The Dixell controller XR60CX is one of the most common temperature controllers on Australian coolrooms, freezer rooms and commercial fridges. It is also one of the most confusing the first time you open it up. The display shows a short code, the manual is a dense PDF, and a wrong change to one parameter can leave a freezer too warm or a defrost cycle that never ends.
This guide explains the XR60CX in plain English: what it controls, how to change the set point, how to open the Pr1 and Pr2 parameter menus, what each important parameter does, and what the alarm messages mean. Everything here about the XR60CX comes from the official Dixell (Emerson) manual, and we link to it so you can check any figure. We don't sell the XR60CX itself, but we do stock related controller parts, which are covered near the end.
Quick answer: hold SET and DOWN together for 3 seconds to open the user parameters (Pr1), then keep holding both for another 7 seconds to reach the hidden menu (Pr2). Hold SET for 2 seconds to change the set point. Hold DEF for 2 seconds to start a manual defrost. Write down every value before you change it.
What the Dixell XR60CX Controller Does
The XR60CX is a 32 x 74 mm digital controller made for medium and low temperature ventilated refrigeration, so cabinets and rooms that have an evaporator fan. It has three relay outputs: one for the compressor, one for the evaporator fan and one for defrost. It reads two temperature probes as standard, and a third probe or a digital input can be added.
| Item | What the manual says |
|---|---|
| Outputs | Compressor relay, evaporator fan relay, defrost relay |
| Probe P1 | Thermostat (cabinet or room) probe, used for temperature control |
| Probe P2 | Evaporator probe, used to end defrost and manage the fan |
| Probe P3 (optional) | Extra probe through the Hot Key socket, can raise a condenser temperature alarm or be shown on screen |
| Probe type | NTC or PTC |
| Digital input | Configurable, for example as a door switch, external alarm or defrost start |
| Supply versions | 12 V, 24 V, 110 V or 230 V, depending on the model code |
| Defrost types | Electric heater, or hot gas |
The letters and numbers after XR60CX on the label (for example 5N0C1) show the exact build, including voltage and relay rating. Check the label on your own controller before you buy anything or change any wiring.
Dixell XR60CX vs XR20CX: What Is the Difference?
People often search for the Dixell controller XR20CX at the same time, because the two look alike. They are not the same job. The XR20CX is built for medium temperature systems that defrost by switching the compressor off, and it has a single compressor output. The XR60CX adds the fan and defrost relays, so it can run a heater defrost and manage an evaporator fan.
| XR20CX | XR60CX | |
|---|---|---|
| Size (front) | 32 x 74 mm | 32 x 74 mm |
| Relay outputs | One, for the compressor | Three: compressor, fan and defrost |
| Probes | P1 as standard, extras optional | P1 and P2 as standard, P3 optional |
| Typical use | Medium temperature, stop-defrost | Medium or low temperature with a fan and defrost heater |
| Fan control | No fan output | Yes, with its own relay and fan parameters |
| Defrost method | Stops the compressor to let the coil thaw | Heater (or hot gas) defrost on its own relay |
If your fridge has a defrost heater and an evaporator fan, you almost certainly need a controller with three outputs, not an XR20CX. When in doubt, send us a photo of the controller label and the wiring.
Keys and Lights on the XR60CX
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| SET | Shows the set point. In programming mode it selects a parameter or confirms a value |
| DEF (hold 2 s) | Starts a manual defrost |
| UP | Shows the highest stored temperature. In programming it raises a value |
| DOWN | Shows the lowest stored temperature. In programming it lowers a value |
| UP + DOWN (hold 3 s) | Locks or unlocks the keyboard. The display shows POF when locked and Pon when unlocked |
| UP (hold 3 s) | Starts or stops the continuous cycle |
| ON/OFF | Switches the controller off, only if the onF parameter is set to oFF |
| Light | Solid | Flashing |
|---|---|---|
| Compressor | Compressor on | Waiting out the anti-short-cycle delay |
| Defrost | Defrost running | Drip time |
| Fan | Fan on | Fan delay after defrost |
| Alarm | Alarm active | - |
| °C / °F | Showing the unit | You are in programming mode |
How to Change the Set Point
- Hold the SET key for more than 2 seconds. The set point and the °C/°F light start flashing.
- Press UP or DOWN within 10 seconds to change the value.
- Press SET again, or wait 10 seconds, to store it.
A short press of SET shows the current set point. The factory default is -5.0 °C, which will be wrong for most real jobs, so check it has been set for what you actually store.
How to Enter the Pr1 and Pr2 Parameter Menus
The XR60CX has two parameter levels. Pr1 holds the user settings that most people need. Pr2 is the hidden, full list.
