True Refrigerator Error Code E2: Danfoss ETC Sensor 2 Defect
On a True cabinet with a current Danfoss ETC display, E2 means sensor 2 has a defect and is not reporting. Watch a thermometer inside, look for frost without touching the coil, and keep the door shut as much as possible.
Medium: defrost control is degraded, so frost and warming can develop over days.
- Code
- E2
- Maker
- True
- Equipment
- Reach-in refrigerators
- Applies to
- Danfoss ETC (current display)
What does True error code E2 mean?
E2 on a current Danfoss ETC display means sensor 2 is not reporting. This is a different control from the LAE type that uses the same characters for probe T2. Sensor 2 normally feeds the defrost decision, so losing it can leave frost on the coil or a defrost that ends on time instead of on temperature. The cabinet may keep cooling for a while before it warms, because the main sensor is still working. The effect builds slowly, which is why a thermometer and a look at the back wall are more useful than waiting for an alarm. A technician checks sensor 2 and where it is mounted, then the wiring to the control, and then the sensor input on the ETC.
Affected models and control systems
True cabinets with a current Danfoss ETC display. Sensor 2 feeds the defrost decision.
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
- E2 on the display
- Frost on the back wall
- Defrost ending at the wrong time
- Cabinet warming after several days
Possible causes
Listed in True's documentation
- Sensor 2 and its mounting position
- Wiring and plug from the sensor to the control
- The sensor input on the ETC control
- Water or ice damage at the sensor lead
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind error code E2 on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- A sensor shifted off the coil after a cleaning
- A lead that cracked where it bends near the defrost heater
- A connector corroded by condensation
Safe checks before calling for service
- Place a thermometer inside and watch it for a few minutes.
- Look inside the cabinet for frost build-up on the back wall without touching the coil.
- Keep the door shut as much as possible.
- Move perishable food if the reading climbs.
- Tell us the control brand and what the frost looks like.
How a technician diagnoses error code E2
- Verify the control is a Danfoss ETC and read the code.
- Inspect sensor 2, its mount and lead.
- Measure resistance and compare it with the expected value.
- Check the wiring and plug at the control.
- Run a manual defrost and watch how it ends.
- Replace the sensor, then the control only if the input fails.
- A defrost test involves heater circuits at full line voltage.
- The sensor sits on the evaporator, which is easy to damage.
- Judging how defrost ends needs the control's own settings.
How error code E2 differs from similar codes
The LAE control uses E2 for probe T2; this ETC code is sensor 2, so the two should not be treated as the same.
Technical reference
- Document
- Commercial Refrigeration General Control Guide TEC_TM_001 Rev C, Danfoss ETC p.88 Display Code Definitions
- Edition
- TEC_TM_001 | REV. C | EN, 09/3/2025, P#811072
- Models / control
- Danfoss ETC (current display)
- Section
- Electronic Control (with Display) - Display Code Definitions: Carel p. 74, Danfoss ERC/ETC p. 87, Dixell p. 96, LAE p. 110
- 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 True reach-in refrigerator error codes
Is this the same as E2 on an LAE True?
No. The control and sensor differ even though the characters match.
Will the cabinet stop cooling?
Not immediately, but frost can build and it may warm later.
Should I defrost it myself?
No. Chipping or scraping can damage the coil.
Need help with True error code E2?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.