Tesla Powerwall Alert Codes
What Tesla Powerwall's app alerts mean, from Breaker Open to Storm Watch, and what to do about them.
11 of 11 codes
About this fault librarySources · scope
Tesla's Powerwall doesn't use short numeric fault codes the way many inverters do. Instead, the Tesla app shows plain-language alerts and status notifications. This library covers documented Powerwall 2 and Powerwall 3 owner alerts, plus one separately labelled Tesla Solar Inverter / Powerwall+ arc-fault lockout. It is reference material, not a repair manual. Safety note: owners should stop at app guidance, ordinary load reduction and safe observation. Do not troubleshoot during an outage, extreme weather or where there is heat damage. Breakers that will not remain closed, rapid-shutdown circuits, AC/DC isolation, wiring and opening equipment are licensed-worker or Tesla-authorised service tasks.
- 11 Tesla (Powerwall 2 / Powerwall 3 home battery) fault and alarm codes, documented for the trade.
- Compiled from published documentation and field references; Wattbench is independent and not affiliated with Tesla (Powerwall 2 / Powerwall 3 home battery).
- Codes involving DC/AC isolation, wiring or opening the unit are licensed electrical work. Isolate safely and follow AS/NZS procedure.
Resolution text is manufacturer/service context, not permission for an owner to perform electrical work. Stop at visible observations unless the exact product instructions identify an owner control. Isolation, configuration, testing, opening equipment and wiring are for an appropriately licensed worker and, where required, an SAA-accredited person. Where a card says Product fit is unknown, treat it as brand-level guidance and confirm the exact model, role, regional variant, firmware and current manual before acting.
- Breaker Open
Powerwall breaker is open / off
The AC circuit breaker that connects your Powerwall to your home is in the open (off) position, so the Powerwall is disconnected and can't charge or store energy. Left like this, the battery can slowly drain its reserve and may eventually need a service visit.
Product fit · Unknown
Show field stepsHide field steps for Breaker Open: Powerwall breaker is open / off
Product fit · Unknown
Safe checks now
Record the alert and use Tesla's in-app troubleshooting only when conditions are safe. Do not troubleshoot during an outage, extreme weather or if there is heat damage; if the breaker will not stay closed, contact your installer or Tesla.
Installer remedy
Follow Tesla's guided breaker-open troubleshooting for the exact installed configuration. If the breaker trips again or any heat damage is present, stop resetting and inspect the system under the authorised service procedure.
Remedy sourceSystem alertsPowerwall troubleshooting
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
- Powerwall Overloaded
Powerwall is overloaded: reduce load
During a grid outage your home is drawing more power than the Powerwall can supply at once (for example several high-draw appliances running together), so Powerwall has stopped supplying power to protect itself.
Product fit · Unknown
Show field stepsHide field steps for Powerwall Overloaded: Powerwall is overloaded: reduce load
Product fit · Unknown
Safe checks now
Reduce high-power household loads and wait for Powerwall's automatic retry. If it repeatedly overloads with only essential loads running, record the alert and contact your installer.
Installer remedy
Confirm the loads present at each overload and compare them with the commissioned backup configuration. If overloads recur under the expected load, follow Tesla's system troubleshooting path rather than repeatedly restarting it.
Remedy sourceSystem alertsOutage practices
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
- Powerwall Inactive
Powerwall has stopped powering the home (inactive)
Powerwall has entered an inactive state, commonly after running very low on energy during an outage or after repeated overloads, and is no longer supplying your home. Tesla notes that when low, if the remaining energy decreases by more than about 2.5% it becomes inactive and waits for the next hour to try charging again.
Product fit · Unknown
Show field stepsHide field steps for Powerwall Inactive: Powerwall has stopped powering the home (inactive)
Product fit · Unknown
Safe checks now
Reduce household load and, when daylight or grid power is available, follow the Tesla app's Powerwall Inactive prompt. Do not restart during unsafe weather or if equipment shows heat damage; contact Tesla support if it remains inactive.
Installer remedy
Review the outage and energy history, then use Tesla's documented app recovery path when charging energy is available. If the system does not recover, follow the exact Gateway or Backup Switch troubleshooting procedure and escalate to Tesla.
Remedy sourcePowerwall troubleshootingOutage practices
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
- Powerwall Low on Energy
Powerwall is low on energy
Battery charge is getting low (typically during a grid outage). Backup time is limited and will run out sooner if your usage stays high.
