Remote Control System TESC

What should i do if my fire does not light or stay lit

Check if the gas supply is on.

If the fire is hot wait for the fire to cool down.

If your fire has a remote handset, put the handset to one side and get access to the gas valve in the fire (see your user instruction on how to do this, if allowed).

Unless your fire is powered by a plug-in power supply, it will have batteries inside the valve to enable it to operate and these may need changing.

Remove the battery cover and check batteries are ok with no sign of the batteries leaking or any other contamination of the contacts. If in any doubt replace the batteries with new, high quality, alkaline batteries. (For best performance we recommend Energizer batteries).

When replacing the batteries ensure the battery contacts are clean and free from any contamination that may have come from the old batteries. Polish the contacts of both the valve and batteries to remove any fingerprint grease etc., being careful not to bend any contacts.

Ensure you replace the batteries in the correct orientation.

Next replace the battery cover on the valve. (This is very important to do before doing the next stage)

Check that the ceramic parts (matrix, coals or logs) on the fire are in the correct place and are in a good condition (according to the fire instructions).

Perform any general cleaning of the fire that is recommended in your user instructions, in particular the pilot assembly.

Replace any other part of the fire that needed to be removed to access the valve.

If the red light on the valve is on, reset the valve by pressing the Power button briefly (the red light will go off).

Try to start the fire using the control button(s) on the valve.

If your fire still does not light normally, wait until the red light on the valve indicates an error or a lockout. Note: the valve may make several automatic attempts to start the fire, which could take several minutes to complete. (Do not interrupt the valve while it does this).

If fire still does not work correctly

Double check that the batteries are good and in the correct orientation.

If your fire user instructions cover cleaning the pilot follow these instructions.

Reset the valve by pressing the Power button briefly (the red light will go off). Then try starting again using the Power button on the control valve.

Repeat starting attempts several times.

If fire still does not light you may need help from a service engineer to service the problem. The appliance may need a good clean as debris may be stopping the fire from working properly. Check your user instructions on this and seek a service engineer if necessary to do this work for you as advised there.

If the fire lights when using the valve operation buttons, pick up the handset to check that it is working as well. When holding the handset firmly (like a handshake), the green unlock keypad light should be permanently lit (not flashing).

If the keypad green light is not lit at all :-

Check the batteries in the handset are good, there is no contamination of the battery contacts, the contacts are not bent (preventing the battery contacts from touching them) and are in the correct orientation.

Note: If the battery contacts are contaminated, (i.e. from old batteries leaking), this may damage the handset and a new one may need to be purchased.

Clean and replace with new batteries as necessary.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The pairing of the handset is already done for you during manufacturing and is not forgotten if the batteries are removed. If using a handset with display, the time will be lost after some minutes of no power but the pairing will still remain. Refer to the instructions on how to set the time on the handset. Do not press the buttons on the valve to make a new pairing. If you do then you will have to reset & pair the handset to the valve (see the sections on resetting and then pairing of your handset).

If the green indicator is flashing like a heart beat, it is not in communication with the valve for some reason.

Communication can be lost by:-

The slide switch on the valve not in the ON (I) position.

The batteries need replacing in the valve.

The handset is too far away from the fire (it needs to be within a few metres).

If the above are correct, and the handset is still flashing, then the pairing on the valve may have been accidentally altered and the handset will need to be reset and a new pairing performed to restore communication.

Resetting the handset (with a LCD display)

If the handset for what ever reason has lost communication with the Control Valve, when the handset is held like a firm handshake the green light will be permanently lit but will pulse brighter.

In addition the communication symbol Restoring communication with a display type handset and other symbols will be missing from the display and it will appear as shown.

Press and hold the SET button for around 3 seconds until you hear a second beep.

Release the SET button and PROG appears at the top left of the handset. SETUP should also be flashing at the top right corner of the display.

When SETUP is flashing, press the SET button to enter the menu. H24 (or 12) will now be flashing.

Press the SET button about 9 more times until the display shows CA with a flashing 0. Use the + button to change the CA0 to CA1.

Then press the SET button once again.

The display will now show 7ESC r4 (or some other number next to the r).

