Elitech controller settings confuse a lot of people, mostly because Elitech sells many controllers that look alike. The EK-3030 for coolrooms, the ECS-974neo, the STC-1000 and others each have their own keys, menu codes and password. This guide focuses on the Elitech EK-3030, a common coolroom controller, and then shows how the ECS-974neo differs. It covers the set point, the Elitech controller password, the Elitech controller parameters, manual defrost, reset and error codes.
Everything below is taken from the published Elitech manuals for these models, and we link to them so you can check any step. We stock the EK-3030, so if yours has failed, the product link is near the end.
Quick answer (EK-3030): press OK to change the temperature. Hold OK for more than 5 seconds to open the system menu (F1 appears). For the hidden menu, hold UP and DOWN together for more than 5 seconds from inside the system menu and enter the password -15. Hold the defrost key for more than 3 seconds to start a manual defrost. Write down every value before you change it.
Which Elitech Controller Do You Have?
Check the model name printed on the front or the side before you follow any steps. The menus are different, and a password that works on one model will not work on another.
| Model | Menu and password |
|---|---|
| EK-3030 / EK-3030E | Hold OK for 5 seconds to open the system menu (F1 to F12). The hidden menu needs the password -15. This is the model covered in detail below |
| ECS-974neo | Hold SET for 5 seconds to show PA1, then enter the password. A universal password of 125 is listed in the manual |
| STC-1000 | Simpler thermostat. F1 is the set point, F2 the hysteresis, F3 the compressor delay and F4 the calibration. Check its own manual for the other codes |
The EK-3030 is a three-relay coolroom controller with a cabinet probe, a defrost probe, two digital inputs and touch keys. The ratings in the manual are 10 A or 16 A on the refrigeration output (220 VAC), 10 A on the defrost output and 10 A on the fan output. It uses NTC 10 kΩ probes with a 2 m lead, and it measures from -40 °C to 99 °C.
Elitech EK-3030 Keys and Display
| Key or action | What it does |
|---|---|
| OK (short press) | Shows the Temp On or Temp Off value so you can change it. Press again to save |
| OK (hold more than 5 s) | Opens the system menu, starting at F1 |
| UP / DOWN | Change a value or move through the menu codes. Hold to change faster |
| Defrost key (hold more than 3 s) | Starts or stops a manual defrost |
| UP + DOWN (hold more than 5 s, inside the system menu) | Opens the hidden menu, which asks for a password |
| OK (hold 1 s) | Unlocks the keypad. The controller locks itself after 30 seconds with no key presses |
How to Change the Temperature on an Elitech EK-3030
The EK-3030 does not use a single set point like some controllers. It uses a Temp On and a Temp Off value. In refrigeration mode, the compressor starts when the cabinet reaches Temp On and stops when it reaches Temp Off.
- From the normal display, press OK. The Temp On or Temp Off light comes on and shows its value.
- Press UP or DOWN to change it. Hold the key to move faster.
- Press and release OK to save, or leave it for 30 seconds and it saves and exits.
| Setting | Mode | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temp On | Refrigeration | Temp Off to +85.0 °C | 10.0 °C |
| Temp Off | Refrigeration | -40.0 °C to Temp On | -10.0 °C |
Those defaults suit a freezer more than a coolroom, so almost every installation changes them. If the keypad is locked, hold OK for 1 second to unlock it first.
Elitech Controller Password: How to Enter the Hidden Menu
There is a password in two places on Elitech controllers. On the EK-3030, the normal system menu (F1 to F12) has no password. The hidden menu, which holds the input and alarm settings, does.
- From the normal display, hold OK for more than 5 seconds. The display shows F1.
- Hold UP and DOWN together for more than 5 seconds. A password prompt flashes.
- Enter the password -15. The manual lists it as a fixed value.
- Scroll with UP and DOWN to the hidden parameter you want, change it, and press OK to save.
- Hold OK for 3 seconds, or wait 30 seconds, to exit.
If -15 doesn't work: check that the label reads EK-3030 or EK-3030E. A different Elitech model, or a unit with a custom firmware, can use a different password. The ECS-974neo for example uses a PA1 prompt and lists 125 as its universal password. We found the -15 password in one published EK-3030E manual, so treat it as the starting point and check the manual that shipped with your controller.
