What is the difference between maintenance reminders, warnings, and alarms?

Generator owners will occasionally see maintenance reminders, warnings, or alarms (also known as error codes) appear on their generator control panel or in Mobile Link. This article explains the meaning of these notifications and the actions required to resolve them.

Environment

This article applies to:

• Generac Next Generation Series 10–28 kW air-cooled standby generators
• Generac Guardian Series 10–26 kW air-cooled generators (2017 to present)

Maintenance reminders, warnings, and alarms

These notifications appear in different places depending on the generator model and controller:

• Mobile Link
• Control panel (Evo 1, Evo 2, Nexus controllers)
• Field Pro (for Generac dealers only)

LED indicator lights on the side of the generator also provide a visual cue: What Do the Green, Yellow, and Red Status Indicator Lights Mean on Home Standby Generators?

Maintenance reminders

• Priority: Low
• LED Color: YELLOW
• Prevents generator from running? No
• Recommended action: Perform the maintenance and clear the reminder: How Do I Clear an Error or Alarm Code On My Home Standby Generator?

Maintenance reminders occur on a set schedule and should only be cleared after maintenance is completed.

• Examples: “CHECK BATTERY,” “SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE DUE”
• Performing regular maintenance helps ensure generator reliability and maintains warranty coverage: How Do I Maintain My Generator?

Warnings

• Priority: Medium
• LED Color: YELLOW
• Prevents generator from running? No, but unresolved issues may escalate to an Alarm.
• Recommended action: Identify and resolve the issue causing the warning.

Warnings indicate operational issues that may affect future performance. They must be resolved to prevent escalation.

• Examples: “CHARGER MISSING AC,” “O2 SENSOR”
• Warnings cannot be dismissed until the root issue is corrected.

Note: Guardian series generators will display a solid YELLOW light. Next Generation series generators will display a flashing YELLOW light.

Alarms

• Priority: High
• LED Color: RED
• Prevents generator from running? Yes
• Recommended actions:
  • Attempt to clear the error: How Do I Clear an Error or Alarm Code?
  • Press the MANUAL button
  • If the code returns, contact a dealer: How Can I Find a Generac Service Dealer in My Area?

Alarms are indicated by a solid RED light and require immediate attention. Most alarms must be resolved by an authorized dealer: What Error Codes Do I Need to Call a Dealer For?

• Examples: “UNDERVOLTAGE,” “RPM SENSE LOSS”
• Some alarms, like Auxiliary Shutdown (2800), can be resolve by the user: Auxiliary Shutdown Code 2800

Note: A solid RED light also appears when the generator is OFF, which can be mistaken for an alarm.

See also

• Where can I find a list of error codes for my generator?
• Maintenance schedule for Generac standby generators
• How to find a Generac service dealer