Read the manual thoroughly and understand all of the instructions, cautions, and warnings before using this equipment. If any section of the manual is not understood, contact your nearest authorized dealer, or contact Generac Customer Service at 1-888-436-3722 (1-888-GENERAC), or www.generac.com with any questions or concerns.

Why is my home standby generator not exercising or exercising at the wrong time?

This article helps troubleshoot why your home standby generator is either not exercising or exercising at an unexpected time. Follow the steps below to identify and attempt to resolve the issue.

Environment

This article applies to Generac home standby generators.

On this page

• Exercise issues and troubleshooting
  • Scenario 1: Fault alarm present
  • Scenario 2: Exercise schedule timing issue
  • Steps to check and resolve timing issues
• When to call a Generac Independent Authorized Service Dealer (IASD)
• Additional resources

Note: Exercise time and frequency settings are available in the Mobile Link app for Next Generation series generators, and in the control panel for Guardian series generators.

Exercise issues and troubleshooting

Scenario 1: Fault alarm present

If your generator is not exercising as expected, the most common cause is a fault alarm that has been triggered and prevents the generator from running.

• Whenever a fault alarm is present in Mobile Link or in the generator's controller, the generator will remain shut down until the issue is resolved. The alarm can be manually cleared at the controller:
  • How Do I Clear an Error or Alarm Code On My Home Standby Generator?
• Symptoms: The LED indicator light will be RED or YELLOW, and an error code message will be displayed within Mobile Link or on the generator's control panel.

LED indicator key

• Green: Ready/Auto—no active faults
• Yellow: Maintenance required/attention needed
• Red: Alarm/shutdown—generator will not run until resolved
• For more detailed LED status information, see: What Do the Green, Yellow, Blue and Red Status Indicator Lights Mean on Home Standby Generators?

Action steps

• Verify the generator is in AUTO and the generator’s main line circuit breaker (generator disconnect) is ON. The generator will not exercise if it is OFF or not in AUTO.
• Identify the alarm code displayed in Mobile Link or at the generator's control panel.
• For Guardian series generators, you may need to unlock the generator (if locked) and access the control panel display.
• Take note of the error code and refer to your owner's manual for further information and next steps. For additional information on common home standby error codes see, Where can I find a list of error codes for my generator?

Note: If the generator is turned off, it will not exercise. It must be in AUTO mode to exercise as scheduled.

Scenario 2: Exercise schedule timing issue

Use this section if your generator is not exercising at the expected time, or it is exercising at an unexpected time or frequency.

Steps to check and resolve timing issues

• Verify that the generator's date and time are correctly set (this is done automatically if connected via Mobile Link). After seasonal time changes (Daylight Saving Time) or a prolonged outage/battery service, recheck the clock. Daylight savings updates automatically if the generator is connected via Mobile Link. See: How to Change the Date/Time of My Generator?
• Controllers display time in 24-hour format or Military Time (e.g., 13:00). If you compare to AM/PM schedules, convert accordingly.
• During installation and initial setup, the exercise time can be incorrect if the controller time was entered inaccurately.
• Check the exercise time, day, and frequency in Mobile Link or at the generator's control panel, and confirm they match the desired schedule.
  • How Do I Set the Scheduled Generator Exercise Date and Time?
• Confirm whether the exercise time and frequency are set to the expected values.
• The exercise frequency for 10 kW and above can be set to weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
• Review the last exercise time in Mobile Link and in the run log (on Evolution 1 & 2 controllers) to confirm when the generator last exercised. See: How to view generator status history in Mobile Link
• For Guardian series generators with an Evolution 1 & 2 controller that have not been connected via Mobile Link, the date and time can be adjusted in the generator control panel. If you have a Next Generation series generator with a Power Zone 200 controller, date and time can synchronize from your phone when using the Field Pro application.

Note: Some Next Generation models use Smart Exercise, which may skip a scheduled exercise if the generator has already run recently. This can appear as a missed or shifted exercise window. See: What is Smart Exercise in Mobile Link?

When to call a Generac Independent Authorized Service Dealer (IASD)

If the following steps have been verified, contact your local Generac IASD for further diagnosis. Use our dealer locator to find a nearby provider.

• The time and date are correctly set.
• The exercise time and frequency are correctly set.
• The generator is in AUTO with a GREEN LED, and no errors are present.
• The generator's run log does not show an exercise event at the selected time.

Additional resources

• What Is a Generator Exercise?
• Can I Change the Exercise Cycle Duration?
• Can I Configure My Home Standby Generator to Exercise Under Load?
• Will My HSB Generator Still Exercise When It is In the Off Position?
• What Does the Exercise Timer Do on a Home Standby Generator?