If your Droplet PLUS is showing as offline in Stormcloud, this guide will help you identify why and, in most cases, get it back online yourself.
The Droplet PLUS is designed for commercial and utility sites. One of its key features is that it can connect to the internet in two ways — either through a wired Ethernet connection to a router, or via the 4G cellular network using a built-in SIM card. This gives it more connectivity options than the Droplet ONE, but it also means there are a few more things to check when something goes wrong.
Note: By default, since October 2023, losing internet connectivity for 12 hours automatically forces an overnight reboot of the Droplet.
Understanding the LED Indicators
The Droplet PLUS has two LED indicators. They are small, but they tell you a lot about what is happening.
For a full LED reference including a video walkthrough, see Droplet PLUS LED Headers.
LED 1 — Internet Connectivity (middle LED)
LED 1 tells you whether your Droplet can reach the SwitchDin server. Think of it as the Droplet's connection status light.
| LED State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Solid green | Online — communicating with SwitchDin servers normally |
| Solid red | No internet access at all |
| Slowly blinking orange | Access Point mode — waiting to be configured, not connected to a network |
LED 2 — Connection Method and Signal Strength (rightmost LED, between the SIM slot and antennas)
LED 2 tells you how your Droplet is connected and how strong that connection is.
| LED State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Solid green | Connected via Ethernet (wired) |
| Constantly blinking green | Connected via 4G cellular — strong signal |
| Constantly blinking orange | Connected via 4G cellular — weak signal |
| Constantly blinking red | Connected via 4G cellular — marginal signal (too weak to read reliably) |
| Off | No connection to SwitchDin server — may be switching between Ethernet and cellular (normal if brief) |
What does a healthy Droplet PLUS look like?
- On Ethernet: LED 1 solid green + LED 2 solid green
- On 4G cellular: LED 1 solid green + LED 2 constantly blinking green
Either of these states means your Droplet is online. You can confirm this in your Stormcloud app.
Troubleshooting by Situation
Situation 1: No LEDs at all
If neither LED is on, the Droplet almost certainly is not receiving power.
- Check the power connection. Make sure the power cable is firmly plugged in at both the Droplet and the power source, and that the power source is switched on.
- Power cycle the Droplet. Disconnect the power cable, wait 30 seconds, then reconnect it. Give the Droplet up to 2 minutes to boot up — the LEDs should start to appear as it initialises.
If you still see no LEDs after these steps, please contact SwitchDin support.
Situation 2: LED 1 is solid red (no internet connection)
A solid red LED 1 means your Droplet has no internet connection at all — neither Ethernet nor cellular is working. Work through these steps in order:
Step 1 — Check the Ethernet connection
If your Droplet is connected to a router via Ethernet, check that the cable is firmly plugged in at both ends — into the Droplet and into a LAN port on the router. Try unplugging and replugging the cable to rule out a loose connection.
Step 2 — Test your internet connection
On a separate device (phone or laptop), check whether the internet is working. If your broader site internet connection is down, your Droplet will not be able to connect via Ethernet. Contact your internet provider if needed — the Droplet should reconnect automatically once the connection is restored.
Step 3 — Power cycle the router
If the internet is working on other devices but the Droplet is still showing red, turn off your router at the wall, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
Step 4 — Restart the Droplet
Disconnect the Droplet's power cable, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Allow up to 5 minutes for it to reconnect.
Step 5 — Check the SIM card
If no Ethernet connection is available and your site relies on cellular, check that a valid SIM card is installed in the Droplet. The SIM slot is located on the side of the unit.
If a SIM is installed, check with your mobile provider that:
- The SIM is active
- The SIM has data available
- Prepaid SIMs have not run out of credit (this is a common cause of cellular dropouts)
If LED 1 is still red after all of these steps, please contact SwitchDin support.
Situation 3: LED 2 is blinking orange or red (weak cellular signal)
If LED 1 is green (the Droplet has a connection) but LED 2 is blinking orange or red, the Droplet is connected via 4G cellular with poor signal quality. A weak signal can cause intermittent dropouts and may explain why the device appears offline in Stormcloud from time to time.
Step 1 — Check the antenna connections
The Droplet PLUS has external antennas. Make sure they are securely screwed on and have not come loose.
Step 2 — Consider the physical environment
Metal enclosures, thick concrete walls, or remote locations can all reduce cellular signal quality. If the Droplet is inside a switchboard, this may be limiting signal strength.
Step 3 — Use Ethernet if possible
A wired Ethernet connection is always more reliable than cellular. The Droplet will automatically prioritise Ethernet when it is available. If you can run an Ethernet cable to the Droplet, this is the best long-term fix for poor cellular signal.
If signal quality remains consistently poor and Ethernet is not an option at the site, please contact SwitchDin support — we may be able to assist with antenna options or investigate coverage at your site.
Situation 4: LED 2 is off (LED 1 green, LED 2 off)
This can happen briefly and normally when the Droplet is switching between Ethernet and cellular — for example, if an Ethernet cable was just disconnected. LED 2 should come back on within a minute or two as it establishes the new connection.
However, if LED 2 stays off for more than a few minutes while LED 1 is green, it may indicate the Droplet is having trouble maintaining its connection to the SwitchDin server.
Try restarting the Droplet — disconnect the power cable, wait 30 seconds, and reconnect. This is often enough to resolve a stuck connection state.
If the issue persists after a restart, please contact SwitchDin support.
Quick Reference Summary
| Situation | What You See | First Steps |
|---|---|---|
| No LEDs | Both LEDs off | Check power, then power cycle |
| No internet | LED 1 red | Check Ethernet, test internet, power cycle router, restart Droplet, check SIM |
| Weak cellular signal | LED 2 blinking orange or red | Check antennas, consider environment, switch to Ethernet if possible |
| Connection switching | LED 1 green, LED 2 off | Wait a few minutes; restart Droplet if it persists |
Still need help?
If you have worked through these steps and your Droplet PLUS is still offline, submit a support request and our team will investigate further.