Start here
A power station that appears dead is usually protecting itself, not broken. Work through these in order before assuming a fault — most people find the answer in the first three.
1. It went into low-voltage protection
The single most common cause. A battery run flat and then left flat can drop below the voltage its management system will wake from. It looks completely dead — no lights, no response to the power button.
Fix: plug it into AC and leave it for several hours. Many units will not show any sign of life for the first while. Do not conclude it is dead until it has been on charge overnight.
This is why storage matters. Leaving a battery at 0% for months is the fastest way to kill it. Store around 50–60% and top it up every few months.
2. It is too cold to charge
LiFePO4 must not be charged below freezing, and good units simply refuse rather than damage themselves. A station left in a van or garage overnight in winter will often decline to charge until it warms.
Fix: bring it indoors, let it reach room temperature, try again.
3. The load exceeds the inverter
If it powers on but shuts off the moment you plug something in, that is overload protection. Remember startup surge — a fridge or power tool can briefly pull two to three times its running wattage.
Fix: check the appliance rating against the station’s continuous output. See what size power station do I need.
4. The AC output is switched off
Almost every station has a separate button for the AC section. Plugging something in with AC off produces exactly nothing and looks like a fault.
5. Solar input is out of range
Panels connected but nothing charging usually means voltage outside the accepted window — too low to start, or too high and refused. Panel voltage rises in cold bright conditions, which catches people out. See how to size a solar system.
6. It needs a firmware update or a reset
App-connected units occasionally behave oddly until updated. Most also have a reset — typically holding the power button for 10–15 seconds.
When it genuinely is a fault
If it has had a full night on AC, is at room temperature, and still shows nothing, contact the manufacturer. Warranty support is one of the real reasons to buy from an established brand rather than the cheapest listing — see all brands.
Do not open it. A large lithium battery is not a user-serviceable item, and opening it voids the warranty at best.