Guide
How does pan detection work
on an induction cooktop?
Induction heats the pan itself rather than the glass, so the cooktop has to sense a suitable pan before it will produce heat. A CornuFe 110 induction manual says no heat is produced if there is no pan or too small a pan, and that a pan-missing symbol appears. It also says a zone switches itself off after 10 minutes without detecting a pan. The Chateau induction hob shows a U on its display for no pan or an inadequate pan. So the message on the screen is often the system doing its job, not a failure.
Why it happens
Which cookware causes
induction detection problems?
The same manual says copper, aluminum, or ceramic pans are not suitable, and recommends thick, smooth, flat-bottomed pans. It advises avoiding composite aluminum pans with steel inserts. Pans that are smaller than recommended reduce power even when they are detected. A warped base that rocks on the glass is another practical cause, since it changes contact with the surface.
Some manuals give minimum base sizes by zone. One CornuFe 110 induction model lists 4 3/4 in for the front left zone, 5 1/2 in for the rear left, rear right, and front right zones, and 8 1/4 in for the center zone. Your own manual has the figures for your model, so check it instead of assuming a number. If a small pan works on the front left but not the center, the zone sizes are the reason, not a fault.
Guide
A short routine
for the owner
- Confirm the pan is made for induction and has a thick, smooth, flat base large enough for that zone.
- Center it on the marked zone and make sure the glass and the pan base are clean and dry.
- Check the display for a pan symbol, U, or another message and write it down exactly.
- Try the same pan on a different zone, then a different pan on the original zone.
- Check that the cooktop is not locked. The Chateau display uses L for lock.
That sequence tells you more than repeated attempts with one pan. If every induction-suitable pan fails on one zone and works on others, the zone or its control becomes the question. If every pan fails on every zone, check the circuit and the display, and book.
Guide
Other messages that
look similar
Not every message means pan detection. Chateau H means residual heat: the surface may still be hot after indicators go out. A CornuFe 110 induction manual lists E2 as electronics too hot, with advice to check ventilation or a boil-dry condition, and U400 as an incorrect connection. Er plus a number is called an internal fault that the owner cannot fix. Repeated fuse or breaker trips need a qualified repair engineer.
The Chateau manual also says to stop a zone with the control knob and not to rely only on pan detection, and to disconnect power immediately if the glass cracks. A cracked surface is not something to keep testing pans on.
| What you see |
What it can point to |
What you can check |
| Pan symbol or U, no heat |
Pan too small, off-center, or unsuitable material |
Use a thick flat induction pan, center it, compare with the zone size in your manual |
| Zone heats, then switches off |
No pan detected for 10 minutes, per one manual |
Restart with a suitable pan in place |
| Works with one pan, not another |
Pan material or base shape |
Avoid copper, aluminum, ceramic, and composite pans with steel inserts |
| Works on one zone, not another |
Zone size or a zone fault |
Swap the pan between zones |
| E2 or Er plus a number |
Overheating or internal fault per one manual |
Note the full code; not an owner repair |
Guide
Why the pan is not
always the whole story
Because the display message is the most specific clue available, a screen that shows a pan symbol with a suitable pan in place deserves a second look. Reseat the pan, wipe the glass, and try again once. If the message does not change, the zone is no longer behaving as the manual describes, and further attempts add nothing.
Guide
What a pan test does
and does not prove
A pan that works on a neighboring zone shows that the pan is suitable and that the cooktop can detect it. It does not show that the failing zone is faulty, since zones differ in size and the pan may sit differently on each. Equally, a pan that is accepted by an old cooktop in another kitchen is not proof of suitability here. A zone that fails with several suitable pans, centered, on clean glass, is the point to stop testing and book a visit with the model label and the display message ready.
Guide
What to have ready
when you book
Write down which zone fails, which pans you tried, what the display showed, and whether any other zone behaves normally. Add the model and serial label. That combination lets a technician separate a cookware or zone-size issue from a zone fault without guessing, and it saves you from repeating the pan tests during the visit.
Guide
Frequently asked questions
Why does my induction zone shut off by itself?
One CornuFe 110 induction manual says a zone switches off after 10 minutes without detecting a pan. Other manuals may differ, so check yours.
Can residue on the glass stop detection?
Keep the glass and the pan base clean. The cleaning guidance for induction glass is a glass cooktop cleaner, and the Chateau manual says to use a damp cloth with no detergent for first cleaning, since detergent can leave a blue tint.
Is a cracked glass top still usable?
No. Disconnect power and do not cook on a broken cooktop.
