Tesla Powerwall › Problems
Powerwall new install won't commission or fails inspection
A new Powerwall install won't finish commissioning, won't start, or has faults found at inspection. 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 |
|---|---|
| Powerwall 3 light solid white | Normal operation. |
| Powerwall 3 logo flashes red, then cycles through, then ends solid white after the enable switch and breaker are turned on | The unit is booting. The red flashing during boot is normal, and solid white means it is online. |
| Powerwall 3 logo keeps flashing red | Inverter fault, as the owner manual states it. A Powerwall 3 that has failed shows this. |
| Powerwall 3 light blue | The unit is awake and ready to begin commissioning. The lights can take up to five minutes to come on after power-up. |
| Follower Powerwall 3 light turns light blue during multi-unit commissioning | The Follower has finished rebooting after the software update pushed during commissioning. |
| Powerwall 3 logo blinks for 10 minutes, then goes dark | The unit was left idle after its enable switch was turned on and has gone to sleep. |
| Powerwall 2 light off | The Powerwall is not enabled or is switched off. |
| Powerwall 2 light flashing | The Powerwall is enabled but is not communicating with the Gateway. |
Error codes that go with this problem
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| Unable to start system: sitemaster needs a default real mode | Shown when pressing Start System in the app. The Powerwall can't start because the inverters, gateway and Powerwalls were never commissioned together. |
| Green checkmark or red exclamation mark on the installer app's devices page | A green checkmark means that device paired with the Leader Powerwall 3. A red exclamation mark means its pairing with the Leader was not successful. |
What to check first
- Check that every Powerwall's breaker is on. With one left off after commissioning, charging has stopped partway with no error shown.
- If phone pairing hangs when the app asks you to toggle the Powerwall switch, retry standing at the right unit (the gateway for a Powerwall 3) and toggle the switch when prompted. If it still fails, close and reopen the app.
- If the app's grid controls stopped working after you changed phones, delete and reinstall the app.
- If the new Powerwall doesn't show in the app, check you are logged in with the exact email address the system was bought under.
- If the app is stuck on the Network Setup screen and nothing is producing, a full power cycle at the breakers has brought back Wi-Fi and normal operation.
- If the app shows Unable to start system, or a Powerwall 3 light keeps flashing red, contact your installer or Tesla.
Safety. Inspections have found exposed conductors and missing rapid shutdown equipment on installs that had passed the city's own inspection. These are safety problems for the installer to correct.
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.