TCS F50F User manual

F50F
ELECTRONIC
AIR CLEANER
OWNER’S GUIDE
69-1653EF
Copyright © 2002
All Rights Reserved

69-1653EF 2
CONTENTS
PAGE
AIRWATCH®INDICATOR 3
OPERATING YOUR ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER 4
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER 6
CLEANING THE ELECTRONIC CELL(S) AND PREFILTER(S) 8
HOW ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANING WORKS 14
BEFORE YOU CALL FOR SERVICE 19
LIMITED FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY 21

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3
AIRWATCH®INDICATOR
The W8600A AIRWATCH®Indicator can be added
to your air cleaner system to provide convenient
indication of system performance. It must be
ordered separately.
The W8600A is designed to mount next to your
thermostat, or in any convenient location in the
living area of the home.
The four Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) arrow
indicators are labeled Battery, Air Cleaner, UV Air
Treatment and Humidifier. A blinking arrowhead
indicates service is needed.
•Battery – indicates batteries need changing.
•Air Cleaner – indicates electronic filter needs washing.
•UV Air Treatment – indicates UV lamps need replacing in UV Air
treatment system.
•Humidifier – indicates humidifer pad needs replacing.
On/Battery
TM
Air Cleaner
UV Air Treatment
Humidifier
Honeywell.com/yourhome
M20843

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When the fan and air cleaner come on, the neon
indicator lights.
If your air cleaner is equipped with a wall-
mounted W8600A AIRWATCH Indicator, the
Battery LCD on solidly means the unit is correctly
powered. (Flashing indicates battery requires
replacing.)
Set the On-Off switch in the power box to On.
NOTE: Depress 1 for On, 0 for Off.
The air cleaner now operates whenever your
furnace/air conditioning system fan operates. For
maximum air cleaning benefit and cleaner air
conditioner coils, leave the air cleaner switch on
at all times and the Fan switch on your thermo-
stat on. Of course, continuous fan operation adds
to your electric bill each month.
You may hear a snapping (electrical arcing)
sound occasionally as the air cleaner operates.
This usually is caused by a larger dust particle
causing a high voltage discharge. The snapping
sound means that your air cleaner is working as it
should. To hear the snapping sound, momentarily
press the test button near the bottom of the door.
Use the test button any time you want to prove
air cleaner operation.
OPERATING YOUR ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER
M20798
M20799
M 6032
M20847
On/Battery
®
Air Cleaner
UV Air Treatment
Humidifier
Honeywell.com/yourhome

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If you don’t want the air cleaner to run, set the
On-Off switch to Off to turn off the air cleaner.
Your furnace and air conditioner will operate
normally, but without the added benefit of air
cleaning. Normally, this switch should be on at
all times.
M20801
When the fan and air cleaner stops, the neon
light goes out. The air cleaner is off until the
heating or air conditioning and fan start again.
M20800

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For greatest benefit, the air cleaner should run
all the time. To do this, set the fan switch on
your thermostat to ON, and make sure the air
cleaner is switched ON. The fan and air cleaner
will run even when the furnace or air conditioner
is off.
NOTE: A manual fan switch may be built into
the furnace or furnace fan controller.
The air cleaner uses less power than a 40 watt
light bulb (two-cell model—33 watts; single cell
model—22 watts). The cost of running the
system fan will vary with the size of your fan
motor and the cost of electricity where you live.
Most air cleaner owners feel that the added cost
is more than offset by the added benefits of full
time air cleaning and full time air circulation.
You may feel that the room temperature stays
more even when the fan is always on.
Although the air cleaner is designed to be
efficient over a wide range of cell dirt loading
conditions, regular cleaning is your best
assurance of consistent performance. Also, a
very dirty cell and prefilter reduces air flow and,
in turn, reduces the efficiency of the furnace or
air conditioner. The cell wash reminder sched-
ule or the optional W8600A AIRWATCH®
Indicator should be used to maintain a regular
wash schedule.
An activated carbon (charcoal) filter is some-
times installed downstream of the air cleaner to
help control odors. This filter should be changed
at least annually, or as recommended by the
filter manufacturer. Total Comfort System does
not offer carbon filters for this application.
Replace any
activated carbon
filters in the
ductwork
regularly
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

