Alert Guide#
This page provides an overview of the different alert definitions available in the Octave.energy Cloud Platform and explains their meaning, root causes, diagnosis, and possible resolution paths.
Need help with alerts?
In case of doubt, contact your installer, or Octave directly at support@octave.energy and our team will guide you through the resolution steps.
BESS - BMS Alert#
This alert is triggered when the BMS state is not OK for any battery in the BESS plant. When this occurs, the BESS may operate at reduced power, work sub-optimally, or become completely unavailable.
BMS States#
The table below provides an overview of the possible BMS states and their meaning:
| BMS State | Description |
|---|---|
OK | System is operating normally. |
STARTUP | Battery is starting up. |
ALERT | An alert is active, but the system can continue operating. |
ALERT — NO CHARGE | An alert prevents charging, but discharging may still be possible. |
ALERT — NO DISCHARGE | An alert prevents discharging, but charging may still be possible. |
ALERT — STOP | An alert has halted the system. |
EMERGENCY | Emergency condition detected. For Octave Circulars, this causes the contactors to open immediately and the emergency light to turn on. |
ERROR | Error detected. The BESS stops operating. |
SHUTDOWN | Controlled BMS shutdown. The inverter should also stop. |
UNKNOWN / COMMUNICATION ERROR | Unknown state reported — usually caused by a communication glitch. |
When the BMS state is not OK, always check the accompanying status_message for details on the fault and possible resolution steps.
Status Messages#
Octave One#
Below are the most common alert status messages for Octave One systems:
| Status Message | Resolution Path |
|---|---|
OK | System is operating normally. |
CELL DISCHARGE UNDERVOLTAGE | A cell has been deeply discharged below the safe voltage level. The BESS should automatically correct this by recharging the cell back into a safe range. |
TOTAL VOLTAGE DISCHARGE UNDERVOLTAGE | The battery string voltage has fallen below safe limits. The BESS should automatically correct this by recharging. |
BATTERY OVERTEMPERATURE | The battery is overheated. The system may reduce power output until it cools down. No manual action required. |
BATTERY UNDERTEMPERATURE | The battery is too cold. The system may reduce power until it warms up to a safe level. No manual action required. |
SOC TOO LOW | State of charge (SoC) has dropped below 5% (minimum allowed). The BESS should automatically recharge to recover. |
LIQUID COOLING ALARM | Issue detected with the liquid cooling unit. Further inspection may be required. |
DOOR OPEN | Battery cabinet door is open. The system remains operational but the door should be closed for safety. |
UNKNOWN | Unknown status received from the BMS — likely a communication glitch. |
MISSING / BMS NOT COMMUNICATING | No communication with the BMS — likely caused by a loose or disconnected communication cable. |
FLOOD WARNING | The water detection sensor has been triggered. This indicates the presence of water or moisture inside the cabinet. Please inspect the cabinet to confirm that no water or moisture is present. Possible causes include moisture ingress or a leak in the cooling circuit. |
LIGHTNING STRIKE | The surge protection device (SPD) has been activated following an overvoltage event.This may be caused by a lightning strike. If this is unlikely, please check whether the SPD has indicated a fault via its fault contact. Contact Octave for further assistance. |
SMOKE DETECTED | This alarm is triggered when the smoke detector (normally open contact) is activated. If there is any indication of an actual smoke or fire risk, immediately evacuate the premises and follow your organization’s fire alarm protocol. |
FIRE ALARM | This alarm is triggered when a high concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) or hydrogen (H₂) is detected inside the cabinet. |
When there is a risk of fire, immediately evacuate the premises and follow your organization's fire alarm protocol.
Octave Circular#
Below are the most common alert status messages for Octave Circular systems:
| Status Message | Resolution Path |
|---|---|
OK | System is operating normally. |
COMMUNICATION ERROR | Communication issue with the slave BMS of the battery modules. Requires troubleshooting by Octave. |
OVER TEMPERATURE WARNING | The battery is overheated. The system may reduce power output until it cools down. No manual action required. |
UNDER TEMPERATURE ALARM | The battery is too cold. The system may reduce power until it warms up to a safe level. No manual action required. |
OVER VOLTAGE ALARM | A cell voltage has risen above safe limits. The BESS should automatically correct this by discharging. |
UNDER VOLTAGE ALARM | A cell voltage has dropped below safe limits. The BESS should automatically correct this by recharging. |
COOLING ERROR | Issue detected with the liquid cooling unit. Further inspection may be required. |
MANUAL SWITCH OPEN | The manual DC switch is open, preventing the battery from operating. |
CONTACTOR ERROR | Fault detected when switching the contactors. Requires troubleshooting by Octave. |
PRECHARGING ERROR | Issue during the startup procedure of the BESS. Requires troubleshooting by Octave. |
FIRE DETECTED | The fire detection system has been activated. This may be due to one of the following: |
| → Presence of carbon monoxide (CO) | |
| → Detection of heat or smoke | |
| The activation of the system may also trigger the fire extinguishing unit, which releases a visible white powder. If there is any indication of an actual fire risk, immediately evacuate the premises and follow your organization’s fire alarm protocol. | |
EMERGENCY STOP | The emergency stop button has been pressed. The BESS will remain shut down and cannot resume operation until the button is released. |
Site/FCR Meter Unreachable#
These alerts are triggered when the corresponding energy meter becomes unreachable:
- The Site meter is the device measuring both the site offtake and injection close to the grid connection point.
