Honeywell F50E User manual

Honeywell
OWNER’S GUIDE
F50E
ELECTRONIC
AIR CLEANER
® U.S. Registered Trademark
C pyright © 1998 H neywell Inc.
All Rights Reserved 69-0376-4

69-0376— 4

CONTENTS
PAGE
THE SOLID STATE PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 2
OPERATING YOUR ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER 3
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER 5
CLEANING THE ELECTRONIC CELL(S) AND PREFILTER(S) 7
HOW ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANING WORKS 14
WHAT YOU CAN E PECT FROM ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANING 19
BEFORE YOU CALL FOR SERVICE 20
CLEAN COIL GUARANTEE 22
WARRANTY 25
1 69-0376— 4

THE SOLID STATE PERFORMANCE INDICATOR
T his e lectr nic air cle a ne r is equipped
w ith a special s lid state circu it that
perates the pti na l W 86 0 0E S lid
S tate P erf rm ance In dica t r (see
ph t ). T he W 86 0 0 E In dica t r m ust be
rdered separately.
T he W 8 600 E In d icat r is d esig n ed t
m un t next t y u r th e rm stat, r in any
c nvenien t visible area (such as a utility
r m ) w h e re it can be seen as it
m n it rs the air cle a ner's perf rm a n ce.
T he thre e lig ht-e m ittin g di de s (LE D s)
n the W 8 6 0 0 E are la beled O N, W A S H
and C H E C K .
• T he O N LED is lit d urin g n rm al air clea n ing perati n. The
system fan is a ls n when th e air clean e r is running.
• If exce ssive dirt has a ccu m ula ted n the a ir cle ane r cell(s),
th e W A SH LE D w ill light t ale rt y u th at a cell and p refilte r
w ash is p ast due.
• E xtrem e dirt l a ding (bey n d th a t required t a ctivate the
W A S H LE D ), ele c tr nic m alfun cti n, r th er e q u ipm ent
pr blem s w ill cause the C H E C K LE D t light.
69-0376— 4 2

OPERATING YOUR ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER
S et the O N -O F F sw itch in the p w er b x t O N.
T he air cle an e r w ill n w perate w he n ever y u r
fu rn a ce /a ir c n d iti nin g s yste m fan perates. F r
m a xim u m air cle anin g benefit and cle a ner air
c n d iti n er c ils, leave th e air clean e r sw itch ON
at all tim e s and the fan sw itch n y u r th erm stat
O N . Of c urse , c ntin u us fan p e rati n will add
t y ur electric bill each m nth.
M3263
W hen the fan and a ir cle a ner c m e n, the ne n
light in th e O N -O F F sw itch lights.
If y ur air cle ane r is e q u ip p e d w ith a w all-
m u n ted W 8 6 00E S lid S tate P e rf rm a n ce
Indica t r (see page 2), the O N LED w ill be n
whenever the air cleaner is in operation. Of
c urse, the system fan will als be running.
Y u m ay hear a sn a p p ing (electrical arcing)
s und ccasi n a lly as th e air clea n e r perates.
T his usually is cau sed by a larger dust particle
causing a high v lta g e discha rge . T he sn a p pin g
s und m eans tha t y ur air c le a n er is w rkin g as it
sh uld. T hear th e sna p p ing s u n d, m m e nta rily
press th e test butt n near the b tt m f the d r.
U se the te st b utt n any tim e y u w an t t p r ve
air cle a n e r p erati n.
M7740
W hen the fan and a ir cle a ner st ps, th e ne n
light g es ut, and th e O N LE D n the W 8 6 0 0 E
Indica t r a ls g es ut. T h e air cle an e r is ff until
th e heating r air c n d iti ning and fan start again.
3 69-0376— 4

M3261
If y u d n 't w an t the air clea n er t run, se t the
O N -O F F sw itch t O F F t turn ff th e air cleane r.
Y u r furna ce and air c n d iti ne r w ill still perate
n rm a lly but w ith ut th e a d d e d b e n efit f air
cle a n in g . N rm ally, this sw itch sh uld be ON at
all tim es.
69-0376— 4 4

GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER
Run the electronic
air cleaner as
much as possible
Keep the cell(s)
and prefilter(s)
clean
Replace any
activated carbon
filters in the
ductwork
regularly
F r greatest e fficie ncy, the air c le a n er sh uld
run all the tim e. T d this, set the fa n sw itch n
y u r the rm stat t O N , and m ake sure the air
clean e r is sw itche d O N. The fa n and air cle a n er
w ill run even w hen the fu rn ace r air c n diti ne r
is ff.
N O TE : A m anual fan sw itch m ay be built int
th e furna ce r furna ce fa n c ntr ller.
T he air cle an e r uses less p w er than a 40 w att
light bulb (tw -ce ll m del— 33 w atts; single cell
m del— 22 w atts), and th e c st f runnin g the
system fan is a ls qu ite l w. The sm a ll a dded
c st is m re than ffset by the ad ded b enefits f
full tim e air clea n in g and full tim e a ir circulati n.
S m e pe ple feel that r m tem p e ra ture s stay
m re even w hen th e fan is a lw ays n.
Even if y ur th e rm stat d esn 't have a fan ON
p siti n, y u can btain m axim um a va ilab le air
cle anin g benefit by m aking su re th e a ir cle ane r
is a lw ays sw itch e d O N s it pe rates w hene ver
th e furna ce r air c n d iti ne r is n.
A lth u g h the air cle a ne r is desig n ed t be
efficient ver a w id e range f cell dirt l ading
c n diti ns, regular cle a nin g is y u r best
assu ran ce f c nsisten t p e rf rm a n ce. A ls , a
ve ry dirty cell and p re filter reduces a ir fl w and,
in turn, this redu ce s the efficie n cy f th e furna ce
r air c nd iti ner. The cell w ash rem in d e r
sche d u le sh u ld be used t m ainta in a regula r
w ash sch e d ule.
An activated carb n (charc al) filte r is s m e 
tim e s installe d d w nstrea m f th e air clea n e r t
help c ntr l d rs. T his filte r sh u ld be changed
at least a n nually, r as re c m m en d e d by the
filter m an ufacturer.
5 69-0376— 4

If you have a
humidifier If y ur syste m inclu d e s an at m izin g hum idifier, y u m ay w a n t t install a standard fu rn ace filter
be tw een th e h u m idifie r and the air cleaner. T his
filter w u ld keep the hu m id ifie r sp ray m ineral
de p sits fr m c llectin g n the air cle a n e r. T his
filter sh uld be che cke d regularly and changed
w hen it sh w s sign s f m ineral r dirt buildup. If
y u d n t install a filter, y u will pr b ably need
t w ash the c e ll(s) and prefilte r(s) m re ften t
rem ve the m in eral buildup.
If an ultras nic r m h u m idifie r is used ften,
e sp e cia lly w hen fille d w ith ta p (und istilled)
w ate r, the cell(s) and prefilter(s) will require
m re frequ e n t w ashing. A w hite residue will
accu m u late n the cell(s) fr m th e m in e rals in
th e w ater. T his residue m ay als c n trib u te t
"w hite dust" (see p. 18).
69-0376— 4 6

