Awaiting expert review. This page covers rules that vary by utility and jurisdiction. It is kept out of search results until a qualified reviewer has checked it; the sources below are dated so you can verify each point.
Quick answer
Disconnect Switch A solar disconnect switch is a manually operated switch or circuit breaker that separates a solar power system, or one piece of its equipment, from every source of power feeding it, so the system can be safely isolated by utility crews, inspectors, firefighters or electricians.
Homes usually have an AC disconnect between the inverter and the electrical panel, and many systems also have a DC disconnect on the panel side of the inverter.
Quick facts
The key facts about disconnect switch, with sources:
Key takeaways
- A disconnect switch cuts a solar system, or one part of it, off from its power sources.
- Most homes have an AC disconnect near the meter. Many also have a DC disconnect at the inverter.
- The NEC has two rules: 690.13 for the whole system and 690.15 for each piece of equipment.
- Some utilities add their own rule, such as a visible, lockable switch they can reach any time.
- Turning it off does not make roof wiring safe. Rapid shutdown handles that.
- Opening, testing or replacing a disconnect is licensed-electrician work.
What a disconnect switch actually is
A disconnect is a switch or breaker you turn by hand to open a circuit. "Open" means the path for electricity is broken, so no current flows. On a solar home, it lets people separate the solar system from the house wiring and the grid.
Most look like a grey metal box with a handle on the side. The handle shows ON or OFF. Some are simply a breaker inside your electrical panel. Others are built into the inverter.
A disconnect is safety equipment, not a power-saving switch. Its job is to make a known, safe break when someone needs to work on or near the system.
Where disconnects sit in a solar system
- Solar panels make DC power
- DC disconnect (often inside a string inverter) can separate the array wiring from the inverter
- Inverter changes DC to alternating current
- AC disconnect separates the inverter output from the house
- Electrical panel and meter → the grid
Two different code rules: 690.13 and 690.15
People say "the solar disconnect" as if there were one. The National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) has two separate rules.
690.13, the PV system disconnect, separates the whole solar system from all other wiring in the building. It must be readily accessible, marked as a PV system disconnect, and show whether it is on or off. It can be made up of no more than six switches or breakers.
690.15, equipment disconnects, lets each piece of equipment be cut off from every source that feeds it. That covers an inverter, a battery or a charge controller. Equipment fed from more than one source needs its disconnects grouped and labeled.
One switch can sometimes satisfy both rules. That is why some homes have one grey box and others have three.
Types of disconnect: AC vs DC, fused vs non-fused
| Type | Sits between | What it isolates | Common form |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC disconnect | The inverter output and the panel or meter | The solar system from the house and grid | A grey box beside the meter, or a breaker in the panel |
| DC disconnect | The panels and the inverter input | The DC array wiring from the inverter | A switch built into a string inverter, or a separate box |
| Utility disconnect | Usually the AC side, near the meter | Your system from the utility line | A visible-blade switch the utility can lock, where required |
| Fused disconnect | Either side | Adds fuses that also guard against too much current | A box with fuse holders inside |
| Non-fused disconnect | Either side | Only switches; protection is elsewhere | A box with a switch only |
Example: one utility's written switch rules
Arizona Public Service (APS) publishes a checklist for its required PV utility disconnect. It is a real example of how far a utility rule can go beyond the NEC. Your utility's rules may differ.
| APS requirement | What it means in plain words |
|---|---|
| "Visible open" switch 4 | You can see the blades and the air gap, so a crew can confirm it is off by eye |
| Lockable in the open position 4 | APS can padlock it off; its 3/8-inch lock must fit the hasp |
| 24-hour access, usually in sight of the service entrance 4 | Crews must reach it without asking you |
| Mounted 36 to 60 inches above grade, with 36 by 36 inches of clear space 4 | No bushes, sheds or fences in front of it |
| Not fused unless APS agrees 4 | The utility controls the switch type |
APS also says it may lock the switch open without notice if the system could endanger people or the grid. Read your own utility's interconnection rules for the version that applies to you.
Where you find it, and who uses it
- On the wall near the meter: the AC or utility disconnect, labeled for responders.
- On the inverter: a built-in DC switch on many string inverters.
- On your plan set and quote: shown on the one-line diagram, a drawing of how everything connects.
- The utility uses it so your system cannot push power onto a line crews are working on.
- Firefighters use it alongside the rapid shutdown switch, which controls roof wiring a disconnect does not reach.
- Electricians and inspectors use it before service and check its location, rating and labels.
Benefits and limitations
What it does well
- Gives crews and responders a clear, single place to cut solar output.
