Danfoss EKC 223 User manual

User Guide
Case controller
Type EKC 223 and EKC 224
SW Ver. 1.0x
For refrigerated display cabinets, cold storage rooms and simple heating applications.

Contents
Introduction 5
Application 5
Principle 5
Advantages 5
System overview 5
Functions 7
Temperature sensors 7
Defrost sensor 7
Condenser temperature sensor 7
Voltage protection 7
Condenser temperature monitoring 7
Change of temperature reference 8
Night setback 8
Digital inputs 9
Door contact function 9
Defrost 9
Start of defrost 9
Coordinated defrost via network 10
Defrost on demand 10
Applications 11
EKC 224 applications 11
EKC 223 applications 11
Wiring diagrams 12
EKC 224 12
EKC 223 13
Electrical connections 13
Installation 15
Installation considerations 15
Integration into network systems 15
Installation 16
Wiring 16
Conguration 18
DI input conguration 18
Case controller, type EKC 223 and EKC 224
© Danfoss | Climate Solutions | 2023.05 BC432222569027en-000201 | 2

Alarm codes 18
Control status 18
Operation 20
Operation via display 20
Key operations 20
View alarms 20
Lock keyboard 21
Factory resetting 21
Display codes 21
Parameter list 21
Quick setup – get a good start 22
Parameters 23
Parameter description 23
Conguration 23
Thermostat 24
Alarm settings 24
Defrost 25
Fan 26
Compressor 27
Miscellaneous 27
Polarity 28
Service 29
EKC 223, 224 display menu 29
Conguration 29
Thermostat 30
Alarm settings 30
Defrost 31
Fan 31
Compressor 31
Miscellaneous 31
Polarity 32
Service 32
Product specication 34
Technical specication 34
Mounting 34
Installation steps 35
Case controller, type EKC 223 and EKC 224
© Danfoss | Climate Solutions | 2023.05 BC432222569027en-000201 | 3

Dimensions 35
Ordering 36
Certicates, declarations, and approvals 37
Certicates, declarations, and approvals 37
Online support 38
Case controller, type EKC 223 and EKC 224
© Danfoss | Climate Solutions | 2023.05 BC432222569027en-000201 | 4

Introduction
Application
EKC 223/224 are multipurpose refrigeration controllers designed to fulll today’s requirement of food retail
refrigeration applications. This controller is suitable for high, medium, and low temperature cabinets and cold
rooms with natural, electrical, or hot gas defrost.
Principle
The EKC 223/224 controls the temperature in the cabinet based on the measurement from a single sensor – Sair.
This sensor can be placed in the cold airow after the evaporator or in the warm airow before the evaporator,
depending on the construction and usage of the cabinet. A measurement of the defrost temperature can be
obtained using an S5 evaporator sensor or indirectly by using the Sair measurement.
Figure 1: Typical plug-in application with EKC 223/224
Sair
S5
Sair
Sc
Danfoss 80G8429
EKC 223/224 controllers come with four push buttons, a big display, easy and intuitive menu structure, and pre-
dened applications ensure ease of use. Controller is loaded with energy eciency features like smart evaporator
fan management, day/night mode and defrosts on demand features.
Advantages
• Several applications in same unit
• Quick setup for fast commissioning
• Digital inputs for various functions
• Control of compressor or liquid line solenoid valve
• High Eect 16 A relay enable direct connection of heavy loads without use of intermediate relay: up to 2 hp
compressors depending on its power factor and motor eciency
• Alarm monitoring of condenser temperature with compressor stop protection
• Easy to integrate into Danfoss network systems via RS-485 adapter (EKA 206)
• Accurate temperature measurements
System overview
The EKC 223/224 controllers have a TTL port on the rear side of the controller and this TTL port allows the controller
to be connected to various interfaces.
© Danfoss | Climate Solutions | 2023.05 BC432222569027en-000201 | 5
Case controller, type EKC 223 and EKC 224

