You turn on your air conditioner, and suddenly your solar production dips, your inverter resets, or your system briefly shuts down. Sometimes the lights flicker. Sometimes the inverter makes a clicking sound. Sometimes your app shows a sudden drop in production that settles after a minute — or doesn’t recover at all.

For many Texas homeowners, this issue happens:

• On the first hot day of the season
• During peak AC usage
• When both AC units run at the same time
• When the heat pump kicks on
• When other high-demand appliances run simultaneously

Here’s the confusing part:

Your solar system is supposed to help power your home… yet your AC seems to “knock it offline.”

This is a real and surprisingly common issue — especially in older homes, homes with heavy load spikes, or neighborhoods with unstable grid voltage.

In this blog, we’ll break down exactly why your solar system drops when your AC turns on, what the underlying electrical causes are, and how Texas homeowners can fix the issue for good.

Why Solar Output Drops When the AC Turns On

Solar and HVAC systems interact in ways most homeowners don’t realize. Your AC uses one of the most powerful starting currents in your home — and solar inverters are extremely sensitive to sudden electrical changes.

Here are the main reasons this happens.

1. AC Startup Surge (Inrush Current) Overloads the System

When your AC starts, it creates a huge electrical spike called inrush current.

This surge can:

• Momentarily drop voltage in the home
• Cause lights to dim
• Force the inverter to reset or disconnect
• Make solar production temporarily drop to zero
• Cause error codes

Older AC units or systems with failing capacitors have even bigger surges.

If the voltage drop is too large, your inverter shuts off to protect itself.

Signs this is the cause:

• Solar dips the moment AC kicks on
• The inverter clicks or restarts
• Lights flicker
• The drop lasts seconds to minutes

This is the most common solar/AC conflict.

2. Grid Voltage Spikes When AC Units Start

Texas neighborhoods often experience unstable grid voltage, especially during summer. When your AC starts, it may cause:

• Voltage spikes
• Voltage drops
• Phase imbalance
• Sudden fluctuations

Solar inverters require stable grid voltage to operate. If voltage goes out of range, the inverter:

• Derates
• Disconnects
• Restarts
• Shows “High AC Voltage” or “Low AC Voltage”

This leads to repeated dips in production.

3. Your Inverter Is Sensitive or Undersized for Household Load Events

Not all inverters handle load changes equally. Older or budget inverters often shut down during large load swings.

When the AC kicks on, the inverter may:

• Trip
• Reset
• Temporarily lose MPPT tracking
• Reduce output
• Shut down entirely

Even if your solar is sized correctly for daytime needs, your inverter must be robust enough to handle the shock of AC startup.

4. Weak or Compromised Home Electrical System

If your home's electrical system has:

• Loose connections
• Weak breakers
• Undersized wiring
• Aging service panels
• Transfer switch issues

…then the AC startup surge causes bigger voltage drops than your inverter can tolerate.

This is especially common in homes built before 1990 or homes with:

• Two AC units
• Heat pumps
• High-efficiency but high-startup-load systems

Your solar system “feels” the electrical instability more than any other appliance.

5. AC Unit Has a Failing Capacitor or Motor

A failing capacitor increases the AC’s startup load dramatically.

Signs your AC is stressing your solar system:

• AC sounds louder when turning on
• AC struggles to start
• AC takes longer to start
• Lights dim more than usual
• Solar drops more and more often

If your AC unit is aging, it can overload the inverter every time it starts.

6. Solar Panels Produce High Voltage, but AC Drop Pulls It Down

Solar systems generate higher voltage earlier in the day. When the AC turns on and your home voltage dips abruptly:

• The inverter shuts off to stabilize
• Production temporarily stops
• System reboots once voltage returns

This cycle repeats all summer unless corrected.

7. Dirty Solar Panels Cause Voltage Instability During Load Events

Dust, pollen, and debris reduce panel voltage output. This makes the system less stable and increases the impact of AC-related electrical changes.

Clean panels are far more stable when large appliances kick on.

8. Solar Monitoring App Misreports the Event

Sometimes the system is fine, but the monitoring app shows a drop because:

• Inverter delayed reporting
• Data packets dropped during electrical fluctuations
• Wi-Fi reset when AC cycling disrupted the signal

This is especially common with:

• Weak home Wi-Fi
• Inverters installed far from the router
• Gateway devices in the attic

App drops may mimic real electrical drops — diagnostics can confirm the difference.

Signs Your Solar System Is Struggling With AC Load Events

These symptoms point to real problems:

1. Solar production drops instantly when AC starts

Inverter reacting to voltage or load shock.

2. System shuts down and restarts repeatedly

Inverter overload or electrical instability.

3. Breakers trip occasionally

Dangerous wiring or overcurrent events.

4. Only afternoon hours show drops

Heat-related AC loads stressing voltage.

5. Monitoring shows sawtooth or jagged production lines

Voltage fluctuations.

6. AC and solar issues started the same week

Likely capacitor or wiring weakening in AC unit.

These issues always require attention — not just resets.

How to Fix Solar Production Drops Caused by AC Startup

Here’s how Texas homeowners can solve the problem permanently.

1. Schedule a Full Solar Diagnostic & Load Interaction Test

This tests:

• Voltage stability
• Inverter performance
• Load impact from AC
• Electrical panel connections
• Wiring health
• Real-time response to load spikes

Technicians can reproduce the issue and identify the exact cause.

2. Get a Professional Solar Panel Cleaning

Cleaning:

• Protects voltage stability
• Keeps panels cooler
• Helps prevent heat-related shutdowns
• Reduces inverter stress during AC load events

Dirty panels can exaggerate voltage drops.

3. Inspect Wiring Under the Solar Array

Loose or damaged wiring makes voltage drops worse.

Technicians check:

• MC4 connectors
• Wildlife chewing
• Loose wiring clips
• Heat-damaged insulation
• Storm-related wear
• Corrosion

Stable wiring = stable performance under load.

4. Evaluate the Home’s Electrical System

This is critical if the issue involves voltage drop.

Electricians will inspect:

• Main panel
• Breaker health
• Service line connections
• Grounding
• Neutral integrity

Improving home electrical stability dramatically improves solar performance.

5. Check the AC Unit’s Health

HVAC technicians can:

• Test capacitors
• Inspect compressor startup load
• Check motor amperage
• Evaluate efficiency

A weak capacitor is the #1 AC-related cause of solar drops.

When a Solar Detach & Reset Is Needed

A Solar Detach & Reset (D&R) is recommended when:

• Wiring under the array is failing
• Voltage stability is compromised
• Connectors are loose or heat-damaged
• Wildlife caused wire damage
• Optimizers need replacement
• Solar needs reconfiguration for better load handling

A D&R provides full access to hidden components for proper repair.

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