Question about Cycles Per Hour-Infinity

[geoss54]

Hi,
Have the Infinity system/thermostat. Just going over the manual I see a heading cycles per hour. The default is set at 4, or it can be rtaised to 6.
Below that setting is adjustment for over conditioning and underconditioning, with default set a 3. My question is if I find the humidity not coming down quite enough would setting the anticipator lower be better because it would be considered under conditioning?
All other settings are Comfort and dehumidify, so that is all properly set.
really appreciate input as to the meaning of this anticipator setting. It says it "adjusts sensitivity to temp changes" 1=most sensitive, 9=least sensitive, and default is 3.
I hope I explained myself ok, because I am confgused on these settings.
Thanks so much.
George

[motoguy128]

Lowering the cycles per hour will make hte equipment run longer, which should help reduce humidity...at the cost of wider temperature swings. The anticipator setting won't make a big difference other tha nto reduce or increase temperature swings a little. Ultimately dehumidification is dependant on heat load and air leaks in the home.

The major source of the humidity is due to leaks in the home. The central A/C is limited in how low it can reduce the humidity. It can only lower the dewpoint of the discharge air to 40-45F.. and that's wiht the lower "comfort airflow". if you're trying to achieve 50% RH, that's a dewpoint around 55-60F. So depending on how much air is leaking your home and how long your A?C is running, you will hit a limit without suplemental dehumidification.

In simple terms... if you havefor example a 3 ton unit, and it's running 50% of the time, it will only be able to remove about 5-7 pints of water per hour. A small protable dehumidifer will remove 1.5-2.5pints per hour for comparison. A whole house dehumidifer can remove 4-6 pints per hour.

Changing those settings can help a little but there are limitations.

[geoss54]

Thanks alot for your response. According to this which direction should I go? Lower # or higher?

It says it "adjusts sensitivity to temp changes" 1=most sensitive, 9=least sensitive, and default is 3.

All is pretty well sealed. Townhouse with houses on either side......guess could dump[ some more insulation in the attic this fall. In Philly area.
Would "offsetting" the temps or humidity redings be any good?
Thanks
george

[Daltex]

I have an infinity and think the anticipator is how close you want the system to maintain the set point of the stat. The higher the number, the further it can get before calling for cool/heat. IF this is correct, setting it higher with a CPH of 4 would get you the best chance of max dehumidification but with larger temp swings.

I'll review my material and post back if I'm wrong but I'm sure a pro will correct me before I can get to it.

Insulation won't help humidity unless foam... JMO Seal it up will do much more good.

[geoss54]

Thanks,
I am only starting, and I mean only starting to understand this "anticipator" setting. So if the default is 3, then setting it to 4 or 5 will make it run longer? You got me??
george

[Daltex]

Still didn't look it up to make sure but if the anticipator is what I think, running the number up will make it run longer because it will let it get hotter before it kick on the ac. Once it kicks in, it will take longer to get back to the set point.

[motoguy128]

I have an infinity and think the anticipator is how close you want the system to maintain the set point of the stat. The higher the number, the further it can get before calling for cool/heat. IF this is correct, setting it higher with a CPH of 4 would get you the best chance of max dehumidification but with larger temp swings.

I'll review my material and post back if I'm wrong but I'm sure a pro will correct me before I can get to it.

Insulation won't help humidity unless foam... JMO Seal it up will do much more good.


Lower CPH with always give you better dehumidification with the longer run times. Shorter run times will control tighter, but ultimately less moisture will be removed. You generally don't want to run compressors higher than a CPH of 3. Its' too much wear and tear on the equipment.

The anticipator won't make muich diffrence for you average humidity level, because it primarily dependant on the heat load (which determines how long hte equipment runs each hour) and leaks in your home. The anticipator may delay or advance the starting time and how much the temperature swings, but won't change how long it runs in an hour.

[Daltex]

The infinity controller won't drop to 3 CPH. 4 is the min.

If the anticipator lets the temp rise to say, 3* over the setpoint and the system is properly sized, the AC is going to run longer. This will decrease the humidity.

Just couldn't confirm with absolute assuradness that the anticipator let the temp rise or if it was more of the recovery from setback situation.

[geoss54]

Thanks,
The CPH is set to 4 (default)-that is the minimum....what I was concerned about was setting the anticipator-should it be left at 3(default) or lowered to increase sensitiviity to temp changes, or raised to less sensitivity to temp changes. That is what has me baffled.
I guess if you offset the temp to read a degree higher than it is, the a/c will run longer???
Another thing I just thought of-if I increase a High Wall return from 6" to 8" on the first floor will it make a diff? Oh, so many ideas.....should be working rather than retired with too much time.:)\
thanks,
George

[Daltex]

Lower it if you feel the temp swings are too high. Raise it if you want longer run times to decrease humidity a bit more.

Changing the offset is used if the stat if off vs. the actual temp. - If it's really is76* but your stat shows 74* you can use this to make the stat read right. Wont effect the humidity other than the one time you raise it.

Changing the return to a larger size would possibly decrease the static pressure so could be good if static is high...

[geoss54]

thanks,
static is 0.37 when I run reinstall. at max rpm(1074?), so staic is fine.......would be nice to get that bigger return downstairs...anyway, there are many more returns than the builder put in.............george