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.
SolarEdge Inverter Error 33 — What AC Voltage Too High Means
Error 33 on a single-phase SolarEdge inverter means AC voltage too high: the grid voltage at your connection point rose above your country's permitted limit, so the inverter tripped off to protect itself and the grid. This is usually a grid condition rather than an inverter fault, and the inverter restarts automatically when voltage returns to normal. If error 33 appears day after day, your installer needs to investigate the AC connection.
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
SolarEdge's error map assigns single-phase codes 31 and 33 to the same message: "AC Voltage Too High." The description in the installation guide is unambiguous — the grid voltage is above the limit permitted in this country. When that happens the inverter disconnects, waits, and reconnects once the voltage settles back inside the permitted window. Like all grid-protection trips, this is the inverter obeying the rules, not breaking them.
Why would your grid voltage be too high? The utility sets the voltage at the transformer, but what your inverter sees at its terminals depends on everything between. The most common local cause is the AC cable itself: a long run or an undersized cable between the inverter and the grid connection point lets the voltage rise at the inverter's terminals when it exports power — the same current pushed through more resistance means a bigger voltage lift. SolarEdge's troubleshooting explicitly calls this out: if the inverter sits far from the connection point, a larger gauge AC wire may be needed.
The second classic pattern is neighborhood solar. Every rooftop system exporting at midday pushes local voltage upward, and in streets saturated with solar the combined export can lift the whole local network toward the upper limit. If your error 33 log reads like a diary of sunny middays, you are probably looking at this phenomenon rather than a faulty inverter.
Then there are the settings. The inverter judges "too high" against the country grid code configured at commissioning — if the wrong country is selected, the window is wrong and a healthy grid reads as overvoltage. Only an installer with the proper tools may check or change that setting, and raising protection limits additionally requires the grid operator's agreement. Finally, a loose or deteriorating AC connection can produce erratic voltage readings, which is another installer-only check.
The key reassurance: this trip is protective, automatic, and usually self-clearing. The key warning: a daily 33 is not "just how it is" — it means energy is being curtailed and something upstream needs attention.
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 at or above the upper end of the permitted range in your area.
- An undersized or very long AC cable between the inverter and the grid connection point, lifting voltage at the inverter's terminals during export.
- Many nearby solar systems exporting simultaneously, raising local network voltage — the classic sunny-midday pattern.
- An incorrect country or grid-code setting, making the inverter judge a normal grid as overvoltage.
- A loose or deteriorating AC connection producing unstable voltage readings.
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
Call your installer if error 33 recurs. The professional checks are: measuring the actual AC voltage at the inverter's connection point, verifying the cable sizing against the run length, and confirming the country data set. If the local grid itself runs high, your installer liaises with the grid operator — adjusting transformer taps or protection limits is the operator's decision, never a homeowner adjustment.
Frequently asked questions
Will high grid voltage damage my inverter?
The trip exists to prevent exactly that — the inverter disconnects before damage occurs. Chronic overvoltage is a grid condition to resolve, not an emergency, but it does cost you production every time it trips.
Why does error 33 always happen around noon?
Midday is peak solar export. Every system feeding in pushes local voltage up a little, and in neighborhoods dense with rooftop solar the combined effect can cross the limit on bright days.
What is the difference between error 33 and error 31?
Both mean AC voltage too high on single-phase inverters — they are companion codes for the line measurements in SolarEdge's error map. Same message, same causes, same response.
Can the voltage limit simply be raised?
Only where local regulations and the grid operator permit it, and only by qualified personnel using SolarEdge's configuration tools. It is never a homeowner setting.
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 — SolarEdge Single and Three Phase Inverter Installation Guide, MAN-01-00002-3.3 — Appendix A: Errors and Troubleshooting: single-phase errors 31, 33 = 'AC Voltage Too High (Line 1/2/3) — Grid voltage is above the limit permitted in this country.' Troubleshooting: verify country setting, verify AC grid voltage, larger gauge wire if far from connection point, consult grid operator.