AEG Flashing between two numberswhat it means
Power management, not a malfunction. Two zones on one side share a supply, and the display is showing you what you asked for and what you are getting.
Before you start
What this means
A hob display that alternates between two figures is one of the most reported non-faults in this category, and AEG explain it in a single sentence worth quoting: one figure is the selected power setting, the highest, and the other is the power setting the hob is limited to. They then state the conclusion outright — power management is not a malfunction of the product, the appliance is working correctly.
What is happening underneath is that zones are paired, and each pair shares one generator with a finite amount of power to give out. Push one zone hard and its partner cannot also have everything it asked for, so the hob caps it and tells you it has done so by flashing between the two numbers. AEG add the rule that decides which zone loses: the last-activated zone has priority. That is the detail that turns this from a curiosity into something you can use, because it means the order you switch zones on changes which one gets throttled. This is the real answer behind two very different-sounding complaints.
One is a hob that seems stuck on simmer, where the second number is low and the owner cannot get it to rise. The other is not being able to use all four zones at once, which on a four-zone hob with two pairs is an entirely expected limit rather than a fault. Nothing needs repairing in either case. If you genuinely need two zones on the same side at full power, the answer is to move one pan to the other side of the hob.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Both zones on one side are in use | The whole mechanism. Zones are paired and a pair shares one power supply, so the second one to want maximum cannot have it. | Common |
| Boost used on a paired zone | Boost takes more than the ordinary maximum, which makes the sharing much more visible — its partner can drop several levels while boost is running. | Common |
| A power limitation setting on the hob | Some hobs can be configured at installation to draw less overall, on a supply that cannot give full current. That lowers the ceiling for every combination. | Occasional |
What to try yourself
Read the two numbers. The higher one is what you asked for, the lower one is what the hob can give that zone right now.
Look at what is running on the same side of the hob. Power is shared between paired zones, and the pairing is front and back on one side rather than left and right.
Move one pan to the other side of the hob. That is the actual fix, and it takes a few seconds.
If you need one zone at full power, switch it on last. AEG state that the last-activated zone has priority.
If both numbers are low even with a single zone running, ask whoever installed the hob whether a power limitation was set for your supply.
Get a qualified appliance engineer to look at your AEG hob
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 it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0
Time on site
5 minutes
Nothing. This is a design characteristic of induction hobs, not a fault.
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
- 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: settings and modes
- 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
- E3Get it checkedThe 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.Related: same brand
- 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: same brand
Own an AEG hob? Save it and its codes come first next time.
Related guides
Common questions
Is my hob faulty?
No, and AEG say so in as many words: power management is not a malfunction of the product, the appliance is working correctly. The alternating display is the hob telling you it has capped a zone because its partner is using the shared power.
Why can I not use all four zones at full power?
Because a four-zone hob normally has two pairs and each pair shares one generator. That is a design characteristic of induction rather than a limitation of your particular hob, and every brand does it — BSH call it power limitation and publish the same behaviour.
How do I choose which zone gets the power?
Switch it on last. AEG publish that the last-activated zone has priority, so the order you turn zones on determines which one gets throttled.
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.