Fallout – Spotlight turrets keep going dark

fallout-4

To bolster my settlement defense, I recently added some spotlight turrets in Sanctuary to sit alongside the machine gun turrets. I connected them to power and watched as they came to life, rotating and shining bright.

After fast travelling out and doing some exploring, I returned to Sanctuary to find the turrets unlit. They are still connected to power, everything looks wired properly, but they are simply off. By going into Workshop mode, picking up, and placing the spotlight back in the same exact spot, it turns back on. This happens every time I leave and return to the settlement.

Power is also not the issue… I have more than enough power to light these. Everything else is properly lit upon returning to the settlement besides these turrets. I actually built a separate Medium Generator (generating 5 power), connected it solely to 2 spotlight turrets (requires 4 power), and after initially working, were off when I returned to the settlement.

Is there any reason these spotlight turrets keep turning off?

Edit: Taking a closer look at these malfunctioning turrets, I realized they are actually rotating back and forth, so that portion of their functionality is working, and makes me further believe this isn't any issue with power. They are just rotating with the light off.

Best Answer

After some experimentation, and expanding on information in the comments:

Short answer

  1. Because of bug.
  2. But it doesn't really matter.

Long answer

[The problem]

This happens consistently in my Sanctuary settlement too, the only settlement where I have spotlights installed. I have two spotlight turrets; each is on level ground, and each is right next to its own dedicated generator.

The problem appears to be triggered by the passage of time rather than fast travel itself. For example, a very short fast travel (e.g., to Vault 111 and back) leaves the spotlights on, but a little further (e.g., to Starlight Drive In and back) and they'll turn off.

But most importantly, the problem is only cosmetic.

[The experiment]

Wait until a spotlight turret is in its darkened state, then:

  1. Note that it's still moving; this strongly suggests that the game still considers it to be active.
  2. Go into Workshop mode and notice your settlement's defense number.
  3. Pick the turret up and set it back down. It should be lit now.
  4. Notice your settlement's defense number is the same whether or not the turret is lit, so long as it's moving.

Then, to be extra sure:

  1. Fast travel a good distance, for example, from Sanctuary to Starlight Drive In.
  2. Return to your base. The spotlight should be dark.
  3. Check your settlement's defense number. It's the same.

[So...]

While a little lighting in your settlement would be convenient—not to mention darned pretty—this appears to be a purely cosmetic bug.

You can sleep soundly knowing that those turrets, even when dark, are scaring away bad guys. And you can also sleep soundly because those turrets won't keep shining in your window. (Until Bethesda fixes this bug.)

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