Ya they are ok. You have to learn their quirks and nuances. Once you figure that out then it's just another rtu. Make sure you use OEM condenser fan motors......
Hey just wondering what anybody thinks about aaon rooftop units, and what's your experience you have had with them. I just looked at one a few days ago and I found they can be a little tricky if you don't know anything about their wattmaster control.
Ya they are ok. You have to learn their quirks and nuances. Once you figure that out then it's just another rtu. Make sure you use OEM condenser fan motors......
The controls can be aggravating till you get used to them, like any other. I like the serviceability of them. Put to gather with taking apart in mind.
I work on em all the time-have my own handheld programming tool which is a necessity. The makeupair units can be pretty complex when you make them a watersource heatpump with heatwheel, modulating hot gas reheat, and add an airflow measuring station. We can make it even more complex by bacnetting to a Johnson Controls front-end. Any questions?
It might get loud!
I'm only 5'10 and I have to bend down to look into the control section.
I found that the Watt Master System is kind of a p.i.t.a.
I DID find it the Orion technical support was pretty good. With only one site using Aaon units we're not going to get that handheld device.
I am really pleased with Orion tech support, the Aaon units them selves, not so much.
Hey Timebuilder you should get one anyway and go after some more Aaon jobs. They will keep you busy I promise.
It might get loud!
[Avatar photo from a Florida training accident. Everyone walked away.]
2 Tim 3:16-17
RSES CMS, HVAC Electrical Specialist
Member, IAEI
AOP Forum Rules:
i have 4 Aaon rooftops on top of a hotel in Naples. And two of witch have no charge i spent all day Friday looking for leaks. units are 2 year old i put 200psi of nitro and 1lb of 410 as a trace gas after spending 2 hrs looking for the leaks with my crap tech mate leak detector and my psi dropping 5psi. I went out and got a fieldpiece leak detector witch cost me $305 come back and find leaks in my reheat coil valve on both units. After calling around a rebuild kit is $407 my valve $420 i need 2 and 65lb of 410. so this week i strongly dislike Aaon.
I think they are the best built and most thought out RTU on the market. I find the very easy to work on and service.
I would agree they are right up there in design and quality. I don't know if its true but I remember being told that several of the Aaon engineering were recruited by Lennox to create the L series,
Funny.
I heard Aaon was designed by two former Lennox guys.
Sometimes the assembly line forgets to wrap those reheat valves with wet rags and that's why they leak-not because the valves are crap.
It might get loud!
We had an L series class in the shop and they brought a trailer in with an RTU to let us look at it and see it run. I was new and I asked "did you guys copy an aaon?" they did not think it was funny.
We see a wide range of Aaon unit types and ages. Their old stuff is good and the new stuff is built like the old stuff. A lot of times when I work on them i find my self asking "why doesn't anyone else do it like this?" those units were old too. Things seem easier to get to, coils seem more robust and most of the time are slanted, hinged doors and latches with hardware to hold it open, slide out blower assembly's, gear drive economisers, etc etc. I am mostly talking about general RTU from small to 50t. Not every Aaon is great like the liebert wannabes we see. I have changed a lot of parts out on RTUs and for the most part they seem a little smoother than most. In our shop the most grumbling I hear is startup issues and bell and whistle overload.
Some of the other manufacturers could take a lesson on their wiring diagrams. One of the easiest diagrams to read IMO.