What does Gardner Denver shutdown 142 power failure mean?
Short answer: Loss of power to the package. If your Gardner Denver AirSmart controller is showing SHUTDOWN #142 POWER FAILURE, 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 controller detected a loss of power to the compressor package. The documented action is to check line voltage.
Which machines show this?
Gardner Denver rotary screw compressors fitted with the first-generation AirSmart microprocessor controller — a wide range of oil-injected packages, including VFD-equipped variable-speed units where the controller supervises the drive. The first-generation AirSmart reports problems as numbered codes: SHUTDOWN #1xx and #2xx faults that stop the machine, and ADVISORY #3xx warnings that let it keep running while flagging maintenance. That numbering matters when you search — the later AirSmart G2 dropped the numbers and displays plain-text fault names instead, so a numbered code on the screen tells you that you are on the earlier controller. Shutdowns clear with Stop/Reset once the machine has stopped; advisories acknowledge with the Enter key.
What causes it?
- A building power dip or outage cut power to the package
- A supply problem specific to the compressor's circuit — check whether other equipment on the same feed blinked too
- Faulty supply wiring or disconnect if failures repeat with no building-wide outage
Can you fix it yourself?
Yes, when it was a genuine outage — wait for stable power, press Stop/Reset, and restart. Repeated power-failure trips with the rest of the building unaffected are an electrical supply fault.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Check whether the building had a power dip or outage
- Verify other equipment on the same supply behaved normally
- Press Stop/Reset and restart once power is stable
When do you need a technician — and why?
Tracing line-voltage problems in supply wiring and the disconnect is live electrical work that belongs to an electrician, not plant maintenance with a multimeter at a hot panel.
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 SHUTDOWN #142 POWER FAILURE mean on a Gardner Denver AirSmart controller?
Loss of power to the package. The controller detected a loss of power to the compressor package. The documented action is to check line voltage.
Can I fix SHUTDOWN #142 POWER FAILURE on a Gardner Denver AirSmart controller myself?
Yes, when it was a genuine outage — wait for stable power, press Stop/Reset, and restart. Repeated power-failure trips with the rest of the building unaffected are an electrical supply fault.
When does SHUTDOWN #142 POWER FAILURE on a Gardner Denver AirSmart controller need a technician?
Tracing line-voltage problems in supply wiring and the disconnect is live electrical work that belongs to an electrician, not plant maintenance with a multimeter at a hot panel. Call an electrician if power failures repeat with no building-wide outage — supply wiring or the disconnect may be at fault.
Verified against service documentation: Gardner Denver AirSmart controller documentation for SHUTDOWN #142 POWER FAILURE (best-aire.com)