Pairing the handset (with a LCD display)

Before proceeding ensure the handset and the control valve / battery box have good batteries fitted

If the handset is in its factory reset condition, the display will 7ESC and r and a number (as shown in the photo).

Picking up and holding the handset will unlock the keypad and the green light will illuminate a solid green light (and the LCD backlight may come on if the room is dark enough). (NOTE: Ensure the small isolation switch on the control valve is in the ON (I) position).

Place the handset near the fire, i.e. within a metre (3 feet). No need to hold the handset at this time.

Simultaneously press and hold the + and - buttons on the control valve (not the handset) until the red light on the control valve begins to flash rapidly (it will take about 5 seconds to start flashing). Then immediately release the + and - buttons and quickly press the POWER button on the control valve. Note: Pressing of the POWER button must be done within 1 second of the red light coming on. If not done quickly enough, then the above must be repeated until done correctly.

When done correctly you will hear an audible sound from the handset and the display will show the symbol " ⎤- -⎡ " and the green light on the handset will be flashing. You now have 60 seconds to accept the pairing. To do this pick up and hold the handset to activate the unlocking of the keypad. Then press and hold the "SET" button for a few seconds.

You will hear a few beeps from the handset and the display will change and enter the SETUP menu. Whilst maintaining your grip on the handset, you can now set the display functions of the handset. Pressing the SET button advances through the settable features and pressing the MENU button returns back to the previous one. Pressing + or – changes the displayed information, for example:-

H 24 – This is the 12 Hr or 24 Hr time format. Pressing and releasing + or – will change H24 into H12. Press SET To confirm the setting and move to the next menu.

Day of the week is Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su. Again pressing + or - will change the day of the week. Press SET To confirm the setting and move to the next menu.

Next set the correct Hour using the + and - buttons. Press SET to confirm.

Then set the correct minutes using the + and - buttons. Press SET to confirm.

The remaining parameters do not need adjusting so keep pressing the SET button several times (about 7 times) to advance the display to the end of the menu.

You know when the setup menu has ended as will see the communication symbol (3 arcs of a circle) in the upper right hand side of the display. This symbol indicates that the handset is in operation mode (not setup) and in good communication with the control valve.

IMPORTANT NOTE : If you do not complete all of the setup, the pairing is still stored after pressing SET the first time. The handset will re-enter setup mode as soon as the next unlock of the handset. Do not send a pairing request again from the valve! If this is done then another reset of the handset will be required and a new pairing done again.

Resetting the handset (no display)

With good batteries inside, hold the handset to unlock the key pad. Then press and hold the SET button (around 10-15 seconds) until the red and green lights are flashing. They will flash for up to 10 seconds.

While the red and green lights are flashing, open up the battery compartment on the handset and remove one of the batteries for about 10 seconds.

Replace the battery and the battery cover.

Now when you hold the handset the green light should be flashing faster (several times a second), the handset is now reset and ready to be paired.

(Note: If the red and green lights do not flash together, then the handset is probably already reset and ready to pair again.)

Restoring communication with a standard handset (without LCD display).

Pairing the handset (no display)

Ensure the handset and the control valve have good batteries

If the handset is in its factory reset condition (as performed in previous section) when held the green light on the handset will be flashing quickly.

(NOTE: Ensure the small isolation switch on the control valve is set to the ON (I) position).

Place the handset near the fire, i.e. within a metre (3 feet). No need to hold the handset at this time.

Simultaneously press and hold the + and - buttons on the control valve (not the handset) until the red light on the valve begins to flash rapidly (it will take about 5 seconds to start flashing) Then immediately release the + and - buttons and quickly press the POWER button on the control valve. Note: Pressing of the POWER button must be done within 1 second of the red light coming on. If not done quickly enough, then the above must be repeated until done correctly.

When done correctly you will hear an audible sound from the handset and the green light on the handset will be flashing more slowly than before. You now have 60 seconds to accept the pairing.

To accept the pairing hold the handset to unlock and then press and hold the "SET" button for a few seconds.

You will hear a few beeps from the handset and the green light will now be permanently lit when held. When ever the green light is on and not flashing this means the handset is is good communication with the valve.

If the pairing is not accepted within the 60 seconds the green light will stop flashing. Simply repeat the above steps to send a new pairing request.

