I have just moved into a house with a Water Furnace Envision model NDV049A111CTL and have noticed that it keeps running on AUX due to a code 6/open start circuit error per the CA board. I have flipped the breakers several times and the system will start up fine but after about 5-10 minutes, it will kick over to AUX again and start flashing codes. I don't yet know what kind of loop it is on. The outside temps are hitting a low of the mid 40s here in Maryland Was put in by Total Comfort. Probably 3 years ago or so. I have not gone anywhere else yet as I am looking to get better educated with how I can troubleshoot this and not sound like a moron when I call the service guy. Thanks in advance and please let me know if there is more info needed to diagnose!
I have worked in MD and you folks have neat dirt. You need to be able to measure temperature and water flow. I do not like the WF business plan, but they pay me for warranty work. Find the book and tell me the fault code. This early in the year the electric bill will not kill you, but I agree something is not right, and it needs to be addressed. What do you do and what tools do you have? Did the system cool? Mark
Cheapest issue associated with this is the compressor capacitor has failed. Then it becomes a focus on the compressor windings.
Haha, neat dirt, I like that, it is certainly quite diverse. I take a look at the manual again tonight but don't remember finding anything more that it just said that the code meant there was an open start circuit. I do office work but tinker plenty and have a fair number of tools at my disposal, certainly know my way around a multimeter at least. My father in law is EPA certified so he should be able to slap some gagues on it if needed. The house was unoccupied for most of the summer but I was told that the system was set at 80 and was not above that whenever anyone came over. I am sorry for how little I know about this, I didn't even know I would be moving until last week so I haven't had a ton of time to learn about Geo, I hope you all bear with me
urthbuoy is correct. Per Copeland Comfort Alert troubleshooting guide code 6 - open start circuit 1. Run capacitor has failed. Check capacitor mfd. 2. Open circuit in compressor start wiring. Check wiring and connections between supply and compressor "S" terminal. 3. Compressor start winding is damaged. Check compressor motor winding resistance. Possible causes are in order of likelyhood. Hope for #1 or #2. I suggest you have your installer diagnose and repair under warranty if available.
Thank you for that, and i wouldn't have unless it came to it, I just wanted to express the range of options I had. I'll start going down that list, thanks again!
A failed capacitor is very common, almost certainly the most common cause for a compressor to fail to start. Fortunately a cap is an inexpensive part easily replaced. That said, a failed cap is not consistent with the system behavior described above - runs for 5-10 minutes and then quits.
"1. Run capacitor has failed. Check capacitor mfd. 2. Open circuit in compressor start wiring. Check wiring and connections between supply and compressor "S" terminal. 3. Compressor start winding is damaged. Check compressor motor winding resistance." Frankly none of these are consistant with "running fine for 5-10 minutes". In the absence of the comfort alert flash code I would be looking at: 1) water flow 2) air filter 3) temp difference on entering/leaving air and water What you describe however might be compressor side (capacitor) if you found the period during which you thought it was running fine, it was actually just the fan running thus no difference in entering/leaving air temp. You might have a 5 minute+ time delay before compressor is energized after power interuption. Many failed capacitors are visibly bad. The flat top bulges out in a way we liken to the old stove top Jiffy Pop Pocorn being ready (a reference that I'm sure dates me as pre microwave youth).
I sat in front of the system last night with a soda and some beef jerky after I reset it again, and ou have it right Joe, the actual full system was only on for about 30 seconds. I saw one Cap that was connected to the circuit board panel in the top right, that visually looked OK but I did not swing open the circuit panel to be able to check the whole
Should be a large one for the compressor (maybe 80mf). A capacitor testor is what I use, but a multimeter can at least dertermine if it's open. Turn off all circuit breakers. disconnect wires to cap. and test for continuity. Generally resistance would change on a good cap as you held meter leads on the prongs. Or just buy one and try it (doesn't hurt to have a spare).
This will not fix the problem. Beer and beef jerky works better. Something has made the ComfortAlert trip code 6. Until the op can verify the compressor was running
Sorry for the delay, it was a bad Cap, thanks all for the help, got it replaced and it has been running great since. As an aside, the house has a 40kW Generac and whenever the power was cut, the system would run in Aux only as well. Problem turned out to be that the voltage would drop when the system kicked on and the thermostat would kick it into Aux, creating a loop so it would only stay in Aux. We solved by putting batteries in the thermostat to keep the voltage from dropping and allowing the system to run fully.
Had that too. The touchscreen color thermostat is asking you if you want to exit aux mode after power failure, unless you say "yes" it remains in aux mode. Bad solution for vacation homes.
