Why is my Atlas Copco compressor showing a dewpoint warning?
Short answer: Dryer dew point temperature too high. If your Atlas Copco GA Full-Feature (Elektronikon II regulator, integrated dryer) is showing Dewpoint (warning), the controller has logged a specific, documented condition. This page covers what it means, what causes it, what you can safely fix yourself, and when — and why — it takes a technician.
What exactly is the machine telling you?
On Full-Feature units with the integrated refrigerant dryer, the measured pressure dew point exceeded the programmed warning level (nominal 25 degrees C). Compressed air is leaving wetter than it should.
Which machines show this?
Atlas Copco GA Full-Feature packages — GA rotary screw compressors with a refrigerant air dryer built into the cabinet — in the Elektronikon II controller generation. The 'FF' suffix on the nameplate is the giveaway. Because the dryer is integrated, the controller monitors pressure dew point alongside the usual compressor signals and raises a Dewpoint warning when the air is leaving wetter than the programmed level, nominally 25 °C. The message reads like any other Elektronikon II warning: signal name, actual reading, and the limit. Practical tip: give a freshly started unit several minutes before reacting — the controller deliberately ignores the dew point signal during start-up while the dryer pulls down to temperature.
What causes it?
- High ambient temperature or poor ventilation around the dryer section
- Hot air entering the dryer because the aftercooler is dirty
- Dryer condenser dirty or its fan not running
- Refrigerant shortage or a dryer circuit fault (the case that persists after cleaning)
Can you fix it yourself?
Partly — cleaning the aftercooler and condenser and fixing ventilation resolves the airflow-driven cases; a fresh start-up also needs time to pull down.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Check ambient temperature and ventilation around the dryer section
- Check the compressed air inlet temperature to the dryer is not abnormally high (clean the aftercooler)
- Verify the dryer's fan runs and the condenser is clean
- Give a newly started unit time — the controller ignores this signal briefly at start-up while the dryer pulls down
When do you need a technician — and why?
If dew point stays high with clean coolers and normal ambient, the refrigerant circuit is suspect, and refrigerant work legally and practically belongs to certified technicians only.
If it does come to a service call and you're in Nashville, TN or Birmingham, AL, we maintain independently compiled lists of local companies that service industrial air compressors — real businesses with verified contact information, none of whom paid to be listed.
Related questions
What does Dewpoint (warning) mean on an Atlas Copco GA Full-Feature (Elektronikon II regulator, integrated dryer)?
Dryer dew point temperature too high. On Full-Feature units with the integrated refrigerant dryer, the measured pressure dew point exceeded the programmed warning level (nominal 25 degrees C). Compressed air is leaving wetter than it should.
Can I fix Dewpoint (warning) on an Atlas Copco GA Full-Feature (Elektronikon II regulator, integrated dryer) myself?
Partly — cleaning the aftercooler and condenser and fixing ventilation resolves the airflow-driven cases; a fresh start-up also needs time to pull down.
When does Dewpoint (warning) on an Atlas Copco GA Full-Feature (Elektronikon II regulator, integrated dryer) need a technician?
If dew point stays high with clean coolers and normal ambient, the refrigerant circuit is suspect, and refrigerant work legally and practically belongs to certified technicians only. If the dew point stays high with clean coolers and normal ambient, suspect refrigerant shortage or a dryer circuit fault — refrigerant work is service-technician only.
Verified against service documentation: Atlas Copco GA Full-Feature (Elektronikon II regulator, integrated dryer) documentation for Dewpoint (warning) (e-pneumatic.com)