What does EE (log code EC) mean on a Hoshizaki IM-series square cuber?
Short answer: Evaporator (cube control) thermistor error. If your Hoshizaki IM-series square cuber (IM-500SAA and similar) is showing EE (log code EC), the controller has logged a specific, documented condition. This page covers what it means, what causes it, what you can safely fix yourself, and when — and why — it takes a technician.
What exactly is the machine telling you?
The evaporator thermistor circuit read open or shorted for 2 seconds and the unit stopped. Remedy is thermistor replacement.
Which machines show this?
Hoshizaki's IM-series square cubers (the IM-500SAA and its siblings) make the clear, square cubes bars prize — and unlike the KM crescent cubers, they have a 7-segment display that shows real codes. The display logic takes one minute to learn: E1 and E2 display directly (freeze and harvest backup timers), while every other fault shows as a generic EE with the true code stored in the error log for a technician to read. So if your IM shows EE, the display has told you something is wrong but not what — note any pattern in the machine's behavior (stopping mid-cycle, water tank movement) for the service call, and don't burn resets trying to make EE explain itself.
What causes it?
- The evaporator (cube control) thermistor reading open or shorted
- A damaged sensor wire
- A failed thermistor
Can you fix it yourself?
One power-cycle to rule out a transient reading. The sensor itself is a service item.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Power-cycle once to rule out a transient fault
When do you need a technician — and why?
The evaporator thermistor is how the board knows what the ice is doing; replacement includes verifying the new sensor reads true against the resistance chart — meter work by definition.
If it does come to a service call and you're in Nashville, TN or Birmingham, AL, we maintain independently compiled lists of local companies that service commercial ice machines — real businesses with verified contact information, none of whom paid to be listed.
Related questions
What does EE (log code EC) mean on a Hoshizaki IM-series square cuber (IM-500SAA and similar)?
Evaporator (cube control) thermistor error. The evaporator thermistor circuit read open or shorted for 2 seconds and the unit stopped. Remedy is thermistor replacement.
Can I fix EE (log code EC) on a Hoshizaki IM-series square cuber (IM-500SAA and similar) myself?
One power-cycle to rule out a transient reading. The sensor itself is a service item.
When does EE (log code EC) on a Hoshizaki IM-series square cuber (IM-500SAA and similar) need a technician?
The evaporator thermistor is how the board knows what the ice is doing; replacement includes verifying the new sensor reads true against the resistance chart — meter work by definition. A persistent EC means the evaporator thermistor must be replaced professionally.