Daikin VRVS/VRV Life Test Operation | Daikin VRVS Install & Commissioning Series Ep.11 - 11-26-2021

[@davecoolaircon]

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[@thanktheknife]

Another insightful vid Dana. Question on test mode. I’ve been instructed to perform a test when changing the main PCB on a VRV IV. Could you inform when you need to perform a test from any service work (ie; if an indoor or outdoor PCB is replaced)

[@InverterAlways]

When you replace the outdoor board you need to re-run the test. Otherwise you should be fine. When replacing an indoor or branch box board make sure to reset addresses though and ensure field settings are reprogrammed on indoor units.

[@thanktheknife]

@@InverterAlways cheers Dana, in the case of re-addressing, say I have a wallmount unit with an infrared remote control. Would I have to plug in a nav controller to set up field/address?

[@InverterAlways]

@@thanktheknife why do you have a vrv wall mount with hand hold controller is my bugger question. Albeit no, you don't have to have a nav hooked up, I don't know why you would NOT have one hooked up. The hand held is very limited in room temp control, its like the mini splits. It's also a huge pain in the butt to change field settings. So I would hook up a nav do all the settings then plug the hand held adaptor back in. And while you're at it try to talk the user into just keeping the nav controller Instead. Be careful on the settings as using the hand held means using return air for room sensing. There are some additional settings you may want to check or change for comfort in this scenario. Fyi.

[@thanktheknife]

@@InverterAlways yep, so on a few of our commercial sites (retirement homes). In the common areas they have the wall mounts with only the handheld, which staff keep hidden, so that no-one plays with the settings.

[@InverterAlways]

@@thanktheknife got it.

[@ltxchuyin9219]

Thanks for your videos dana I’m new to vrvs but are helping me out a lot , I was wondering when adding refrigerant to a new vrv and new piping am I supposed to have the service valve closed ? Or open or should I add the refrigerant with the valves closed then open them up then set it into test more ???

[@InverterAlways]

I prefer to use the vacuum the line set is in when I'm done evacuating, it pulls in the charge. On a new install your outdoor service ports are closed at this stage. Add charge. Then open service valves. Then go through power up procedures.

[@truthmatters6719]

Dana your channel is great and I love your content. Question for you: if I add an indoor unit on a vrv system do I have to run the test again?

[@InverterAlways]

No but I would put dchecker or service checker on to test performance after you've added it.

[@alichtman]

Hi Dana. I saw your daikin VRV self test clip and I have the following question: I worked today on my home daikin VRV unit to reset an E3 fault (was due to power outage) and then started a test run which I did not complete (took too long and actually is not really needed as I did reset the E3 fault). Now all units are working fine but I have U3 displayed on the indoor units. What would be the easiest and quickest way to eliminate the U3 ? Will total reset (20 sec) do the trick? If not - I understand that there is a "quick test" mode which takes much less time than the 30-45 minute full test - what is the sequence to activate this "quick test" mode, and will that be sufficient to eliminate the U3? Thanks very much, Arik Lichtman

[@InverterAlways]

Did you replace outdoor board? If you have a flashing green light on nav with active u3 just run the test from outdoor and let it complete. Easiest way. If the nav green light isn't blinking then your code is just an old code probably stored in nav.

[@alichtman]

Thanks for the reply. Yes the green light was blinking. No, I did not replace anything. I did run the test but after one hour and twenty minutes I stopped it because it was much longer than the quoted 30-45 minutes. I finally had a technician come here. He initiated a SHORT COMMUNICATION TEST, that apparently exists (only tests comm from external unit to the indoor ones). This took just 10-15 minutes and once it ended - the U3 error was gone. He used just 2-3 clicks to initiate this "Short Test". Do you know what click sequence it is? It may come handy if I get the U3 error again in the future

[@InverterAlways]

Hm... not sure what sort of short test he would have been running other than just resetting the internal addressing. Interesting. I'll have to look into this.

[@robertandrusiak3846]

When you install a VRV live with receiver is there other amount of refrigerant calculation or just standard calculate the length of liquid line and gas line

[@InverterAlways]

depends if you have an insulated liquid line and proper gas line size, or if you have an uninsulated liquid line and oversized gas line. If you look in the installation manual for the outdoor unit it will show you additional charge parameters if you have the latter. If you installed an uninsulated liquid line you will have to add more charge than usual though.

