Error E384

Safety first:

- If you smell gas, leave the property immediately, avoid switches or naked flames, and call your gas emergency number.

- Isolate electrical supply to the boiler before removing covers or touching internal parts unless you are competent with electrical safety.

- Do not attempt to repair gas valves, burners, or the PCB unless you are a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Initial homeowner checks (safe, non-invasive):

1. Note the exact error code, any other codes, and when it occurred (after power cut, during ignition, after servicing, etc.).

2. Try a standard reset using the boiler control panel/reset button. If the fault clears and does not return, monitor for recurrence and log times/conditions.

3. Check other gas appliances to confirm gas supply is present (e.g., try kitchen cooker or gas meter reading). Do not tamper with gas appliances.

4. Visually inspect the outside of the boiler for obvious signs: water ingress, burn marks, loose plugs, or steam/condensate around electrode area and flue. Look for blocked flue or heavy condensation only from the outside — do not crawl into flues.

5. If the boiler was recently serviced, check that the service engineer’s work covers ignition/flame parts; sometimes connectors can be left loose.

Diagnostic steps for an engineer (do not perform unless qualified):

1. Reproduce the fault and capture fault history/logs from the boiler if available.

2. Check mains supply voltage and stability (E385/under-voltage can affect flame sensing). Confirm supply is within specification.

3. With correct safety isolation and procedures, inspect and test the flame sensing electrode: check for carbon build-up, cracks, loose or corroded connections, and correct positioning relative to the burner. Clean or replace electrode if contaminated or damaged.

4. Check wiring and connectors between the flame probe and PCB for continuity, damage, water ingress, or short to earth. Secure or replace damaged loom/connectors.

5. Test for earth leakage or stray voltages that can be read by the flame circuit. Verify boiler earthing is correct and that there are no nearby sources of interference.

6. Verify gas valve behaviour: confirm the gas valve is physically closed when the controller shows 'off' and that there is no inadvertent supply or valve fault energising gas. Measure valve drive signals from PCB.

7. Check PCB flame detection circuitry and related components. If diagnostics indicate a PCB fault or intermittent flame-sense electronics failure, replace or repair PCB as per manufacturer guidance.

8. After any repair (electrode, wiring, PCB, earth), run the ignition and combustion sequence, observe flame sense readings, and confirm the error does not reoccur. Perform a full safety and combustion check as per service manual.

Final notes:

- Because E384 affects ignition and flame safety, persistent or repeated occurrences require a Gas Safe engineer. Do not bypass safety interlocks or ignore repeated lockouts.

- Record the actions taken and error history for the attending engineer if you end up calling one. This speeds diagnosis and reduces unnecessary work.