- The FCR meter is the device measuring only the BESS power flows, required for grid services (FCR) data reporting.
What to Do#
- Verify that the power meter is connected to the local network.
- If the energy meter has a local web interface, log in to check for: device status, alert messages, or any hints on the root cause of the issue.
Take corrective actions where possible.
Impact#
- The EMS cannot monitor or enforce contractual and physical site limits.
- The BESS automatically switches to stand-by mode, pausing control until the issue is resolved.
BESS - PCS Alert#
This alert is triggered when the PCS (or battery inverter) state is not OK for any BESS on site. When this occurs, the BESS may become completely unavailable.
When the PCS state is in fault, always check the accompanying status_message for details on the fault and possible resolution steps.
Status Messages#
Octave Ones#
Below are the most common PCS alert status messages for Octave Ones:
| Status Message | Resolution Path |
|---|---|
OK | System is operating normally. |
EEPROM FAILURE | Hardware or firmware malfunction. A reset of the inverter is required — see steps here. |
EMS COMMUNICATION FAILURE | Internal communication issue between the PCS and BMS. Octave can resolve this remotely. |
PHASE A/B/C UNDERVOLTAGE | No AC voltage detected — likely caused by a tripped AC breaker. |
BATTERY UNDERVOLTAGE | No DC voltage detected — likely an issue with the BMS contactors. Octave is investigating. |
Octave Circulars#
Below are the most common PCS alert status messages for Octave Circulars:
| Status Message | Resolution Path |
|---|---|
OK | System is operating normally. |
AC DISCONNECT | PCS disconnects when there is an issue between the PCS and BMS. Octave can resolve this remotely. |
AC UNDER VOLT | No AC voltage detected — likely caused by a tripped AC breaker. |
AC OVER TEMP | Over-temperature alarm. The PCS may continue operating at reduced power. |
ERROR PRECHARGE | Precharge sequence failed. Octave can resolve this remotely. |
OVER FREQUENCY | Incorrect frequency measurements detected on the AC side. Likely a glitch. Please check if the AC breaker has tripped. |
EMS - Controller Unreachable#
This alert is triggered when no data from the controller has been streamed to the Octave cloud for 30 minutes.
Common Causes#
The most frequent reasons for this alert are:
- ⚡ Power outage — the circuit breaker supplying the Octave controller may have tripped.
- 🌐 Internet connectivity issue — the site may have lost its internet connection.
In rare occasions:
- ☁️ External cloud service downtime — a temporary outage affecting Octave’s cloud dependencies (e.g., databases, servers) can trigger this alert. When occurring, Octave will send an email to inform about the downtime.
Impact#
- If the internet connection is lost, the battery continues operating offline as long as the site meter and the BESS remain reachable over the local network.
- However, cloud-based applications (e.g., FCR, imbalance steering) may be disrupted during this time.
Resolution#
- Verify that the site has an active internet connection.
- Check whether the circuit breaker powering the Octave controller has tripped.
- Restore power or connectivity as needed.
Once the issue is resolved, the controller will automatically backfill the missing data to the cloud, and any gaps in the power flows will be filled.
PV - Asset Unreachable#
This alert is triggered when a PV asset (such as an inverter, data manager, or logger) becomes unreachable.
What to Do#
- Log in to the local web interface / app / OEM portal of your solar inverters.
- Review the latest device status for clues on why the asset is no longer reachable over the local network.
- If the cause is unclear, escalate the issue directly with the OEM support team.
Impact#
- PV monitoring may function in a degraded state.
- PV curtailment is also at risk, since one or more inverters may not be reachable.
FAQ#
Where can I find the serial number of the Octave controller?
It corresponds to the serial number of the Revolution PI — this is visible on the device itself.
Serial number on the Revolution PI
Where can I find the serial number of the Battery Cabinet?
For Octave Ones, the serial number is printed on the nameplate of the cabinet, located at the back.
Serial number on the Battery Cabinet