EG4 mini split error code 36

Common causes

• The outdoor condenser temperature thermistor has failed (they do drift and fail with age and heat cycling).
• Its plug has worked loose from the control board, or a pin has corroded.
• The sensor lead is chafed, pinched or chewed, giving an intermittent open or short.
• The control board's sensor input has failed (rare compared with the sensor itself).

How to fix it yourself

Work through the checks below first; they resolve most cases. If they do not, the repair itself may need a technician.

1. Reset the system: switch the breaker (or the outdoor disconnect) off, wait a full five minutes so the boards fully discharge, then switch it back on and restart from the remote.
2. If the code comes straight back after a reset, the fault is real and not a glitch.
3. With power off, locate the outdoor condenser temperature sensor in a well on the condenser coil. Follow its lead back to the board and reseat the plug firmly.
4. Inspect the lead for damage along its whole length, especially where it passes through the chassis.
5. If you have a multimeter, unplug the sensor and measure its resistance. A reading near zero ohms (short) or infinite (open) confirms a bad sensor. Most mini split thermistors read roughly 5 to 20 kΩ at room temperature, so a value in that range with a steady drift as you warm it in your hand means the sensor is fine and the board is the suspect.
6. Replacement thermistors are inexpensive and plug in. Match the part number from the parts list for your model.

Switch off power at the breaker before opening either unit. Capacitors in the outdoor unit hold a charge for several minutes after power is cut.

When to call a technician

Sensor swaps are a doable DIY job on most units. Call a technician if the sensor tests good and the code persists, because that points at the control board.

Which EG4 units show 36

This page applies to EG4 12K hybrid solar mini split (AC/DC, R32) and 12K / 24K hybrid mini split AC/DC R32 (DWA4 / DWB3 / DGA) units. EG4's own documentation lists 36 as "Outdoor condenser temperature sensor fault (open or short circuit)", the same definition used across the EG4 hybrid solar mini split it is built on. If your unit shows a code with a different shape (for example a four-character code, or a plain number), it is from a different table; use the lookup with your exact code.

Where EG4 shows this code

The indoor unit's LED display shows a two-digit number in place of the temperature. EG4 units also run on DC from solar panels, so several codes concern the DC input and the power stage rather than the refrigerant side. 01 to 06 are indoor and communication faults, 31 to 37 are temperature sensors, 51 to 58 are motors, 72 to 79 are voltage and current protections, and 81 to 96 are inverter and compressor drive faults.

Other EG4 codes

Same part of the system as 36:

All EG4 error codes

36 on other brands

The same characters do not always mean the same thing. Check the brand on your unit.

• Hisense 36 Communication error between indoor and outdoor units
• Haier 36 Zone E indoor unit gas pipe temperature sensor fault (open or short circuit)