Lights not working after a power outage?
The power came back on and the lights didn't. Switches do nothing, scenes have vanished, or some rooms work and others don't. In an automated home this is usually recoverable, and it's usually not a hardware failure.
Leave your number and we'll call you
Your name and number is all we need. Tell us what it's doing if you like, and we'll tell you what's likely involved before anyone comes out.
Rather talk now? Call 0479 122 450
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Why a blackout does this
An automated lighting system holds two things: the hardware that switches the circuits, and the programming that tells it what to do. A power event can disturb the second without damaging the first.
- Presets, scenes and schedules drop out while the switchgear stays healthy
- A controller or gateway fails to restart cleanly and needs to be brought back manually
- A surge damages one module on the bus, which stops the whole network communicating
- The system restarts into a default state that looks broken but is simply unconfigured
A house full of dead lights doesn't mean a house full of dead equipment.
What to check before calling
Check the switchboard. Look for tripped breakers or safety switches and reset any that have gone, once. Note whether the indicator lights on the automation modules are lit. That's useful information for us.
Try a different room. If some areas work and others don't, the fault is likely one module or circuit. If nothing works anywhere, it's more likely the controller or the bus.
Beyond that, call rather than pulling things apart. Bus wiring looks like ordinary cable and isn't.
What the repair usually involves
We test the network, read what programming survived, and identify whether the fault is hardware or software before quoting anything.
If the programming is gone, we rebuild it, including from scratch where the original file is lost. If a module has failed, it's replaced and programmed back in. Most of these jobs are resolved in one visit. System detail: C-Bus and Dynalite.
What a service call costs
- $330
- to attend, including the first hour on site
- $198
- per hour after the first hour, in 30 minute blocks
The $330 is credited against the repair if you go ahead with it, and we quote the repair before we start it. All prices include GST. No travel charge, and nothing on the invoice you haven't agreed to.
Questions we get asked
Will my scenes and settings come back on their own?
Sometimes, after a full power cycle. More often they need to be reloaded from the programming file, or rebuilt if no file exists.
Is the system damaged?
Usually not. In most blackout callouts the hardware is healthy and the problem is configuration. Surge damage happens, but it's the exception.
Some rooms work and others don't. What does that mean?
Generally a single failed module or circuit rather than a whole-system fault. That's good news, and usually a cheaper repair.
Should I install surge protection?
Worth considering if you've had repeated events. Switchboard surge protection is inexpensive compared with replacing automation modules.
Where we attend
Servicing across the Northern Beaches, the Eastern Suburbs, the Lower and Upper North Shore and the Inner West, from Palm Beach and Mosman to Point Piper, Vaucluse, Wahroonga and Balmain.
Tell us what it's doing
Describe the symptoms and we'll tell you what's likely involved before anyone comes out.