Samsung E101 Error Message and my ASHP Efficiency
I've just spent 5 days without heating and hot water due to an error on my Samsung heat pump. As it turned out, the solution (in my case anyway) was really simple, so I'm posting this here in case anyone else has a similar issue.
A quick search had told me that the issue is due to a loss of connection between the controller and the heat pump which could be a problem with the wiring or the motherboard itself. Having just got a new puppy who chews everything, I immediately assumed she was the culprit. However a check of the cable run showed no damage.
I then remembered a service engineer pointing out that the bunch of cowboys (also known as my installers Greener Living) hadn't used the correct shielding for an underground section and that might cause problems later on. Unfortunately this led me down the wrong path and as such this post is a lesson in problem solving as much as anything.
Eventually, I went back to square one. Checked the power switch was still on next to the heat pump - it was. I tried turning it off and back on again (I used to work in I.T.) and the heat pump did not click or whirr, no power it seemed. All the indoor equipment did have power though, the controller, switches and pumps all clicking and whirring and as I had always assumed they were on the same fuse as the heat pump, I didn't think to check that.
Finally the breakthrough, I realised that the Eastron meter unit was off, no display, maybe this was the problem, a dead unit. I was quite pleased, this should be a easy fix. It was possible though that it just wasn't getting power. I followed the cable, the bottom end went out to the heat pump, the top end however didn't seem to connect to anything else, it was leading back to the fuse board.
So I check the fuse board and the fuse switch for the ASHP was off, I couldn't believe it. I put it back on and after a few minutes the system was back up and running and starting to heat the water back up. Hurrah!
This finding however does have ramifications. Despite using copious amounts of electricity, my ASHP system was reporting a healthy 350% efficiency. Those two things never quite married up and now maybe, I know why. The efficiency readings come from Eastron meter, which records the electricity used and the heat generated. What it is isn't counting it seems, is the two internal pumps and the immersion heater. Shouldn't these be included in the efficiency results?
So long story short, if you get a E101 error on your Samsung heat pump, check your consumer unit first, It might save you a lot of hassle. Right, I'm off to have a shower now because I smell like a badger.
Glad you got it fixed.
After a power loss, you can also get a communication error (not sure, but may also be E101) if the indoor panel cannot see the outdoor heap pump unit. This can happen when the control panel powers back on before the outdoor ASHP unit. If this happens, turning on (booting up) the outdoor unit first and then turning on the indoor controller a minute later ensures the outdoor unit is online and that the control panel can see it when it's powered up, thus avoiding the error. Doesn't always happen, but worth knowing when bringing the system back online after a power cut.
Samsung 12kW gen6 ASHP with 50L volumiser and all new large radiators. 3.645kWp solar (south facing), Fox ESS inverter.
Solar generation completely offsets ASHP usage annually. We no longer burn ~1600L of kerosene annually.
Thanks, that's good to know. After switching the heat pump back on, I had to turn on the heating and hot water back on on the controller, which it had switched off. Once I did that it took a minute or so for it to figure out the pump was back online, before it starting working again.
Yes, same here. When the system is first turned back on after powering off, both heating and DHW are off and will need to be manually turned back on (I don't see anything in the settings to change this behaviour - perhaps @editor can ask Mr Hendra). This may be an issue after a power cut, especially if you are away when it occurs. This happened to us in December when we'd gone on holiday - my son eventually phoned us after 3 days of no heating! Luckily we are having a home battery installed soon which offers full home backup which should prevent this from happening in future.
When the controller is powered up, the circulation pumps often run for around 2 mins whilst the system sorts itself out. I normally give it a few minutes to do it's thing, and then turn the heating and/or DHW back on.
Samsung 12kW gen6 ASHP with 50L volumiser and all new large radiators. 3.645kWp solar (south facing), Fox ESS inverter.
Solar generation completely offsets ASHP usage annually. We no longer burn ~1600L of kerosene annually.
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