Figure 2: System interfaces of EKC 223/224
MPK
EKC 223, 224
System Manager
KoolKey
KoolProg
Danfoss 80G8445
SET V
V
V
RS-485 adapter (EKA 206)
The RS-485 adapter (EKA 206) adapter allows to integrate the controller on a Modbus eldbus. The controller is
supported by the following Danfoss front ends:
• AK-SM 720 system manager
• AK-SM 800 system manager
• AK-SM 800A system manager
The KoolKey (EKA 200) allows to connect the EKC controllers to the PC application named “KoolProg”. Via KoolProg it
is possible to perform on-line and o-line programming of the EKC controllers. It can also perform production line
programming of multiple controllers and show on-line trend curves on selected parameters.
Finally “KoolProg” can also load controller setup les into the MPK - Mass Programming Key (EKA 201) which can be
used for simple production line programming of EKC controllers.
Please refer to the KoolProg®User Guide for detailed instructions on how to use KoolProg®. Download KoolProg®at:
http://koolprog.danfoss.com. Refer to the installation guides of KoolKey (EKA 200) and Mass Programming Key (EKA
201) for further details on how to interface and use these modules.
Case controller, type EKC 223 and EKC 224
© Danfoss | Climate Solutions | 2023.05 BC432222569027en-000201 | 6

Functions
Temperature sensors
One thermostat sensor – Sair – can be connected to the controller, and the relevant application denes the
placement. It can be placed in the air ow before the evaporator or in the air ow after the evaporator. The latter is
mainly used where there is a risk of too low temperature at the products.
Figure 3: Refrigerated cabinet shown with sensor positions
Danfoss 80G8430
Sair
Sair
Sc
S5
Defrost sensor
The best signal concerning the evaporator’s temperature is obtained from a S5 defrost sensor mounted directly on
the evaporator. Here the signal may be used by the defrost function, so that the shortest and most energy-saving
defrost can take place. If a defrost sensor is not required, defrost can be stopped based on time, or Sair can be
selected.
Condenser temperature sensor
A condenser temperature sensor – Sc – can be used for monitoring the temperature on the condenser. Depending
on settings, alarms can be generated, and a safety stop of the compressor, can be initiated based on this
temperature.
Voltage protection
The voltage protection ensures that the compressor motor is operating within safe voltage ranges. If the power
supply voltage gets outside the specied high/low voltage cut-out ranges, the compressor is cut-out or restricted
from starting. Normal compressor operation is resumed when the power supply voltage is back in the area between
the high voltage cut-out limit and the low voltage cut-in limit.
Figure 4: Voltage protection
High voltage cut-out
limit (alarm and
compressor stop)
Low voltage cut-in
limit (compressor start)
Low voltage cut-out
limit (alarm and
compressor stop)
Danfoss 80G8457
Condenser temperature monitoring
If the condenser is blocking up with dirt and thereby reaches a too high condensing temperature, the controller will
give the user early warning through condenser alarm and if temperature rises further, it will switch the compressor
OFF. If the temperature measured by the condenser sensor (Sc) is reaching the set “pre-alarm limit” an alarm is
raised, but no further action is taken.
© Danfoss | Climate Solutions | 2023.05 BC432222569027en-000201 | 7
Case controller, type EKC 223 and EKC 224

