R7184 update

Paul Fredricks_9

Got this from Honeywell today:


We want to share some information on the R7184 Series 6 Oil Primary controls. We recently learned that a small number of these controls have failed when used in environments that have high electro-magnetic interference (EMI) noise.

The condition has been traced back to a component used only on the Series 6 version of the controls. The control can enter into an unresponsive state in which the burner is safely shut down until power to the unit is cycled. The controls affected are Series 6 R7184 controls with a date code between January 2008 (0801) and February 2009 (0907).

Through extensive research and testing, Honeywell has concluded that these occurrences are very site-specific and affect less than 0.5% of controls. Sites with normal EMI noise using a R7184 Series 6 control show expected performance and reliability.

Honeywell is accepting returns of failed Series 6 R7184 oil primaries that fall in the date code between 0801 and 0907 through our warranty process. This includes R7184 controls under both the "Honeywell" and "Beckett by Honeywell" labels. We are offering a "2 for 1" warranty exchange; please contact your distributor for details.

Even though the incident rate is extremely low Honeywell is implementing a production change that replaces the component affected with a component well proven in this application. Honeywell will produce and ship new Series 6 R7184 controls mid-February starting with date code 0908.

If you currently experience problems with the R7184 Series 6 controls, replace the control with a production control starting with date code 0908 or later. Alternatively where interrupted ignition is not critical to system operation or where a CleanCut pump is not used, replacing the control with an R8184G series control for intermittent ignition applications is an option.

I thank you for your continued business and support.

Please contact our special R7184 Customer Care Hotline at 1-800-814-9646 for any additional questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Rich Simons
Director of Residential Oil and Hydronics Business
Honeywell Environment & Combustion Controls

Rocky_3

Great Info

Much appreciated. Can you give us an example of the electro magnetic equipment that caused this? I guess I don't know what it is that generates high electro magnetism.

Thanks for the heads up,
Rocky

Paul Fredricks_9

They didn't say. And remember, this doesn't happen with all the controls within the effected date codes, only a small percentage.

I was told by one of my techs that there were florescent lights in one boiler room where this happened. I've seen non-shielded cabling cause DC control issues in the past. Might be a simple as a piece of bx too close to the control.

Remember too that this is not a product recall. If you have a control that has a problem, you bring that one back and they'll give you 2. Make sure you have a newer control on your truck to swap it out with. The rest of the controls in your stock will probably be fine and may even work where another one didn't.

scrook_2

could be almost anything...

wireless networks/devices & cordless phones?

leaking CATV/satellite coax installations?

badly designed consumer electronics (e.g. TV's) and microprocessor controlled appliances?

poorly filtered switching power supplies used on virtually every piece of electronics you can imagine?

poorly shielded PC's?

cheap lamp dimmers?

second rate CFL ballasts & bad fluorescent fixture ballasts?

BPL (Broadband over Power Line) internet delivery schemes?

poor electric service grounding/bonding?

The possibilities are almost endless, and, at least in consumer goods, no one seems to worry much about RFI emissions requirements. It's a noise electromagnetic/radio frequency world out there these days.

Ted Robinson

Sources of EMI

And . . . . . CB transceivers
Amateur Radio transmitters
Nearby cellphone towers, broadcast stations (AM / FM),
and on & on

helpingothershelpthemselves_2

7184 Revision 6

Had been confronted by this issue for nearly 2 months now .
The fix ? Can you say Beckett Genysis ?