Error codes

Error codes can be used to assist in diagnosis of why the fire will not operate correctly. They appear if the control detects abnormal conditions, either in environment, in installation or components / internal electronics. (If you do not have a handset with a display that shows the error codes, then checking for the faults is still valid. The illumination of the red indicator light shows the valve is in error).

Note : To reset any error code, press and hold the power button on the valve. False errors can be reported if the batteries are faulty or lack enough power to correctly operate the valve.

E00 - Explanation

This is the only code where the red indicator stays permanently lit without flashing (on newer models the indictor will dim after a few minutes to save battery power). E00 occurs after attempting (but failing) to light after all automatic start cycle(s). If this happens it is a sign that the electromagnet within the valve has not received enough power from the thermocouple at the end of the start cycle(s). The main burner may light for 15 to 30 seconds on each start cycle but then go off.

Possible reasons:

Thermocouple - Not being heated or heated quickly enough

No gas at all to pilot /main burner

Check gas supply is on and supply pipes for contamination that may be blocking gas flow to the valve inlet.

Pilot pipe from valve to pilot blocked

Pilot injector blocked.

Pilot head damaged or contaminated stopping good flame heating thermocouple.

Debris from fire ceramics out of position or causing carbon deposits to contaminate pilot.

Small pilot hole blocked by lint

No Spark at electrode, tracking out somewhere (i.e. damaged isolation, spark gap too wide, damaged electrode – crack in ceramic, dirt or soot on electrode or ceramic body of electrode.)

Flame is not touching the spark electrode. (The electrode needs to be in the flame as the valve is sensing the flame through the electrode and cable in addition to the thermocouple).

Flame signal shorted out. This can occur if any liquids (i,e, leak detection spray) has been used and contaminated the area of the pilot terminals connection or inner workings of the valve.

Spark cable is open circuit. Spark may be present as it can jump gaps but if there is a break in the cable or if inner metal terminal under ignition cable plastic terminal cover on valve is not in good contact with the high voltage outlet connection terminal on the valve, then valve will not continue after ignition cycle as no sensing current is reaching the valve. Another sign of this fault is the control may light the pilot but not the main burner and will not stop sparking, as it has not detected a flame.

Thermocouple is aged or damaged and is not producing enough output

The insulation on the thermocouple wire is damaged ( i.e. on a sharp edge) and the electrical current is shorted to chassis metal).

Note: If stop is pressed during a start cycle, E00 may also be generated. This is normal and not a failure condition. The valve can attempt self fix issues. When an E00 code has been displayed this will initiate a recalibration of the internal valve mechanics to compensate possible deviations due to contamination, ageing and so on. If the fire does not light on the first cycle, allow the valve to complete.

E01 - Meaning

This error is intended to indicate that possibly the content of CO is too high in ambient atmosphere. This error will usually be generated when there has been a good electronic flame signal, but the temperature of the Thermocouple was once hot enough but then become cooler.

Possible reasons;

Problems with chimney or room air inlets (insufficient air circulation)

Unstable pilot flame (i.e. wind, insufficient thermocouple couple position)

Contaminated pilot (giving poor flame that heats thermocouple)

Poor position of Ceramic parts (i.e. coals logs or matrix)

Intermittent failure in Thermocouple (only when hot) Inner wire in head maybe making contact when cold but not when hot.

E02 - Meaning

Ambient temperature around the Gas valve in the fire is too hot (exceeded 72°C). Note: This error protects the fireplace and the valve from excessive temperatures.

Possible reasons:

Faulty installation of fire (not sealed in correctly in fire opening).

Problems with chimney (insufficient air circulation)

Poor position of Ceramic parts (i.e. coals logs or matrix)

Note: Batteries do not tolerate high ambient temperatures, eventually this could cause them to leak and damage the valve. This damage is not covered by any warranty. Typically the maximum temperature for alkaline batteries is 50 C.

E03 - Meaning

Thermocouple connection to valve issue. Incorrect reading from thermocouple.

Possible reasons:

No Thermocouple connected

Thermocouple connection reversed / connected incorrectly

Insulated Thermocouple wire shorting to chassis earth

E04 - Meaning

Flame detected on pilot after valve has shutdown.