Opening Pr1
- Hold SET and DOWN together for 3 seconds. The °C/°F light flashes.
- Use UP and DOWN to pick a parameter, then press SET to see its value.
- Change the value with UP and DOWN, then press SET to store it and move to the next parameter.
- Leave by holding SET and UP, or wait 15 seconds. The value is saved when it times out.
Opening Pr2
- Open Pr1 as above, then release the keys.
- Hold SET and DOWN again for more than 7 seconds. The Pr2 label appears, followed by the Hy parameter.
- Leave the same way, with SET and UP or a 15 second wait.
Before you change anything: photograph or write down every value you plan to touch. The manual we used describes how to save and reload settings with a Hot Key, but it does not describe a factory reset procedure. If a setting goes wrong and you don't have the old value, you will be guessing.
Dixell XR60CX Parameters Explained
The tables below cover the parameters people ask about most. The defaults are the factory values listed in the manual. A refrigeration installer may have changed them, so what you see on your controller can differ, and that is normal. Where a parameter is only in the hidden menu, the level column says Pr2.
Temperature control
| Label | What it does | Default | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set | The temperature you want the cabinet to hold | -5.0 °C | - |
| Hy | Differential. The compressor starts at the set point plus Hy and stops at the set point | 2.0 °C | Pr1 |
| LS / US | Lowest and highest set point a user is allowed to enter | -50 / 110 °C | Pr2 |
| Ot | Calibration of the cabinet probe (P1), up to 12 °C either way | 0.0 °C | Pr1 |
| OE | Calibration of the evaporator probe (P2) | 0.0 °C | Pr2 |
| P2P | Is an evaporator probe fitted? If y, defrost ends by temperature, if n, by time | y | Pr1 |
| COn / COF | Compressor on and off times if the cabinet probe fails | 15 / 30 min | Pr2 |
| CF | Temperature unit, °C or °F | °C | Pr2 |
| rES | Display resolution. dE shows tenths of a degree, in shows whole degrees | dE | Pr1 |
| Lod | Which probe the display shows | P1 | Pr2 |
Defrost
| Label | What it does | Default | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| tdF | Defrost type. EL is an electric heater, in is hot gas | EL | Pr1 |
| dFP | Probe used to end defrost | P2 | Pr2 |
| dtE | Temperature at which defrost ends | 8 °C | Pr1 |
| IdF | Time between the start of one defrost and the next | 6 h | Pr1 |
| MdF | Longest a defrost can run. Also the fixed defrost time when there is no evaporator probe | 30 min | Pr1 |
| dSd | Delay before a defrost starts | 0 min | Pr2 |
| dFd | What the display shows during defrost | it | Pr2 |
| dAd | Longest display delay after defrost | 30 min | Pr2 |
| Fdt | Drip time after defrost, before the compressor restarts | 0 min | Pr2 |
| dPo | Defrost straight away on power-up (y) or wait for the interval (n) | n | Pr2 |
Defrost on the XR60CX works like this: every IdF hours the controller starts a defrost, the heater runs, and it stops when the evaporator probe reaches dtE or when MdF minutes have passed, whichever comes first. If frost keeps building up, those three settings are the first place to look, along with the heater itself. Our guide to a freezer not defrosting with ice build up shows how to test the parts, and the defrost heater testing guide covers the multimeter steps.
Evaporator fan
| Label | What it does | Default | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| FnC | Fan mode. C-n: fan runs with the compressor and stops in defrost. o-n: fan runs all the time and stops in defrost. C-Y and o-Y: the same, but the fan keeps running in defrost | o-n | Pr1 |
| Fnd | Fan delay after defrost | 10 min | Pr1 |
| FSt | Fan stops if the evaporator probe is above this temperature | 2 °C | Pr1 |
| Fon / FoF | Fan on and off times when the compressor is off | 0 / 0 min | Pr2 |
| FAP | Probe used for fan control | P2 | Pr2 |
Alarms
| Label | What it does | Default | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALC | Alarm type. Ab uses absolute temperatures, rE uses limits relative to the set point | Ab | Pr2 |
| ALU | High temperature alarm limit | 110 °C | Pr1 |
| ALL | Low temperature alarm limit | -50 °C | Pr1 |
| AFH | Differential for alarm and fan recovery | 1 °C | Pr2 |
| ALd | Delay before a temperature alarm sounds | 15 min | Pr2 |
| dAO | Alarm delay after power-up | 1.3 | Pr2 |
Notice that the factory high alarm is 110 °C and the low alarm is -50 °C, which means a brand new XR60CX will never raise a temperature alarm until you set sensible limits. If your HA message never appears even when the room is warm, check ALU first.