CLEANING THE CELL(S) AND PREFILTER(S)
A CAUTION
Sharp edges.
Can cause personal injury.
H and le the cell(s) ca re fu lly r w ea r pr tective
gl ves t av id cuts fr m th e sharp m etal
edg e s.
Setting a T en sure ptim u m perf rm a n ce fr m the air
regular cleaning cleaner, the cell(s) and prefilter(s) m ust be
schedule clea n e d re g ula rly— eve ry ne t six m nths.
W a sh in g freq u e n cy w ill va ry d epending n the
num b e r f fa m ily m em bers, pets, activitie s
(such as c kin g r w dw rkin g ) and s m king
habits. U se th e w ash re m ind e r schedule
m u n ted n t p f the air cle an e r r fu rn a ce t
help e stablish and m aintain a regular clea n in g
schedule.
If y ur air cle ane r has a W 86 0 0 E In dica t r (sh w n n page 2), the
W A S H LE D w ill light t rem ind y u that a cell and p refilter w ashin g is
past due. W hen the W A S H LED c m e s n, it m eans tha t the ce ll(s) are
l ade d w ith dirt t th e p int th a t air cleaning efficien cy is dim inished .
Y u s h uld plan t w ash the cell(s) and prefilte r(s) as s n as p ssible.
B u t by using the w ash rem in d e r sch e d u le, a w as h in g sch e d ule can be
estab lish e d tha t keeps the cell(s) clean en ugh s the W A SH LE D d es
n t c m e n.
7 69-0376— 4

If y u fin d that th e W A S H LE D is c m ing n m re freq u e n tly tha n the
estab lish e d sche d u le n th e w ash re m ind e r sch e d u le , y u m ay have a
bu ild u p f residue n the i n izer w ires. If th e c lle ct r plates n the
cell(s) l k clean, y u can try w iping the i nize r w ires w ith a clea n cl th
instead f w ash ing the entire cell.
Y u m ight als c nsid e r w he th e r s m e activity in y u r h m e has
ch a n ged, ca u sing the cell(s) t bec m e dirty fa ste r. H ave the w ind w s
been pen m re ften? H as s m e ne been sm king m re ften? H as
s m e n e take n up w dw rkin g r s m e th er h bby th a t crea te s
dust?
N O TE : Y u m ay let th e hea ting r air c n d iti ning system pera te
n rm a lly w hile the cell(s) are being w ashed. Sim p ly turn ff the air
clean e r sw itch .
Cleaning the T he prefilter(s) sh u ld be va cuu m ed, brushed,
prefilter(s) spraye d w ith a g arden h se, r w a s h e d at the
sa m e tim e as the ele ctr nic cell(s).
69-0376— 4 8

Washing the cell(s)
in your automatic
dishwasher A CAUTION
Burn hazard.
Can cause personal injury.
A ll w th e cell(s) t c l c m p le te ly in the
d ish w ashe r at the end f the w ash cycle r
w ea r p r tective gl ves t av id burns. H t
w ater m ay accu m ula te in the tub es su p p rting
th e c lle ct r plates. T ip the cell(s) s the se
tubes drain.
IMPORTANT
• C he ck y ur d ishw ash er w ne r's m anual. S m e m a n u factu re rs d n t
rec m m end w ash ing e lectr n ic ce ll(s) in the ir dishw ash e rs.
• If th e d ishw ash e r has upper and l w er arm s, p siti n the cell(s)
ca refully t a ll w g d w a te r circulati n.
• U se care t a v id d a m a gin g the cell(s) w hen placin g th em in the
dish w ash e r. B r ken i nizer w ires r bent c lle ct r p lates are n t
c ve red und er the w arra nty.
• V e ry dirty cell(s), esp e cia lly fr m t ba cc r c kin g sm ke , m ay
d isc l r th e p la stic parts and th e lining f s m e d ish w ash e rs. T his
disc l ra ti n is n t harm ful. T m in im ize it, w ash th e cell(s) m re
freq u e n tly r try a d iffe re n t brand f d e terge nt.
• Do not allow the dishwasher to run through the dry cycle. T his
w ill “bake n” any c n tam in a n ts n t rem ve d d u ring the w ash cycle
and reduce air clea n e r efficiency.
9 69-0376— 4

