What Causes a Damper Switch Sensor Error in a Convection Oven?

Damper Switch Error

• The damper switch error occurs when the convection oven is not operating properly, specifically if the oven damper is not opening or closing as it should during preheating the oven. As a result, the sensor sends an error message to the oven display, typically “F5” or “Sensor Error” and is most common in microwaves with a convection oven feature.

Identifying the Error

• Set some food in the oven and select the “Convection” cooking feature, then press or select “Start” to begin preheating. The baffle is located on the side of the oven and you can watch the baffle using a flashlight pointed through the oven door while the oven operates. The baffle should close or at least attempt to close during convection cooking.

Reset

• Often, the damper switch error can be resolved by resetting the convection oven. Sometimes this is because the error was a mistake or in other circumstances, the reset causes the damper to reposition back to the normal setting. Disconnect power to the convection oven using a power cord if possible or disconnect the circuit breaker power. Wait 10 minutes or more and then reconnect the power and then try to reprogram the oven. If the error code does not recur, the problem is most likely resolved.

Service Needed

• After trying to watch the damper baffle and performing a reset, if the sensor error continues to repeat, attention from a professional service technician is necessary. Some potential problems include the processor board microswitch or wiring that prevents the baffle from closing, which lets heated air out. Do not attempt to access or repair the damper switch yourself, especially if the unit is a microwave oven, as microwave ovens can have a dangerous power current even when unplugged from the power source.