What does HI (HIGH TMP) mean on a Pitco fryer?

HI — displayed as HIGH TMP on Touchscreen / ROV controllers and as HI on Solstice / Solstice Supreme — means oil temperature has exceeded the cooking setpoint by 40 °F (22 °C) or has reached the absolute software cap of 410 °F (210 °C). The controller cuts heating, sounds an audible alarm, and locks the cook program. HI is the electronic overtemperature — it is independent of the bi-metallic high-limit switch on the frypot, which trips at a higher temperature; a HI banner with the high-limit pushbutton still in (not popped) means the software safety caught the overheat first and the mechanical safety did not have to. Sequence: (1) switch the fryer off and let it cool to a safe handling temperature — do not handle, drain, or filter oil at this temperature; (2) check the oil level — below the MIN line is the most common HI cause because the heating element or burner heats a smaller oil volume too quickly and overshoots; top up with fresh oil; (3) once cooled, press the high-limit reset pushbutton firmly behind the front access panel until it clicks (some Pitco models combine the electronic HI reset with this mechanical button); (4) restart and watch the temperature rise — a recurring HI inside one cook cycle points to a stuck-closed thermostat, a failing RTD reading low, or a stuck-closed heating contactor on electric units; (5) on gas units, inspect the burner for grease / debris that can cause uneven heat. Recurring HI after correcting oil level and reset is a service call — a controller running away on overtemperature is a fire hazard.

What does “Pitco table” mean and which controller table is it?

“Pitco table” in technician searches usually refers to one of two service-manual tables: the RTD probe resistance table that maps the temperature probe's measured resistance to oil temperature, used to verify a probe before replacing it during E2 / probe-fault diagnosis; or the wiring / harness pin-out tables in the L22-330, L22-370, L22-392, L22-393, and L22-405 service manuals that document the J11 / J12 / J18 / J19 connector positions on the SCB (Solstice Control Board), the I12 controller, and the Touchscreen / ROV cooking computer. For probes: Pitco RTD probes read approximately 1080 Ω at 60 °F (15.5 °C) and rise progressively with temperature — the exact resistance-to-temperature curve for the model in front of the technician is in the back of the unit's service manual; an open or shorted reading at any tested temperature confirms probe failure. For wiring tables: the J18 jumper position selects electric (jumper installed) vs gas (jumper removed and roll-out applied) operation on dual-platform controller boards, and the J11 / J12 pin-out tables document 230 VAC / 240 VAC option harnesses for the basket-lift and 50 Hz / 60 Hz international variants. Always cross-reference the table against the unit's serial-number-specific service manual — Pitco controller pin-outs evolved across revisions and the wrong table will produce wiring mistakes.

What does drn mean on a Pitco fryer?

On a Pitco Solstice controller, the display cycling drn / tUrn / oFF means the drain valve interlock (DVI) switch has detected that the drain valve is open. This is a safety interlock — it suspends all normal operation and the fryer will not heat, so the burner can't fire while the vat is draining. To clear it, rotate the drain handle fully to the closed position, turn the control off, refill the vat if oil was drained, then turn the control back on. If drn stays on with the drain confirmed closed, the DVI switch is likely misadjusted, wired loose, or failed and needs checking. Note that some applications don't use the drain valve input at all.

What does Prob mean on a Pitco fryer?

Prob on a Pitco Solstice controller means the temperature probe circuit is open — the probe is disconnected or a wire is broken. With no temperature signal, the controller can't read the oil and disables all functions, so the fryer won't heat. Check the probe wiring connections and reseat the connector at the controller, then ohm the probe against the Pitco resistance chart for the current temperature (roughly 942 ohms at 350F). An open reading confirms a broken probe — replace it with the correct part and route the leads away from heat and pinch points. Turn the control off then on to reset. If Prob persists with the probe measuring in spec, the controller input is suspect.

What does Hi mean on a Pitco fryer?

Hi on a Pitco Solstice controller is the shorted-probe or high-temperature alarm: the temperature probe reads abnormally high, or the probe wires are shorted together. Either way the controller disables all functions to protect the fryer. Check the probe for a short circuit — resistance reading too low — and inspect the wiring for damage or pinched leads. If the probe is shorted, replace it with the correct part, then turn the control off and on to reset. Treat a genuine high-temperature condition seriously: an overheating vat is a fire hazard, so don't return the fryer to service until the cause is found. If Hi recurs after replacing the probe, the controller input or wiring needs a technician.

What does HEAT FAiL mean on a Pitco fryer?

HEAT / FAiL on a Pitco Solstice controller means the heating system failed to respond to a demand for heat — the controller called for heat but didn't see the oil temperature rise. The manual gives an ordered checklist: first press the high-limit thermostat's red reset button (downward on ROV models); if the pilot didn't light, read the ignition module's LED fault codes; if the module reports a marginal flame, clean the flame sensor and adjust the pilot; verify gas is on at the correct pressure; check and reset the rollout switch; and on ROV models confirm the 24V DC supply via the heartbeat LED. Most causes are in the ignition, safety, or gas chain rather than the controller itself, so work the list in order before suspecting the board.

What do the ignition module flash codes mean on a Pitco fryer?

Pitco's Matchless ignition module (PN 60152001) flashes its orange LED after a lockout to report the fault. One flash is an ignition lockout — it failed to detect the pilot flame within the trial period (90 seconds USA, 50 seconds CE); check gas supply and pressure, pilot orifice, spark gap (0.2 inches max), and flame sensor position. Two flashes is a flame-sense circuit error (dirty sensor, loose wire, or poor ground; flame current should read above 0.15 microamps). Three flashes is a pilot valve circuit fault and four flashes a main valve circuit fault — both checked by measuring 24VAC at the relevant gas-valve terminals. Five or more flashes means an internal module failure with no external fix: the module must be replaced. Power-cycle the fryer (off, wait 10 seconds, on) to clear codes 1 through 4 after fixing the cause.

Quick Answer

Pitco Solstice digital controllers show plain-language fault displays: drn (drain valve open), Prob (open probe), Hi (shorted probe / high temp), HEAT FAiL (heat failure) and FiLL (low liquid level). The Matchless ignition module signals separately with orange LED flash counts — 1 flash is ignition lockout, 2 flame-sense, 3 pilot-valve, 4 main-valve, and 5+ a failed module needing replacement.

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What error codes does Pitco display?

drn

Drain valve open — DVI interlock detected the drain is open; heating suspended until closed and the control is cycled.

Prob

Open probe fault — temperature probe circuit is open (disconnected or broken wire); all functions disabled.

Shorted probe or high-temperature alarm — probe reads abnormally high or the probe wires are shorted together.

HEAT FAiL

Heat failure — the heating system failed to respond to the controller's demand for heat.

FiLL

Low liquid level — water level too low on units with the liquid level option; heat suspended while filling.

1 Flash

Ignition module orange LED — ignition lockout; failed to detect the pilot flame within the trial period.

2 Flashes

Ignition module orange LED — flame sense circuit error; dirty/misaligned sensor, loose wire, or poor ground.

3 Flashes

Ignition module orange LED — pilot valve circuit fault; PV solenoid, wiring, or gas-valve connection issue.

4 Flashes

Ignition module orange LED — main valve circuit fault; heat relay K1, MV coil, or wiring fault.

5+ Flashes

Ignition module orange LED — internal module failure; the module is corrupted and must be replaced.

Common questions about Pitco equipment

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