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All Total Comfort System whole house humidifi-
ers can be used in a system with the Total
Comfort System electronic air cleaner without
any additional filters or system modification.
If your system includes an atomizing humidifier,
you may want to install a standard furnace filter
between the humidifier and the air cleaner. This
filter would keep the humidifier spray mineral
deposits from collecting on the air cleaner. This
filter should be checked regularly and changed
when it shows signs of mineral or dirt buildup. If
you do not install a filter, you will probably need
to wash the cell(s) and prefilter(s) more often to
remove the mineral buildup.
If an ultrasonic room humidifier is used often,
especially if filled with tap (undistilled) water, the
cell(s) and prefilter(s) require more frequent
washing. A white residue accumulates on the
cell(s) from the minerals in the water. This
residue may also contribute to "white dust." See
About lint or "white dust" section for more
information.
If you have a
humidifier

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CAUTION
Sharp edges.
Can cause personal injury.
Carefully handle the cell(s) or wear protective
gloves to avoid cuts from the sharp metal
edges.
To ensure optimum performance from the air
cleaner, the cell(s) and prefilter(s) must be
cleaned regularly—every one to six months.
Washing frequency will vary depending on the
number of family members, pets, activities
(such as cooking or woodshop) and smoking
habits. Use the wash reminder schedule that
came with the air cleaner or the optional
W8600A AIRWATCH®Indicator to help
establish and maintain a regular cleaning
schedule. Mount the wash reminder schedule
in a convenient location.
CLEANING THE ELECTRONIC CELL(S) AND PREFILTER(S)
Setting a
regular cleaning
schedule
YEAR J F M A M J J A S O N D
ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER WASH REMINDER SCHEDULE
INSTALLATION DATE/DATE D'INSTALLATION: ,
MF982
AIDE-MÉMOIRE DE LAVAGE FILTRE ÉLECTRONIQUE

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If your air cleaner has a W8600A AIRWATCH®
Indicator, the unit beeps every fifteen mintes to
indicate an LCD is flashing. This indicates that
service or a replacement part is required. The
Air Cleaner arrow indicator blinks to indicate the
media filter needs replacing or electronic filter
needs washing.
You may consider washing your cell(s) and
prefilter(s) before the Air Cleaner arrow
indicator blinks if some activity in your home
has changed. This can include, but is not limited
to the following:
• Have the windows been open more often?
•Has someone been smoking more often?
• Has someone taken up a dust producing
hobby?
If this activity change is permanent, you may
want your installer to change the Air Cleaner
schedule that was entered into the W8600A
when it was installed.
On/Battery
TM
Air Cleaner
UV Air Treatment
Humidifier
Honeywell.com/yourhome
FUNCTION
INDICATOR
PANEL
LCD
RESET BUTTON
M20842

69-1653EF 10
Cleaning the
prefilter(s)
Washing
the cell(s)
in your
automatic
dishwasher
NOTE: You may let the heating or air condi-
tioning system operate normally while
the cell(s) are being washed. Simply
turn off the air cleaner switch.
Vacuum the prefilter or brush, or soak it in a
tub. Do
not wash the prefilter in the dishwasher
or carwash.
CAUTION
Burn hazard.
Can cause personal injury.
Allow the cell(s) to cool completely in the
dishwasher at the end of the wash cycle or
wear protective gloves to avoid burns. Hot
water can accumulate in the tubes supporting
the collector plates. Tip the cell(s) so these
tubes will drain.
IMPORTANT
•Check your dishwasher owner’s manual.
Some manufacturers do not recommend
washing electronic cell(s) in their dish-
washers.
•If the dishwasher has upper and lower
arms, position the cell(s) carefully to allow
good water circulation.
•Be careful to avoid damaging the cell(s)
when placing them in the dishwasher.
Broken ionizer wires or bent collector
plates are not covered under the war-
ranty.
• Very dirty cell(s), especially from tobacco
or cooking smoke, can discolor the plastic
parts and the lining of some dishwashers.
This discoloration is not harmful. To
minimize it, wash the cell(s) more
frequently or try a different brand
of detergent.
•Do NOT allow the dishwasher to run
through the dry cycle. This will bake
on any contaminants not removed
during the wash cycle and reduce air
cleaner efficiency.

