What happens during a blackout?

If you have a solar battery with backup capability, your system automatically switches to battery power when the grid goes down. Here is what to expect, and what to check if it does not work the way you expected.

What to expect during a blackout:

1. Only your backup circuits stay on. When your system was installed, specific circuits (usually lights, the fridge and some power points) were connected to backup. Large appliances like ovens, air conditioners and pool pumps are normally not backed up.

2. The switchover is usually quick, but depending on your system it can take anywhere from instant to a few seconds. Some sensitive electronics may restart when it happens.

3. On most systems your solar keeps working during the day and recharges the battery, so with sensible use you can ride out extended outages.

If backup power does not come on: check your battery has charge in your monitoring app, and turn off large appliances in case the backup circuit has been overloaded - overloading can trip the backup supply. If the battery has charge and backup still is not working, contact us.

When the grid comes back: your system should switch back automatically within a few minutes. If your app still shows the system in backup or off-grid mode an hour after power is restored, contact us and we will help you reset it.

Tip: many systems let you set a backup reserve - a percentage of the battery that is always kept aside for blackouts. If storms are forecast, consider setting it higher for a few days.

Still having trouble? Email service@brightearthsolar.com.au with your name, address and a description of the problem, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.