NorAire NC-FE series, Installation & Operating Instructions Manual

Page: 3 / 64

05/16/2014 1 NI216
Introduction
When used and controlled properly, NorAire heat pumps can save hundreds of dollars in heating and cooling
costs per year. NorAire air to water heat pump is designed to provide maximum efficiency, comfort, and
reliability. Solid and simple electric controls allow for low maintenance and built in safety protection.
This installation and operating manual covers the indoor unit (IDU) only. As an installed heat pump system this
will also include an outdoor unit (ODU) manufactured by others, but used or installed from an approved Electro
Industries’ list. This ODU will have its own installation and operating instruction manual supplied by the ODU
manufacturer. Also, there may be additional hydronic output items such as buffer tank, Electro Buffer Tank
Controller, hydronic loop circulator pumps, zone valves, zone controller, room thermostat, radiant floor
thermostat, chiller water coil, air handler, gas furnace, etc. which will have their own manufacturer installation
and operating instructions.
Attached HX103 drawing set provides various suggestions for plumbing and piping. Each page shows a sample
heating or cooling possibility, depending upon the complexity of the heating system. On each page the upper
left statements attempt to categorize the specific design example. Also, attention needs to be given to the notes
pertaining to each page. These can be useful for the designer, installer, and perhaps the user to verify the best
and most efficient installation.
It is important the hydronic system be designed and installed according to the building layout, the total heat loss
requirement, and proper hydronic installation practices. This NorAire is the energy
source for the radiant heat
or forced air cooling system, but critical field designed and installed items such as water flow, system
component selection, plumbing, and water coil size and airflow will affect performance. The installed NorAire
may not necessarily supply the comfort and heat/cool expected.
The operating efficiency of a heat pump product increases as the compressor current decreases. But compressor
current increases with outlet supply water temperature increase. Thus, the closer the supply water temperature
can be maintained to the true seasonal heating or cooling requirement, the more efficient (less operating cost)
the heat pump system will be. Optional or add-on devices (such as Buffer Tank Controller) with outdoor reset
supply water temperature control generally reduce annual operating cost.
Installation Tasks
This system requires more than a basic electrical hookup and refrigerant line sets. Attention needs to be given to
all installation and troubleshooting sections of this manual starting with page 8 through Start Up, Power On.
Especially the Field Setup or Programming and Additional Special Equipment Concerns could be unique for
each installation.
Control
This IDU is operated from an external and field provided heat or heat/cool aquastat (water temperature sensing
thermostat). From this external on/off electrical connection, the IDU internal controller provides all connections
and control for the external outdoor heat pump unit (ODU), IDU internal pump, IDU internal electric boiler, and
internal safety/limit devices.
The user must become familiar with the external aquastat, IDU front panel monitor lights, and various external
option controllers or other thermostats. Installer or service person will set up various dials and switches on the
back of the IDU control module and may adjust or change various factory defaults via a software PC program
and special Electro Industries provided communication cable (part number ET-SOFT-NA-USB).
This IDU controller has four temperature sensors (three internal plus outdoor, OT, field installed) and a mode
dial switch on the controller board back. The mode switch sets up three operating sequence and temperature
monitoring associated with three outlined system configurations. See Field Setup to verify this is properly set
for your specific configuration.
The front panel STATUS, SERVICE, and ALARM indicator lights can provide significant information to the
service technician. Suggest the user write down all status and light pulse count information before calling the
authorized service technician. This could greatly shorten his troubleshooting function.