Compressor Fault Codes
Look up fault codes for industrial air compressors — rotary screw, recip, and centrifugal — across Atlas Copco, Sullair, Ingersoll Rand, Kaeser, Gardner Denver, Quincy, and more.
Communication with the paired twin-unit controller is lost.
- CAN/communication cable disconnected
- Twin unit powered off
- Controller board failure
- Check CAN bus wiring between units
- Verify twin unit power and status
- Inspect controller connectors
An active alarm exists on the paired twin unit.
- Fault on twin unit
- Sensor failure on twin unit
- Communication issue
- View alarm log on twin unit display
- Clear underlying fault on twin unit
- Check wiring between controllers
The paired twin unit has stopped unexpectedly.
- Fault shutdown on twin unit
- E-stop pressed on twin unit
- Power loss to twin unit
- Check twin unit display for fault message
- Verify twin unit power
- Reset fault on twin unit
Main circuit breaker has tripped or is in fault state.
- Motor overload
- Short circuit in power wiring
- Breaker failure or mis-trip
- Check breaker for trip condition
- Inspect motor for overload cause
- Verify wiring integrity
OilXpert automatic oil-level actuator failed to complete its homing sequence.
- Actuator mechanical obstruction
- Actuator motor failure
- Position sensor failure
- Check OilXpert actuator for mechanical binding
- Inspect sensor wiring
- Contact Atlas Copco service
AirXpert inlet valve actuator failed to complete its homing sequence.
- Inlet valve actuator sticking
- Position sensor failure
- Actuator motor fault
- Check inlet valve for mechanical freedom
- Verify actuator wiring and power
- Inspect position sensor
Breaker status input indicates an unexpected open condition.
- Breaker auxiliary contact fault
- Wiring to controller broken
- Intermittent contact
- Check auxiliary contact on breaker
- Verify wiring from breaker to controller
- Test contact continuity
Emergency stop pushbutton activated or reference voltage to E-stop input is missing.
- E-stop button physically pressed
- E-stop wiring open/broken
- Controller missing reference voltage
- Check if E-stop button is pulled out/reset
- Inspect E-stop circuit wiring
- Verify 24 V reference voltage at E-stop input
Compressor received an immediate stop command (no ramp-down).
- Remote stop input activated
- Sequence controller issued stop
- Control wiring fault
- Check remote-start/stop wiring
- Verify sequence controller commands
- Inspect digital input wiring
Separator vessel pressure exceeded first warning threshold.
- Downstream demand dropped suddenly
- Pressure setpoint incorrect
- Inlet valve not unloading properly
- Verify pressure setpoints in controller
- Check inlet valve operation
- Inspect downstream piping for blockage
Separator vessel pressure exceeded shutdown threshold.
- Inlet valve failed to close on unload
- Pressure transducer failure
- Safety valve seat leaking
- Pressure setpoint too low
- Check inlet valve / solenoid operation
- Verify pressure transducer reading accuracy
- Inspect safety relief valve
- Review setpoint settings
Pressure transducer signal is out of range (open/short circuit).
- Sensor wiring open or shorted
- Transducer failed
- Connector corrosion
- Check transducer wiring continuity
- Measure transducer output (4–20 mA)
- Replace transducer if out of range
Network/working pressure has fallen below the first alarm threshold.
- Excessive air demand
- Air leak in distribution system
- Inlet valve not fully opening
- Check air demand vs compressor capacity
- Inspect piping for leaks
- Verify inlet valve operation
Network/working pressure alarm 2 — second threshold exceeded.
- Persistent high demand
- Multiple compressors offline
- Pressure setpoint misconfigured
- Verify number of running compressors
- Review pressure setpoints
- Check for large air leaks
Regulating pressure transducer signal is out of valid range.
- Transducer wiring fault
- Transducer failure
- Connector issue
- Check transducer wiring
- Measure 4–20 mA signal
- Replace transducer if faulty
Compressor air discharge pressure exceeded first alarm level.
