It must be frightening if your nbn not working after power outage, so we’re here to calm you down, this is not lethal.
Your nbn connection box may not be broken, burnt or defective due to the recent power outage, so let’s explore what’s happening.
If your nbn is not working after a power outage, power cycle the device and check the wiring connections, especially the power cable and outlet. Next follow the troubleshooting steps.
Let’s move further and discuss this in more detail!
Why nbn Box Not Working After Storm?
The first and most important aspect is determining whether the internet service from the nbn box is not working or the entire nbn box is not powered.
You can quickly check this by looking at the “Power LED” on your nbn box and whether it’s lit.
The power light on your nbn box has only two states:
- Working: 🟢(Solid Green)
- Not Working: ⚫(Dull Black)
If your nbn box is working, but you’ve got no internet connection, you check for nbn outages near your area.
It’s likely that after severe weather like a thunderstorm, your devices lose connection with the network, and a power outage occurs.
Note: nbn outages after a power disturbance typically last a few hours!
How to Fix When nbn Not Working After Power Outage?
Info: We recommend waiting at least 5 minutes after the power outage before troubleshooting!
1. Check the nbn Box Status LED
Note: Skip this step if your nbn box is not turning on!
The first step is to check whether the nbn box shows you any signs.
There are quite a few different indicators on the nbn box, but the ones you’re interested in are the “Status,” “Signal” and “Online” lights.
Here’s how these lights may look on different nbn box connection types:
| Connection Type | LED Light | Indication: |
| HFC | “Online” | ON – Connected OFF– Disconnected |
FW | “Status” | 🟢Flashing Green – normal operation 🟢Solid Green – nbn is in test mode 🟠Flashing Amber – turning on/installing |
| “Signal” | 🔴Solid Red – the signal strength is weak 🟠Solid Amber – the signal strength is medium 🟢Solid Green – the signal strength is good | |
| FTTP | “Update” | OFF – no updates are going on 🔴Red – the nbn box couldn’t update 🟢Green – downloading update |
As shown in the table, there are multiple led indications during which you won’t have internet access.
Some of them, like downloading updates, often appear after an outage, so it’s normal.
Note: If your nbn box is in test mode, unplug the device from the power outlet!
2. Reboot Your Network Equipment
If your nbn connection box is not turning on and not working after the power outage, it’s good to unplug your network equipment and wait for a few minutes.
This will discharge the hardware of your network devices completely and provide them with a fresh startup.
Use the following steps to reboot your equipment:
Reboot the nbn Box:
- Turn off the switch and unplug the power cable.
- Then, pull out the cover off the connection box.
- Verify that all the cables are connected securely.
- Wait at least 5 minutes for a complete discharge.
- Then, plug the nbn back in and turn the switch on.
Reboot the Modem:
- Turn “OFF” the switch on your electrical outlet.
- Then, press the power button on your modem.
- Wait for at least 60 seconds for full discharge.
When you turn the power back on, note that your nbn box may take up to 5 minutes to connect to the network.
However, if your nbn box’s “Power” light is “OFF”, then continue troubleshooting!
Info: If this solves your problem, know that many users also report that after a power outage, they must always restart their nbn to reconnect to the network.
3. Plug the nbn in a Different Outlet
The next step is to connect your nbn connection box to a different, proven-to-work outlet, and if possible, use an outlet from another room in your home.
The power outage might have affected one of your primary circuit fuses, impacting the outlets in the room where your nbn box is connected.
Hence, if your fuse is tripped, and there is no power on the electrical sockets, your nbn box will not turn on.
After a power outage, the electrical current may be insufficient throughout all outlets in your home.
To justify this, you should connect a light to the outlet of your nbn box and check for any flickering or weakening.
Using FTTP (Fibre to the Premises)?
If you’re using an FTTP connection, switching to a different outlet wouldn’t be possible, so you must refresh the power by turning off the PowerPoint on the wall.
If you have a battery unit, you will need to disconnect the power cord that connects it to the nbn box.
Note: Power fluctuations in your home may continue for hours after the outage!
4. Check Your Wiring Connections
Another reason your nbn box not working after power outage is a faulty connection between your nbn box and modem.
If your nbn connection box is working, but you’ve got no internet on your connected devices, something with the wiring was likely affected after the outage.
Here’s a guide to checking your nbn wiring connections:
- Unplug the Power adapter of the nbn connection box.
- Disconnect the other cables end from the input port.
- Unplug the Ethernet wire from the “WAN” modem port.
- Disconnect the other end from “Uni-D1” or “Gateway.”
- Check the connectors for bents, breakage, and kinks.
- Switch the Ethernet cable’s sides and plug accordingly.
- Verify that the connectors are plugged in.
When you reconnect the cables, you must wait for a few minutes for the connection to be ready, and your modem to start receiving internet.
Reminder: If you still don’t have internet, double-check for nbn outages!
5. Replace the nbn Power Adapter
The power adapter and cable are the critical points where the current gets highest in case of a power outage.
The impact on your devices appears at the moment when the power kicks back in with a higher voltage, and the first thing to burn is the power adapter.
Hence, before assuming that your nbn box is dead, you need to test with a proven adapter and cable to check whether the nbn box will start working.
You must check the type of the power cable connector, though, since different nbn boxes come with different power equipment.
6. Reset Your nbn Box to Defaults
If your nbn box stopped working after a power outage, and you still don’t have internet even when the power is back, it’s time for a factory reset.
The nbn box will acquire all the settings necessary for the connection automatically, so there are no extra steps involved in the reset.
Follow these steps to factory reset your nbn connection box:
- Locate the “Reset” button on the modem and nbn box.
- Get a paperclip or another pointed object to reach in.
- Hold the Reset button on the device for ~30 seconds.
- The nbn box will shortly reset to factory default settings.
When the nbn box has been reset, you’re ready to check whether the internet will start working and if you have access to the internet.
If your nbn box hasn’t worked ever since the power outage occurred, continue reading further…
7. Disconnect Any Socket Plugs
If you’re using any power plugs such as electrical dividers, smart plugs or anything else that is connected to the outlet, before your nbn box, you must unplug it.
The nbn box must be plugged directly into an outlet without devices in between, which may get burnt and stop working entirely.
So, if you’re using an extender to connect your nbn box, know that the extender may have been lethally damaged by the outage, and that’s why your nbn box is not working.
Tip: Test the power outlet/socket for your nbn box by using a secondary device!
8. Consider Using a UPS (Workaround)
If you live in an area with frequent power outages, getting a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) can be a good investment.
A UPS will provide backup power to your nbn device during an outage, keeping your nbn internet connection active.
While a UPS won’t directly fix nbn connectivity issues after a power outage, it can help maintain a reliable power source for your equipment, reducing the chances of disruptions.
If you are not sure which UPS is suitable for you, you can consult with an IT professional for help.
Note: If the issue persists, seek help at nbn Support.
Quick Recap:
Whenever your nbn not working after a power outage, first unplug and replug the network connection device, check the nbn service status, and inspect the nbn box wiring set-up.
If the issue persists, factory reset the nbn box, test in another outlet or implement a UPS.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.