What does Serv Requir mean on an Atlas Copco compressor?
Short answer: Service warning — service plan or input level exceeded. If your Atlas Copco GA series (Elektronikon II regulator) is showing *Serv Requir*, 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?
A service timer (Service Plan A/B/C/D) has passed its programmed interval, or a monitored service input such as the oil separator pressure drop exceeded its level. Under Status data the controller flags either 'Plans' or 'Inputs' to show which one.
Which machines show this?
Atlas Copco GA-series oil-injected rotary screw compressors carrying the Elektronikon II regulator — the button-and-LCD controller generation that preceded the Mk 5 and Touch units, common on machines from the late 1990s and 2000s. Faults appear as plain-language messages such as *Shutd Warn* or *Serv Requir*, paired with the sensor name and the reading that caused them, and are cleared with the Rset key once the cause is gone. Warnings self-clear when the condition disappears; shutdowns latch until reset. Practical tip: the Status data menu tells you whether a service message came from a timer ('Plans') or a measured input like separator pressure drop ('Inputs') — check it before doing any work.
What causes it?
- A service plan timer (A/B/C/D) has simply run past its interval
- The oil separator pressure drop has exceeded its service level (an 'Inputs' flag)
- A previous reset without actually doing the service
Can you fix it yourself?
Yes, partly — in-house staff can perform the smaller plan items (filters, oil) and reset the timer. Never reset the message without doing the work.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Open the Status data / Service menu to see whether 'Plans' or 'Inputs' is flagged
- For 'Plans': carry out the service actions for the indicated plan (e.g. filters, oil per the plan), then reset the plan timer
- For 'Inputs' (oil separator dP): have the separator element replaced, then press Rset to clear the message
- Do not simply reset the warning without doing the service
When do you need a technician — and why?
Larger plans include element checks and valve overhauls, and a separator change means opening a pressurized oil vessel — both are trained-technician work.
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 *Serv Requir* mean on an Atlas Copco GA series (Elektronikon II regulator)?
Service warning — service plan or input level exceeded. A service timer (Service Plan A/B/C/D) has passed its programmed interval, or a monitored service input such as the oil separator pressure drop exceeded its level. Under Status data the controller flags either 'Plans' or 'Inputs' to show which one.
Can I fix *Serv Requir* on an Atlas Copco GA series (Elektronikon II regulator) myself?
Yes, partly — in-house staff can perform the smaller plan items (filters, oil) and reset the timer. Never reset the message without doing the work.
When does *Serv Requir* on an Atlas Copco GA series (Elektronikon II regulator) need a technician?
Larger plans include element checks and valve overhauls, and a separator change means opening a pressurized oil vessel — both are trained-technician work. Call your service provider if the flagged plan includes tasks beyond in-house scope (element checks, valve overhauls) or if the message returns quickly after a reset.
Verified against service documentation: Atlas Copco GA series (Elektronikon II regulator) documentation for *Serv Requir* (e-pneumatic.com)