> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learning.kent.co.in/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Inverter Not Starting: Display Dark or Fault at Power-Up

> Display stays dark, unit never reaches operation, or faults at first power-up — causes table, the one-restart rule, and when to escalate.

Your goal is to get the inverter to a stable operating state. Work through this page top to bottom: check the basics first, then match your symptom to the causes table.

**Symptom:** the display stays dark, the unit never reaches normal operation, or it faults the moment it powers up.

<Warning>
  **For trained and authorized installers only.** Any restart follows the official power sequence. Any cover-off work requires full isolation per [Isolation & Shutdown](/safety/isolation-and-shutdown) — including the 5-minute capacitor discharge wait.
</Warning>

## Check first

Before opening the causes table, confirm these three things:

1. **Was the power sequence correct?** Both platforms power ON **AC first** — grid breaker before PV DC before battery. A battery-first habit from other inverter brands stalls the boot here.
2. **Is grid actually present at the inverter's AC terminals?** Measure with a meter at the terminals themselves — an upstream MCB tripped, a loose termination, or a dead phase kills the boot before any menu is reachable.
3. **What exactly does the display say?** Note the precise message or code before touching anything. It determines which row of the table below applies.

## Causes

| Cause                                   | How to confirm                                                                                                                                | Fix                                                                                                                                                               |
| --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| No AC supply reaching the unit          | Kent M1 shows **E100 (No AC Connection)** · Kent G3 shows **NO-Grid** · meter at terminals confirms zero voltage                              | Restore the AC path: check the upstream breaker, terminations, and cable continuity                                                                               |
| Wrong power-up order                    | Recall the switch sequence; check states of the three isolators                                                                               | Power fully OFF (battery first, then correct order down), then restart in the official ON sequence from the platform commissioning page                           |
| PV string fault preventing boot         | Kent M1: **E300** (PV overvoltage) / **E301** (string reverse polarity) / **E305** (PV isolation low) · Kent G3: **OV-DC / PV ISO-PRO** class | String Voc and polarity check per the platform PV page; isolate the faulted string; E305/ISO-PRO on a rainy morning points to wet connectors                      |
| Battery absent, asleep, or undervoltage | Kent G3: **No-Battery / UN-Vbatt** · Kent M1: **E407** (battery undervoltage); pack indication dark                                           | Check battery breaker and switch states; wake the pack per [Battery Not Charging](/troubleshooting/battery-not-charging); verify voltage at the battery connector |
| AFCI arc-detection event                | Kent M1: **E303 (AFCI)** · Kent G3: **AFCI-Check / ARC-FAULT**                                                                                | M1: E303 auto-recovers (clears after 5 events/day) — check the AFCI CT connection if it repeats · G3: one restart, then escalate if it returns                    |
| Internal fault at boot                  | Kent M1: **E600–E602** · Kent G3: **INI-FAULT / DSP-B-FAULT** persisting after one restart                                                    | Stop — this is a Kent service case. Do not restart again; collect the evidence pack and escalate                                                                  |

<Note>
  **The one-restart rule.** When you see a fault message: power off in the correct order, **wait 5 minutes, restart once**. If the same fault returns, collect the evidence and escalate. Repeated power-cycling destroys the diagnostic trail and fixes nothing.
</Note>

## Escalate when

* Any internal-fault code (E600–E602 on M1; INI-FAULT / DSP-B-FAULT on G3) survives the one restart.
* The display stays dark with verified AC voltage at the terminals — do not open covers beyond the wiring compartment; that is service territory.
* A boot fault follows physical damage, water entry, or a burnt smell. If battery packs are involved, isolate if safe and stand down per [Battery Safety](/battery/safety).

<Note>
  **Escalate to Kent New Energy service only** — through your registered Kent partner channel or the Kent service desk details on your work order. Do not contact any third-party or component-manufacturer support line for a Kent-branded system: tickets outside the Kent channel are not tracked, not covered, and can void warranty handling.
</Note>

## Related pages

* [Kent M1 Commissioning](/m1/commissioning)
* [Kent G3 Commissioning](/g3/commissioning)
* [Isolation & Shutdown](/safety/isolation-and-shutdown)
* [Battery Not Charging](/troubleshooting/battery-not-charging)
* [When to Escalate](/troubleshooting/when-to-escalate)