Scroll compressors

[cokoliso]

In another thread I mentioned that only one contractor had actually taken measurements and inspected insulation etc, then used software to size a replacement system for my house. 4 or 5 others based their proposals on the size of the existing furnace or the size of the house as I remembered it. (Of course, realtors measure the outside of the house, and it was like 1850 sq ft when I bought it, but with 1 foot thick walls the inside is only 1511 sq ft).

Anyway, the guy who did the measurement and prescribed a considerably smaller furnace and AC than the others is a Carrier dealer. In this case, the AC has a reciprocating compressor instead of a Scroll. Should I care about that? From what I read, scrolls are much more reliable.

[BaldLoonie]

I don't think Carrier uses recips in anything these days. :confused:

[RyanHughes]

Perhaps you were quoted the Infinity 17 (24ANA7), which uses a two-stage reciprocating compressor.

[plain spoken]

I don't think Carrier uses recips in anything these days. :confused:

The only recip Carrier uses is in one of the Infinity two stage units, a Bristol TS which has been very reliable.

[cokoliso]

The quoted condenser was indeed the 24ANA736A003, hence not a scroll.

What about the statement that "a scroll wears in, a reciprocating unit wears out"?

[t527ed]

What about the statement that "a scroll wears in, a reciprocating unit wears out"?


was told that same exact phrase at a training class years ago, have not seen anything to prove it wrong........

[MoveOver]

The quoted condenser was indeed the 24ANA736A003, hence not a scroll.

What about the statement that "a scroll wears in, a reciprocating unit wears out"?

I have the equivalent Bryant model and I am happy with. It does has better split between High/Low compared to the equivalent scroll.
I went through the same analysis and did a lot of reading. Here is an interesting paper from Bristol:

http://www.bristolcompressors.com/information/Benchmark%2013%20SEER%20White%20Paper.pdf

[kuryakin]

A surprising number of high end units still run piston compressors. Mostly the Bristol TS, and I think Trane runs a pair of piston compressors in the XL19i, but I am not all that sure about that one.

In theory, scrolls are more forgiving of mistakes, like liquid slugging, dirt, etc., but those are gross installation errors anyway, and even a scroll may not survive forever in these cases.


In another thread I mentioned that only one contractor had actually taken measurements and inspected insulation etc, then used software to size a replacement system for my house. 4 or 5 others based their proposals on the size of the existing furnace or the size of the house as I remembered it. (Of course, realtors measure the outside of the house, and it was like 1850 sq ft when I bought it, but with 1 foot thick walls the inside is only 1511 sq ft).

Anyway, the guy who did the measurement and prescribed a considerably smaller furnace and AC than the others is a Carrier dealer. In this case, the AC has a reciprocating compressor instead of a Scroll. Should I care about that? From what I read, scrolls are much more reliable.

[BaldLoonie]

Oh yea, forgot about that sucker. Personally I like the idea of the 50/50 staging of that one vs the scroll which in net effect is more like 80/20.

Where's dash? He'll tell you that's a good choice :)