9038 on a SMA Solar Technology AG Sunny Boy Smart Energy: The cause must be determined by the Service
Short answer
On a SMA Solar Technology AG inverter, 9038 means: The cause must be determined by the Service. The inverter stops until the fault clears or is reset. An engineer is needed to fix the cause.
Reviewed 24 September 2026 · 1 source
What it means
The manual says: The cause must be determined by the Service.
Part involved: rapid shutdown / module-level switches.
When it shows: The cause must be determined by the Service.
Likely causes:
- SMA corrective measures: Contact Service.
Is it safe?
| Does the inverter stop? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Engineer needed? | Yes |
The inverter stops until the fault clears or is reset.
Resetting itself: unknown.
Manual reset: See engineer checks.
What you can check
- Read the event number and message in the SMA Energy app / Sunny Portal (ennexOS) or the inverter's web interface and note the date/time for your installer. A red LED on the inverter means an event has occurred.
- Contact your installer.
What the engineer will check
- Check rapid-shutdown operating mode, function and standby voltage of SunSpec PV module switches; contact SMA Service for 9038.
Who to ask for: MCS PV installer.
Certification: Qualified electrician (BS 7671; MCS-certified PV installer for work on the PV array/DC side).
What you might notice
Sources
- Operating manual SUNNY BOY SMART ENERGY 3.6/4.0/5.0/6.0/8.0/9.9 ↗ · SBSExx-50-BE-en-12 Version 1.2 · page 100 · Reviewed 24 September 2026
A code explains what the controller detected, not a confirmed root cause.
Reviewed: 24 September 2026