Carrier mini split error code PC 44
Compressor zero-speed protection. Also shown as PC44.
- TypeProtection
- SystemCompressor / inverter
- Can I fix it?Technician job
- Applies toindoor display, four-character codes (newer units)
What PC 44 means on a Carrier
The drive commanded the compressor to run but detected no rotation. The compressor may be seized, or the drive cannot start it.
On this platform, PC 44 is a protection: the system stopped or throttled itself to prevent damage; many clear on their own once conditions return to normal.
Common causes
- A seized or stuck compressor.
- A failed inverter drive.
- Liquid refrigerant in the compressor after sitting cold.
- Low supply voltage.
How to fix it yourself
Do the reset and the visual checks, but the underlying repair needs a technician with a meter and the service manual.
- Reset the system: switch the breaker (or the outdoor disconnect) off, wait a full five minutes so the boards fully discharge, then switch it back on and restart from the remote.
- If you own a multimeter and are comfortable using it, measure the supply voltage at the outdoor unit's L1 and L2 terminals with the unit running. A 230 V system should read roughly 208 to 253 VAC.
- Do not keep retrying; if it will not start after two attempts, stop.
Switch off power at the breaker before opening either unit. Capacitors in the outdoor unit hold a charge for several minutes after power is cut.
When to call a technician
Technician diagnosis of the compressor and drive.
Which Carrier units show PC 44
This page applies to Carrier Comfort 38MHRB / 40MHHQ, Comfort 38MGR / 40MGQ, Performance 40MAQ / 38MAQ, Infinity 40MPHA / 38MPRA and Carrier multi-zone units on the indoor display, four-character codes (newer units). Carrier's own documentation lists PC 44 as "Compressor zero-speed protection", the same definition used across the Midea platform (four-character codes) it is built on. If your unit shows a code with a different shape (for example a four-character code, or a plain number), it is from a different table; use the lookup with your exact code.
Where Carrier shows this code
indoor display, four-character codes (newer units): The display shows a two-letter prefix and a two-character suffix, either together (EH60) or alternating (EH, then 60). Write both parts down; the suffix is what identifies the fault. EH and EL are indoor-side faults, EC is an outdoor-side fault, and PC is an outdoor protection: the unit stopped itself to prevent damage.
Other Carrier codes
Same part of the system as PC 44:
PC 44 on other brands
The same characters do not always mean the same thing. Check the brand on your unit.
- Pioneer PC 44 Compressor zero-speed protection
Questions people ask
Can I reset a Carrier PC 44 code myself?
Yes. Turn the system off at the breaker for five minutes, then restart it. If PC 44 comes back, the fault is real and needs the checks above.
Is it safe to keep running a Carrier showing PC 44?
Not repeatedly. A protection code means the unit stopped itself to prevent damage, and resetting it over and over can turn a cheap repair into a compressor failure. Reset once, check the basics, and stop if it returns.
What will a technician check for PC 44?
Technician diagnosis of the compressor and drive. Ask for the measurements, not just a parts quote.
Sources
- Carrier 38MHRB Single Zone Ductless Service Manual SG-38MHRB-01 (Diagnosis and Solution section)
- Carrier 40MAQ / 38MAQ High-Wall Ductless Service Manual 40MAQ-01SM (Diagnosis and Solution section)
- Carrier 40MPHA / 38MPRA Infinity High Wall Ductless Service Manual (error code table)
Updated September 2026. Codes and definitions vary by model year. If your manual disagrees with this page, your manual wins. Send a correction.