Samsung Refrigerator PC ER / PC CH Error
PC ER is the only Samsung refrigerator code whose published procedure includes a physical reconnection — the wire harness above the door — and Samsung puts the power cut first, before you touch it.
What to check first
- Samsung's procedure: unplug the refrigerator or turn off power at the circuit breaker.
- Disconnect and reconnect the wire harness above the door, then restore power to the fridge.
- If the code returns, Samsung's route is the Support Center: request service.
PC ER and PC CH are Samsung's Communication Error, filed as one entry in its US list, its Canadian table and its UK article. Samsung US: this is a communication error between components in the refrigerator, and it can occur if there was a recent power surge or if the doors are not properly connected. Samsung Canada's causes match: a power surge, or a loose door connection.
Safety first
- Samsung's standing rule for its refrigerators (its US and Canadian lists): unless directed, do not unplug the refrigerator, and do not attempt any interaction with the panel to try to make the error code “go away” — doing either of these will make it harder for a technician to diagnose and correct the issue. The power cut in this code's procedure is the exception Samsung itself directs.
- Samsung's order matters: the power is cut first, and only then is the door harness touched. Do exactly the reconnection Samsung describes — above the door — and nothing deeper inside the cabinet.
- The stop condition below is FixSignal's own general safety precaution, printed on every FixSignal guide; it is not a Samsung instruction. Samsung's guidance for this code is what this page prints from its Samsung sources.
- Stop condition — FixSignal precaution, not a Samsung code-specific instruction: If you notice smoke, a burning smell, damaged electrical parts, or significant water leakage, stop using the refrigerator. Do not touch a damaged plug, cable, or wet electrical area. If it is safe to do so, disconnect power; otherwise, keep clear and seek qualified assistance. Do not resume use until the hazard has been assessed.
Common causes
PC ER — the code shown when the self-test fails
On the models and in the documents Samsung provides for the self-test, PC ER is the code that appears on the display when the self-test fails.
PC CH — the code shown after the test
PC CH is the code that appears after the test.
Step-by-step checks
- Cut the powerUnplug the refrigerator or turn off power at the circuit breaker (Samsung US). Samsung UK phrases the same restart as powering off and unplugging the fridge.
- Disconnect and reconnect the wire harness above the doorSamsung US's central step: disconnect and reconnect the wire harness above the door — reseating the connection the error is about.
- Restore powerRestore power to the fridge and watch the display.
- If the code returns — request serviceSamsung: if the code returns, visit the Support Center to request service.
When to call a technician
PC ER's procedure is Samsung's own and it is complete as published: power off, reseat the door harness, power on. A code that survives a reseated harness is service territory — quote the code and that the harness step was done.
Model differences
| What you have | What changes |
|---|---|
| PC ER vs PC CH | PC ER is the code that appears on the display when the self-test fails, on the models and in the documents Samsung provides for the self-test; PC CH is the code that appears after the test. Samsung's US, Canadian and UK consumer lists file the pair as one entry, with the wire-harness procedure printed in the steps below. |
| Models with door displays | The harness step applies where the door carries the display/controls connected from above the door; your model manual shows its exact location. |
One-page checklist — PC ER
- PC ER or PC CH read exactly
- Power cut first (unplug or breaker)
- Wire harness above the door disconnected and reconnected
- Power restored; code watched
- Code returned → service requested
Official Samsung references
Frequently asked questions
What does PC ER mean?
A communication error between components in the refrigerator (Samsung US). PC CH is the same entry in its other display form. Causes Samsung names: a recent power surge, or the doors not being properly connected.
Where is the wire harness I have to reconnect?
Samsung locates it "above the door". Its procedure is: cut the power first, disconnect and reconnect that harness, then restore power.
Is PC ER the same as 88 88?
No. 88 88 is defined by Samsung as a communication fault inside the voltage/power family, answered with a 60-second power cut. PC ER is the communication error whose procedure reseats the door harness. Different codes, different procedures.