The Complete Guide To Tesla Powerwall Error Codes

Why a Tesla Powerwall error code is worth sorting now

A Powerwall alert in the Tesla app can mean anything from routine housekeeping to a battery that has stopped working. When a Powerwall stops, the house leans on the grid for power the battery would have supplied, and in a blackout the backup may not be there. A few alerts are about safety: a Backup Switch that is overheating, or a Powerwall breaker that keeps tripping.

A Powerwall is not user-serviceable, and it is not repaired like an ordinary inverter. Real faults go to Tesla's own support through the Support tab in the app, or to your installer, and the age of the system never turns a Powerwall alert into a replacement. Many alerts are not faults at all: Calibration in Progress, Storm Watch, a software update, or Gateway Offline when the home wifi has dropped.

Sorting it early matters with a battery. A Powerwall that sits switched off is not storing your solar, and a meter that has dropped offline can leave the battery at 0% for days without anyone noticing.

Find your alert in the table below to see what it means and how urgent it is. If your home is in Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, Gawler, the Barossa, the Fleurieu, Murray Bridge and Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, or North Brisbane, Caboolture, Bribie Island, the Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Gympie in Queensland, our own licensed electricians will go through it with you over the phone for free before anyone drives out. Check your postcode to see if we cover you.

Which Powerwall do you have?

The model is on the label on the unit. In Australia every Tesla home battery is a Powerwall: Tesla's standalone Solar Inverter was never sold here.

Powerwall 2 and Powerwall+: a battery with an LED on its side and its on/off switch on the right side. It usually works beside a solar inverter from another brand, so solar-side codes come from that inverter.
Powerwall 3: the newer model with its own solar inputs. Its on/off switch is on the left side, and the Tesla logo flashing red means an inverter fault.
Backup Gateway: the box that holds the energy meter and links the Powerwall to the Tesla app. When it drops offline, the app goes grey.
Backup Switch: Tesla's device behind the meter. If it gets too hot it takes the home off-grid to protect it.

All 15 Tesla Powerwall error codes, explained

A Powerwall reports in words, not numbers: an alert or banner in the Tesla app, like Gateway Offline or Breaker Open, and a light on the unit itself. Several are status notices rather than faults. All 15 are in one table below. The number in brackets after each code's name is its source in the reference list.

Stop and call A safety or hardware fault that nobody can fix from a phone. Do the one safe restart at most, then call.
Worth a look Something to check or restart safely. If it comes back, book a visit.
Wait and watch The inverter has paused for a reason outside itself, usually the grid or the light, and restarts on its own.

We always err on the cautious side: when a code sits between two ratings, it gets the higher one.

3 stop and call, 5 worth a look, 7 wait and watch.