- Blocked downstream network
- Pressure setpoint too high
- Minimum pressure valve stuck closed
- Check downstream isolation valves
- Review discharge pressure setpoints
- Inspect min. pressure valve operation
Compressor air discharge pressure exceeded second (higher) alarm level.
- Downstream blockage
- Inlet valve not unloading
- Safety valve set too high
- Check for blockage in discharge piping
- Test inlet valve unload function
- Verify safety valve setting
Discharge pressure transducer circuit fault (open/short).
- Sensor wiring break
- Transducer short circuit
- Connector failure
- Inspect wiring from transducer to controller
- Check connector pins for corrosion
- Test transducer signal
Oil level in the separator tank has dropped to the first warning threshold.
- Oil consumption higher than normal
- Oil leak in system
- Separator element saturated
- Check oil level sight glass
- Inspect for external oil leaks
- Check separator element delta-pressure
Oil level critically low — at or near minimum acceptable level.
- Significant oil leak
- Separator element failure
- Extended operation without oil checks
- Immediately check oil level and add oil if safe
- Inspect for major oil leaks
- Check separator element condition
Oil level sensor signal is out of range.
- Sensor wiring open
- Sensor failed
- Connector corrosion in oil environment
- Inspect sensor wiring
- Test sensor resistance/signal
- Replace sensor if indicated
Pressure dewpoint sensor reading exceeded first warning limit.
- Dryer not functioning optimally
- High inlet humidity
- Dryer undersized for current load
- Check dryer operation and refrigerant level
- Verify inlet air conditions
- Clean dryer coils
Controller backup battery voltage is low.
- Battery end of life
- Battery discharge
- Controller board fault
- Replace controller backup battery
- Check battery holder for corrosion
- Verify controller firmware date/time settings
Battery voltage detected above normal range.
- External voltage source on battery circuit
- Controller board fault
- Incorrect battery type installed
- Check battery type vs specification
- Inspect for external voltage on battery circuit
- Contact Atlas Copco service
Interstage pressure (between LP and HP stages) is outside normal range — first alarm.
- HP element restriction
- Interstage pipe leak
- LP element capacity issue
- Check HP inlet valves and cooling
- Inspect interstage piping for leaks
- Review LP element condition
Interstage pressure exceeded second (higher) alarm threshold.
- Blocked HP inlet
- Interstage cooler fouled
- HP element failure
- Check HP element and valves
- Clean interstage cooler
- Verify interstage pressure transducer
Low-pressure element outlet temperature is approaching the warning limit.
- Fouled oil cooler
- Low oil level
- High ambient temperature
- Failed thermostatic valve
- Check oil cooler fin condition
- Verify oil level
- Check ambient temperature
- Test thermostatic valve
Low-pressure element temperature has reached second warning level.
- Severely fouled cooler
- Thermostatic valve stuck closed
- Oil circulation restriction
- Clean oil cooler immediately
- Test thermostatic valve bypass function
- Check oil filter delta pressure
LP element temperature exceeded shutdown limit — compressor stops to prevent overheating damage.
- Completely fouled oil cooler
- Thermostatic valve failure
- Extremely high ambient temperature
- Oil starvation
- Clean oil cooler and fan
- Replace thermostatic valve if failed
- Verify ambient temperature within spec
- Check oil level and quality
LP element temperature sensor wiring is monitored for short-circuit and wire break.
- Sensor wiring break
- Sensor shorted
- Connector corrosion near airend
- Check sensor wiring for damage
- Test resistance of sensor per chart
- Replace sensor if out of range
Ambient temperature around the compressor is above the first warning threshold.
- Inadequate ventilation of compressor room
- Hot air recirculation
- Summer peak conditions
- Check air inlets and outlets are clear
- Verify room ventilation fan operation
- Measure ambient vs compressor spec
Ambient temperature exceeded second warning/shutdown threshold.