Elitech Controller Parameters: EK-3030 System Menu (F1 to F12)
These are the factory settings in the manual. Your installer may have changed them, so what you see can differ, and that is normal.
| Code | What it does | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Defrost time, the longest a defrost can run | 1 to 120 min | 30 min |
| F2 | Defrost cycle, the time between defrosts. 0 means no automatic defrost | 0 to 120 h | 6 h |
| F3 | How the defrost cycle is counted: 0 controller on-time, 1 compressor run-time, 2 external timer | 0 to 2 | 1 |
| F4 | Dripping time after defrost | 0 to 120 min | 3 min |
| F5 | Defrost type: 0 electric, 1 hot gas, 2 fan | 0 to 2 | 0 |
| F6 | Defrost termination temperature | -40.0 to 50.0 °C | 10 °C |
| F7 | Fan running mode: 0 runs with the compressor, c runs continuously, d stops during defrost, other values set a lead or lag in seconds | see manual | 0 |
| F8 | Fan start delay after dripping | 0 to 300 s | 30 s |
| F9 | Compressor start delay | 0 to 10 min | 0 |
| F10 | High temperature alarm delay after power-on | 0 to 24 h | 2 h |
| F11 | Over-temperature alarm, how far above the limit before it sounds | 0 to 50.0 °C | 5.0 °C |
| F12 | Over-temperature alarm delay | 0 to 120 min | 10 min |
Defrost works like this: every F2 hours the controller starts a defrost, the heater (or hot gas) runs, and it ends when the defrost probe reaches F6 or after F1 minutes, whichever comes first. If frost keeps building on the coil, those three numbers are the first place to look, along with the heater itself. Our guide to a freezer not defrosting with ice build up lists the parts to test, and the defrost heater testing guide shows the multimeter steps.
Hidden menu parameters
| Code | What it does | Range | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| H15 / H16 | What digital input 1 and 2 do, or 0 to disable | ±1 to ±6, or 0 | 0 |
| A1 | Delay for a normal external alarm | 0 to 240 s | 60 s |
| A2 | What a normal alarm does: 0 nothing, 1 compressor off, 2 compressor, defrost and fan off | 0 to 2 | 0 |
| A3 | Delay for an emergency external alarm | 0 to 240 s | 0 |
| A4 | What an emergency alarm does | 0 to 2 | 0 |
| A5 | Door switch alarm delay | 0 to 240 s | 60 s |
| A6 | What stops when the door opens: 0 nothing, 1 fan, 2 compressor, 3 both | 0 to 3 | 3 |
| A7 | Fan stop time while the door is open | 1 to 240 s | 40 s |
| A8 | Pressure switch auto-reset attempts | 0 to 5 | 2 |
Don't copy settings from another room. The right values depend on the evaporator, the defrost method and what you store. Use your installer's sheet or the equipment maker's settings, not a number from a forum.
Manual Defrost, Reset and Keypad Lock
Manual defrost
Hold the defrost key for more than 3 seconds. The defrost only starts if the controller is not already defrosting or dripping, F2 is not 0, and the defrost probe reads below F6. Hold the key for 3 seconds again during a defrost to stop it. The controller moves to dripping and the Def light flashes.
Reset to factory settings
The EK-3030 can save its own settings as a preset and restore them later, which is useful before you experiment.
- With the keypad locked, hold UP and DOWN together for more than 10 seconds.
- CON appears for 3 seconds. Press OK in that window to save the current settings as a preset. The display shows YES.
- Or, DON appears for 3 seconds. Press OK in that window to restore the preset. The display shows YES.
The manual warns that if you restore without ever saving a backup, the controller goes back to the factory defaults. On a coolroom that an installer has set up, that wipes the defrost and alarm settings, so photograph or write down every value first.
Keypad lock
The keypad locks on its own after 30 seconds without a key press. Hold OK for 1 second to unlock it. A key symbol on the display shows the lock status.
Elitech EK-3030 Error and Alarm Codes
| Display | What it means | What the controller does |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | Cabinet sensor fault | Runs the compressor on a fixed cycle: off 30 min, on 15 min |
| E2 | Defrost sensor fault | Defrosts by cycle and time only |
| HA | High temperature alarm | Alternates with the cabinet temperature |
| LA | Low temperature alarm | Alternates with the cabinet temperature |
| EA | Normal external alarm from a digital input | Set by A1 and A2 |
| CA | Emergency external alarm, also listed for the pressure switch | Set by A3 and A4 |
| dor | Door switch alarm | Set by A5 to A7 |
Press any key to silence the buzzer. The alarm light stays on until the fault clears. E1 and E2 are almost always the probe, its wiring or a loose connector, so check those before you replace the controller. If your fridge shows E1 on a different brand, our commercial fridge controller error codes guide goes through each one.
