Controller shows E-16, engine stops, no other obvious alarms
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety: Identify and correct the external condition (fire, gas leak, etc.) before attempting to restart. Disable automatic start.
- Review external systems: Check building fire alarm, gas detection, and fuel leak detection systems for active alarms that may be wired to the generator shutdown input.
- Inspect external shutdown terminals: Locate the external shutdown input on the controller. Verify wiring is intact and not shorted to ground.
- Temporarily isolate input (for testing only): If permitted by site policy, disconnect the external shutdown wires and install a temporary jumper to simulate a normal condition. If E-16 clears, the issue is external.
- Check controller configuration: Ensure the digital input is configured correctly (normally open/closed) per the external device's design.
- Restore normal wiring: Remove any test jumpers and reconnect the external shutdown circuit once the root cause is found.
Do not permanently bypass safety shutdowns. If the cause cannot be identified, involve a CAT technician and the building safety system vendor.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
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