Advances with Ducted Systems and Communications

When replacing a central heating or air conditioning system in a customer's home, it's not as easy as just switching out the box. These are complex systems, and a lot goes into the installation, set up and configuration. Manufacturers want to ensure that their equipment is performing at the efficiency standards it was built for. Several major manufacturers are making systems with advanced communicating controls that allow for a more simplified set up. HVACR Distribution Business magazine spoke with two of them about their latest innovations in communicating controls.

Advanced Communication

“The Trane ComfortLink^™ II is our communicating system,” says Tim Storm, controls and zoning product manager for Ingersoll Rand. “The whole goal behind communicating systems was making sure that we had a system that was easy for the dealer to install and set up so that we can deliver the best comfort and efficiency for the homeowner. We did that by putting digital controls on both the indoor and outdoor units, and the thermostat.” Storm likens plugging in new items to a unit with digital controls to plugging in a digital camera to a computer. “It automatically recognizes that there's a new piece of hardware. The same thing happens with our equipment.”

Bob Swilik, manager of product marketing for Carrier's Residential Systems, explains how the Carrier Infinity line of products uses the advanced control system. “Introduced in 2004, Carrier's Infinity line was the first communicating system in the industry. It automatically recognizes each of the components within the system, including the furnace, the air conditioner and any other components,” Swilik says. Then the control automatically configures the system for comfort and efficiency, depending on how it's set up.”

Before communicating controls, the set up of the systems was much more complex. “There may have been 20 or 30 diagrams that a contractor would have to go through to figure out how to wire a system properly,” Swilik says. “There would be nine extra wires if they were to add dehumidification to the system. The set up was pretty cumbersome and you'd have to be an expert to set it up. With communicating controls, all the installer has to do is hook up four wires and the system configures itself.”

Storm agrees: “The installer doesn't have to worry about the extra expense or difficulty in damaging the home trying to figure out where to drill holes for extra wires. ComfortLink II communicating systems only require two wires to the outdoor unit and three wires from the indoor unit to where the thermostat is installed. For the replacement market, that's really a great benefit for the dealer.”