Electric heater function and troubleshooting, I. description of electric heater components, A. limit switch – Bryant FA4A User Manual

Page 6: Ii. troubleshooting kfa and kfb series, A. discolored wire insulation at tormincl, C. no heat

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AÏÏG/14/2008/THÜ 03:46 PM UTC TECH PUB

FAX No. 317 240 5662

P. 006

fe. If Electric Hegt Stages Will Not Turn On But Fan Will

Turn On:

IF THERE IS NO HIGH VOLTAGE TO PCB:

1. Check plug connection between heaters and board. This

supplies power to transformer and fan. Be sure plug is
connected properly.

2. Check sequencer number 1 and plug wiring. Yellow wire

should be connected to pin number 9 of plug and to limit
switch. Black wire should be connected to pin number 7 of

plug and to sequencer number 1-

3- Check incoming high-voltage power leads, tf these arc not

receiving power, system c&undt function.

IF PCB HAS HIGH VOLTAGE APPLIED TO IT;

1,

Check low-voltage transformer leads R (red) and C

(brown). Make sure they are wired to correct location. The

unit will not function without proper connections.

2. Check output voltage of transformer secondary side R (red)

and C (brown). If transformer output is low (less than 18

vac), reifer to items 3 and 4 of previous If PCB Has High

Voltage Applied To It section.

IF TRACES ARE OVERHEATED ON BACK OF PCB:

Usually whenever a trace is blown on PCB, it means cither there
has been a high-voltage short or high voltage has been applied to

low-voltage circuit. This can be prevented by making sure PCB is
wired correctly before PCB has power applied to it,

C,

If PCB

Fuse Keeps

Blowing:

When loW“Voltage fuse blows, it means transformer would have
blown if fuse had riot been in circuit to protect it. The fuse usually
blows when there is a high Current draw on transformer, high
voltage applied to low-voltagc circuit, Or a direct secondary short.

When there is a high current draw on transformer, it is most likely

because transformer has been shorted or system is trying to draw

more va than transformer rating allows. When fuse blows because
of high voltage, the system has mixed high- and low-voltage
signals.

1. Check wiring of sequencers as shown in Fig. 4, Be sure

transformer is not shorting out because thermostat wires

arc

miswired.

2. Check wiring of sequencers as shown in Fig. 4. Be sure

low-voJtagc and high-voltage wiring is connected to proper
sequencers.

3. Check va draw on transformer. If va draw

is

more than va

rating of transformer, fuse will blow. If this

is

the case,

replace transformer with one that has a higher va rating and

meets system spccifícationS-

D.

If F^n Runs Continuously:

1. If PCB has no low-vohage power, check blue and black fan

leads. These may be switched at sequencer,

2. If PCB has lowwoltage power, check fan relay to see if it is ,

opening and closing. It may be stuck in the normally-closed

position due to debris in relay.

E-

Transformer Failure:

1. Check 208-v and 230-v transformer connections. They may

be miswired.

ELECTRIC HEATER FUNCTION AND

TROUBLESHOOTING

This section describes KFA and KFB series electric heaters by

examining the functional operation of these heaters,
I.

DESCRIPTION OF ELECTRIC HEATER

COMPONENTS

A. Limit Switch

The limit switch is a temperature-sensitive control whose function
is to prevent System from, overheating in abnormal conditions. The

temperature settings often vary from heater to heater due to

variations in airflow patterns and clement radiant heat conditions.
The devices arc sized to remain on-line under heat pump condi­
tions (11 ST air off coil) and minimum CFM;, but trip to prevent

outlet air conditions above 200T or excessive component or duct
temperatures.

The device itself consists of a bimetallic disc, which when

overheated "snaps through" to open a normaliy-closed high-

voltage, high-current switch. When system temperatures cool

sufficiently, the switch will automatically reset to its closed

position. Normal failure mode for this switch is open.

If a limit switch has been determined to be défective, NEVER
BYPASS THE LIMIT SWITCH. When replacing limit Switch,
ensure that it is replaced with a limit switch of identical opening
température and closing differential. Limits switches are typically

color coded to identify their range.

B. Sequencer

The sequencer is essentially a thermally activated time-delay relay
normally activated by low-voltage control signals from thermostat.
The typical sequencer is a 1- Or 2-pole normally-open device
which energizes within 10 to 30 sec after application of control
signal and de-energizes 60 to 90 sec after control signal is

removed.

In simplistic terms, the sequencers which we use are nothing more
than normally-open limit switches which sit on top of a small
resistive heater. When voltage is applied to this heater, a positive

temperature coefficient resistor (BTC), heat is supplied to a
bimetallic disc which "snaps through" and closes switch-

Tbe time required for PTC to heat to a suffiejeut point controls ON
timing of device. The time required for disc to cool down when

power is removed controls OFF time of device. The PTC can be
varied to provide varied timing. Typically a short ON equates to a

long OFF,

Because this is a thermally-activated device, ambient conditions
affect the ON/OFF cycle. Higher ambient temperature means
shorter ON times and longer OFF times.

These sequencers may be "ganged up" to 3 On a common mounting
plate to control up to 6 heater elements. In this situation, PTCs arc
different in each sequencer to provide a staged QN of a minimum
of 10 sec between each sequencer — 3 stages of 2 elements since
the KFA and KFB Series .Деа1ег8 use , sequencers in which both

switches of the 2-polc sequencer close simultaneously. Older
models used sequencers which had a minimum delay of fO sec

between each switch.

Application of these devices is such that the first switch ON not

only turns on first heater element, but also ensures that indoor fan

is energized, because first ON is last OFF. This ensures fan
remains ON until the last heater de-energizes-

с.

Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC)

The PTC heater is essentially a resistor. It will operate on either
AC or DC voltages. It should be noted that because resistance of

PTC increases as, it, heats, initial current inrush is higher than its

steady state condition.

II.

TROUBLESHOOTING KFA AND KFB SERIES

electric

heaters

A. Discolored Wire Insulation at Tormincl

Check quick-coimect terminal at discoloration. Connection may be

loose, creating a high resistance through connection point.

B. Fuse Failure

1, Check for shorted wire. Replace wire. Never try to fix wire

using electrical tape,

2. Check shorted element. If element is shorted, replace

heater.

C. No Heat

1, Check fuse for failure. If fuse has failed, refer to Fuse

Failure section.

-b-

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