Carrier Infinity Puron ac/hp shows zero at times for two of three zones then stops

[rayeve]

Hi,

I'm a real HVAC newbie, so please bear with me! I have a system about 6 years old that is a Carrier Puron HP/AC unit with an Infinity thermostat/controller. For a few months lately, and seemingly randomly, about every week the Infinity thermostat "goes nuts." I.e., the red and blue lights start blinking on the thermostat -- in alternating order of colors. When I check it out, it shows "0" as the temp in two of three zones. (The two furthest from the main unit). (BTW: It's a small house -- about 1700 sq ft, so I'm not sure zoning was a good idea to begin with, but that's another story). At such times as just described, the unit ceases to function, and I get a message to "Call Technician." HOWEVER, if I turn the system off using the button on the right side of the thermostat and wait a few minutes, when I turn it back on again everything seem ordinary again and I can use the whole system normally for a few days until everything repeats as per the above. Anyone have any idea of what my problem is, and what a fix might be? Thanks!

[motoguy128]

Sounds like a wiring communication issue. The zone temps shouldn't stop reading.

Nothing wrong with zoning on 1700sqft if a single story. That's still some pretty long duct runs and you cna have quite a bit of diversity. if you want all spaces to be stay ideally conditioned with varying conditions. You just have ot be even more careful of equipment sizing since each zone is likely to be fairly small.

My downstairs is 1700sqft and I'll probably add zoning in a year or two. The kitchen of course gets warm easily, the dining room is unoccupied much of the time and when it is used, it also can get warm, but starts off cool since it's on the norht side of hte house and the other side of hte house is on the south so it gets a lot of sun.

In you case you likely have varying occupancy, with bedrooms at night needing one temp but the rest of the house can use a setback.

Might be time to call a service company that knowns Infinity/Evolution controls. Could be as simple as a wire that got knicked. The zone sensors I think just use 2 wires going back to the zone interface controller.

[toocoolforschool]

T-stat says call technician and you thought you were smarter than the computer.

[second opinion]

