American Dryer Error Code EE PROM FAULT ###: Memory Error
EE PROM FAULT followed by a number means the Phase 7 control found an error in the memory location shown. Switch the dryer off, wait a minute, switch it back on, and write down the number. Call us with that number, since it tells us where to look.
Medium: a memory error can make the dryer behave oddly or refuse to run, but it is not a safety shutdown.
- Code
- EE PROM FAULT ###
- Maker
- American Dryer (ADC)
- Equipment
- Dryers
- Applies to
- Phase 7 OPL microprocessor controller (also Phase 6 on ML-175/190)
What does American Dryer (ADC) EE PROM FAULT ### mean?
The Phase 7 control keeps its settings and program data in an EEPROM, a memory chip that holds its contents when power is off. Each time the control starts, and while it runs, it checks that what it reads back from memory is valid. When it finds a mismatch, it identifies the location and puts EE PROM FAULT on the display with a number after it. That number is the useful part: it identifies which stored item or memory location was found wrong, and it is what we need to separate a one-time scrambled setting from a failing chip. The maker lists the stored settings in the location shown, power interruptions that corrupted memory, the control board memory, and recent changes to settings. A bad location can make the dryer behave oddly or refuse to run, which is why the effects vary between machines. The code is a data message, not a heat or gas problem. Do not change program settings yourself to try to clear it, because that can hide what the control saw.
Affected models and control systems
This applies to American Dryer tumblers with the Phase 7 OPL microprocessor controller, such as the AD-115 and AD-170, and the Phase 6 control on ML-175 and ML-190 models. Other controller generations use different messages.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- EE PROM FAULT and a number appear on the display
- The dryer refuses to start or stops soon after starting
- Settings or cycle values look changed or reset
- The dryer behaves oddly after a power dip or outage
Possible causes
Listed in American Dryer (ADC)'s documentation
- Stored settings in the memory location shown are corrupted
- A power interruption corrupted the memory
- Control board memory has failed
- A recent change to settings left a bad value
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind EE PROM FAULT ### on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- A brownout or breaker trip that cut power while the control was writing a setting
- A setting changed at the keypad just before the message, leaving a bad value in memory
- A memory chip on the board that no longer holds data reliably across power-offs
Safe checks before calling for service
- Switch the dryer off at the disconnect, wait a minute and switch back on.
- Write down the number shown after the message.
- Do not change program settings yourself.
- If the dryer runs normally, note whether the message returns on the next start.
- Call us and tell us the number and when it first appeared.
How a technician diagnoses EE PROM FAULT ###
- Record the number shown and any earlier history or recent setting changes.
- Power cycle and see whether the same location is flagged again.
- Check supply voltage stability and the control power for dips.
- Reload or reset the settings at the flagged location following the manual.
- If the same location fails repeatedly, replace the control board.
- Verify all program values against the dryer's data and run a full cycle.
- The number after the message points to a specific stored value and needs the manual to interpret.
- Changing settings blindly can leave the dryer running on the wrong values for heat and timing.
- A failing memory chip means a board replacement, which is technician work on a controller carrying line voltage.
Technical reference
- Document
- AD-115/120/170 ML-120/130/145/170 Service Manual, Phase 7 Microprocessor Controls (part 451102 R2), Diagnostic messages pp.43-44
- Maker documentation
- American Dryer (ADC) owner support
- Edition
- Part 451102 R2
- Models / control
- Phase 7 OPL microprocessor controller (also Phase 6 on ML-175/190)
- Section
- Diagnostic messages pp.43-44
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related American Dryer (ADC) dryer error codes
What does the number after EE PROM FAULT mean?
It identifies the memory location the control found wrong. Please write it down, because it saves time on the service call.
Will it clear after a restart?
It may if a power glitch scrambled one value, but a repeat means the data or chip needs attention.
Can I keep using the dryer?
If it still runs, you may, but we would not rely on it, since the control could be using a wrong stored value.
Need help with American Dryer (ADC) EE PROM FAULT ###?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.