Panasonic [Child]what it means

A padlock or key symbol, the letter L, an arrow, or the words LOCK or Child on the display means the child safety lock is set. Panasonic describe the effect exactly: using this system will make the oven controls inoperable, however the door can be opened. That second clause is the useful diagnostic, because it distinguishes this from every mechanical fault on the appliance — a microwave whose buttons do nothing but whose door still opens normally is locked rather than broken. On Panasonic’s UK models the two halves of the feature use two different buttons, and getting them the right way round is the whole job. To set it, press Start three times; the time of day disappears and the lock symbol appears. To cancel it, press Stop/Cancel three times; the time of day reappears.

Panasonic’s UK manuals, from a 19-litre solo NN-E281 to the NN-CT54 combination family and the NN-CS89 steam oven, all give it that way, and their UK support answer says the same in one line — to deactivate the child lock, press the Stop/Cancel button three consecutive times. Two conditions attach. The three presses must fall within a ten-second period, and the lock can only be set when the display shows a colon or the time of day — that is, from the idle state. That second rule explains a common failed attempt: pressing Start three times on a locked oven does nothing, because Start is the arming button, and pressing anything three times with a programme half-entered does nothing either.

Panasonic’s North American models label the button Stop/Reset and some of them use a Function menu instead, which is why instructions found on their US site do not always match a UK fascia. And if the keypad is unresponsive with no symbol, no letter and no word on the display at all, this is the wrong page: an unresponsive panel with nothing displayed is a control fault, and a touch panel that reports a stuck key is a different code again.

1. 1

   Check the door still opens. If it does, and the buttons do nothing, the lock is the likely answer — Panasonic confirm the lock leaves the door working.

2. 2

   Do not press Start. On Panasonic’s UK models three presses of Start is what sets the lock, so it is the one button that cannot clear it.

3. 3

   Press Stop/Cancel three times, within ten seconds. On Panasonic’s UK models that is the whole cancellation, and it is the sequence their UK support answer gives.

4. 4

   Look for the confirmation rather than guessing. Panasonic say the time of day reappears in the display once the lock is cancelled; on a model without the clock set, a colon.

5. 5

   If your fascia says Stop/Reset rather than Stop/Cancel, or has a Function pad, you have a North American control layout: the same three presses of Stop/Reset clears it, or the Function menu has a numbered child lock entry.