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My battery or inverter is making a noise, running a fan or feels hot. Is that normal?

Short answer. A little warmth and a quiet hum or fan are normal; heat sinks get hot by design. Not normal: a sudden loud noise, grinding, a burning smell, smoke or a fault light. Do not touch hot surfaces, and keep the clearances around the unit clear.

Safety first. Never open a switchboard, remove a cover from your battery or inverter, or touch any wiring. Anything beyond the app, a light you can read from a safe distance, or your own router is a job for a licensed electrician. If you see smoke, smell burning, hear arcing or see water on or near the unit: keep everyone away, switch off at your main switch only if it is safe to do so, and call 000 if there is any fire or smoke.

What the makers say

  • Tesla Powerwall 3: operating noise at 1 metre is listed as under 50 dB(A) typical and under 62 dB(A) maximum.
  • Sungrow SBH batteries: cooled by natural convection (no fan), per the datasheet. Sungrow’s hybrid inverter is also listed with natural convection cooling, and its manual says to clean fans and heat sinks in dusty installations.
  • Sigenergy SigenStor: the manual warns not to touch the heat sink while the equipment is operating, and the heat-dissipation area is hot. Keep the 300 to 600 mm clearance channel clear.
  • SolaX X1-VAST: SolaX says the inverter becomes hot during operation, so avoid touching any part other than the DC switch.
  • GoodWe: the ESA has fault codes for an internal fan, where the manual says to check ventilation and heat dissipation.

Normal vs not normal

  • Normal: a soft hum or fan noise under load, warm covers on a hot day, a fan that speeds up when working hard.
  • Not normal: grinding, rattling or clicking, a burning smell, discolouration, a swollen case, smoke, or a red or orange fault light.

What you can do

  1. Keep the area around the unit clear, with no boxes, rubbish or plants against it.
  2. Check the app for a fault or temperature alert.
  3. Photograph the lights and note the time, from a safe distance.
  4. Do not open covers or cover the unit.
  5. Call us. If there is smoke, a burning smell or arcing, keep everyone away and call 000.

See also does my battery work differently on very hot or cold days? and what does a red light or fault mean?

When to call us

If we installed your system, call us on 0483 903 020. Our service help for existing customers is free: we start by working through it with you by phone. If you are not yet a customer, a service call is $250 + GST, which covers one hour on site within 20 km of Mullumbimby; travel further out is quoted separately. Contact us or call 0483 903 020 (Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 7am-4pm). We do not repair systems we did not install.

Quick questions

Should my battery make a noise?

Some units hum quietly or run a fan under load. Tesla lists Powerwall 3 at under 50 dB(A) typical at 1 m. Grinding, clicking or a sudden change is not normal.

Is it safe to touch the inverter if it is warm?

Avoid it. Heat sinks and covers get hot, and manufacturers warn against touching them while running.

Why is my battery fan running at night?

Possibly it is charging or discharging, or the room is warm. If it is constant and loud, tell us.

When should I call 000?

For smoke, a burning smell, arcing or water on or near the unit.

Sources

Last checked 7 October 2026. Only the manufacturer’s, the network’s or the government’s own documents are used; app menus and defaults change between models and versions, so if your screen looks different, call us rather than guess.

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