- Lets an electrician isolate an inverter or battery for safe service.
- A visible-blade type lets anyone confirm by eye that it is open.
- Can double as the start switch for rapid shutdown, if the equipment allows.
Where it falls short
- It does not de-energize the panels or the roof wiring in daylight.
- Both sides of the switch can still be live from different sources.
- An extra utility switch adds parts, wall space and labor.
- If someone leaves it off, the system makes no power until it is reset.
What a disconnect does not do
An AC disconnect stops power leaving the inverter. It does not stop the panels making DC power in the sun. The wires from the roof to the inverter stay live until rapid shutdown brings them down.
A disconnect also does not cut grid power to your house. Your lights stay on from the grid. Only the main breaker or the utility can cut that.
On systems with a solar battery, there may be more than one source feeding a box. That is why the code asks for grouped and labeled disconnects, and why only a qualified person should open one.
What drives the cost
We do not list prices for disconnects. Brand, size and local labor rates vary, and we only print figures we can source.
The drivers are clear. A bigger system needs a switch rated for more current. A utility that asks for its own visible, lockable switch adds a box and wiring. A fused switch costs more than a non-fused one. Distance from the inverter to the meter adds wire and conduit.
Lifespan and warranty come from the maker. Outdoor boxes should carry an outdoor rating. For how parts add up to a total price, see solar cost.
How a disconnect is chosen, installed and approved
- The designer reads the NEC edition in force and the utility's interconnection rules.
- They size the switch for the system's current and voltage, and pick fused or non-fused.
- The location goes on the plan set and the one-line diagram for the solar permit.
- A licensed electrician mounts and wires it and adds the required labels.
- The building inspector checks it during the solar inspection.
- The utility may inspect its own switch before granting permission to operate.
Maintenance: what you can and cannot do
Your part is to keep the area clear and the labels readable. If the utility requires access, leave a way in for crews or follow its lock-box rule.
Look at it now and then from the outside. A cracked cover, rust or a missing label is worth a call. Do not open the cover yourself.
If production drops to zero, check your monitoring app first. Then ask your installer whether a switch was left off. Our monitoring shows zero guide lists the usual causes.
Warning signs and when to call a pro
- Buzzing, humming or a burning smell from the box.
- Scorch marks, melted plastic or heat you can feel through the cover.
- Water inside the cover or heavy rust on the enclosure.
- The handle will not move or does not match the system's state.
- Labels missing after painting or siding work.
- A tripped or "off" switch you did not touch.
Safety rule
Both sides of a disconnect can be live at once. Never open the enclosure, test or replace a switch yourself. Call a licensed electrician or your installer.
The rules: NEC editions and utility requirements
The NEC is NFPA 70. States and cities adopt an edition, and that edition is the law where you live. Inspectors check the disconnect against it.
In the 2026 NEC process, NFPA's TIA 1835 lists the service disconnect and the PV system disconnect as allowed start devices for rapid shutdown, along with listed switches. On one- and two-family homes the start device must be outdoors 3. That is one reason the AC disconnect often sits outside by the meter.
Utilities set their own rules in interconnection agreements. Some, like APS, require a separate visible, lockable switch 4. Others accept the NEC disconnect alone. Read the current rules from your utility, not another state's, and see our interconnection guide.
Disconnect switch vs related terms
| Term | What it controls | Turns off roof DC wiring? |
|---|---|---|
| Disconnect switch | One circuit or the whole PV system | No |
| Rapid shutdown | Voltage on roof and array wiring | Yes, to 80 V or 30 V within 30 seconds |
| Main breaker | All grid power into the house | No |
| Inverter anti-islanding | Inverter output when the grid is down | No; it stops AC export |
| Microinverter shutdown | Each panel's AC output | Converts at the panel, so roof wiring is AC that stops with the grid |
Misreadings that cause trouble
- Myth Switching off the AC disconnect makes the panels and roof wiring dead.
- Reality It stops AC output. In daylight the panels still make DC up to the inverter. Rapid shutdown handles that wiring.
- Myth The disconnect is a homeowner on/off switch for saving power.
- Reality It is safety equipment. Leaving it off just stops production and can trigger alerts.
- Myth Every utility wants the same external switch.
- Reality Rules vary by utility. Check your own utility's current requirements.
- Myth Turning off the disconnect cuts power to my house.
- Reality Your home stays on the grid. You only stop using and exporting solar.
In South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia
South Carolina enforces the 2020 NEC, in force since 1 January 2023 5.
