inverter, isolators, wiring and fixings. View service - ### [Solar Panel Bird Proofing](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-panel-bird-proofing/) Mesh clipped around the edge of the array so pigeons can't get under it, fitted outside the nesting season or once a nest is empty, with no drilling into tiles. View service - ### [Solar Battery Storage](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/solar-battery-storage/) Keep the daytime power your panels make for the evening. Fitted with a new system or added to panels you already own, sized from your meter readings. View service Get your solar system working again. Call about the fault, or send your postcode and we will ring you back. Lines open Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. 01332 919162 (+441332919162) [Get a free quote](https://ecosolarpanelsderby.co.uk/contact/)