What does the flashing motor pictograph mean on a Quincy QGS?
Short answer: Drive motor overload shutdown. If your Quincy QGS 20-30 (INFOLOGIC controller) is showing Motor overload shutdown (motor pictograph flashing), 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 drive motor overloaded (thermal relay tripped) and the compressor was shut down. The alarm LED flashes and the motor pictograph appears on the main screen.
Which machines show this?
Quincy QGS 20-30 hp rotary screw compressors with the compact INFOLOGIC controller, including tank-mounted and integrated-dryer variants. There are no numbered fault codes on this controller: it communicates with LEDs and pictographs — a flashing temperature symbol, a motor symbol, an e-stop symbol, a service wrench — plus small scrollable screens (like d.06 for service-timer hours). Identifying a fault means reading which pictograph is lit or flashing and whether the alarm LED is steady (warning) or flashing (shutdown). Warnings clear themselves when the condition passes; shutdowns need the cause corrected and the unit reset. Larger QGS machines from 40 hp up use the different Airlogic2 controller instead.
What causes it?
- Drive motor thermal relay tripped after the motor ran hot
- Excessive room heat or blocked ventilation
- Voltage, wiring, or mechanical-drag problems when it trips again
Can you fix it yourself?
Cool the motor, fix the room conditions, and restart once the condition clears. If the motor pictograph comes back, stop restarting — that's an electrical diagnosis.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Switch off the voltage and let the motor cool
- Check the compressor room for excessive heat or blocked ventilation
- After remedying and once the condition has cleared, switch the voltage on and restart
- If it trips again, stop restarting and call for service
When do you need a technician — and why?
The manual restricts electrical-cabinet work to qualified personnel; checking supply voltage, wiring, and relay settings is exactly that 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 Motor overload shutdown (motor pictograph flashing) mean on a Quincy QGS 20-30 (INFOLOGIC controller)?
Drive motor overload shutdown. The drive motor overloaded (thermal relay tripped) and the compressor was shut down. The alarm LED flashes and the motor pictograph appears on the main screen.
Can I fix Motor overload shutdown (motor pictograph flashing) on a Quincy QGS 20-30 (INFOLOGIC controller) myself?
Cool the motor, fix the room conditions, and restart once the condition clears. If the motor pictograph comes back, stop restarting — that's an electrical diagnosis.
When does Motor overload shutdown (motor pictograph flashing) on a Quincy QGS 20-30 (INFOLOGIC controller) need a technician?
The manual restricts electrical-cabinet work to qualified personnel; checking supply voltage, wiring, and relay settings is exactly that work. Call a qualified electrician or service tech on a repeat trip — voltage, wiring, and mechanical-drag causes require professional diagnosis.
Verified against service documentation: Quincy QGS 20-30 (INFOLOGIC controller) documentation for Motor overload shutdown (motor pictograph flashing) (airenergy.com)