STEP 1
Put the cell(s) n th e l w er rack f the d ish w asher w ith th e airfl w arr w
p in ting up. It m ay be ne ce ssary t rem ve the upper rack. D n't b l ck
w ater fl w t the up p e r arm , if p r vided n y u r dishw asher. If y u are
w ash in g th e prefilter(s) w ith the ce ll(s), p la ce the m w here th e y w n 't
b l ck the w a te r fl w t the electr nic cell(s).
H IN T: Lay a fe w large w ater tum b le rs betw een the “sp ike s ” n th e l w er
rack, and rest the ce ll(s) n th em s the “sp ike s” d n't dam a g e th e
alu m inu m c llect r blades.
STEP 2
U sin g the d e terg e nt tha t w rks best f r n rm al dishw ash in g , all w the
d ish w ashe r t run th r ugh the c m ple te w ash and rinse cycle. Do not
use the dry cycle. T a v id b urns, let th e ce ll(s) c l c m p le tely bef re
rem ving, r w e a r pr te ctive g l ve s w hen re m ving the ce ll(s). R e m em 
b e r th a t w a te r m ay be trap p ed inside th e cell(s) plates. Tip the cell(s) t
drain.
STEP 3
W ipe the i n ize r w ire s and red c nta ct b a rd n end f cell w ith a clean
cl th.
STEP 4
In spect th e d ishw ash e r. Y u m ay w ish t rerun the w ash a n d / r rinse
cycle w ith the dish w a she r em pty if y u see dirt r residue fr m w a sh ing
th e cell(s). If dirt r residue se e m s excessive , w ash the cell(s) m re
ften r try a d iffe re n t de tergent.
69-0376— 4 10

Washing the
cell(s) in a tub !a CAUTION
Hazardous chemical.
Can cause personal injury.
• D n t splash the d e terg e nt s lu ti n in eyes.
W e a r rubber gl ves t av id p r l ng ed de
te rge n t c n tact w ith skin.
• K eep d e terg e nt and s lu ti n ut f reach f
children.
NOTE: A lw ays w ash th e cell(s) first, then the prefilter(s) t keep heavy
lint n th e p refilter fr m g e ttin g cau g h t in the ce ll(s).
STEP 1
U se a large e n ug h c n tain e r such as a laundry tub r trash c ntainer,
t h ld ne r b th cell(s).
NOTE: S harp c rners n th e cell(s) can scratch the su rface f a
bathtub.
STEP 2
D iss lve a b ut 3/4 cup f a u t m a tic d ish w a s h e r d e terg e nt per cell in
en ug h h t w a ter t c ver the cell(s). If the d ete rg e n t d esn 't d iss lve
readily, r f rm s a scum n th e w ate r, try a n th e r brand, r use s f
tened w ater.
STEP 3
A fte r the d ete rg e n t is c m p le te ly diss lved, p la ce the cell(s) in the
c n taine r and let it s ak f r 15 t 20 m inutes. A g ita te cells up and d w n
a fe w tim es and rem ve.
STEP 4
N ext, w ash th e p refilter(s) the sam e w ay. E m pty and rinse th e w ash
c ntainer.
STEP 5
R inse the cell(s) and prefilter(s) w ith a hard spra y f ve ry h t w ater;
rinse the tub clean, then fill the tub w ith clean h t w a ter and s ak f r 5
t 15 m inutes. R inse until the w a ter drain ing fr m th e cell(s) and
prefilter(s) n l ng e r fe e ls slippery.
STEP 6
W ipe the i nizer w ire s and red c nta ct b a rd n the end f the cell w ith
a cle an cl th.
11 69-0376— 4

Washing the cell(s)
at a car wash
Replacing electronic
air cleaner components
STEP 1
In spect th e cell(s) f r b r ken i n izer w ires and bent c lle ct r plates.
R epair as nece s sary r ta ke t a H n e yw ell A uth rized A ir C leaner
R epair S tati n.
STEP 2
S lide th e p refilter(s) int the up stre a m p refilter guides.
STEP 3
S lide th e a ir cle an e r cell(s) in s th e air fl w a rr w p in ts d w ns tre am
and the handle(s) face utw ard.
STEP 4
F irm ly cl se the a ccess d r.
U se the hand sp ra y e r at a c in- pe ra ted d -it-
y u rse lf car w ash t w ash th e cell(s) and
prefilter(s). H ld the n zzle at least tw feet
aw ay fr m th e unit t av id dam a g e fr m the
high pre ssure stream f w ater. F ll w the sa m e
seq u e n ce f w ash and rinse as rec m m ended
f r cars. H w ever, d n t w a x the ce ll(s) r the
prefilter(s). Be su re t rinse until th e w ate r
draining fr m th e ce ll(s) and prefilter(s) n
l n g e r feels slippe ry.
69-0376— 4 12

