What does Kaeser alarm 0013 A (motor overcurrent) mean?
Short answer: Motor overload shutdown. If your Kaeser Sigma Control 2 is showing 0013 A — Compressor motor overcurrent, 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 drive motor was shut down on overload (overcurrent). The manual's instruction is to determine the cause of the shutdown before resetting.
Which machines show this?
the wide range of current-generation Kaeser rotary screw compressors — ASD, BSD, CSD, DSD, ESD and related series — built since roughly 2011 with the Sigma Control 2, the industrial-PC controller with a text display and RFID access. It reports faults as a four-digit number plus a letter: 'A' messages are alarms that shut the machine down, 'W' messages are warnings or service reminders it keeps running through, with arrows marking whether the value went over or under its limit — so 0015 A is the airend-overheat shutdown while 0013 W just asks for an air filter. Practical tip: the same subsystem often has a W and an A code (0004 W before 0022 A on the separator); acting on the W message is how you avoid the A shutdown.
What causes it?
- Something changed the load: higher pressure setpoint, hot room, or blocked cooling
- Motor drawing overcurrent for a reason that must be found before any reset
- An underlying electrical fault when trips repeat
Can you fix it yourself?
No — beyond checking ambient, ventilation, and noting when the trip happens, this is not an in-house fix. Do not reset-and-retry.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Do not repeatedly reset and restart — find out what changed (higher pressure setpoint, hot room, blocked cooling).
- Check ambient temperature and ventilation.
- Note whether the trip happens at start or under load and record it for the technician.
When do you need a technician — and why?
Diagnosing and resetting motor overload protection happens inside the electrical cabinet, and finding the real cause needs current measurements by 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 0013 A — Compressor motor overcurrent mean on a Kaeser Sigma Control 2?
Motor overload shutdown. The compressor drive motor was shut down on overload (overcurrent). The manual's instruction is to determine the cause of the shutdown before resetting.
Can I fix 0013 A — Compressor motor overcurrent on a Kaeser Sigma Control 2 myself?
No — beyond checking ambient, ventilation, and noting when the trip happens, this is not an in-house fix. Do not reset-and-retry.
When does 0013 A — Compressor motor overcurrent on a Kaeser Sigma Control 2 need a technician?
Diagnosing and resetting motor overload protection happens inside the electrical cabinet, and finding the real cause needs current measurements by a qualified technician. Call a qualified technician for any repeated overload trip — diagnosing and resetting overload relays involves the electrical cabinet and is not a DIY task.
Verified against service documentation: Kaeser Sigma Control 2 documentation for 0013 A — Compressor motor overcurrent (airsolcan.com)