- Room ventilation failure
- Blocked compressor air inlet
- Extreme outdoor temperature
- Verify ventilation louvers are open
- Clear any blockage around compressor
- Add supplemental ventilation if needed
Ambient temperature sensor circuit is open or shorted.
- Sensor wiring damage
- Sensor failure
- Connector loose
- Check sensor wiring continuity
- Measure sensor resistance
- Replace if out of spec
Air discharge temperature has reached first warning level.
- Fouled aftercooler
- High ambient temperature
- Low oil level
- Clean aftercooler
- Check ambient temperature
- Verify oil level
Air discharge temperature exceeded second (shutdown) threshold.
- Aftercooler severely fouled
- Cooling fan failure
- Oil cooler failure
- Clean aftercooler fins
- Check cooling fan operation
- Verify oil cooler function
Air discharge temperature sensor is open or shorted.
- Sensor wiring break
- Sensor failed
- Connector corrosion
- Inspect wiring near hot discharge
- Test sensor
- Replace sensor
High-pressure element outlet temperature has reached first warning threshold.
- Oil cooler restriction
- Thermostatic valve partially stuck
- High load conditions
- Check oil cooler condition
- Test thermostatic valve
- Review operating conditions
HP element temperature approaching shutdown limit.
- Oil cooler severely fouled
- Thermostatic valve failure
- Oil circulation blocked
- Clean HP oil cooler
- Replace thermostatic valve
- Check oil filter
HP element temperature exceeded shutdown limit.
- Complete cooler failure
- Oil starvation
- Bearing failure in element
- Immediately shut down and inspect cooler
- Check oil level and pressure
- Inspect HP element bearings
HP element temp sensor is monitored for short-circuit and wire break.
- Sensor wiring break
- Sensor shorted
- Sensor failed
- Check sensor wiring
- Measure sensor resistance/voltage
- Replace sensor
Aftercooler air outlet temperature above first warning threshold.
- Fouled aftercooler
- High ambient temperature
- Reduced cooling airflow
- Clean aftercooler fins
- Check cooling fan speed
- Verify ambient conditions
Aftercooler air outlet temperature exceeded second alarm level.
- Severe cooler fouling
- Fan motor failure
- Recirculation of hot exhaust air
- Thorough clean aftercooler
- Test fan motor
- Check ventilation layout
Aftercooler temperature sensor signal out of range.
- Sensor wiring fault
- Sensor failure
- Connector issue
- Check wiring
- Test sensor
- Replace if failed
Aftercooler air temperature is dangerously low — risk of freezing condensate.
- Extremely low ambient temperature
- Cold start in freezing environment
- Cooling water flow too high (water-cooled units)
- Ensure room temperature is above freezing
- Check drain valves for ice blockage
- Adjust cooling water flow (water-cooled)
Ambient temperature sensor detected high temperature alarm.
- Poor room ventilation
- Air recirculation in compressor room
- Hot weather conditions
- Check ventilation louvers and fans
- Verify room cooling
- Review ambient vs design limits
Mid-pressure element temperature exceeded first warning level (3-stage units).
- MP oil cooler fouled
- Thermostatic valve problem
- High ambient
- Clean MP cooler
- Check thermostatic valve
- Verify ambient conditions
MP element temperature sensor circuit fault.
- Wiring break
- Sensor failure
- Connector issue
- Check wiring
- Test sensor
- Replace if required
Reciprocating cylinder 1 temperature reached first warning level.
- Valve wear or leak in cylinder 1
- Insufficient lubrication
- Cooling water or air restriction
- Check cylinder 1 valve condition
- Verify lubrication to cylinder
- Check cooling
Cylinder 1 temperature at shutdown threshold.
- Valve failure
- Lack of cooling
- Lubrication failure
- Shut down, inspect cylinder 1 valves
- Check cooling
- Verify lubrication
Reciprocating cylinder 2 temperature warning.
- Cylinder 2 valve wear
- Cooling restriction
- Lubrication issue
- Inspect cylinder 2 valves
- Check cooling flow
- Verify oil lubrication