Error code	What it means	What to do
Backup Switch FaultTesla Powerwall Backup Switch Fault	Backup Switch overheating^[1] The Backup Switch (Tesla's device behind the meter) measured a high temperature at the socket facing the house and took the home off-grid to protect it. One fault reconnects within about 30 minutes once it cools; Lockout means it has happened several times and the system stays off-grid. Both need your installer; do not touch the meter box if it smells or looks scorched. Safe steps in the lookup	Stop and call
Breaker OpenTesla Powerwall Breaker Open	Powerwall breaker open^[1][3] The AC breaker joining the Powerwall to the house is off, so it cannot charge or operate; the app sends a Breaker Open alert and the Powerwall's LED is off. Tesla's step is to switch the breaker back on and restart from the app. If it trips again, or there is smoke, a burning smell or heat damage at the switchboard, leave it off and contact Tesla support or your installer. Safe steps in the lookup	Worth a look
Calibration in ProgressTesla Powerwall Calibration in Progress	Calibration or balancing in progress^[1][9] An app banner, not a fault. Calibration in Progress is the Powerwall's routine battery calibration, up to 24 hours, during which it may discharge past your backup reserve or not charge from solar. Powerwall Balancing in Progress means two or more Powerwalls are evening up their charge, usually right after installation, up to six hours. The system still backs up the house during either. Safe steps in the lookup	Wait and watch
Flashing red lightTesla Powerwall Flashing red light	Powerwall light flashing, fault present^[2][4][7] On a Powerwall 2 the side LED flashing means a fault is present (solid is idle, fading is charging or discharging). On a Powerwall 3 the Tesla logo flashing red means an inverter fault, such as an arc fault (AFCI) or ground fault (GFCI) on the solar wiring. Neither is user-serviceable: the app usually carries the matching alert and the fix goes through Tesla support or your installer. Safe steps in the lookup	Stop and call
Gateway OfflineTesla Powerwall Gateway Offline	Gateway or Powerwall offline in the app^[2][3][6] The Tesla app cannot reach the Backup Gateway, so the power flow screen is greyed out or blank and the Gateway may beep. The Powerwall keeps working and still backs up the house; what has usually dropped is the home wifi or internet. Tesla's troubleshooting lives in the app (Support, then Troubleshoot) and hands you to Tesla support if needed. Not during a grid outage or extreme weather. Safe steps in the lookup	Wait and watch
Grid OutageTesla Powerwall Grid Outage	Grid outage, running on backup^[1] A status notice, not a fault: the grid has gone down or you chose Go Off-Grid, and the Powerwall is powering the house. It may discharge below your Backup Reserve, and heavy appliances shorten the backup time. Grid Reconnected follows when power returns; the Powerwall then refills to your reserve from solar or grid before going back to its normal mode. Nothing to do beyond managing what is on. Safe steps in the lookup	Wait and watch
Low Energy While Off-GridTesla Powerwall Low Energy While Off-Grid	Powerwall low on energy during an outage^[1] During a grid outage the Powerwall's charge is getting low and backup time is limited; the notification reads Powerwall is low on energy, reduce load to extend backup duration. Switch off anything heavy now or the Powerwall may run flat before the grid returns or the sun comes up. It is a warning about usage, not a fault. Safe steps in the lookup	Wait and watch
Meter OfflineTesla Powerwall Meter Offline	Meter offline, power flow data missing^[3] Part of the power flow data is missing, or the battery has sat at 0% for days or under 10% and not charging: Tesla says the energy meter in the Gateway may be offline, so the Powerwall cannot see what the house is doing. The app's Support screen has a Troubleshoot button for it; if that does not bring the data back, Tesla support or your installer takes over. Safe steps in the lookup	Worth a look
Powerwall OverloadedTesla Powerwall Powerwall Overloaded	Powerwall overloaded during an outage^[1] During a grid outage the house is asking for more power than the Powerwall can supply, usually an air conditioner, oven, pump or several big appliances starting together, so it has paused. Turn the heavy items off and it retries by itself within two minutes. If it overloads with ordinary loads running, your installer should review what is on the backed-up circuits. Safe steps in the lookup	Worth a look
Service Required - Fault DetectedTesla Powerwall Service Required - Fault Detected	Fault detected, service required^[1][2][5] Two alerts share this banner. Solar Production Limited: an inverter is not producing because of a solar-side fault. Powerwall Disabled: an internal fault has disabled the Powerwall and it needs replacing; Tesla says turn the enable switch off and contact your installer. Not user-serviceable: a Tesla warranty job through Tesla support or your installer, not a general repair. Safe steps in the lookup	Stop and call
Side Switch OffTesla Powerwall Side Switch Off	Powerwall switched off^[1] An app banner: the Powerwall will not operate because a switch is off. Side Switch Off is the on/off switch on the Powerwall itself (right side on Powerwall 2 and Powerwall+, left side on Powerwall 3); flick it back on if nobody meant to turn it off. Rapid Shutdown Device Off is a separate shutdown switch or red stop button nearby; if you did not press it, ask your installer first. Safe steps in the lookup	Worth a look
Software updateTesla Powerwall Software update	Software update^[4][6] Powerwall updates itself over the internet; nothing needs doing and it keeps backing up the house meanwhile. A Powerwall 3 Gateway's status light can flash red during an update, which Tesla's installer guide says is expected. If the app says the system has not updated for a long time the Gateway is almost always offline, and Tesla notes long spells without internet can affect the warranty. Safe steps in the lookup	Wait and watch
Storm WatchTesla Powerwall Storm Watch	Storm Watch charging^[1] A status notification, not a fault: a storm is forecast for your area, so the Powerwall is charging to full and holding its charge to give you the most backup if the power goes out. It stays in Storm Watch until the storm passes, then goes back to its normal mode. You can turn Storm Watch off in the app settings if you would rather it did not. Safe steps in the lookup	Wait and watch
Tesla Solar InverterTesla Powerwall Tesla Solar Inverter	Tesla Solar Inverter not sold here^[5][8] Tesla's standalone Solar Inverter and Solar Roof never came to Australia, so a Tesla system here is a Powerwall 2 or 3 with a Backup Gateway, usually paired with another brand of solar inverter (Powerwall 3 has its own solar inputs). Solar-side codes come from that other inverter: look them up under its brand. Powerwall alerts go through the Tesla app to Tesla support or your installer. Best effort · from a secondary copySafe steps in the lookup	Wait and watch
Waiting for SolarTesla Powerwall Waiting for Solar	Powerwall empty and stopped^[1] During an outage the Powerwall ran out of energy and stopped powering the house. Waiting for Solar: it retries each hour once there is enough sun to run the house and charge. Waiting for User Input: the retries failed, so reduce the load and toggle the Powerwall's side switch when the sun is out. Waiting for Grid: it is empty and off until the grid returns. All three are protective, not faults. Safe steps in the lookup	Worth a look

