Home After-Sales Service Solar System Troubleshooting System Troubleshooting Troubleshoot Batteries Troubleshooting Heavy Rains, Low Power & Error 04: What Every Solar Owner in Zimbabwe Must Know!

By Sona Solar Knowledge & Solar Systems Education Team

On January 23, 2026

22,789,899 Views

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Urgent Solar Advisory: Managing “Error 04”, Low Production & Lightning Risks in Zimbabwe

Published: Sona Solar Zimbabwe | Category: Solar Safety, Weather Advisory, System Protection

Due to persistent overcast conditions, heavy rainfall, and increased thunderstorm activity across Zimbabwe, Sona Solar Zimbabwe is issuing this urgent advisory to all solar system owners. Prolonged cloud cover significantly reduces solar generation, while lightning strikes and power surges increase the risk of inverter faults, battery stress, and system shutdowns if not properly managed.

Heavy Rains, Low Power & Error 04

During this season, many hybrid and off-grid systems may display warning messages such as “Error 04”, typically indicating low battery voltage or insufficient solar input. Understanding how to respond correctly is essential to protect your inverter, lithium batteries, and connected appliances from long-term damage or unexpected blackouts.

System Status Alert: Widespread low solar production has been detected nationwide due to heavy cloud cover and reduced sunlight hours. Systems without adequate surge protection or correct battery settings are at higher risk during this period.

Decoding "Error 04"

Low Battery Warning

On most solar inverters (Must, Growatt, Phocos), ERROR 04 indicates that your battery voltage has dropped below the critical operational level. This is not necessarily a broken machine; it is a signal that your batteries are empty.

Why is this happening now?
Thick cloud cover reduces solar panel output by up to 80%. Your batteries are not getting enough charge during the day to last through the night.

Immediate Actions Required

To protect your batteries from deep discharge damage, please take the following steps:

Reduce Your Load

We kindly ask you to reduce your power consumption immediately. Turn off all non-essential appliances such as:

Refrigerators and Deep Freezers
Booster Pumps and Borehole Pumps
Electric Kettles and Microwaves
Extra Lights

Switch to Utility/Grid

If ZESA is available, switch your inverter to "Utility Priority" or "Line Mode" to bypass the battery and allow it to charge from the grid if your system is configured to do so.

Thunderstorm & Lightning Safety

The Surge Risk

Zimbabwe's rainy season brings severe lightning. Even if lightning does not hit your house directly, a nearby strike can induce a high-voltage surge through your solar panels or ZESA lines, destroying your inverter instantly.

Recommendation: Isolate System

During heavy thunderstorms and active lightning, Sona Solar strongly recommends:

Switch Off the PV Isolator: This cuts the connection between your panels and the inverter.
Switch Off the AC Input: Disconnect ZESA from the inverter.
Unplug Sensitive Appliances: TVs and computers are vulnerable even with surge protectors.

We Are Here To Help

If your system shows Error 04 even after a sunny day, or if you need to install Surge Protection Devices (SPDs), contact our technical team.

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