How do I clear Emergency Stop on a Gardner Denver AirSmart G2?
Short answer: Emergency stop engaged (G2). If your Gardner Denver AirSmart G2 controller 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 compressor was stopped with the Emergency Stop button and will not restart until the button is pulled back out to its normal position.
Which machines show this?
Gardner Denver rotary screw compressors with the second-generation AirSmart G2 controller, the color-display successor to the original AirSmart. The key difference for anyone searching a fault: the G2 displays fault names as plain text — "High Discharge Temp", "Drive 1 Fault", "Change Separator" — while the first-generation AirSmart showed numbered codes like SHUTDOWN #128. If your display shows words with no number, you are on a G2. Shutdowns stop the machine and reset with the STOP button once it has come to rest; advisories keep the machine running and clear from the home screen's upper-right (Gardner Denver logo) button. Many G2 packages pair the controller with a variable frequency drive it supervises.
What causes it?
- The Emergency Stop button was pressed and is still latched in
- The machine was E-stopped for a real problem that hasn't been resolved yet
Can you fix it yourself?
Yes, once you know why it was hit — pull the button out, press STOP to reset, and restart. If it won't clear with the button released, stop there.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Confirm why the E-stop was hit before restarting
- Pull the Emergency Stop button out to its normal position
- Press STOP to reset the shutdown, then restart normally
When do you need a technician — and why?
A shutdown that won't reset with the E-stop released points to the safety circuit wiring, and safety-circuit faults have to be traced in the electrical cabinet — never bypassed.
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 a Gardner Denver AirSmart G2 controller?
Emergency stop engaged (G2). The compressor was stopped with the Emergency Stop button and will not restart until the button is pulled back out to its normal position.
Can I fix Emergency Stop on a Gardner Denver AirSmart G2 controller myself?
Yes, once you know why it was hit — pull the button out, press STOP to reset, and restart. If it won't clear with the button released, stop there.
When does Emergency Stop on a Gardner Denver AirSmart G2 controller need a technician?
A shutdown that won't reset with the E-stop released points to the safety circuit wiring, and safety-circuit faults have to be traced in the electrical cabinet — never bypassed. Call for service if the fault will not clear with the button released.
Verified against service documentation: Gardner Denver AirSmart G2 controller documentation for Emergency Stop (best-aire.com)