Elitech ECS-974neo: How It Differs
The ECS-974neo uses a different menu from the EK-3030. The steps below come from its own manual.
| Task | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Set point | Press SET once to see SEt, press SET again to show the value, change it with UP and DOWN, then press SET or wait 30 seconds |
| Administrator menu | Hold SET for 5 seconds. PA1 appears. Press SET to show 00, enter the password with UP and DOWN, then press SET |
| Password | The manual lists a universal password of 125. If the password parameter is set to 0, the menu opens with no password |
| Reset to defaults | From the normal display hold UP and DOWN together for 10 seconds. rSt appears when it has worked |
| Manual defrost | Hold the defrost key for 3 seconds to start or stop |
| Keypad lock | Set the LOC parameter to y to lock, or n to unlock |
| Sensor errors | E1 is the cabinet sensor and E2 the evaporator sensor. AH1 and AL1 are the high and low temperature alarms |
Its main parameters include SEt (default 4.0 °C), diF (differential, 2.0 °C), dit (defrost interval, 6 hours), dEt (defrost time-out, 30 minutes) and dSt (defrost stop temperature, 8.0 °C). Setting dEt to 0 turns defrost off.
Elitech Temperature Controller Manual: Where to Find It
Use the manual that matches your exact model, because codes and passwords differ. The sources we used are the Elitech EK-3030E manual and the Elitech ECS-974neo manual. Elitech also publishes manuals for the STC-1000 and other models on its own website.
Replacing an Elitech or Other Coolroom Controller
If your controller has failed, check the supply voltage and relay rating on the label, the probe type and the size of the panel opening before you order. Write down the settings first so they can be copied across. The EK-3030 listing gives a 71 mm x 29 mm cut-out, and these related parts are in stock:
- Elitech EK-3030 coolroom controller - a low and medium temperature controller. Compare the cut-out, outputs and wiring with your old controller before you swap.
- Controller mounting box for Dixell, Carel and Elitech controllers - a pre-cut plastic box for a neat install. Check your controller's size against the opening first.
- Backup relay 30A 3HP 240V - for loads above the controller's relay rating.
Using a different brand? See our Carel IR33 settings guide or the Dixell XR60CX settings guide. You can also browse our refrigeration temperature controllers or send your controller label to the Find Your Part page.
Safety: controllers and the equipment around them run on mains voltage. Isolate the power before you open anything. 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 the Elitech controller password?
It depends on the model. On the EK-3030, the hidden menu asks for the password -15 after you hold UP and DOWN together for more than 5 seconds inside the system menu. The ECS-974neo uses a PA1 prompt, and its manual lists 125 as a universal password.
How do I change the temperature on an Elitech EK-3030?
Press OK, then use UP and DOWN to change the Temp On or Temp Off value. Press OK again to save, or wait 30 seconds.
How do I enter the Elitech controller parameters?
On the EK-3030, hold OK for more than 5 seconds. The display shows F1. Use UP and DOWN to pick a code, press OK to see its value, change it, and press OK to save.
How do I reset an Elitech EK-3030 to factory settings?
With the keypad locked, hold UP and DOWN together for more than 10 seconds. CON lets you save a preset and DON lets you restore it. If you never saved a preset, it goes back to the factory defaults.
How do I start a manual defrost on an Elitech controller?
Hold the defrost key for more than 3 seconds. On the EK-3030 it only starts if the defrost probe is below the F6 temperature and F2 is not 0.
What does E1 mean on an Elitech controller?
E1 is a cabinet sensor fault. On the EK-3030 the compressor then runs on a fixed cycle of 15 minutes on and 30 minutes off. Check the probe and its wiring first. E2 is the defrost sensor.
Why is my Elitech keypad locked?
The EK-3030 locks itself after 30 seconds without a key press. Hold OK for 1 second to unlock it.
Where can I find the Elitech temperature controller manual?
Elitech publishes manuals for each model, and we link to the EK-3030E and ECS-974neo manuals in this guide. Use the one that matches the model on your label.
Need Help With a Commercial Fridge Controller?
Settings are only half the job. If the display shows an error or the room won't hold temperature, check the probe, fans and defrost parts too. 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.
Sources: Elitech EK-3030E manual, Elitech ECS-974neo manual.