Possible Reasons:

Carbon or soapy / conductive contamination on spark electrode.

Combustible material burning on pilot near electrode (Carbon deposits etc),

If Easy Test Box used :- simulate flame switch not operated correctly

E05 - Meaning

Flame detected on pilot before valve has started .

Possible Reasons:

Carbon or soapy / conductive contamination on spark electrode.

Combustible material burning on pilot near electrode (Carbon deposits etc),

If Easy Test Box used :- simulate flame switch not operated correctly

E06 & 07 - Meaning

Occurs when supply voltage is too low to operate the valve.
Possible reasons:

Batteries are low (may display random error codes in this case not just E06 and E07).

Damaged battery contacts (dirty, corroded, bent so not making strong contact with batteries)

Short circuit in external wiring or connected accessories (i.e. wired control panel, cable shorting to chassis earth.)

Defective power plug power supply (if used) or damaged wiring to it.

Contact problem of slide isolation switch (moving on/off..on/off several times may clean contacts)

Batteries not in correct way around

E08, 09, 10, 51 - Meaning

Occurs when a device connected to the TESC extension socket does not work correctly.

Possible reasons:

If nothing is connected: are links missing / in wrong position or bad contact

Failure in extension module connected to extension connector

E11,12,13,18, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 36, 44, 45, 63 - Meaning

Reserved for future use.

E14,15,16,17 - Meaning

Occurs when buttons on valve (or wired control panel) do not work or are not wired correctly

Possible reason:

Buttons are sticking or blocked

Buttons are damaged

Cable damaged or short circuit to ground (wired control panel)

Note: disconnect wired panel (if applicable) and test again to determine the root cause

E19,20,27,50,54,57,58,59,60,61 - Meaning

Occurs when internal CPU diagnostics runs self tests and returns invalid results

Possible reason:

EMC problems (in this case, twist ignition cable around thermocouple wire several times to quench radiated EMC emissions)

Electrode spark is tracking out somewhere but not at electrode creating unusual interference

E21,22 - Meaning

Reserved for future use.

E24 - Meaning

Occurs when the thermocouple does not reach its final temperature within 1 minute

Possible reasons:

Aged thermocouple

Thermocouple wire insulation damage and shorting to metal chassis.

Problems with chimney or room air inlets (insufficient air circulation)

Unstable pilot flame (i.e. wind, insufficient thermocouple couple position)

Contaminated pilot, giving poor flame that heat thermocouple (see section on pilot)

Incorrect position of Ceramic parts (i.e. coals, logs or matrix)

E26 - Meaning

Occurs when a power supply with incorrect pinning is connected to the USB-socket

E32,43,46,47,52,53,55,56,62 - Meaning

Occurs when a self test procedure of the valve electronics fails.

Possible reasons:

Low batteries

Liquids inside electronic (i.e. after leakage test with soapy water)

E33,34,35,37,38,39,40,41,42 - Meaning

Occurs when the internal valve piston is having trouble moving.

Possible reasons:

Contamination of valve inlet / outlets with debris from supply pipe or other.

Physical damage of the valve

Note: After cleaning etc, before resetting these error codes allow the fire to cool down. Upon starting the valve will reinitialize and perform a self recalibration and needs to be cold when doing this recalibration. Note: If the valve needs replacing, check the pipework for contamination to avoid repeated problems.

E48 - Meaning

Occurs when the control detects a short circuit of the thermocouple

Possible reasons:

Thermocouple connection reversed / connected incorrectly

Insulated thermocouple wire shorting to chassis earth (damaged insulation).

Damaged or defective thermocouple

Weak connection of thermocouple to valve

E49 - Meaning

Occurs when the control senses a false flame signal on the electrode

Possible Reasons:

Contamination of the electrode with carbon deposits, conductive liquids (leak detection spray) or similar.

Contamination of the rear of the valve where the thermocouple and ignition cable connect to the valve with conductive liquids (leak detection spray) or similar.

Note: It is critical to avoid leak detection fluid to contact any part of the valve other than the threads where the pipe connects. Leak detection fluids are highly corrosive and will damage any electronics they come into contact with. Other forms of leak detection should be used.