Code 14: the low ambient heater draws too much current, from a short or a bad heater.
Model compatibility: Fisher & Paykel reuses codes across series and model years, so 14 may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
The low ambient heater draws more current than expected, which indicates a short or a faulty heater.
Code 13 has the heater drawing too little; code 14 has it drawing too much. The Active Smart service manual gives a pair of explanations: either the heater or its wiring has a short, or the heater is defective.
13 and 14 side by side
Current: below expectation for 13, above expectation for 14.
Manual’s reasoning: open circuit or bad heater for 13; short or bad heater for 14.
Service steps, same for both: look at wiring and connections where they meet the heater and the power module; then test the heater resistance and fit a new heater if it lies outside limits.
What a short is
A short is a route for current that nobody intended, so the heater ends up carrying more than it was built for. Heater or wiring faults can produce it. With excess current and wiring in the picture, the cautious course is to leave the appliance unplugged until someone has inspected it, particularly if a hot smell is present.
Order of checks
Go over the wiring and its connections, heater end and power module end.
Test the ambient heater resistance, and put in a new heater when it is out of limits.
Step one would turn up a wiring short; step two a failed heater. The resistance limits are not printed in the code list, so there is no figure for you to test against.
What an owner can do
Stop the alarm with a control button.
If a reset is wanted, disconnect the refrigerator from power for a few seconds. In any case it resets after 72 hours.
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Seeing this code on your Fisher & Paykel appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
