Daikin mini split error code L8
Electronic thermal overload (compressor over-current).
- TypeProtection
- SystemCompressor / inverter
- Can I fix it?Technician job
What L8 means on a Daikin
Compressor current stayed above its limit long enough to trip the electronic overload.
On this platform, L8 is a protection: the system stopped or throttled itself to prevent damage; many clear on their own once conditions return to normal.
Common causes
- A blocked outdoor coil or failed fan.
- Low supply voltage.
- A failing compressor.
- An overcharge.
How to fix it yourself
Do the reset and the visual checks, but the underlying repair needs a technician with a meter and the service manual.
- Look at the outdoor unit: clear leaves, cottonwood fluff, snow or ice from the coil and make sure the fan can spin freely and nothing is stacked against the cabinet.
- If you own a multimeter and are comfortable using it, measure the supply voltage at the outdoor unit's L1 and L2 terminals with the unit running. A 230 V system should read roughly 208 to 253 VAC.
- Reset the system: switch the breaker (or the outdoor disconnect) off, wait a full five minutes so the boards fully discharge, then switch it back on and restart from the remote.
Switch off power at the breaker before opening either unit. Capacitors in the outdoor unit hold a charge for several minutes after power is cut.
When to call a technician
Technician check of compressor current and charge.
Which Daikin units show L8
This page applies to Daikin Aurora, 19 Series, Atmosphera, Emura, Quaternity and MXS multi-zone units. Daikin's own documentation lists L8 as "Electronic thermal overload (compressor over-current)", the same definition used across the Daikin it is built on. If your unit shows a code with a different shape (for example a four-character code, or a plain number), it is from a different table; use the lookup with your exact code.
Where Daikin shows this code
Most Daikin wall units do not show the code on the unit; the operation lamp blinks. To read the code, point the remote at the unit, hold CANCEL (or Timer Cancel) for about 5 seconds until 00 shows, then press CANCEL repeatedly. Each press shows a code; when the unit gives a long continuous beep instead of two short beeps, the code on the remote is the stored fault. Units with a wired controller show the code directly. A and C codes are indoor-unit faults, E, F, H, J, L and P codes are outdoor-unit faults and protections, and U codes are system-level problems such as communication, power supply and refrigerant shortage.
Other Daikin codes
Same part of the system as L8:
L8 on other brands
The same characters do not always mean the same thing. Check the brand on your unit.
- Goodman L8 Electronic thermal overload (compressor over-current)
Questions people ask
Can I reset a Daikin L8 code myself?
Yes. Turn the system off at the breaker for five minutes, then restart it. If L8 comes back, the fault is real and needs the checks above.
Is it safe to keep running a Daikin showing L8?
Not repeatedly. A protection code means the unit stopped itself to prevent damage, and resetting it over and over can turn a cheap repair into a compressor failure. Reset once, check the basics, and stop if it returns.
What will a technician check for L8?
Technician check of compressor current and charge. Ask for the measurements, not just a parts quote.
Sources
- Daikin residential (RA) service manuals (error code tables)
- Daikin operation manuals (remote controller self-diagnosis)
Updated September 2026. Codes and definitions vary by model year. If your manual disagrees with this page, your manual wins. Send a correction.