Belling [ER03] fault codewhat it means and how to fix it

Belling open their induction code section with a distinction worth holding onto: “The hob display can show information codes, and codes to alert you to any issues which may need to be resolved.” ER03 sits on the information side of that line. Belling’s published meaning is a single word, “Obstruction”, and their description explains what counts as one: “Something is covering the hob control area, such as a pan, utensil or cloth, or even just water, grease or finger prints. Remove any items and clean the area before using the hob again. Do not touch any of the hob touch control keys for more than 10 seconds.”

Two things follow from that wording. The first is how little it takes. A pan pushed too far forward will do it, but so will a wet cloth left across the front of the glass, a splash from a pan that has boiled over, or a smear of grease with fingerprints in it. The touch controls sense a change in capacitance through the glass, and they cannot tell the difference between a finger and a puddle sitting in the same place, so the hob assumes it is being held and stops rather than acting on an instruction nobody gave.

The second is the ten-second instruction, which is easy to skim past. Belling ask you not to touch any hob touch control key for more than ten seconds. A continuous touch is exactly what an obstruction looks like to the control, so resting a hand on the panel while you clean it, or leaning on the front edge of the hob, can reproduce the code you are trying to clear. Clean with a dry cloth first, then a damp one, and keep your hand off the keys while you do it. The 2022-generation Glen Dimplex table publishes the same code with narrower wording — “Water or pans on the glass above the user controls”, with a continuous tone — and the remedy “Clean any water on surface above user controls/display”. If your manual lists E6 and E8, that is the table you are reading, and the audible tone belongs with it.

1. 1

   Move every pan, utensil and cloth clear of the control area at the front of the glass, not just the ones directly over the keys.

2. 2

   Wipe the control area dry with a cloth. Belling name water, grease and fingerprints as obstructions in their own right, so a visibly clean hob can still be triggering the code.

3. 3

   Clean the area properly once it is dry, keeping your hand off the touch keys while you work.

   Belling publish the instruction not to touch any hob touch control key for more than 10 seconds. A long touch looks like an obstruction to the control and will bring the code back.
4. 4

   Use the hob again. Belling describe no reset for ER03 beyond removing the obstruction and cleaning.

5. 5

   If the code returns with the glass clean, dry and clear, use Belling’s catch-all: switch the appliance off at the wall for a few minutes to let the electronics reset, and if it reappears when the power is restored, contact customer care on 0344 815 3746.