AEG E3 fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
The hob is seeing 400 volts. AEG name the person to ring and it is not their service line — it is the qualified electrician who installed it.
Take care
Get a qualified appliance engineer to look at your AEG E3
We do not pass enquiries to a repair firm, so there is no form here. When you book a qualified appliance engineer, tell them the make, the model and the exact code or message on the display, and ask whether they carry parts for this make — that is what turns one visit into a repair rather than a quote.
What E3 means
This is an installation code, and AEG are unusually direct about it. Their published cause is that the appliance is connected to 400V, and their published remedy is to contact the qualified electrician who installed the appliance. Not the manufacturer, not an appliance repairer, the electrician. The longer forms E311, E312 and E313 mean the same thing and appear on the same hobs.
What is behind it is the way a cooker circuit can be wired: a hob that expects a particular voltage across particular terminals will see 400 volts instead of 230 if the links between the terminals are wrong or if it has been connected across two phases rather than one and neutral. The hob detects that and refuses to run, which is it protecting itself and you. The timing tells you almost everything. AEG group this code on their induction hob installation faults page alongside the triggers they see it with, and all three are moments when the wiring changed: first-time connection, connection to a different outlet, and circuit overload. A hob that has worked for years and suddenly shows E3 is unusual and points at something that changed outside the appliance.
A brand new hob showing E3 has almost certainly been wired wrongly rather than delivered broken, and there is a commercial edge to that, because AEG state on their E6 page that faults arising from incorrect installation may not be covered under the warranty, and on the installation faults hub that unauthorised intervention may void it. AEG’s own gloss on the code is that it could indicate over voltage or an incorrect wiring connection and will require professional attention; their second step, once the electrician has been, is the Authorised Service Centre.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Wired to the wrong supply configuration | AEG’s own stated cause, in their words, is that the appliance is connected to 400V. On a domestic single-phase supply that normally means the terminal links are in the wrong position. | Common |
| Connected across two phases | Rarer in a house than in a flat conversion or a property with a three-phase supply, but it produces exactly this reading. | Occasional |
| A genuine over-voltage on the incoming supply | Much less likely, and it would normally affect other things in the house too. Worth mentioning to the electrician rather than assuming. | Rare |
Can you fix it yourself?
Stop — this needs an engineer
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£60–£150
Time on site
1 hour
An electrician’s visit to correct the connection. Nothing inside the hob normally needs replacing, so this is labour rather than parts — and if the hob was recently installed, the installer should be putting it right at no cost.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated September 2026. Your quote may differ.
Own this appliance and had this code? . Nothing is published until a person has read it.
Related AEG fault codes
- E8Get it checkedAsk one question first: has this hob ever worked? A new install means a missing phase in the wiring. A hob that worked and stopped means the electronics.Related: supply and installation
- E6Get it checkedThe hob is not getting the supply it was installed for. AEG give the cause as incorrect installation or insufficient power: induction hobs usually want a 16 amp supply where most homes have 13.Related: supply and installation
- FUsually simple to fixOn an induction hob this is about the pan, and AEG say whether it is steady or flashing changes the answer. Steady on a new hob means the installation.Related: same brand
- E4Usually simple to fixOverheating protection operating, not a breakdown. It clears itself as the hob cools, and AEG warn that the residual heat H may stay on afterwards.Related: same brand
- Burner will not stay alightGet it checkedThe flame dies when you let go of the knob. AEG give two causes and only one is yours: a dirty or misplaced burner cap, or a failed thermocouple.Related: same brand
- LUsually simple to fixThe panel is locked, and AEG publish two different locks that both show L. One re-arms itself every time you switch off, which is why hobs seem to lock themselves.Related: same brand
Own an AEG hob? Save it and its codes come first next time.
Related guides
Common questions about AEG E3
The hob is brand new. Is it faulty?
Probably not. AEG list first-time connection as one of the triggers for this code, and the code means the hob is reading a supply it was not built for. The likely fault is in how it was connected rather than in the appliance, which is why AEG send you to the installer.
Is E311 a different code from E3?
No. AEG publish E3, E311, E312 and E313 with the same cause and the same remedy. The longer form is just what some control boards display.
Who pays for this?
That depends on who wired it, and it is worth settling before anybody attends. AEG state that faults arising from incorrect installation may not be covered under warranty, so a manufacturer service visit to a miswired hob can be chargeable while a return visit from the installer who wired it usually is not.
Technical review
Not reviewed by an engineer
No engineer has read this page. Severity follows what the manufacturer publishes, and we would rather tell you that than let a byline imply a sign-off.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer support portal
This page has not been reviewed by an engineer, and we would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. The severity rating follows what the manufacturer publishes: where they say isolate the appliance and call someone, so do we.