Regular Guest
Hello everyone. I need a little help with my father's heating and a/c system. He has owned the house only a few years. During the summer he lost power at his house which resulted in all the settings of his system being reset (his battery backup needs to be replaced). Even with the switch for the system off the heat would run even if it was hot outside. The problem now with it being so cold is that some rooms are extremely hot while others are cold. There is no control over the unit.
So we contacted a few places to come look at the system and was told that they were not equipped to work with our system. One guy told us that he knows a few people that might be able to help. He later told us the guy that has the equipment and software moved away a while back. We also got an estimate from a local guy who said he could fix it for $ dollars. Just to change the settings? That didn't seem right to me.
I did find some time of computer that was near the heating and a/c system that seems like something I can use. But I'm not sure. So I am in need of a little information on what my options are and if there are any software/control units that I can use. I don't know anything about the system so I took some pics that could help. Thanks for any advice and help in advance and I apologize if I posted in the wrong section.
Last edited by beenthere; 10-21-2009 at 12:40 PM. Reason: Removed price
Professional Member
That's a pretty sophisticated system for a house... It's possible one of the other regulars here knows someone in your neck of the woods who can speak CCN. I don't think Carrier makes house calls.
The "computer" in the first picture is an interface used for setting up the system and it's operating schedule. I wouldn't advise experimenting with it.
Regular Guest
It looks like there is a nice thick manual sitting there pic #2. have you gone through it? I would get as much information as you can from all of the various pieces and then call carrier or a local carrier rep. explain to them the situation with the model numbers and see what they suggest.
Regular Guest
The manual is actually for an old modem that is connected to the system.. I don't know what the modem actually does.Originally Posted by CHAMBERD
I've looked around for some kind of documentation that would give me any kind of information on the system. I found nothing, so I don't know the model number.
Yeah, the original owner of the house went a little nuts with the system.
Oh, so that's what that computer is for.. I'm glad I didn't mess around with it.
AOP Committee/Professional Member*
I'm wondering why your father did not have this commercial-level control scheme removed from the house and a more conventional system installed?
I can tell you that the companies that make systems of this type are very protective of the intellectual property surrounding these systems. This means that the previous owner either was a service tech or rep for this system, or had easy access to someone who was such an insider.
For the long term, I would get rid of this and have a contractor install conventional, simple controls.
[Avatar photo from a Florida training accident. Everyone walked away.]
2 Tim 3:16-17
RSES CMS, HVAC Electrical Specialist
Member, IAEI
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Regular Guest
Judging by the photos on Image Shack this is a apartment building. Appears to be 8 mini splits.
Regular Guest
This is his first house so I don't think he knew the difference between a regular and commercial level.
Regular Guest
Not an apartment. It's a house.
Professional Member*
Wow that's quite a system for a house and a dinosaur. How big of a house is this? From what I can tell the house is zoned with VAV boxes or dampers. If thats the case I would install a Carrier 3V controller.
Professional Member*
Who is your father Obama?
That the most complicated system I have ever seen for a single family house.
The most insane customer I have has 35 tons in his house, it is mostly glass and of course he likes light so it faces directly into the sun.
Regular Guest
haha, my dad's not Obama. The house is something like 6000 sq ft.
God Speed, Jim. We'll miss you - 2-26-23
Don't take this wrong.
But if someone buys a 6000 sq ft house. With a system like that.
Then the price to repair that control system, should be no shock.
Proprietary controls systems, have a big price tag for installation, and repair.
Regular Guest
No I won't take it the wrong way. Feel free to speak freely. I understand what you mean though. But He's my dad so I just want to make sure no one is taking advantage of him. In my head I didn't feel like my dad being quoted $xxxx just for someone pressing a few buttons on their computer for a few minutes. Now obviously I am here to learn and you guys would know more. If that seems about right then I will know for next time. But that doesn't matter now because he was a dead end also.
But even if the price was perfect the problem is still trying to find someone who has the equipment. That's why I'm trying to get as much info as I can. If I can find the equipment then I can just fix it for him next time something goes wrong and not worry about finding someone. If in the end I can't find a solution then I will start looking into upgrades. But that will have to wait for a day when I am not swamped with school work.
God Speed, Jim. We'll miss you - 2-26-23
Proprietary system. You won't find the equipment/interface for free. Cost you more to buy it, then have it fixed a couple times.
The (BAS) manufacturers protect that end.
Professional Member
No I won't take it the wrong way. Feel free to speak freely. I understand what you mean though. But He's my dad so I just want to make sure no one is taking advantage of him. In my head I didn't feel like my dad being quoted $xxxx just for someone pressing a few buttons on their computer for a few minutes. Now obviously I am here to learn and you guys would know more. If that seems about right then I will know for next time. But that doesn't matter now because he was a dead end also.
But even if the price was perfect the problem is still trying to find someone who has the equipment. That's why I'm trying to get as much info as I can. If I can find the equipment then I can just fix it for him next time something goes wrong and not worry about finding someone. If in the end I can't find a solution then I will start looking into upgrades. But that will have to wait for a day when I am not swamped with school work.
There's an old anecdote about the guy that gets called to a company because one of their machines isn't running. He walks up to the machine, takes off the control panel, turns a screw and the machine fires up.
He hands the owner a bill for $200. The owner says "you're charging me $200 for turning a screw?"
The guy says " No. I'm only charging you $5 dollars for turning the screw the other $195 is for knowing which screw to turn."
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