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STEP 1 Put the cell(s) on the lower rack of the dish-
washer with the airflow arrow pointing up. It may
be necessary to remove the upper rack. Do not
block water flow to the upper arm.
HINT: Lay a few large water glasses between
the
spikes on the lower rack, and rest the
cell(s) on them so the
spikes do not damage
the aluminum collector blades.
STEP 2 Using your regular dishwashing detergent, allow
the dishwasher to run through the complete
wash and rinse cycle. Do
not use the dry
cycle. To avoid burns, let the cell(s) cool
completely before removing, or wear protective
gloves when removing the cell(s). Remember
that water may be trapped inside the cell(s)
plates. Tip the cell(s) so these tubes can drain.
STEP 3 Wipe the ionizer wires and contact board on the
end of the cell using your thumb and forefinger
with a small, damp cloth.
STEP 4 Inspect the dishwasher. You may wish to rerun
the wash and/or rinse cycle with the dishwasher
empty if you see dirt or residue from washing
the cell(s). If dirt or residue seems excessive,
wash the cell(s) more often or try a different
detergent.
Washing
the
cell(s) in
a tub
NOTE: Always wash the cell(s) first, then the
prefilter(s), to keep heavy prefilter lint
from getting caught in the cell(s).
CAUTION
Hazardous chemical.
Can cause personal injury.
•Do not splash the detergent solution in
eyes. Wear rubber gloves to avoid
prolonged detergent contact with your skin.
•Keep detergent and solution out of reach
of children.

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STEP 1 Use a large enough container, such as a
laundry tub or trash container, to hold one or
both cell(s).
NOTE: Sharp corners on the cell(s) can scratch
the surface of a bathtub.
STEP 2 Dissolve about 3/4 cup of automatic dishwasher
detergent per cell in enough hot water to cover
the cell(s). If the detergent does not dissolve
readily, or forms a scum on the water, try
another brand, or use softened water.
STEP 3 After the detergent has completely dissolved,
place the cell(s) in the container and let soak for
15 to 20 minutes. Agitate them up and down a
few times, and remove.
STEP 4 Next, wash the prefilter(s) the same way. Empty
and rinse the wash container.
STEP 5 Rinse the cell(s) and prefilter(s) with a hard
spray of very hot water; rinse the tub clean,
then fill the tub with clean hot water and soak
for 5 to 15 minutes. Rinse until the water
draining from the cell(s) and prefilter(s) no
longer feels slippery.
STEP 6 Soak cell(s) and prefilter(s) in a final clear water
rinse for 10 minutes.
STEP 7 Wipe the ionizer wires and contact board on the
end of the cell using your thumb and forefinger
with a small, damp cloth.

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Replacing electronic
air cleaner components
STEP 1 Inspect the cell(s) for broken ionizer wires and
bent collector plates. Repair as necessary or
take to a Honeywell Authorized Air Cleaner
Repair Station.
STEP 2 Slide the prefilter(s) into the upstream prefilter
guides.
STEP 3 Slide the air cleaner cell(s) in so the air flow
arrow points downstream and the handle(s)
face outward.
STEP 4 Firmly close the access door.
STEP 5 Turn on the air cleaner. If the cell(s) and
prefilter(s) are wet, the neon light may not come
on and you may hear arcing. If the arcing is
annoying, simply turn the air cleaner off for 2-3
hours or until the cell(s) are dry.

69-1653EF 14
The particles removed by the electronic air
cleaner tend to be very small—less than 10
microns. But what is a 10 micron particle? The
eye of an average size sewing needle is about
750 microns across, and the dot in the
i in the
word micron is about 400 microns. Generally,
particles smaller than 10 microns can be seen
only with a microscope, except in very large
concentrations, such as a puff of smoke. Your
electronic air cleaner can remove even smaller
particles that can be seen only with an electron
microscope.
Although particles 1 micron and smaller make
up only about 20 percent of the total
weight of
particles in unfiltered air, they account for over
99 percent of the
numbers of particles.
Because they are so tiny, these particles tend to
remain suspended in the air unless they collide
with a solid surface. Then they attach by
molecular adhesion and stick like glue, staining
walls and furniture and coating your air condi-
tioning coils. And of course, some of these
particles can cause allergic reactions or simply
make the environment less pleasant.
A word about
particle size
HOW ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANING WORKS
25,400
749
i397
M 6031
Postage

69-1653EF
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First, large particles (lint, hair) are caught by the
prefilter(s). Then, as the dirty air passes through
the intense high voltage electric field surround-
ing the ionizer wires, all particles, even the
smallest are given an electric charge. The air
then passes into the collector where the
alternate parallel plates are charged positive
and negative, creating a uniform electrostatic
field. Since opposites attract, the charged
particles stick to the collector plates, which have
an opposite electric charge. The air leaving the
air cleaner contains very few particles.
How the electronic
air cleaner works
CELL
PREFILTER
IONIZER WIRES
(CHARGING
SECTION) COLLECTOR PLATES
(COLLECTOR SECTION)
CLEANER
AIR
OUT
DIRTY
AIR
IN
M6030A
Each time the air circulates through the heating/
air conditioning system and air cleaner, more
particles are removed. These particles are
generated by normal household activities, and
also enter the house from outside. That is why
we recommend that you use the air cleaner as
much as possible.

