Generac PWRcell › Problems
Generac PWRcell battery won't charge or shows an error
The PWRcell battery won't charge, stops short of full, or shows a status or error such as Error 7000, Waiting, Standby, N/A, Cell Imbalance or 700D. This page covers what the lights and codes mean, what to check first, and the causes behind it.
What the lights mean
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Battery status light red, blinking fast (every 0.5 seconds) | Error, according to the battery manual. Generac also says the light blinks red while the battery reports Cell Imbalance. |
| Battery status light orange, strobing every 2 seconds | The battery is waiting. |
| Battery status light solid orange | The battery is disabled. |
| Battery status light alternating green and orange | The battery is initializing. |
| Battery status light green, strobing every 2 seconds | The battery is in standby. |
| Battery status light red, strobing every 8 seconds | The battery is sleeping. |
| Some battery module status lights dark | All module status lights should be green while the battery is connected or connecting. |
| REbus status light yellow or red | Yellow: one or more devices are disabled, or no devices are detected. Red: a serious fault on a device or the REbus wiring. |
Error codes that go with this problem
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| Error 7000 | A battery fault. The battery runs through its start-up checks with an audible clunk, times out and tries again before the inverter shows the error. |
| Battery not ready, or stuck in Waiting | The battery isn't ready to run and stays in Waiting instead of starting. |
| Error detected in PWRcell | A general battery fault alert on the inverter. The battery stops charging from solar or the grid while the solar keeps producing. |
| Battery shows N/A with no error code | The battery display shows N/A instead of a status or an error code. |
| Cell Imbalance | Generac says the battery has found an imbalance between modules or between cells inside them. It is not an error; the battery may still move power, but not at full potential. |
| 700D | A battery rack error, different from the more common Error 7000. No documentation for it could be found. |
What to check first
- Look at the battery status on the inverter and write down any code or status it shows, such as Error 7000, Waiting, Standby, N/A or 700D, and what the battery status light is doing.
- Check that the battery disconnect switch is on. If it is off, that alone can make the battery show Battery not ready.
- Disable the battery, enable it again, and note whether it goes straight back into an error, cycles in Waiting, or clears for a while.
- In cold weather, note whether the battery charges overnight and ask Generac support what the battery's internal temperature is.
- Note whether it started right after Generac support reset the system remotely, after a battery module was added, or after a heater was placed near the battery.
- If the battery still won't charge or the code comes back, have your installer or a certified Generac dealer diagnose it. Generac phone support sends warranty issues through the installer.
Safety. The fuse block inside the battery cabinet still carries the full stack voltage with the battery disabled, its disconnect off and the REbus breaker to it off. Generac's six-module example read 281.5 volts there.
The causes and the fixes
Partners see the causes behind this problem, most common first, the checks that tell them apart, and the fix for each, with part numbers and recent prices when a part is involved.