Digital input and door
| Label | What it does | Default | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| i1P | Digital input polarity. CL means activated by closing, oP by opening | CL | Pr1 |
| i1F | What the digital input does: door switch (dor), external alarm (EAL), serious alarm (bAL), pressure switch (PAL), start defrost (dEF) and others | dor | Pr1 |
| did | Delay before the door or alarm input acts | 15 min | Pr1 |
| odc | What stops when the door opens: nothing, fan, compressor, or both | F_C | Pr2 |
XR60CX Alarm and Display Messages
| Message | What it means | What the controller does |
|---|---|---|
| P1 | Cabinet probe fault | Runs the compressor on a cycle set by COn and COF |
| P2 | Evaporator probe fault | Ends defrost on the timer |
| P3 | Third probe fault | Outputs stay as they are |
| HA | High temperature alarm | Outputs stay as they are |
| LA | Low temperature alarm | Outputs stay as they are |
| dA | Door has been open too long | Compressor and fans restart |
| EA | External alarm | Outputs stay as they are |
| CA | Serious alarm or pressure switch | All outputs switch off |
| POF / Pon | Keyboard locked / unlocked | - |
Probe alarms clear on their own once the probe reads normally again, so check the wiring and connectors before you replace a probe. HA and LA clear when the temperature returns to normal. A pressure switch alarm (CA from the PAL setting) only clears when the controller is switched off and on again. If your display shows E0 or E1 instead, check the brand on the front, because it may be a Carel or another make. See the next section.
Using a Different Controller? Start Here
Not every fridge uses a Dixell. Carel and Elitech controllers show different codes, and the same message can mean something else. If you're chasing a Carel controller E1 error, a Bromic fridge not cooling, or even a Skope fridge light not working, our commercial fridge error codes guide goes through each one.
Replacing or Mounting a Dixell XR60CX
If your controller has failed, check these before you order a replacement: the supply voltage on the label, the compressor relay rating (the manual lists 8, 16 and 20 amp versions), whether it uses NTC or PTC probes, and the size of the panel opening. Controllers hold your settings, so write them down first and copy them across.
We don't list the XR60CX at the moment, but these related parts are in stock:
- Controller mounting box for Dixell, Carel and Elitech controllers - a pre-cut plastic box for a neat install. Compare your controller's size against the opening first.
- Elitech EK-3030 coolroom controller - the listing names the Dixell XR60 as a compatible model for the 71 x 29 mm cut-out. The XR60CX has three outputs, so compare the outputs and wiring before you swap.
- Backup relay 30A 3HP 240V - for loads above the controller's relay rating.
Browse more in our refrigeration temperature controllers and commercial fridge parts, or send your controller label to the Find Your Part page.
Safety: the XR60CX and the equipment around it run on mains voltage. Isolate the power before you open anything. Controller wiring and relay changes should be done by a licensed electrician or refrigeration mechanic, and any refrigerant work needs an ARC licensed technician.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Dixell controller XR60CX?
It's a digital temperature controller for medium and low temperature ventilated refrigeration. It has three relays (compressor, fan and defrost), two temperature probes as standard and a configurable digital input.
What is the difference between the Dixell XR20CX and XR60CX?
The XR20CX has one compressor output and suits medium temperature systems that defrost by stopping the compressor. The XR60CX adds fan and defrost relays, so it can run a heater defrost and control an evaporator fan.
How do I enter the parameters on a Dixell XR60CX?
Hold SET and DOWN for 3 seconds to open the Pr1 menu. To reach the hidden Pr2 menu, release the keys and hold SET and DOWN again for more than 7 seconds.
What is the default set point on a Dixell XR60CX?
The factory set point in the manual is -5.0 °C. Most installations change it to suit the product being stored.
How do I start a manual defrost on the XR60CX?
Hold the DEF key for more than 2 seconds.
How do I lock or unlock the XR60CX keyboard?
Hold UP and DOWN together for more than 3 seconds. The display shows POF when locked and Pon when unlocked.
What does P1 mean on a Dixell XR60CX?
P1 is the cabinet probe alarm. The controller can't read the thermostat probe, so it runs the compressor on a fixed on and off cycle until the probe works again. Check the wiring first, then test the probe.
Where can I find the Dixell controller manual XR60CX?
The official manual is published by Dixell (Emerson). We link to it at the end of this guide. Always use the manual that matches the model code on your controller label.
Need Help With a Commercial Fridge Controller?
Settings are only half the job. If the display shows an error or the cabinet won't hold temperature, check the probe, fans and defrost parts as well. Send your controller model and a photo of the label to sales@fastfridgespares.com.au or call 0405 972 558 and we will help you find the right part.
Source: Dixell XR60CX installing and operating instructions (PDF).