[@javiercardenas7588]

Hey Dana, when setting the nav controls to one of them being the master it does not apply to heat recovery systems does it?

[@InverterAlways]

Each port of a bs box on heat recovery is like a mini heat pump. So no, each nav would be a master. The only time you need to set it on heat recovery is when you have multiple indoor units sharing a single bs port, each with its own controller. That port then would need a master indoor.

[@richardvisco6370]

What do I do first set nav controller and make one of nav controller a master or do the test on outdoor unit.

[@InverterAlways]

Test operation first. Then after set the master and do field settings.

[@richardvisco6370]

@@InverterAlways thanks your very helpful

[@cranbers]

So when my VRV life was replaced, they treated it as a new install and added 2.2 lbs for the line set.. But when the did the "final adjustment" where they measured sub cooling at full speed they took the 2.2 back out to get it to the 12f. I thought refrigerant was trapped in the CXTQ because they didn't evacuate using the "evacuation" mode that opened up the expansion valves which explains the over charge. (remember I mentioned the compressor makes the high pitch noise now with that amount removed.) So what is your experience if an installer doesn't "top off" for line set? What are the symptoms other then a error code?) So is it possible there isn't enough in there, but its not so low it trips an error code?

[@InverterAlways]

It's possible. I don't know why they pulled it back out. Trim charging isn't to correct line set charge its to make very tiny adjustment. Not 2.2 pounds. So yea its possible its under charged. It needs to be pretty low to throw a code though. Can't say for sure, they should monitor operation with dchecker and go from there.

[@cranbers]

@@InverterAlways dchecker was ran for 30 mins and daikin examined it said it was good. But then again here we are with a weird noise on the compressor (only when running at full speed) Its like a high pitch whine along with the normal sound. (They had to pull 2.2 lbs out to get sub cooling down to the 12 degrees F it calls for in the install manual. It was at 18, and they kept dropping it and finally at 2.2 it went to 12f of course after that pressure kept dropping and spiking until it evened out. These guys were working on it as if it was a normal a/c system with manual gauges. I requested the D checker later. and of course they needed to watch your video to figure out how to use it haha. I asked another company what they suggest, they said evacuate the the entire system again and refill it with the calculated amount. I can't even image how much they would charge for that. But at least it sounded like they know more about my unit then this other company that installed it and 18 months later the compressor is dead. I dont think they used notrgen when they brazed the pipe so I bet metal shavings got into the line set and jammed up the compressor. When working on that they relied on daikien tech support for everything, they replaced every board until nothing was left but the compressor. And here we are now. Seemed to work well though all winter. So maybe I am just thinking too hard and its fine.

[@InverterAlways]

@@cranbers 30 minutes is not enough, period. It must run for 20 at full speed just to get an idea of where subcool is. Then and only then can you add or remove 8 ounces. Then you must run another 30 before analyzing performance. Then add or remove up to 8 ounces. You cannot fine tune a charge in only 30 minutes. Period. Not on vrf. Daikin does not examine 30 minutes of data, they require several hours if not 24 hours. You can't take 30 minutes and say it's fine. So they either didn't send it or.... idk. But I can tell you someone who knows what they are doing should spend a good couple hours monitoring it. Analyze and go from there. Call around for an experienced vrf tech to analyze some data.

[@cranbers]

@@InverterAlways Thank you for your input. Now I feel even worse lmao. Another company I asked said they monitor and record data for 24 hours before sending it to Daikin. I should of known 30 mins sounded fishy, I bet it was just to get me off their back. And when they came to me and said ok daikin said its good I would just agree. What other argument is there? What other symptom (higher energy use?) if the unit isn't operate right? I did notice my energy bill went up after this new unit was installed, ( my old unit was in for 18 months and energy use is higher not to mention how it runs all day long and won't hit set temp). Thanks.

[@InverterAlways]

@@cranbers energy usage could be caused by a number of things. Run time, load on compressor, charge, it's too hard to narrow down without performance data. I would call the company that says they take longer periods of run time and have them check it out. Otherwise you're just playing the guessing game which will stress you out.

[@jakeeames725]

I have a vrv 4 stuck in t09

[@InverterAlways]

Kill power for 5 minutes. Power back on. Wait for initialization to complete. Good to go. Sometimes it gets stuck at step 9. Don't know why.