Dexter Commercial Washer Error Code: Comm Error 5 VFD Data
COMM ERROR 5 means a data communication error between the washer controller and the VFD, and it appears after a twelve second delay. The maker says cable noise causes most of these, and cycling main power can also trigger it. Restart the washer once and call us if the message comes back.
Medium: the washer stops, but a data cable is the usual cause and is a contained repair.
What does Dexter COMM ERROR 5 mean?
On a Dexter VFD washer, the controller and the drive keep a conversation going over a data cable. The controller sends commands, the drive answers, and both rely on clean signals. If that conversation is silent or garbled for twelve seconds, the controller displays COMM ERROR 5 and the washer stops. The twelve-second window separates this from the two-second break behind F13: the link here is not necessarily gone, it has stopped being trustworthy. Dexter's troubleshooting document says data cable noise causes most of these errors, and that the error can also occur when main power has been cycled, because the drive and controller do not always wake up together. Noise is a matter of routing as much as damage. A data cable that runs alongside motor or power wiring picks up interference from the drive itself, and a cable that looks perfect can still carry corrupted data. For the laundromat owner, that explains why one machine can show this message again and again while its neighbors do not: the cable path, not the model, is the difference.
Affected models and control systems
Dexter coin washers with a VFD, from the C-Series and T-series, T-300 to T-1450, such as the T-450 Express.
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
- COMM ERROR 5 appears and the drum stops
- The message appeared right after a power outage or breaker reset
- The error repeats on one washer but not the washers beside it
- A restart gives one normal cycle, then the message returns
Possible causes
Listed in Dexter's documentation
- Noise or damage on the data cable
- Data cable routed close to power wiring
- Main power cycled and interrupted the link
- Failed controller or drive port
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind COMM ERROR 5 on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- A data cable that was rerouted bundled with motor leads during a past repair
- A shield or ground connection on the cable that has loosened, so noise is no longer drained away
Safe checks before calling for service
- Switch the washer off at the disconnect and wait a minute.
- Switch it on again and try a cycle.
- Do not open any cabinet or move cables.
- If COMM ERROR 5 returns, call us, since the maker says to check or replace the data cable.
- Tell us if the message started after a power outage or a breaker trip.
How a technician diagnoses COMM ERROR 5
- Confirm COMM ERROR 5 and ask staff how often it has appeared.
- Verify supply voltage and ground at the washer and ask about power outages in the building.
- Trace the data cable and note where it runs relative to motor and power wiring.
- Inspect the cable ends and shield, then swap in a known-good cable and retest under load.
- Test the controller and drive ports only if a good cable does not clear it.
- Data cable noise is invisible, so only a swap with a known-good cable and a look at the cable route can show it.
- The cable ends are inside a cabinet with drive electronics that hold charge after shutoff.
- Ports on the controller and drive can be damaged by handling live connectors.
How COMM ERROR 5 differs from similar codes
Same family as F13 (COMM ERROR 4), but the delay is twelve seconds instead of two, which points to noise rather than a cable that is fully unplugged.
Technical reference
- Document
- Dexter Common Washer Troubleshooting and Error Codes (Washer Fault Errors, pp. 4-10)
- Maker documentation
- Dexter owner support
- Edition
- Part # 8533-***-*** 9/19
- Models / control
- Dexter C-Series and T-series coin washers with VFD (T-300 to T-1450)
- Section
- Washer Fault Errors & Codes, printed pp. 4-10 (PDF pp. 5-11); contents on p. 1
- 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 Dexter washer error codes
Why does it say COMM ERROR 5 and not F13?
The message depends on the type of communication break. This one follows a twelve-second delay.
Did the power outage cause it?
It can. The maker notes the error can occur if main power was cycled.
Can a cable that looks fine be the cause?
Yes. Noise does not leave visible damage, so we test or swap the cable.
Need help with Dexter COMM ERROR 5?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.