Product fit · Unknown
Show field stepsHide field steps for Powerwall Low on Energy: Powerwall is low on energy
Product fit · Unknown
Safe checks now
Reduce non-essential and high-power household loads to extend backup time. No electrical work is required; Powerwall will continue managing the remaining energy while the grid is unavailable.
Installer remedy
Confirm this is a low-energy outage notification rather than a hardware fault. Help the owner reduce backup loads and review reserve or backup expectations after service is restored if the event exposed a commissioning issue.
Remedy sourceSystem alertsOutage practices
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
- Powerwall Energy Very Low
Powerwall energy very low: limited backup remaining
The battery is nearly empty during an outage and may fully discharge if usage isn't cut back. Tesla's wording is along the lines of 'Powerwall energy is very low, and you will have limited backup time remaining.' Once it gets too low it stops providing power to protect the cells.
Product fit · Unknown
Show field stepsHide field steps for Powerwall Energy Very Low: Powerwall energy very low: limited backup remaining
Product fit · Unknown
Safe checks now
Immediately reduce use to essential loads and allow Powerwall to preserve its remaining energy. Wait for grid return or sufficient solar recharge; do not operate electrical equipment to force a restart.
Installer remedy
Confirm the state follows an outage and depleted energy, then review the backup-load history. If Powerwall does not resume after grid return or adequate solar, continue with Tesla's documented troubleshooting path.
Remedy sourceSystem alertsOutage practices
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
- Powerwall Stopped (Discharged)
Powerwall too low and stopped powering the home
The battery dropped to its minimum and has stopped supplying power to protect the cells. Tesla documents that if an outage occurs while stored energy is below about 5% you immediately lose backup and Powerwall saves the remaining energy to recharge from solar the next morning; separately, once a Powerwall drops below roughly 10% during an outage it enters standby and stops providing power. Either way this is normal protective behaviour, not a fault.
Product fit · Unknown
Show field stepsHide field steps for Powerwall Stopped (Discharged): Powerwall too low and stopped powering the home
Product fit · Unknown
Safe checks now
Keep household loads to a minimum and wait for grid return or sufficient daytime solar recharge. This is a protective low-energy state; contact Tesla support if Powerwall does not resume when charging energy is available.
Installer remedy
Confirm the system stopped after depleted backup energy and review the outage history. If normal grid or sufficient solar is available but recovery does not occur, follow Tesla's documented restart and support path for the installed Gateway or Backup Switch.
Remedy sourceOutage practicesPowerwall troubleshooting
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
- Rapid Shutdown (RSD) Initiated
Rapid shutdown triggered: Powerwall won't power home
The rapid-shutdown safety circuit has been triggered, so Powerwall will not power your home. Tesla's alert typically reads 'Rapid Shutdown Initiated. Check AC breaker and low-voltage rapid shutdown circuit.' This is a safety function tied to the AC breaker and the low-voltage RSD wiring, not a simple consumer button you reset.
Product fit · Family-level · 2 documented families
Show field stepsHide field steps for Rapid Shutdown (RSD) Initiated: Rapid shutdown triggered: Powerwall won't power home
Product fit
Powerwall+ / Tesla Solar Inverter · Role not confirmed
Family-level · AU/region not confirmed · Firmware not documented
Powerwall 3 · Integrated solar-and-battery system
Family-level · AU/region not confirmed · Firmware not documented
Safe checks now
Leave the system in its safe state, record the alert and contact your installer or Tesla. Do not bypass, reset or alter the rapid-shutdown circuit or its wiring.
Installer remedy
Identify whether the installed system follows the Powerwall+ / Tesla Solar Inverter or Powerwall 3 rapid-shutdown design, then inspect and restore only through that exact Tesla procedure. Never bypass the safety circuit.
Remedy sourcePowerwall+ RSDPowerwall 3 RSD
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
- Internal Fault: Replacement Required
Powerwall disabled by an internal fault
Powerwall has been disabled because of an internal hardware fault, and you may see a flashing red logo LED on the unit with an app alert such as 'Powerwall Disabled' or 'Internal Fault Detected'. Powerwall and its components are not user-serviceable. A persistent internal fault means the unit needs professional support or replacement.
Product fit · Unknown
Show field stepsHide field steps for Internal Fault: Replacement Required: Powerwall disabled by an internal fault
Product fit · Unknown
Safe checks now
Record the alert and any LED state, keep clear of the equipment and contact your installer or Tesla. Do not open or attempt to repair a Powerwall; if there is heat damage, do not troubleshoot it.
Installer remedy
Use Tesla's guided troubleshooting to confirm the disabled state and collect the system details required for support. A persistent internal fault requires Tesla-authorised service; do not attempt an internal repair.