The Building Codes Council has moved to adopt the 2023 NEC; a 2026 joint resolution (S.1077, approving Regulation Document 5418) would approve it; as of 16 April 2026 it was back in the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, and it takes effect only when the Governor approves it 6.
In SC, wiring and connection must be done by a Residential Builder, a licensed residential electrician or a contractor with the electrical classification. Your utility, such as Duke Energy, Dominion Energy SC or a city utility, sets any extra switch rule in its interconnection process.
In Georgia and Virginia, ask your utility and local building department.
When it matters to you, and what to do next
Before you sign, ask the installer to show where each disconnect will go and whether your utility needs its own. A surprise utility switch can delay approval.
After install, learn where the switches are, and keep the area clear. Tell a house-sitter or new owner too.
If you plan to add a battery or more panels, expect the disconnect plan to change. Our panel upgrade check helps you see whether your electrical panel can take it.
Related guides and services
- Inverter types and their built-in disconnects
- Solar repair and troubleshooting
- How solar worksThe full path from panel to grid
Questions about disconnect switch
Do I need a separate AC disconnect for solar?
It depends on your design, code edition and utility. The NEC requires a PV system disconnect, but it can be a separate outdoor switch or a breaker in your electrical panel.
Some utilities, such as APS in Arizona, require their own visible, lockable switch on top of that. Your installer reads your utility's interconnection rules and shows the answer on the plan set.
What is the difference between a fused and a non-fused disconnect?
A fused disconnect has fuses inside that also protect against too much current; a non-fused one only switches. Which one a system needs depends on how the circuit is protected elsewhere. Some utilities limit fusing on their own switch. A licensed electrician makes this choice based on the design and the code in force.
Will turning off the solar disconnect stop my power?
No, your home stays on the grid. Turning off the solar disconnect only stops your system from making and exporting power until it is turned back on. If your power goes out when the grid goes down, that is normal for a grid-tied system without a battery, and has nothing to do with the disconnect.
Why is there a disconnect on my string inverter?
Many string inverters have a built-in DC disconnect so the array wiring can be separated from the inverter for service. That meets the equipment-disconnect rule in NEC 690.15 for that inverter. It does not make the roof wiring safe; that is the job of rapid shutdown, which works separately.
Where is the solar disconnect usually located?
Most AC disconnects sit outdoors near the utility meter. The NEC asks for the PV system disconnect to be readily accessible, and utilities that own a switch often want it in sight of the service entrance.
If it is somewhere else, a sign or directory at the service should show where. Your plan set marks the exact spot.
Can the utility lock my solar disconnect?
Yes, where its rules allow, a utility can lock a required disconnect open. APS, for example, says it may lock its switch open without notice if the system could harm people or the grid, or if the interconnection agreement ends. Check your own utility's agreement for its terms.
Should I turn off the disconnect during a storm?
Generally no, unless your installer or utility tells you to. A grid-tied inverter already stops exporting when the grid goes down. If panels or wiring are damaged, stay clear and call your installer. For a fire, tell responders where the rapid shutdown and disconnect switches are.
Does a microinverter system still need a disconnect?
Yes, it still needs a PV system disconnect under the NEC. Microinverter systems often skip a separate DC disconnect because the power becomes AC at each panel. The AC side still needs a way to separate the system from the house, and some utilities still require their own switch.
Can I replace a faulty disconnect myself?
No, this is licensed-electrician work, often under a permit. Both sides of the switch can be live from different sources, such as the grid and the panels. A replacement must match the system rating and the code edition in force, and may need inspection. Call your installer first, since the part may be under warranty.
Sources
- EC&M, Solar photovoltaic systems, Part 1 (NEC 690.13 and 690.15), retrieved .
- IAEI Magazine, 2023 National Electrical Code and photovoltaic power systems, retrieved .
- NFPA, NFPA 70 proposed 2026 edition, TIA 1835 on 690.12(C) initiation devices, retrieved .
- Arizona Public Service, Photovoltaic utility disconnect switch requirements, retrieved .
- IAEI Magazine, Code updates: South Carolina adopts the 2020 NEC, effective 1 January 2023, retrieved .
- South Carolina General Assembly, S.1077 (2025–2026), joint resolution approving Regulation Document 5418 (2023 NEC); recommitted to Senate committee 16 Apr 2026, retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyreSolar Research team. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: NEC 690.13 and 690.15 are paraphrased from trade-press summaries; no code text was quoted. Initiation-device wording is from NFPA TIA 1835.
The utility example is the APS checklist, loaded in full. SC edition from IAEI's adoption notice and the SC Statehouse text of S.1077; LLR pages timed out. Awaiting review by a licensed electrician (G-REV).
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.