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The regular furnace filter collects mainly large,
visible particles that reach the filter. Its main
purpose is to protect the furnace and air
conditioner blower. The electronic air cleaner
collects these large particles, plus many of the
smaller, mostly invisible particles. Its purpose is
to reduce indoor air pollution as well as to
protect the blower, air conditioning coils and
heat exchanger.
The electronic air
cleaner vs. the
standard
furnace filter

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Odors are gases, not particles. They cannot be
removed by the air cleaner or by any other filter
designed to remove particles. However, some
gases can be trapped by an activated carbon
filter or diluted with outdoor air. If odors are a
concern, talk to your heating and air condition-
ing dealer about installing a carbon filter
downstream of the air cleaner or providing an
outdoor air inlet.
Use a carbon
filter to remove
odors
Air ionizers have been marketed with claims
about purifying the air and promising medical
benefits. It should be noted that supporting tests,
if available, are controversial and incomplete.
Air ionizers may generate a bit of ozone, and of
course some ions (air molecules with an electric
charge). This is what your electronic air
cleaner’s ionizer does, but with greater inten-
sity. However, air ionizers do not have good
collectors, if any. With air ionizers, the charged
dirt particles are
collected by walls, floor and
furniture, requiring frequent cleaning of the
entire building to remove the effects of collected
contamination. By comparison, an electronic air
cleaner deposits contamination on the cell(s)
and prefilter(s) for easy cleaning.
Electronic air cleaners generate a very small
amount of ozone, about 0.005 to 0.010 parts
per million (ppm). The amount is highest when
the air cleaner is new.
The average person can detect the odor of
ozone in concentrations as low as 0.003 to
0.010 ppm. The U.S. Food and Drug Adminis-
tration, and Health and Welfare Canada
recommend that indoor ozone concentration
should not exceed 0.050 ppm. As a compari-
son, the outdoor ozone level in major cities is
sometimes higher than 0.100 ppm.
The electronic
air cleaner
versus the air
ionizer
Ozone and the
electronic
air cleaner

69-1653EF 18
If desired, the ozone generated by the air cleaner
can be reduced by asking your dealer to:
•Install an activated carbon filter downstream
of the air cleaner, or
•Adjust the air cleaner power supply to
reduce ozone production. This adjustment
will reduce ozone production about 20-25
percent, but will also reduce air cleaning
efficiency about 7-10 percent.
White dust is made up of particles that settle out
of the air before they get to the return air duct.
You can help prevent this white dust from
settling by running your fan constantly. Also:
•Be sure the return registers are not blocked
with furniture.
•Be sure the discharge ducts are clean (best
done before installing the air cleaner).
•Be sure your clothes dryer is vented to the
outside and is not plugged.
•If you have new rugs or drapes or new
woolen blankets, be aware that the lint from
these items will reduce with age.
•In new or remodeled homes, plaster dust or
paint pigment may contribute to
white dust ,
but will reduce with time.
•Use of a humidifier may contribute to
white
dust
, especially if filled with undistilled water.
About lint or
"white dust"

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If your air cleaner is equipped with the optional
W8600A AIRWATCH®Indicator, blinking Air
Cleaner arrow on the W8600A reminds you that
a cell and prefilter washing is due.
Perform these checks before you call your
heating and air conditioning dealer for service.
IF… THEN…
1. Make sure the furnace or air conditioner
blower is running.
2. Make sure the access door is firmly closed
and latched. If door is not closed properly, an
interlock keeps the air cleaner off.
3. Press the test button. A snapping sound
indicates the air cleaner is operating properly. If
there is no snapping sound, make sure the
appropriate fuse or circuit breaker is OK.
1. If the electronic cell(s) are wet from washing,
turn the air cleaner off for 2-3 hours.
2. Check the cell(s) for broken ionizer wires or
bent plates. Repair if necessary.
3. Wash cell(s) and prefilter(s) if dirty.
Electronic air
cleaner doesn't
seem to be
working
Arcing (snapping)
seems too frequent
BEFORE YOU CALL FOR SERVICE

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1. Make sure the furnace or air conditioner fan
is running.
2. Make sure the access door is firmly closed.
3. Make sure the On-Off switch is in the On
position.
4. If the electronic cell(s) are wet, check again
in 2 to 3 hours.
5. Press the test button. A snapping sound
indicates the air cleaner is operating properly,
but the neon light is not working. If there is no
snapping sound, make sure the appropriate
fuse or circuit breaker is OK.
Call your heating and air conditioning dealer.
Neon light on
the air cleaner
does not come on
You smell ozone
and find it
objectionable