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SpacePak

It's a single speed motor? NOT a mulit (3 or 4) speed?

Comments

  • Jeff Lawrence_24
    Jeff Lawrence_24 Member Posts: 593
    Fan speed

    Quick Question.

    Space Pak high velocity air handlers, do they have multi-speed blowers?
  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    A speed control for the fan motor is an option--looks like it's used with hydronic heating coils. Not sure what controls the speed controller--schematics are unclear whether it's a simple fixed adjustment or variable adjustment based on external control.

    The fan motor is NOT the typical three-speed tapped coil variety. 220V with two leads and a ground.
  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    Haven't used Spacepak--was looking at the schematics. Two leads to the blower motor with an optional outboard speed controller. If like Unico you adjust airflow (verifying via manometer) with a sliding damper at the blower outlet.
  • Empire_2
    Empire_2 Member Posts: 2,340
    Space Pak

    Only 1 speed motor, But if I remember correctly, there is a discharge damper on the supply outlet to adj. your total cfm.
  • Ranger
    Ranger Member Posts: 210
    Olah Jeff!

    I can't remember if the IFM is 1725 or 3450 RPM,Sorry you are not up this way.There is a Spacepak class being given @ Wales Darby by Gerry Wagner 732-560-1001 x223 on April 18th & 19th.All you questions and more will be answered!:-o
  • Empire_2
    Empire_2 Member Posts: 2,340
    Ranger

    3450 RPM....... I knew that q: would come up.
  • Ted_13
    Ted_13 Member Posts: 40
    Spacepak Motor

    Unless they have changed the motor since I wwas product manager, it is a single speed motor (1725 RPM) . I am not aware of a motor speed controler offered by Spacepak. I will check to make sure.

    Ted
  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    Check out the schematics on page three of this document. An optional speed control is clearly indicated.

    I see no mention of a part number and suspect that it's not supplied by Spacepak. If you're attempting to use a condensing/modulating boiler and vary the fan speed you may well need a quite elaborate control mechanism to ensure both adequate air volume and acceptably warm air temp delivery.
  • Jeff Lawrence_25
    Jeff Lawrence_25 Member Posts: 746
    Inheritance

    Gents,

    I inherited this unit (and house) when the installing contractor walked off the job. The SpacePak has a hot water coil and a DX cooling system that is served by a York TS (2 speed) condensing unit. To be able for the customer to get the full efficiency from the 16 SEER cooling, I need to be able to have a low and high speed for the cooling fan. York gives information on how to do this, but since the SpacePak unit has a single speed motor, I have to use a speed controller to get low speed.
  • Jeff Lawrence_25
    Jeff Lawrence_25 Member Posts: 746
    Are you

    Going to fly me up there for the class? My Mother-in-law won't let me use her broom anymore......
  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    Have you written/called SpacePak for their recommendation? If not, I would HIGHLY suggest that you do so. High-velocity systems don't follow the same rules as "normal" systems.

    For proper aspiration of the air they need a minimum velocity from the outlets.

    Again, I haven't worked with SpacePak--only Unico. When investigating the Rawal variable expansion valve (essentially a proportional condensor unloader), the chief Unico engineer told me that they "work very well with our systems". Fan speed however stays fixed as the Rawal valve strives to keep the system in "constant dehumidification mode" when sensible cooling is not required.

    The nature of high-velocity systems ALWAYS reduces the effective SEER of condensing units by a couple of points--that's why the highest SEER is recommended. Payback for this efficiency hit is returned in humid climates as, by nature, high-velocity systems EXCEL at humidity removal.
  • Jeff Lawrence_24
    Jeff Lawrence_24 Member Posts: 593
    Yep

    I sent an email to their local rep. Let's see what good it does.

    Amazing thing, though. No one sells Space Pak where I am. The installing contractor, the one that walked off the job, got it from out of state, I'd guess.

    I don't know about Swampeast, Missouri, but we get rather humid here...

    BTW, have you ever written and asked a question to the Grand Old Opry?
  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    Swampeast MO is in Southeast Missouri. Named both for the incredibly warm humid summers and the millions of acres of cypress forest that used to cover the lowland part of the area. I've lived most of my life in two towns in the hills on the edge (one west one north) of the old swamp.

    Considering the high-end nature of high-velocity air systems I would genuinely expect good and rapid response to informed inquiries from both prospects and technicians. The customers rightly expect such...

  • Ranger
    Ranger Member Posts: 210
    Ugh!

    My wife won't let me use her's anymore either since the incident.Wow,TS's.The ones I have installed are 12 seer (HATC).There great for humidity control,but I'm not sure what to say about them matched w/a Spacepak Airhandler.I don't think cutting the velocity down by 50% is a good idea.Jack Bartell is the go to guy with the really odd circumstances like yours at York.And he's a great guy.And as my good friend Ed Janowiak always states:There is no such thing as a "xx" seer unit,there are units that are capable of acheving "xx" seer/eer provided thay are installed with the correct matching evaporator and or blower drive.The general concensus here is that you should'nt drop the IFM speed,but you will loose the latent control in first stage.(and low TD).Unfortunatly I think leaving the outdoor units jumped out in 2nd stage is the only solution.But see what Jack has to say.
    Ranger
  • Ted_13
    Ted_13 Member Posts: 40
    Not compatable with 2 speed

    Spacepak air handlers run at only one speed. You can use a two speed condenser but it will just run at the high setting. All ARI ratings are at the high setting.
  • Ted_13
    Ted_13 Member Posts: 40
    correct

    That's right mike, the motor speed controler is field supplied. I've heard that some contractors use them to slow the fan down for heating only to eliminate cold blow feeling. Slowing the fan down on the cooling side usually results in the unit cycling on the freezestat.
  • David_5
    David_5 Member Posts: 250
    Fan speed

    I would look into this for your system.
    http://www.fanhandler.com/
    It will automatically control the fan speed based on the supply air temp. The colder the air the higher the fan speed. I'm thinking of installing one on my Unico w/ single speed condensing unit.

    David
  • ttekushan_2
    ttekushan_2 Member Posts: 57
    is this a third

    party-supplied Variable Frequency Drive?
  • Empire_2
    Empire_2 Member Posts: 2,340
    Dave

    I am almost positive that the motor is 220 vac and looking at the wiring diagram, the control you brought up in rated at 110vac. I do like that control though...;-)

    Mike T.
  • Jeff Lawrence_25
    Jeff Lawrence_25 Member Posts: 746
    You're right

    The SpacePak that I have is a 220 volt motor. I haven't looked at the FanHandler, but that is a good point.
  • David_5
    David_5 Member Posts: 250
    Fan handler

    Yes, it is a third party control. They make both 115v and 230v controls. I installed one on my conventional duct system in my home. I'm hoping it helps the humidity in the milder weather. The control does modulate the motor speed very well.

    David
This discussion has been closed.