Updated October 2026 with real service cases from Rivertown Solar customers.
If one or two panels in your Enphase app are grey, missing data, or producing less than the rest, it doesn't always mean a panel has died. Often it's a reporting glitch, shade, or dirt. The steps below help you tell the difference, and the sections after them show what we've found on real service calls.
- Check if it self-resolves within 24 hours. Temporary power-line communication (PLC) glitches are common. Open the Enphase App, tap the Array tab, and tap the grey panel to see when it last reported. If the outage is less than 24 hours old, wait before troubleshooting further.
- Identify how many panels are affected. A single grey panel suggests an isolated hardware or wiring issue. A group of adjacent panels may indicate a branch/relay problem. All panels grey usually points to IQ Gateway communication or provisioning failure.
- Remove sources of electrical interference. Unplug any devices from the same outlet as the IQ Gateway: surge protectors, UPS units, power strips, CFL bulbs, battery chargers, and electronic pest repellers. These devices can block the PLC signal. Also check for large rotating motors (fans, refrigerators) on nearby circuits.
- Plug the Gateway directly into a wall outlet near the breaker panel. The IQ Gateway must be plugged directly into a wall outlet, never through a surge protector or extension cord. It should be on the same circuit branch as your solar disconnect or as close to the main panel as possible to reduce PLC signal loss.
- Run a new microinverter scan. In the Enphase App, go to the Devices tab and initiate a new device scan to re-detect microinverters. If devices were recently provisioned or the Gateway was replaced, they may need to be re-associated.
Grey, zero, or just low? What it usually means
On a clear, sunny day, open the Array tab and compare the problem panel to the panels right next to it, facing the same direction. Panels on different sides of the roof always produce different amounts, so only compare neighbors. Then match what you see:
- Grey, but less than 24 hours old: usually a temporary communication glitch. Wait a day, as in step 1 above.
- Zero all day, every day: usually a failed microinverter or a loose connection. Contact us.
- Producing, but lower than its neighbors: usually shade or dirt. See the next section.
- Slow to start in the morning, then catches up: often an early shadow from a tree, chimney or neighboring roof. Watch it for a few days.
- A whole group of panels is out together: often a tripped breaker on one circuit. See our breaker checklist.
Also keep in mind that panel-level data isn't always perfect. Read why your Enphase panel-level monitoring may be wrong.
Check for shade and dirt from the ground
- Look at the panel from the ground. Check for leaves, bird droppings, pollen, or debris. In winter, check for snow that slid off some panels but not others.
- Look for new shade. Trees grow, and the sun sits lower in fall and winter. A branch or chimney that never shaded a panel in summer may cover it now. If the panel dips at the same time every day, shade is the likely cause.
- Don't go up on the roof, and don't clean panels from a ladder or with a pressure washer. Call us instead.
Is it covered by warranty?
Often, yes. Enphase microinverters carry a long manufacturer warranty, and solar panels have their own warranties. If a microinverter has failed, we open the case with Enphase and schedule the replacement for you. A manufacturer warranty replacement typically takes 10 to 20 business days.
Shade and dirt aren't warranty issues, but they're usually simple to fix.
What we've seen on real service calls
These are real 2025–2026 support cases from our customers, with names and addresses removed.
| What the homeowner saw | What it turned out to be | How it got fixed |
|---|---|---|
| Two microinverters still weren't reporting after every breaker was switched back on. | Two failed microinverters. | We opened a case with Enphase and got warranty replacements. The system was back to 100% in about a month. |
| "Half my panels have stopped working." | Photos showed every breaker was on. The real cause was failed microinverters or loose wiring on the roof. | A manufacturer warranty replacement, which typically takes 10 to 20 business days. |
| "Microinverters not reporting" for about a week. | A communication gap. The system had kept producing power the whole time. | It came back on its own. The homeowner added a signal-boosting router so it wouldn't happen again. |
The lesson: a grey panel isn't always a dead panel. Wait a day, compare it to its neighbors, and send us a screenshot if it doesn't come back.
Rivertown Solar customers: contact us first
If Rivertown Solar installed your system, you don't need to call Enphase yourself. Send us a screenshot of the Array tab showing the problem panel, plus a photo of the roof from the ground if you can. In most cases we can tell from your data whether it's shade, dirt, communication, or hardware, and we handle any warranty claim.
Contact us if any of these apply:
- A panel shows zero for two or more sunny days in a row.
- A single microinverter still isn't reporting after 48 hours, and you've tried all the steps above.
- A microinverter has never produced power since installation.
- Multiple Gateway replacements have not fixed the reporting problem.
- You suspect a grounding or wiring fault.
- You see damage, scorch marks or a burning smell. Don't touch anything. Call us right away.
- Shade from a tree or new structure. We can tell you how much production you're losing.
Every day a panel is down costs you net-metering credits on your Con Ed bill. If you have battery backup and storage, it also means less solar power going into your battery for the next outage. Turn on production alerts in your Enphase app, and check the Array tab once a week.
Need help? Send us a screenshot through our support form or call (914) 231-6866. Many issues can be solved remotely.
Not a Rivertown Solar customer?
Contact your installer first, or reach Enphase directly:
- Enphase support portal: enphase.com/support
- Phone (US): 1-877-797-4743
- Community forum: support.enphase.com
