Cissell 120/170 lb Dryer Error Code SH: Shorted Thermistor
SH means the thermistor circuit reads as shorted. Without a believable temperature reading the control will not let the dryer keep running, so loads in the large drum come out cold or damp. Cut power at the disconnect, let the drum cool, clean the lint screen and try one cycle, and call us if SH shows again.
Medium: the dryer will not run until the sensor circuit reads correctly.
What does Cissell error code SH mean?
On a 120 or 170 lb Cissell with the micro control, such as the CT170N or CU170L, the thermistor reports the drum temperature through its resistance. In a short that resistance falls to almost zero. No real drum reaches that kind of reading, so the control does not accept it as a temperature and shows SH. It will not run the dryer without a believable reading. Laundry staff see SH, and loads in the large drum come out cold or damp. The load must be moved to another machine and stays damp until the dryer is repaired. The manual lists sensor wiring pinched or rubbed through, the thermistor itself, lint or moisture at the sensor connection and the control input. In a laundry room, damp air and lint dust are constant, which makes the connection and the lead the first places to check. The problem is a circuit that reads wrong, not a drum that is too hot or too cold.
Affected models and control systems
This page covers the Cissell 120 and 170 lb tumble dryers with the micro control, C-prefix models such as the CT170N and CU170L. The OPL control uses ESH for the same condition.
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
- SH appears and the dryer stops
- Large loads come out cold or damp
- The dryer shows SH on each new start
Possible causes
Listed in Cissell's documentation
- Sensor wiring pinched or rubbed through
- A failed thermistor
- Lint or moisture at the sensor connection
- A failed control input
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind error code SH on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- A sensor lead pinched under a panel that was refitted after a lint cleaning
- Wet lint packed into the sensor plug that bridges the pins
- A thermistor that has failed after years of hot cycles and reads as a short
Safe checks before calling for service
- Cut power at the disconnect and wait for the drum to cool down.
- Clean the lint screen and the lint area you can reach safely.
- Leave wiring and panels alone.
- Turn power on once and try a cycle, and call us if SH is shown again. Tell us if the room is damp.
How a technician diagnoses error code SH
- Read the code and ask about the load and the room.
- Inspect the thermistor, plug and lead for pinches, moisture and lint.
- Disconnect the thermistor and measure its resistance against the chart.
- Check the micro control input with a known resistor.
- Replace the thermistor, harness or control only after the readings show which one has failed.
- The sensor lead is in the hot cabinet behind panels with line-voltage wiring.
- A short is found by measuring, not by looking.
- The dryer cannot be forced to run without a reading it can trust.
How error code SH differs from similar codes
OP is the open-circuit reading on the same dryers. SH is the short. On OPL dryers the matching codes are EoP and ESH.
Technical reference
- Document
- Tumble Dryers 120/170 lb Troubleshooting TMB1268C, Part No. 70399901R2, Dec 2016 (pp.53, 65)
- Edition
- Part No. 70399901R2, December 2016; models through serial no. 0907000048
- Models / control
- 120/170 lb tumble dryers micro control (C-prefix models)
- Section
- Hybrid Timer Control Troubleshooting - 31. Error Codes, printed p. 53 (PDF p. 55); On Premise Micro Control (RM) Troubleshooting - 36. Error Codes, printed p. 65 (PDF p. 67)
- 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 Cissell dryer error codes
Why does SH leave the load damp?
The control stops the cycle because it cannot read drum heat, so the load is left as it was.
Can I run the dryer again?
One try after cleaning the lint is fine. If SH returns, leave it for service.
Is SH the same as ESH?
They mean the same thing on different controls. SH is on the 120 and 170 lb micro control.
Need help with Cissell error code SH?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.