Tesla Powerwall › Problems
Powerwall backup fails or runs out during a power outage
During a power outage the Powerwall doesn't take over the house, shuts off after a few seconds, won't start again, or runs out early. This page covers what the lights and messages mean, what to check first, and the causes behind it.
What the lights mean
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Powerwall 2 with no light at all, not even flashing green, after the main breaker or Powerwall breakers were switched off during the outage | The system has lost the small 12 V supply that starts it. |
| Powerwall 2 light blinking after a 12 V jump at the gateway | The Powerwall is searching for the microgrid and solar as the system restarts. |
| Powerwall 2 light off | The Powerwall is not enabled or is switched off. |
| Powerwall 2 light pulsing | The Powerwall is enabled and charging or discharging. |
| Powerwall 3 logo flashing white | Idle; the owner manual says it will go to sleep if nothing is in progress. |
| Powerwall 3 logo flashes red after its enable switch and breaker are turned on, then ends solid white | Normal start-up. Solid white means normal operation. |
Error codes that go with this problem
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| Couldn't Go Off-Grid - Powerwall Usage Too High | The app refuses to take the house off the grid. It has appeared even while the home was drawing very little. |
| Your home is consuming more power than your Powerwall would be able to provide while off the grid | The Go Off-Grid test won't start because the home's load is above what the Powerwalls can supply together. The app also refuses when the Powerwalls are at 100% and solar is producing. |
| Powerwall Inactive | The Powerwalls did not start under load during an outage. |
| Overloaded | The Powerwalls refuse to take the house off the grid, citing overload. |
What to check first
- During an outage, don't switch off the main breaker or the Powerwall breakers. To cut power to one room, switch off only that room's breaker.
- If the app refuses Go Off-Grid, check whether the Powerwalls are at 100% with solar producing, or the home is using more than the Powerwalls can supply together. Either one makes the app refuse.
- If backup won't hold the house, turn off most breakers, start Go Off-Grid, then turn loads back on one at a time.
- If the system has gone dark, check the battery charge, turn off big loads, then flick the on/off switch on each Powerwall and wait. If the gateway wakes and house power comes back, it only needed waking.
- When severe weather is forecast, raise the Backup Reserve to 100% well ahead of time instead of relying on Storm Watch.
- If backup still won't take over, or the system stays dead with the sun out, it needs your installer: a technician may have to open the gateway or restart the system by hand.
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.