Warning What does this mean?
Your system is down or running degraded, but this is not an immediate safety danger. Work through the safe steps below.
SMA Inverter Event 101/102/103 — Grid Fault and What It Means for You
Events 101, 102, and 103 on your SMA inverter all mean the same thing: the grid voltage or grid impedance at your connection point is too high, so the inverter disconnected from the grid to protect power quality. This is a grid-side event, not an inverter fault. The inverter switches itself back on automatically once the grid is back in range.
What should I do first?
Two quick questions — we'll point you to the right starting point.
Is this code still showing on your inverter's display?
Is your system producing power right now?
What this code means
These three event numbers are SMA's way of reporting a single condition: the utility grid at your inverter's connection point is outside its permitted operating window — specifically, the voltage is too high or the grid impedance (a measure of how 'stiff' the grid is) is too high. When that happens, grid standards require the inverter to disconnect, and it does.
It disconnects to maintain power quality — a grid-tied inverter must not feed power into a grid that is out of spec. As soon as the grid voltage is back in the permissible range, the inverter automatically switches itself on again after the grid monitoring time set by your country's standard. You do not need to reset anything, and there is nothing to acknowledge.
Seeing 101, 102, or 103 once in a while is normal, particularly in areas with lots of rooftop solar. Midday exports push local voltage up, and the inverter briefly steps aside until conditions normalize. It becomes a problem worth investigating only when the events are frequent, cluster at the same time every day, or your energy production is noticeably suffering.
The reconnection behavior is worth understanding so you know what 'normal' looks like. After disconnecting, the inverter does not just wait blindly — it keeps monitoring the grid, and only when the voltage has stayed within the permitted range for the full monitoring time defined by your country's standard does it reconnect and resume feeding power. That monitoring period is typically a matter of minutes. So a 101 event that clears by itself within, say, ten to thirty minutes is the system working exactly as designed.
It also helps to know where 101–103 sit in SMA's event family. These three are the 'voltage or impedance too high' group. Their mirror image is the 202–206 group, which covers the grid being disconnected, the AC cable damaged, or the voltage too low. If you ever see events from both groups alternating, mention it to your installer — it suggests an unstable grid connection rather than a simple overvoltage pattern.
What is this downtime costing you?
Rough estimate while your system isn't producing. Adjust the numbers to match your setup.
≈ – kWh of lost production per day.
Estimate only — assumes ~80% real-world output vs. nameplate. Actual losses depend on weather, shading, panel direction, and your tariff.
Common causes
- Utility grid voltage running above the permitted limit in your area
- High grid impedance at your connection point — long or thin supply cables, or a weak rural grid
- Midday voltage rise from many solar systems exporting in your neighborhood at once
- Incorrect country data set configured in the inverter, applying the wrong operating limits
- Temporary grid disturbances from utility maintenance or network switching work
- Aging or undersized utility transformer serving your street
- New solar installations in your neighborhood tipping a borderline grid over the limit
- Single-phase voltage rise concentrated on one heavily loaded phase
- Utility voltage regulation equipment (such as substation tap changers) set too high for your area
Safe steps to try
Work top to bottom, ticking off each step as you complete it. 0 of 5 done.
Is your inverter still under warranty?
Before paying for a repair, check — your installer may fix this free.
Based on typical standard warranty terms — always confirm with your warranty card or installer paperwork, as terms vary by model, region, and purchase date.
When to call an electrician
Contact your solar installer if events 101 to 103 occur repeatedly or daily, or if the inverter stays disconnected for long periods. The installer can verify the country data set, measure voltage and impedance at the connection point, and — if the grid itself is out of range — take it up with the grid operator. SMA's own guidance notes that the grid operator must agree to any adjustment of the voltage at the feed-in point or any change to the monitored operating limits. If the grid is permanently within range and the message still appears, SMA says to contact SMA Service.
Frequently asked questions
Is a grid fault event dangerous?
No. The inverter disconnects precisely to stay safe and compliant. There is nothing hazardous about the event itself — your home just runs on grid power in the meantime.
Do I need to reset the inverter after event 101, 102, or 103?
No. The inverter continuously monitors the grid and reconnects automatically after the country-standard monitoring time. A manual reset is not needed and will not help.
Why does this happen on sunny days?
Strong sun means maximum solar export, which raises local grid voltage. In streets with many solar systems, the combined export can push voltage over the limit around midday, and inverters take turns stepping aside.
Should I call the grid operator myself about repeated 101 events?
Start with your installer. SMA's own guidance routes repeated events through the installer, because the fix may be on your side (country data set, connection impedance) or the grid side. If it is the grid side, the grid operator must formally agree to any voltage adjustment or operating-limit change — your installer knows that process.
The events happen every sunny day at the same time. Is that a fault?
That pattern is the textbook signature of solar-driven voltage rise, not an inverter fault — but it is still worth reporting. A daily 101 event means you are losing generation every day, and it often takes several affected households reporting the issue before the grid operator acts on local voltage regulation.
Need a professional?
This fault may need professional diagnosis. Contact a qualified solar electrician in your area.
Sources: meaning and troubleshooting verified against the manufacturer's documentation — SMA Solar Technology official service article 'Event 1, 101, 102, 103, 104 or 105' (my.sma-service.com); Sunny Boy operating manual event-message table (101-103 = grid fault, voltage or impedance too high).