Got a Tesla Powerwall error code? Free phone diagnosis in our service area

Our own licensed electricians cover Greater Adelaide and regional SA, and from North Brisbane up through the Sunshine Coast to Gympie. Check your postcode, then read us the code and tell us the install year. If it needs a visit, the callout is credited against the work.

How to restart a Powerwall safely

A Powerwall is not something to switch off and on yourself. The restart is led by the Tesla app:

Open the Tesla app, tap Support, and follow the Troubleshoot steps for the alert it shows.
Check the home wifi and internet are working and the router has not moved or changed password.
If the app says Side Switch Off and nobody meant to switch it off, toggle the switch on the side of the Powerwall back on.
If the Powerwall breaker in the switchboard is clearly labelled and off, switch it on once, then follow the app prompt to restart the Powerwall.
During an outage, switch off heavy loads like air conditioning, pool pumps and ovens. The Powerwall retries by itself.
Only if Tesla support asks for a full restart, follow the sequence they give you, step by step.

Never open the Powerwall or the Gateway, and never touch the wiring. Never restart anything that smells hot or shows scorch marks: leave it and contact Tesla support. If the breaker trips again or the alert comes back, stop and contact Tesla support through the app, or call us if you are in our service area.

Tesla Powerwall service or repair?

On a visit, our electricians look at the whole system first: the AC supply, the Powerwall and Gateway breakers, the solar inverter beside it, the Gateway's connection, and the alerts in the Tesla app. A Breaker Open that keeps tripping, or a Backup Switch Fault, is traced at the switchboard and the meter box, not inside the Powerwall.

We do not open a Powerwall, and we never suggest replacing one. Once the alert is diagnosed, the path for a fault in the battery itself is Tesla's own service: Tesla support through the app, and Tesla's warranty where it applies. Many alerts turn out to sit outside the battery, in the wifi, a breaker or the solar inverter, and those we can sort on the visit.

We do this work in Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, Gawler, the Barossa, the Fleurieu, Murray Bridge and Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, or North Brisbane, Caboolture, Bribie Island, the Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Gympie in Queensland only. Outside those areas, everything above still applies: take the alert, its meaning and the urgency to a licensed electrician near you, or to Tesla support through the app.

Where these Tesla Powerwall error codes come from

Every Tesla Powerwall code on this page was read from the maker's own manual wherever one survives (93 per cent of them). Where only a secondary copy survives, the row says "best effort" and so does the lookup. The numbers match the references in the code table.

