EL01 Indoor/outdoor communication error

What the control is telling you

The outdoor unit is not communicating with the indoor unit.

Applies to: DLCURAH18-60 AAK/ABK single-zone heat pump outdoor units (18K-60K, regular and High Heat)

Likely causes

• Loose or mis-wired control wiring between indoor and outdoor units
• Incorrect 24 V thermostat wiring (R, C, Y1, Y2, B, W, D, L)
• RS485 S1-S2 communication wiring fault (when used)
• Wire touching tubing/moving parts or damaged
• Indoor or outdoor board fault

Test and repair steps

1. Warning: Turn off and lock out power at the outdoor disconnect and wait for the inverter capacitors to discharge before touching the outdoor board or compressor wiring.
2. Check the indoor unit diagnostic display first.
3. Verify interconnecting wiring at both terminal blocks matches the wiring diagram for the thermostat configuration used (Figs. 28-29).
4. Tighten every terminal - the manual warns loose wiring causes overheating and malfunctions.
5. If using non-polarity RS485 communication, check the S1-S2 wiring end to end for breaks or shorts.
6. Make sure no control wire touches refrigerant tubing, the compressor or moving parts.
7. If wiring is good, suspect the indoor or outdoor control board.

Settings for these units

Outdoor unit minimum clearances · Midea DLCURA ducted single-zone inverter heat pump (outdoor)

Side letters taken from Fig. 8 drawing.

Units facing each other: 59 in. (150 cm) or more; do not blow into another unit's inlet.

Models that show this code

12 models in Midea DLCURA ducted single-zone inverter heat pump (outdoor)

Other codes on the same units

• EC54 Discharge temperature sensor (TP) open/short
• EC57 refrigerant pipe temperature sensor fault
• EC71 Outdoor DC fan motor over-current
• EC72 Outdoor DC fan motor lack-phase
• EL16 Main board to transit board communication error
• LC06 Inverter module (IPM) high temperature protection
• PC00 Inverter module (IPM) protection
• PC0A Condenser high temperature protection