Follett Ice Machine Error Lights (Horizon Elite Chewblet Machines)
Error, alarm and light codes explained
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Updated October 14, 2026
Quick answer
Follett Horizon Elite nugget (Chewblet) ice machines report problems with red lights on the control board. HI AMPS means the auger gearmotor drew too much current, often from scale or poor water quality jamming the auger. HI PRESSURE means refrigeration pressure passed 425 psi, usually from heat or a clogged condenser. Both are soft errors that clear after a 1-hour time delay. DRAIN CLOG in the chassis is a hard error that needs a board reset.
Which machines this page covers
This page uses Follett's Operation and Service Manual for the Horizon Elite self-contained HCD710A and HMD710A ice machines (form 01223080R01). Other Follett models and sizes may use different boards or light labels. Always confirm against the manual for your model and serial number: Follett publishes separate manual revisions by serial range.
Follett machines are common in hospitals and clinics, where nugget ice goes into patient cups and nutrition rooms. That makes a stopped machine more than an inconvenience, and it makes cleaning records part of infection control.
How the lights work
Follett's manual says the board lights tell you everything about the machine's status. Green lights mean normal operation. Yellow lights mean a normal off condition, such as a full bin or a time delay. Red lights mean alarms, and some lock the machine off. A flashing green POWER light means the machine has power.
Errors come in three types: soft errors reset themselves after a 1-hour time delay (or by cycling power), hard errors must be reset on the control board, and run errors warn you while the machine keeps making ice.
Follett Horizon Elite error table
| Light | Type | What it means (per Follett) | Common causes in Follett's troubleshooting chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| HI AMPS + TIME DELAY | Soft | Auger gearmotor current above the allowed limit; machine shuts down for the time delay, then restarts | Poor water quality letting ice jam the auger; drain slow or not draining; damaged shuttle mechanism; intermittent drive output from the board; gearmotor unplugged |
| HI PRESSURE + TIME DELAY | Soft | Refrigeration pressure rose above 425 psi; restarts after the delay once pressure falls below 295 psi | Room above 100°F; poor ventilation or hot air recirculating; clogged condenser (air-cooled); fan blocked or not running |
| LO WATER | Soft | Water did not reach the normal low sensor within 10 seconds of the feed valve opening; clears on its own when water returns | Water supply insufficient; low water pressure; feed valve stuck closed |
| LO WATER flashing | Soft | Water feed error: level did not fall below the low probes for 9 minutes; 1-hour time delay | Water sensors or feed valve problems |
| DRAIN CLOG (machine stopped) | Hard | Chassis sensor detected water near the top edge of the chassis | Internal water leak touching the chassis sensor; must be dried and the board reset |
| DRAIN CLOG (machine running) | Run | Water did not drop below the low probe within 20 seconds during the purge | Poorly draining machine or drain system |
| TIME DELAY with bin not full | Status | Machine is in time delay without a full bin | Transport tube routed wrong or backed out of its coupling; shuttle stuck up; bin thermostat damaged or mispositioned |
HI AMPS: the scale problem
Follett machines make nugget ice by freezing water on the inside wall of an evaporator and scraping it off with a rotating auger. Mineral scale makes the auger work harder, and the board trips HI AMPS when gearmotor current goes too high. Follett's first corrective action for HI AMPS is to clean the machine and set the TDS switch to High TDS.
The TDS switch, behind the front cover, controls how often the machine flushes mineral-heavy water. On the Low TDS setting it flushes after one hour of running; on High TDS it flushes every 11 minutes. In hard-water areas the High setting reduces scale. Follett's maintenance schedule calls for evaporator cleaning every 6 months. Follett says not to use bleach to clean or sanitize the ice machine.
HI PRESSURE: heat and airflow
The air-cooled condenser has to reject heat into the room. Follett's chart lists room air above 100°F, poor ventilation, the machine breathing its own exhaust, a clogged condenser and a blocked or failed fan. Owner checks: clean the condenser grille (Follett calls for monthly condenser cleaning on air-cooled units), keep the clearances in the installation section, and make sure nothing blocks the fan.
Machine stopped with an empty bin
If the machine is in TIME DELAY but the bin is not full, the machine thinks it is full. Follett's chart points to ice jamming in the transport tube (from a bad tube route), a shuttle stuck in the up position, a bin thermostat that is damaged or out of place, or a tube that backed out of its coupling. On infrared-sensor models, scale or slime on the sensor lens can cause the same false-full stop; clean it during regular sanitizing.
Resetting a Follett
- Soft errors (HI AMPS, HI PRESSURE, LO WATER) clear after the 1-hour time delay, or by cycling power.
- Hard error (DRAIN CLOG with the machine stopped): find and fix the leak, dry the chassis and sensors, then reset on the control board.
- Follett's manual says to wait 5 minutes before restarting after turning the unit off, so the compressor can equalize and the evaporator can thaw. Restarting sooner can trip the breaker or HI AMPS again.
When to call a technician
Call a technician if HI AMPS or HI PRESSURE returns after cleaning the machine and condenser, if you find water in the chassis, or if the machine stops on time delay with an empty bin and the transport tube looks right. In a healthcare setting, call the same day.
Open 7 days, 8 AM to 5 PM, with emergency service until 9 PM. CA Lic. #776244.
Frequently asked questions
What does HI AMPS mean on a Follett ice machine?
The auger gearmotor drew more current than allowed and the machine shut down for a 1-hour time delay. Scale and poor water quality jamming the auger are the most common causes.
How do I reset a Follett ice machine?
Soft errors clear after the 1-hour time delay or by cycling power; wait 5 minutes before restarting. A drain clog error with the machine stopped needs the leak fixed and a reset on the control board.
Why did my Follett stop with an empty bin?
Follett lists a jammed or misrouted transport tube, a stuck shuttle, or a damaged or mispositioned bin thermostat. A scaled or slimed bin sensor can also make the machine think the bin is full.
Can I use bleach to clean a Follett?
No. Follett's manual says not to use bleach to sanitize or clean the icemaker. Use the cleaner and sanitizer the manual specifies.
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