Continental Girbau Washer Error Code ALn / VAR 1: Inverter Disconnected
ALn / VAR 1 means the control sees the inverter as disconnected after the inverter shut itself off through its own safety function. Power the washer off for a minute and restart once. If VAR 1 returns, stop using the machine and have a technician check the inverter supply and harness.
High: the drive is offline and the washer cannot finish a cycle.
- Code
- ALn / VAR 1
- Maker
- Continental Girbau
- Equipment
- Coin & card laundry
- Applies to
- E-Series washer-extractors with Logi / LogiPro / Vended control
What does Continental Girbau error code ALn / VAR 1 mean?
The inverter that drives the drum has a protective routine of its own. When it decides something is wrong, it disconnects itself from the control, and the microprocessor then sees a drive that has gone silent. ALn / VAR 1 is how the E-Series Logi, LogiPro and Vended controls report that situation. The ST-101 sheet groups VAR 0, 1 and 2 together as communication errors, while the older Cod. 344739en alarm list describes VAR 1 specifically as the inverter disconnected by auto-safety. Both readings lead to the same shop work: confirm the motor discharge resistor and earth ground (ST-112), power at the inverter, the fuses and the inverter relay, the communication harness with clean and reseated contacts, and the dip switches. Only after those pass is the inverter or the microprocessor suspected. The manual lists two causes, an inverter safety disconnect and a damaged communication harness, so a protective shutdown by the inverter is the main idea to keep in mind. The display text is ALn / VAR 1.
Affected models and control systems
Continental Girbau E-Series washer-extractors with Logi, LogiPro or Vended control, sheet names EH020, EM025, EH060, RMG055 and smaller. Earlier Cod. 344739en alarm lists word this entry slightly differently.
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
- Cycle halts with ALn / VAR 1 showing
- Drum coasts to a stop mid-cycle
- Washer restarts for a short time after power-off and then alarms again
Possible causes
Listed in Continental Girbau's documentation
- Inverter safety disconnect
- Damaged communication harness
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind error code ALn / VAR 1 on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Heat building up in the inverter because lint has blocked its airflow
- Supply voltage dipping under load and tripping the inverter's own protection
- Harness connector corroded by detergent vapor near the electrical section
Safe checks before calling for service
- Press stop and wait until the drum has fully stopped.
- Turn the washer off at its disconnect for one minute, then turn it on and start a cycle.
- Check that the area around the washer is not blocking ventilation and that nothing has been spilled near the control side.
- If VAR 1 shows again, leave the panels closed and note the point in the cycle where it stopped.
How a technician diagnoses error code ALn / VAR 1
- Read the alarm history and compare it with the ST-101 table.
- Verify the discharge resistor and earth ground per ST-112.
- Measure supply voltage at the inverter under load and test the fuses and relay.
- Inspect and reseat the communication harness, cleaning the contacts.
- Check dip switches, then decide between the inverter and the microprocessor after the other tests pass.
- Inverter checks are done on circuits that can hold dangerous charge after the washer is off.
- The inverter shut itself down for a reason, and finding that reason takes measurements the operator cannot make safely.
- A wrong swap of the inverter or microprocessor can leave the washer unable to talk at all.
How error code ALn / VAR 1 differs from similar codes
VAR 0 is a plain loss of communication, while VAR 1 describes the inverter disconnecting itself for safety. The shop checks are the same.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- Continental Girbau owner support
- Edition
- 3/18/24
- Models / control
- E-Series washer-extractors with Logi / LogiPro / Vended control
- Section
- Alarm table, p.1-6; Cod. 344739en s.4.3
- 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 Continental Girbau coin & card laundry error codes
Does VAR 1 mean the inverter is damaged?
Not by itself. It means the inverter shut itself off for protection, and the cause may be power, wiring or a real inverter failure.
Can I clear it by turning the washer off?
A restart may let you run briefly. If the reason for the disconnect is still there, the alarm returns.
What is different from VAR 2?
VAR 2 says the inverter itself found the communication failure. VAR 1 says the inverter disconnected itself for safety.
Need help with Continental Girbau error code ALn / VAR 1?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.