STEP 5
Turn n the air cleaner. If th e cell(s) and prefilte r(s) are w et, the ne n
light m ay n t c m e n and y u m ay hear arcing. If the a rcing is an n y
ing, sim p ly turn ff the air cle a n er f r 2 t 3 h urs r until th e cell(s) are
dry.
If y u r air cle ane r has a S lid S ta te P erf rm ance Indicat r, the C H E C K
LE D m ay c m e n if y u install w et c ell(s) and pre filter(s). Again, if the
ne n light r the C H E C K LE D ann ys y u, sim p ly turn ff the air clea n e r
f r 2 t 3 h urs r until th e cell(s) and prefilter(s) are dry.
13 69-0376— 4

HOW ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANING WORKS
A word about T he p a rticles rem ved by th e e le ctr nic air
particle size cle a ne r te n d t be v e ry sm all— less than 10
m icr ns. B ut w hat is a 10 m icr n pa rticle? The
eye f an average size sew ing needle is ab ut
750 m icr ns acr ss, and th e d t in the i in the
w rd m icr n is a b ut 400 m icr ns. G enerally,
pa rticles sm a lle r than 10 m icr ns can be seen
n ly w ith a m icr sc pe, except in ve ry large
c nce ntra ti ns, such as a puff f sm ke. Y ur
electr n ic air clean e r can rem ve even sm alle r
pa rticles th a t can be see n nly w ith an electr n
m icr sc p e.
A lth ugh p a rticle s ne m icr n and sm a ller m ake
up nly ab ut 20 perce n t f th e t tal weight f
pa rticles in unfiltered air, the y acc u n t f r m re
than 99 pe rce n t f th e number f particles.
B ecause the y are s tiny, the se p articles rem ain
su sp e nd e d in th e air unless th e y c llide w ith a
s lid surface. T hen the y attach by m lecular
adhesi n and stick like glue, stainin g w a lls and
fu rnitu re and c atin g y u r air c n d iti nin g c ils.
A n d s m e f these pa rticle s can ca use allergic
rea cti ns r sim ply m ake the e n vir n m e n t less
pleasant.
69-0376— 4 14

How the electronic First, large pa rticles (lint, hair) are cau g h t by the
air cleaner works prefilter(s). As the dirty air passe s th r u gh the
intense high v lta g e electric fie ld s u rr und in g
th e i nize r w ires, all particles, even th e s m alle st
are given an ele ctric charge . T he air passes int
th e c lle ct r w h ere th e alterna te para lle l pla tes
have p sitive and negative charge s, crea tin g a
un if rm e lectr static field. S ince pp sites
attract, the charged particles s tick t the
c lle ct r plates, having an pp site e le ctric
charge . C n seq ue n tly, th e air le aving the air
clean e r c ntains ve ry fe w particles.
CELL
(COLLECTOR SECTION)
M6030A
Each tim e the air circ u la te s th r u gh the h e a tin g /
air c n d iti n ing system and air cleaner, m re
pa rticles are rem ved. T he se p a rticles are
ge n e rated by n rm al h u seh ld a ctivities, and
als e n ter the h use fr m the u tside. T h a t's
w hy w e rec m m e n d tha t y u use the air clea ner
as m uch as p ssible.
15 69-0376— 4

