White Knight E08 tumble dryer: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What E08 actually means

The dryer has decided the electricity reaching it isn't steady or strong enough to run safely, so it has stopped the cycle.

On these White Knight dryers E08 is a supply voltage fault — the control board monitors the incoming mains and shuts things down if it drifts outside roughly 170–265 volts, which on a heat pump model is logged as voltage fluctuation. The fault starts at the socket rather than inside the machine: if the supply is within range, the main board is the part at fault. Worth knowing that on the washer-dryer models in this family the same number is recorded as a motor triac fault, which is a switching component on that same board — so either way the trail leads to the board or to the power feed.

What E08 looks like on a White Knight tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a White Knight tumble dryer, E08 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end
Takes hours to dry
Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

A poor or fluctuating mains supply at the socket, often via an extension lead or multi-way adaptor
Voltage dips when other heavy appliances on the same circuit switch on
A faulty or loose socket, plug or house circuit
The main control board misreading the supply, or its power-switching section failing
On washer-dryer versions, failure of the motor triac on the main board

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the dryer off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and restart the programme.
If it's plugged into an extension lead, multi-way adaptor or timer, plug it straight into a wall socket instead — these machines draw a lot and don't like a long thin lead.
Try a socket on a different circuit if there's one within reach of the cable, and see whether the fault still appears.
Note whether the code turns up at the same time as other big appliances kicking in, such as a kettle, shower or oven — that's useful information for the engineer.
If lights elsewhere in the house flicker or other appliances misbehave, have the household wiring looked at by an electrician before assuming the dryer is at fault.

Which White Knight models show E08

E08 means the same thing on all 5 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

WK-AT75WDW · WK-AT7WM148W · WK-AT8CW · WK-AT8HPW · WK-ATBIWM814W

Common questions about White Knight E08

What does E08 mean on a White Knight tumble dryer?

The dryer has decided the electricity reaching it isn't steady or strong enough to run safely, so it has stopped the cycle. On these White Knight dryers E08 is a supply voltage fault — the control board monitors the incoming mains and shuts things down if it drifts outside roughly 170–265 volts, which on a heat pump model is logged as voltage fluctuation. The fault starts at the socket rather than inside the machine: if the supply is within range, the main board is the part at fault. Worth knowing that on the washer-dryer models in this family the same number is recorded as a motor triac fault, which is a switching component on that same board — so either way the trail leads to the board or to the power feed.

Can I fix White Knight E08 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the dryer off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and restart the programme.
If it's plugged into an extension lead, multi-way adaptor or timer, plug it straight into a wall socket instead — these machines draw a lot and don't like a long thin lead.
Try a socket on a different circuit if there's one within reach of the cable, and see whether the fault still appears.
Note whether the code turns up at the same time as other big appliances kicking in, such as a kettle, shower or oven — that's useful information for the engineer.
If lights elsewhere in the house flicker or other appliances misbehave, have the household wiring looked at by an electrician before assuming the dryer is at fault.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair White Knight E08?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E08?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most tumble dryer faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other White Knight tumble dryer codes

All White Knight fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

White Knight E08 error — tumble dryer