SYSTEM MALFUNCTION SCREEN
OUTSIDE: 84_| FAN:AUTO
71_
HVAC SERVICE
1---800---555---1212
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
CALL TECHNICIAON
A07036
Fig. 34 -- System Malfunction Screen
Fan Coil
The code number represents flash code on circuit board of fan coil.
Certain faults will generate a system malfunction message on the
main screen. When this occurs, a technician should proceed to the
Last 10 System Events screen in the Service Menu to determine
which fault has caused the message.
Below is a list of which faults will result in a System Malfunction
event:
Code 37 -- Heater output sensed On when not energized
Code 41 -- Blower Motor Fault (ventilator, humidifier,
dehumidifier, outdoor unit will be turned off)
Code 44 -- Motor Communication Fault (ventilator, humidifier,
dehumidifier, outdoor unit will be turned off)
Code 45 -- Control failure
Furnace
The code number represents flash code on circuit board of furnace.
Code 13 -- Limit Circuit Lockout
Code 14 -- Ignition Lockout
Code 15 -- Blower Motor Lockout (ventilator, humidifier,
dehumidifier, outdoor unit will be turned off)
Code 21 -- Gas Heating Lockout
Code 22 -- Abnormal Flame Proving Signal
Code 23 -- Pressure Switch Did Not Open
Code 24 -- Secondary Voltage Fuse Open
Code 33 -- Limit Circuit Fault AND high heat only is active
Code 41 -- Blower Motor Fault (cooling mode only) (ventilator,
humidifier, dehumidifier, outdoor unit will be turned off)
Code 45 -- Control Circuitry Lockout
NOTE: For codes 13, 14 and 21, the system will use heat pump
heating exclusively if available. When the error code is cleared or
disappears, furnace heating will resume if still requested.
Service Tool Mode
The --V model of user interface software version 21 can be used as
a service tool on any Infinity system. Attach the --V model user
interface anywhere on the ABCD wiring (e.g. at the indoor or
outdoor unit). When the user interface powers up, it will ask the
user if they wish to enter service mode. Selecting “Yes” will allow
the --V model user interface to take over as the system controller,
putting the regular system user interface to sleep. The screen on the
regular user interface will display “IN SERVICE MODE”. The --V
model user interface will then learn all equipment and function as
the system controller. While in service mode, the --V model user
interface will not transfer any settings or information to or from the
regular user interface----it only takes over control of the system.
After removing the --V model user interface from the ABCD
wiring, the regular user interface will take over the system after two
minutes.
Outdoor Unit
The code number represents flash code on circuit board of outdoor
unit.
Code 25 -- Invalid model plug
Code 45 -- Control Failure
Code 47 -- No 230V at unit
Code 48 -- Loss of inverter communications
Code 69 -- Inverter internal fault
Code 73 -- Contactor shorted
Code 74 -- No high voltage at compressor
Code 76 -- Low stage didn’t start three times
Code 78 -- High stage didn’t start three times
Code 81 -- Thermal lockout in low stage -- 4 hrs.
Code 82 -- Thermal lockout in high stage -- 4 hrs.
Code 83 -- Low Pressure Lockout -- 4 hrs.
Code 84 -- High Pressure Lockout -- 4 hrs.
Code 85 -- Low contactor open
Code 86 -- Low contactor shorted
Code 87 -- High contactor open
Code 88 -- Inverter Temp Lockout or High Contactor Shorted
Code 96 -- VDC under voltage lockout
Code 97-- VDC over voltage lockout
Code 99 -- High torque lockout
User Interface
S Temp sensor failed, loss of communication with smart sensor,
smart sensor fault. “NO SENSOR DATA” shown
S Indoor unit communication fault
S Outdoor unit communication fault
S Packaged product communication fault
S NIM communication fault
S SAM communication fault
S Possible Frozen Coil
S High Room Temp Alert, when 100_F exists for at least 10
minutes, and removed when less than or equal to 98_F exists
S Low Room Temp Alert, when 38_F exists for at least 10
minutes, and removed when greater than or equal to 40_F exists
S High Humidity Alert, when 80% Rh exists for 30 minutes, and
removed when less than or equal to 78% Rh exists
The user can press the right side button to dismiss the notice. The
regular run mode screen will then appear except “SYSTEM
MALFUNCTION” will appear in place of the day/time. If the error
has not disappeared within 24 hours, the above display will return.
If the error code disappears, “SYSTEM MALFUNCTION” will
disappear and the day/time will reappear.
Copyright 2011 Carrier Corp. S 7310 W. Morris St. S Indianapolis, IN 46231 Printed in China Edition

[motoguy128]

I like my "V" model interface. Lots of great info.

You can even get an airflow approach temps acorss the coil. Not as good as known the actual approach with saturated condenser temps... but if the coil temp is more than a couple degrees high tham ambient, it's probably dirty.

[rayeve]

To: "Toocoolforschool" (above): I have a degree in aerospace engineering from a renowned tech university, I KNOW I'm smarter than a computer -- I program them all the time, and trust me on this one, they are only as smart as the software engineers who designed and programed them. Last couple of times I called a tech, they wanted hundreds of dollars for things I eventually fixed myself for a few bucks. Maybe you're not too cool for school after all? Especially a lesson in civility sounds in order, especially one in how to be a good forum citizen.

[second opinion]

Ouch!

[pauls heating &]

sounds like ya know whats wrong then ??

[toocoolforschool]

To: "Toocoolforschool" (above): I have a degree in aerospace engineering from a renowned tech university, I KNOW I'm smarter than a computer -- I program them all the time, and trust me on this one, they are only as smart as the software engineers who designed and programed them. Last couple of times I called a tech, they wanted hundreds of dollars for things I eventually fixed myself for a few bucks. Maybe you're not too cool for school after all? Especially a lesson in civility sounds in order, especially one in how to be a good forum citizen.

An engineer doing DIY I would have never guessed.