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Why did my battery not switch over in a blackout?

Short answer. There are several possible reasons, and a web page cannot tell which applies to your home. If your home lost power during a blackout when you expected the battery to keep it on, call us the same day with what you noticed. We will check your settings and set-up.

Not every battery system backs up the home by default. Backup needs equipment and wiring designed for it, and some circuits can be left off backup on purpose. Our standard design backs up the whole home unless you asked us to leave circuits out, and we confirm what is on backup at the site visit.

Safety first. Please do not try to test or reset the system yourself. Never open a switchboard, remove a cover from your battery or inverter, or touch any wiring. Anything beyond the app, a light you can read from a safe distance, or your own router is a job for a licensed electrician. If you see smoke, smell burning, hear arcing or see water on or near the unit: keep everyone away, switch off at your main switch only if it is safe to do so, and call 000 if there is any fire or smoke.

What can stop a battery backing up the home (from the manuals)

  • No Gateway or no backup wiring (Sigenergy). Sigenergy’s backup settings only apply if a Sigen Energy Gateway is configured.
  • Some circuits are not on backup. Partial-home backup is a design choice; for example an EV charger can be left off.
  • The battery was low. Sigenergy’s Backup Reserve is the energy held for outages. GoodWe’s system has an off-grid lower limit: if the battery reaches it during a blackout, the inverter stops supplying the house and recharges from solar before supplying power again.
  • Something went wrong during the outage. Sigenergy’s manual says that if the solar or battery power supply is abnormal during an outage (abnormal solar, insufficient battery and so on), backed-up circuits can still lose power.
  • A fault or a setting. Backup depends on the right modes and protection settings. These are not for owners to change.

What to tell us

  1. The date and approximate time of the blackout, and how long it lasted.
  2. What stayed on and what did not (lights, fridge, power points, air conditioning).
  3. The battery percentage before the blackout, if you remember it.
  4. Any alarm or message in the app, and a screenshot if you can.
  5. What the lights on the unit looked like.

That is enough for us to start. Please do not rely on a battery alone for life-support or critical medical equipment; both Sigenergy and GoodWe warn about this.

See what should happen in a blackout: Sigenergy blackout guide, or read about blackout backup batteries.

When to call us

If we installed your system, call us on 0483 903 020. Our service help for existing customers is free: we start by working through it with you by phone. If you are not yet a customer, a service call is $250 + GST, which covers one hour on site within 20 km of Mullumbimby; travel further out is quoted separately. Contact us or call 0483 903 020 (Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 7am-4pm).

Quick questions

Should my battery have kept everything on?

With our standard full-home design, yes, unless you asked us to leave circuits out. If it did not, we want to know.

Does an offline battery still back up the home?

Being offline does not stop the system working. Backup depends on the set-up and the battery level, not the internet connection.

Could it be because the battery was nearly empty?

Yes, that can limit backup. Sigenergy holds a Backup Reserve for outages, and GoodWe pauses supply at its off-grid lower limit and recharges from solar first.

Who fixes it if it is a problem with the installation?

If we installed it, call us. For existing customers our service help is free, and we will deal with the manufacturer for you where needed.

Sources

Last checked 6 October 2026. Only the manufacturer’s or the network’s own documents are used; app menus change between versions, so if your screen looks different, call us rather than guess.

Related guides: Whole-home vs essential-circuits battery backup

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