Remedy sourceSystem alertsPowerwall troubleshooting
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
- Arc Fault Lockout
Tesla Solar Inverter / Powerwall+ arc-fault lockout
On Tesla Solar Inverter and Powerwall+ systems, five arc-fault alerts within 24 hours trigger an arc-fault lockout. Tesla requires the PV string wiring, junction boxes, DC connectors and module-level equipment to be inspected before re-enabling the system.
Product fit · Family-level · Tesla Solar Inverter / Powerwall+
Show field stepsHide field steps for Arc Fault Lockout: Tesla Solar Inverter / Powerwall+ arc-fault lockout
Product fit
Tesla Solar Inverter / Powerwall+ · Role not confirmed
Family-level · AU/region not confirmed · Firmware not documented
Safe checks now
Leave the Tesla Solar Inverter or Powerwall+ system locked out and contact your installer or Tesla. Do not clear the lockout, touch PV wiring or attempt to find the arc yourself.
Installer remedy
For Tesla Solar Inverter or Powerwall+ only, complete Tesla's arc-fault lockout inspection of string wiring, junction boxes, DC connectors and module-level equipment under safe shutdown and lockout/tagout, then submit the required Tesla One troubleshooting record before re-enabling.
Remedy sourceArc-fault lockout
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
- Going Off-Grid / Grid Outage
Grid is down: running on backup
Status notification (not a fault): the grid has gone down (or you initiated Go Off-Grid) and your home is now running on Powerwall backup. Tesla sends this so you can manage your energy use during the outage. Note that if your internet is also down during an outage, this notification may not arrive.
Product fit · Unknown
Show field stepsHide field steps for Going Off-Grid / Grid Outage: Grid is down: running on backup
Product fit · Unknown
Safe checks now
No fault action is required. Prioritise essential loads while the home is on backup and allow the system to reconnect automatically when grid supply returns.
Installer remedy
Confirm this is the expected off-grid status and that the commissioned backup loads are operating as intended. If transfer or reconnection does not complete, follow Tesla's exact installed-system troubleshooting path.
Remedy sourceSystem alertsGo Off-Grid
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
- Storm Watch Activated
Storm Watch is active: charging to full
Status notification (not a fault): Tesla's Storm Watch detected a severe-weather forecast in your area (via national weather services) that could cause an outage, so Powerwall is charging to maximum capacity to give you the most backup protection. It stays in Storm Watch until the weather event passes.
Product fit · Unknown
Show field stepsHide field steps for Storm Watch Activated: Storm Watch is active: charging to full
Product fit · Unknown
Safe checks now
No fault action is required. Storm Watch is preparing the battery for forecast severe weather; leave the system charging and manage heavy loads if you want to preserve maximum backup energy.
Installer remedy
Confirm Storm Watch is the active status rather than a fault. No service action is required unless the system fails to charge or another alert appears; then diagnose that separate condition through Tesla support.
Remedy sourceSystem alertsStorm Watch
Manufacturer / escalation handoff
Sources
- ManufacturerSystem Alerts and Notifications | Tesla Support
- ManufacturerTroubleshooting Your Powerwall | Tesla Support
- ManufacturerBest Practices During Power Outages | Tesla Support
- ManufacturerStorm Watch | Tesla Support
- ManufacturerGo Off-Grid | Tesla Support
- ManufacturerPowerwall+ / Tesla Solar Inverter Rapid Shutdown (RSD) Initiated, Tesla Energy Library
- ManufacturerPowerwall 3 Rapid Shutdown (RSD) Initiated, Tesla Energy Library
- ManufacturerTesla Solar Inverter / Powerwall+ Arc Fault Lockout, Tesla Energy Library
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Frequently asked
- Where do these Tesla Powerwall fault codes come from?
- Compiled from publicly available Tesla Powerwall inverter and battery documentation and field references, then rewritten for the trade. Wattbench is independent and not affiliated with Tesla Powerwall.
- Which of these can I clear on site?
- Some clear on their own once grid or environmental conditions return to normal. Anything involving DC isolation, AC switching, wiring or opening the unit is licensed electrical work. Isolate safely, follow AS/NZS 5033 and AS/NZS 3000 procedure and use appropriate PPE before touching a live system.
- The exact code isn't listed. Why not?
- Firmware and model variants differ, and manufacturers revise their code tables. We document the most common ones; for a variant that isn't here, check the unit's current manual or the manufacturer's service portal.
- How current is this reference?
- This reference was last reviewed on 2 August 2026. We revise entries when the underlying manufacturer documentation changes.
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