Perlick Bar Refrigerator Error Code AL1: Low Temperature Alarm
A flashing AL1 is the low temperature alarm: the compartment is colder than expected. Check the set point on the controller first, since it may have been changed, and move bottles away from the back wall. Press any key to silence the sound, and call us if the cabinet stays colder than the set point.
Medium: the unit still runs, but product can freeze and spoil, so the cause should be found soon.
- Code
- AL1 (flashing)
- Maker
- Perlick
- Equipment
- Bar refrigeration
- Applies to
- Perlick HB/HC/HD 24-inch digital controller
What does Perlick error code AL1 mean?
The digital controller on a Perlick bar refrigerator reads the compartment probe and cycles the compressor to hold the set point. It also compares that reading against a low limit. If the temperature drops below that limit, the controller raises the alarm: AL1 flashes on the display, the audible alarm sounds, and the alarm LED lights. The unit keeps running, because the alarm only reports a condition. On a bar cabinet the practical result is beer, juice or garnish chilled hard or even frozen against the back of the cabinet, where the evaporator sits. The maker's advice is to look at the set point first, and the reasons listed point to a short chain: the set point and any recent change to it, the compartment probe reading, the controller output to the compressor, and where product sits near the evaporator. A set point lowered by accident during cleaning is the most common story and costs nothing to check. If the set point is right and the cabinet still runs too cold, the question becomes whether the probe is reading correctly or the compressor output is staying on when it should cycle off.
Affected models and control systems
This applies to Perlick HB, HC and HD 24-inch undercounter refrigerators with the digital controller, and the HC 48-inch, per the Z2363 manual. Other Perlick controllers number alarms differently.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- AL1 flashing on the display
- The audible alarm sounding
- Bottles frozen or slushy at the back of the cabinet
- Condensation or frost on the back wall
Possible causes
Listed in Perlick's documentation
- Set point lowered or changed recently
- Compartment probe reading wrong
- Controller output keeping the compressor on
- Product stacked against the evaporator
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind error code AL1 on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Set point knocked down by a staff member while wiping the keypad
- Probe sitting in a pocket of warm air so the controller overcools the rest of the cabinet
- Relay output on the controller that sticks closed and keeps the compressor running
Safe checks before calling for service
- Read the set point on the digital controller and confirm nobody changed it.
- Move bottles and cans away from the back wall of the cabinet.
- Press any key to silence the alarm.
- Check the cabinet with a thermometer after an hour, and note the set point and actual temperature for the service call.
How a technician diagnoses error code AL1
- Read the display, the set point and any stored alarm data.
- Place a reference thermometer in the compartment and compare it to the displayed probe reading.
- Check the probe and its connection for damage or poor contact.
- Watch the compressor output to see whether it cycles off at set point.
- Inspect the evaporator area for ice and airflow restriction.
- Replace the probe or controller only after the readings prove which one is off.
- Testing the compressor output and relay means live-voltage measurements behind the control housing.
- A probe that reads wrong must be checked against a calibrated reference, which needs the right tools.
- Persistent over-cooling can point to the refrigeration circuit, which only a licensed technician should open.
How error code AL1 differs from similar codes
AL1 is the low alarm and AH1 is the high alarm. The first is about overcooling, the second about warming.
Technical reference
- Document
- Z2363 troubleshooting table
- Maker documentation
- Perlick owner support
- Models / control
- Perlick HB/HC/HD 24-inch digital controller
- Section
- Troubleshooting table, printed p. 18; LED functions / alarm LED, printed p. 14
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Perlick bar refrigeration error codes
Who changes the set point?
Anyone with access to the controller can, often by accident during cleaning. Check it first because it is the quickest fix.
Why is the back of the cabinet coldest?
The evaporator sits at the back, so bottles touching it get the coldest air. Spacing product forward helps.
Will frozen bottles break?
Glass and cans can burst when the contents freeze, so move them out of the coldest area promptly.
Need help with Perlick error code AL1?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.