The electronic air
cleaner vs. the
standard
furnace filter
Use a carbon
filter to remove
odors
The electronic
air cleaner
vs. the air
ionizer
T he reg u la r fu rnace filte r c llects m ain ly large,
visib le particles tha t reach the filter. Its m ain
pu rp se is t pr tect the fu rn ace and air
c n d iti n er bl w er. The e le ctr nic air clea ner
c llects the se large particle s, plus m an y f the
sm alle r, m stly invisible p articles. Its purp se is
t reduce ind r air p llu ti n and t p r tect the
bl w er, air c n d iti ning c ils and heat e x
chan ger.
O d rs are gases, n t particle s. T h ey ca nn t be
rem ved by th e air cle a n er r by any th e r filter
desig n e d t rem ve particles. H w ever, s m e
ga se s can be trapp e d by an a ctiva ted carb n
filter r dilu ted w ith u td r air. If d rs are a
c ncern, ta lk t y ur heating and air c n d iti n 
ing de a le r ab ut installin g a carb n filter
d w nstre a m f the air clean e r r pr vid in g an
utd r air inlet.
A ir i nize rs have been m arkete d w ith claim s
ab ut purifying the air and pr m isin g m edical
be nefits. It sh uld be n ted th a t sup p rtin g
te sts, if available, are c ntr ve rsia l and in c m 
plete.
A ir i nize rs can generate a bit f z ne, and f
c urse s m e i ns (air m lecule s w ith an electric
charge). This is w ha t y u r e le ctr n ic air cle a ner
i n izer d es, but w ith g rea ter intensity. H w 
ever, air i nizers d n t have g d c llect rs, if
any. W ith air i nizers, the ch arged dirt pa rticles
are "c lle cte d" by w alls, fl r and furniture ,
requiring fre q u e nt c le a ning f th e entire building
t rem ve the effects f c lle cte d c ntam in a 
ti n. B y c m p a ris n , an ele c tr nic air cle ane r
de p sits c n ta m in a ti n n the ce ll(s) and
prefilter(s) f r ea sy clean ing.
69-0376— 4 16

Ozone and the
electronic
air cleaner
E lectr nic air cle a ners g enera te a v e ry sm all
am u nt f z ne, ab ut 0.0 05 t 0 .010 parts
pe r m illi n (ppm ). T he a m un t is h ighest w hen
th e air cle a ner is new.
T he a verag e p e rs n can detect the d r f
z ne in c nce ntrati ns as l w as 0 .003 t
0.010 ppm . The U.S. F d and D rug A d m in i
stra ti n and H ealth and W e lfa re C an a d a
rec m m end th at in d r z ne c n centrati n
sh uld n t e xce e d 0.050 ppm . As a c m p a ri
s n, th e utd r z n e level in m aj r cities is
s m e tim e s highe r tha n 0.1 00 ppm .
If de sired, th e z ne ge n erated by th e air
clean e r can be red u ce d by a sking y u r de a ler
t :
• Install an a ctivate d ca rb n filte r d w n stre a m
f the air cle a n e r, r
• A dju st th e air clea n e r p w er sup p ly t
reduce z ne pr ducti n. Th is a d justm e n t
w ill reduce z ne pr du cti n a b ut 20 t 25
pe rcent, but w ill als reduce air cle a n in g
e fficie n cy a b ut 7 t 10 percent.
17 69-0376— 4

About lint or
"white dust" W h ite d u st is m ade up f p articles th at settle ut
f the air b ef re th e y get t the return air duct.
Y u can help p re vent this “w hite d ust” fr m
se ttlin g by runn ing y u r fan c nstantly. Als ,
• Be sure th e return reg isters are n t bl cked
w ith furniture.
• Be sure th e d ischarge ducts are cle an (best
d n e bef re in stalling th e air clean er).
• Be sure y u r cl the s drye r is ven ted t the
utside and is n t plu gged.
• If y u have new rugs r drap e s r new
w le n blankets, be a w are th a t the lint fr m
these item s reduce s w ith age.
• In new r rem deled h m es, pla ster dust r
pa in t p ig m en t m ay c ntrib u te t “w hite du st”,
but redu ce s w ith tim e.
• U se f a h um id ifie r m ay c n tribute t "w hite
dust", esp ecially if fille d w ith und istilled
w ater.
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