This is used to indicate to the user that something is wrong with the condenser. Often the reason is that that the air
ow to the condenser is restricted (dirt) or because the condenser fan is broken. The alarm will reset if the
condenser temperature drops back by 5 °C. If the measured condenser temperature continues to increase and
reaches the set “Block limit” the compressor is stopped, and it is restricted from starting again until the alarm is reset
manually. The alarm can be reset manually by setting the parameter r12 Main switch to OFF position and back to ON
position or by powering the controller down.
Figure 5: Compressor protection against high condensing
temperature
Sc temperature °C
Sc temperature °C
Manual reset
Block limit
Pre alarm limit
Pre alarm OK
Compressor
Pre alarm
Block alarm
T1 T2 T3 T4
Danfoss 80G8376
Change of temperature reference
In an impulse appliance, for example, used for various product groups the temperature reference is changed easily
with a contact signal on a digital input. The signal changes the normal thermostat setpoint by a predened value. At
the same time the high and low alarm limits will be displaced with the same value.
Figure 6: Change of temperature reference
Danfoss 84B2490
5 °C
2 °C
Night setback
The thermostat reference can be displaced with an oset at night. The alarm limits will not be displaced at night
operation.
Figure 7: Night setback
Case controller, type EKC 223 and EKC 224
© Danfoss | Climate Solutions | 2023.05 BC432222569027en-000201 | 8

Digital inputs
There are two digital inputs, DI1 and DI2, with dry contact function.
They can be used for the following functions:
• Status readout
• Door function with stop of cooling and door alarm
• Door alarm only
• Main switch (start/stop of cooling)
• Night setback
• Reference oset
• External alarm
• Defrost start
• Pulldown cycle
• Sc condenser sensor (only DI1)
Figure 8: Digital inputs
Danfoss 84b2491
Door contact function
In cold rooms and frost rooms the door switch can switch the light on and o, start and stop the refrigeration and
give alarm if the door has remained open for too long.
Danfoss 84B2460
Defrost
Depending on the application, you may choose between the following defrost methods:
•Natural: Here the fans are kept operating during defrost
•Electric: The heating element is activated during active defrost
•Hot gas: The defrost output is used to control a solenoid that lets the hot gas ow through the evaporator. The
compressor is kept running to generate hot gas.
Start of defrost
A defrost can be started in dierent ways:
•Interval: Defrost is started at xed time intervals, e.g., every eighth hour
•Compressor runtime: Defrost is started at xed compressor runtime intervals. In other words, a low need for
refrigeration will “postpone” the coming defrost.
•Contact: Defrost is started with a contact signal on a digital input.
•Network: The signal for defrost is received from a system unit via the data communication.
•Defrost on demand: In 1:1 system the eciency of the evaporator can be followed. Icing-up will start a defrost.
•Manual: An extra defrost can be activated from the controller’s lower-most button (though not for application 4).
All the mentioned methods can be used at random – if just one of them is activated a defrost will be started.
Figure 9: Start of defrost
© Danfoss | Climate Solutions | 2023.05 BC432222569027en-000201 | 9
Case controller, type EKC 223 and EKC 224

Coordinated defrost via network
A coordinated defrost among multiple controllers can be obtained via data communication. The controllers will
have to be added to a coordinated defrost group in the AK-SM system manager. When a defrost cycle is scheduled
the system manager will start a defrost in all controllers. After the defrost, the individual controllers will move into
waiting position. When all controllers have terminated the defrost all controllers will continue with the rest of the
defrost cycle (drip delay and fan delay).
Figure 10: Coordinated defrost
Gateway/
System Manager
Danfoss 84B2453
Defrost on demand
1. Based on compressor runtime: when the aggregate compressor runtime has passed a set time, a defrost will be
started.
Figure 11: Based on compressor runtime
Danfoss 80G8459
Defrost start
Σt
2. Based on temperature: the controller will constantly follow the temperature at S5. Between two defrosts, the S5
temperature at compressor cut-out will become lower the more the evaporator ices up (the compressor operates for
a longer time and pulls the S5 temperature further down). When the S5 temperature passes a set allowed dierence,
compared to the set thermostat cut-out value the defrost will be started. This function can only work in 1:1 system.
Figure 12: Based on temperature
Danfoss 80G8458
Defrost start
S5
T
t
Case controller, type EKC 223 and EKC 224
© Danfoss | Climate Solutions | 2023.05 BC432222569027en-000201 | 10