How do I reset the emergency stop on an Atlas Copco compressor?
Short answer: Emergency stop activated. If your Atlas Copco GA series (Elektronikon II, Mk 5 and Touch controllers) is showing Emergency Stop, 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?
The emergency stop button was pressed (or its circuit opened) and the compressor stopped immediately. The condition is latched: the button must be physically unlocked and the message reset on the controller before restarting. The Elektronikon stores the machine data at the moment of the emergency stop.
Which machines show this?
essentially any Atlas Copco GA-series rotary screw compressor, because the emergency-stop behavior is common across controller generations — the older Elektronikon II button units, the Mk 5 graphic-display models, and the current Touch machines all latch the same way. The display or screen shows an emergency stop message, and the machine will not restart until the physical button is unlocked and the alarm reset on the controller. Newer controllers also store the machine's operating data at the moment of the stop. Practical tip: treat every E-stop event as a question — find out who pressed it and why before you reset, because the button is usually the symptom, not the problem.
What causes it?
- Someone pressed the emergency stop button — find out why before anything else
- The button is still latched in and hasn't been physically released
- A fault in the emergency-stop circuit or contact block if the message won't clear
Can you fix it yourself?
Yes — in almost every case, unlatching the button and pressing reset restores the machine. The real work is confirming why it was pressed.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Find out why the button was pressed before doing anything else
- Twist/unlock the emergency stop button to release it
- Reset the message on the controller (Rset / reset icon)
- Restart and watch the first minutes of operation
When do you need a technician — and why?
If the message stays with the button released, the safety circuit itself is faulty, and troubleshooting a safety-critical control circuit belongs to a qualified technician.
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 Emergency Stop mean on an Atlas Copco GA series (Elektronikon II, Mk 5 and Touch controllers)?
Emergency stop activated. The emergency stop button was pressed (or its circuit opened) and the compressor stopped immediately. The condition is latched: the button must be physically unlocked and the message reset on the controller before restarting. The Elektronikon stores the machine data at the moment of the emergency stop.
Can I fix Emergency Stop on an Atlas Copco GA series (Elektronikon II, Mk 5 and Touch controllers) myself?
Yes — in almost every case, unlatching the button and pressing reset restores the machine. The real work is confirming why it was pressed.
When does Emergency Stop on an Atlas Copco GA series (Elektronikon II, Mk 5 and Touch controllers) need a technician?
If the message stays with the button released, the safety circuit itself is faulty, and troubleshooting a safety-critical control circuit belongs to a qualified technician. If the message will not clear with the button released, the emergency-stop circuit or contact block needs professional attention.
Verified against service documentation: Atlas Copco GA series (Elektronikon II, Mk 5 and Touch controllers) documentation for Emergency Stop (e-pneumatic.com)