Briggs & Stratton generator code FC_8
High severity — Eight LED blinks: the system detected a fault in the transfer switch communication or operation, most commonly a blown fuse in the transfer switch itself.
Applies to: Briggs & Stratton Home Generator System standby units paired with a matching automatic transfer switch
Eight blinks is the only code on this page that points away from the generator itself and toward the box that actually switches a house between utility and generator power. Most owners notice it because the generator starts and runs normally, but the house never actually goes from dark to lit.
What it means
Eight LED blinks: the system detected a fault in the transfer switch communication or operation, most commonly a blown fuse in the transfer switch itself.
Because the automatic transfer switch sits between two live power sources and wires directly into the home's main electrical service, Briggs & Stratton treats FC_8 differently from the other seven codes in this list: it's the one fault where the manufacturer's own guidance is to contact your installer first, rather than to keep troubleshooting on your own.
Most common causes
- Blown fuse inside the automatic transfer switch
- Loose or damaged wiring between the generator and transfer switch
- Transfer switch mechanical failure
What you can check yourself
- With utility power off at the main disconnect (or by a qualified person only), check for an obvious blown fuse inside the transfer switch enclosure per the switch's manual
- Check that the communication/control wiring between generator and transfer switch is intact
- The transfer switch is wired to both utility power and the generator — never open its enclosure without confirming utility power is off at the main disconnect, and only if you're qualified to work on that wiring.
- A miswired or failed transfer switch can backfeed electricity onto utility lines, a serious shock hazard to utility workers as well as anyone in the home.
All codes for this brand
Every Briggs & Stratton generator fault code — full list with what differs between models.
Related codes and symptoms
- FC_1 — Low battery voltage, worth ruling out first since a weak battery can also disrupt transfer-switch signaling
- FC_3 — Low voltage, an output fault that's easy to mistake for a transfer-switch problem
- Generator Runs But Won't Transfer Power