[1]
Tesla Support, System Alerts and Notifications10 codes, from the maker's own document
[2]
Powerwall 2 Owner's Manual and Safety Instructions3 codes, from the maker's own document
[3]
Tesla Support3 codes, from the maker's own document
[4]
Tesla Powerwall 3 LED Behavior (installer guide)2 codes, from the maker's own document
[5]
Tesla Support, Get Help and Service for Your Powerwall2 codes, 1 of 2 from the maker's own document
[6]
Tesla Support, Internet Connectivity2 codes, from the maker's own document
[7]
Powerwall 3 Owner's Manual and Safety Instructions1 code, from the maker's own document
[8]
Tesla Australia support pages (Powerwall only1 code, best effort, from a secondary copy
[9]
Tesla Support, Powerwall Calibration1 code, from the maker's own document

Tables last updated 21 October 2026

Tesla Powerwall error code questions, answered

How do I read a Tesla Powerwall error code?

Powerwall alerts are words, not numbers. In the Tesla app they arrive as a notification or a banner, and the Support tab lists them. Match the wording to the table, like Meter Offline or Waiting for Solar. On the unit, a Powerwall 2’s side light flashing, or a Powerwall 3’s logo flashing red, means a fault is present.

What does Tesla Powerwall Gateway Offline mean?

Gateway Offline is “gateway or powerwall offline in the app”. The Tesla app cannot reach the Backup Gateway, so the power flow screen is greyed out or blank and the Gateway may beep. The Powerwall keeps working and still backs up the house; what has usually dropped is the home wifi or internet. Tesla’s troubleshooting lives in the app (Support, then Troubleshoot) and hands you to Tesla support if needed. Not during a grid outage or extreme weather. We rate it wait and watch. See it in the table.

What does Tesla Powerwall Breaker Open mean?

Breaker Open is “powerwall breaker open”. The AC breaker joining the Powerwall to the house is off, so it cannot charge or operate; the app sends a Breaker Open alert and the Powerwall’s LED is off. Tesla’s step is to switch the breaker back on and restart from the app. If it trips again, or there is smoke, a burning smell or heat damage at the switchboard, leave it off and contact Tesla support or your installer. We rate it worth a look. See it in the table.

Do you cover my area?

We work in Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, Gawler, the Barossa, the Fleurieu, Murray Bridge and Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, or North Brisbane, Caboolture, Bribie Island, the Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Gympie in Queensland. Check your postcode to be sure. Outside those areas, this page still tells you what your code means and how urgent it is, and a licensed electrician near you can take it from there.

What does it cost to have a Tesla Powerwall looked at?

For homes in our service area, the phone diagnosis is free. If it needs a visit, there is a callout fee, and it is credited against any work we do.

Will you work on a Tesla Powerwall you did not install?

Yes, if it is in our service area. Most of our repair work is on systems someone else installed. We test the whole system, not just the battery on the wall.

Is my Powerwall still under warranty?

It may be, and warranty work goes through Tesla support. Talk to us first and we will tell you which: what we can check on the visit, and when it should go straight to Tesla. Keep the Gateway online in the meantime, because Tesla notes that long spells without internet can affect the warranty.

Can I reset my Powerwall myself?

Only through the Tesla app. Its Support tab has a Troubleshoot button for most alerts, and the only things it may ask you to touch are the Powerwall’s side switch and a clearly labelled Powerwall breaker. Never open the Powerwall or the Gateway, and if a breaker trips again, leave it off.

Where do the codes on this page come from?

From Tesla’s own support pages and the Powerwall 2 and Powerwall 3 owner’s manuals, wherever they cover an alert. One row, about the Tesla Solar Inverter, is a note drawn from Tesla’s Australian support pages rather than a fault list, and is marked best effort. Each code in the table carries a numbered reference to its document in the source list.

Written by

Joe Deionno

Started in 2017 after years of subcontracting and seeing the dodgy operators at work; set out to be the installer people could trust. Oversees every install in both states.

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