[wobble]

I've gotten some very helpful information from this forum as I've struggled to decide what system I should get to replace my old, worn out furnace and A/C unit. Now, I hope I can impose upon you to help me with a point of confusion I have about the new system I've had installed.

The new system is a Carrier Infinity with a 58MVC furnace, CNPHP coil, 24ANA7 condenser, and an “Edge” TP-NRH thermostat. Although the system seems to be working well, I'm wondering if a change in one of the installation options might make it work even better. The option in question is shown below just as I copied it from the installation manual:

Option 32 — Furnace Heat Staging Control (available only when the
Thermidistat Control is configured to operate AC or A2 equipment).
1 — Thermidistat Control controls W1 output only and furnace controls the turn
on and turn off of higher stages of heat.
2 — Thermidistat Control will control the W1 and O/W2/B outputs.
Default is 1.

The thermostat shows this option to be set at “1”, the default. As I understand it, this means that the furnace will stage itself according to its “memory” of how long it took to get to the set-point during its prior cycle. If so, this may explain why the furnace is so casual about raising the temperature when I increase the set-point in the morning. (This isn't a big deal right now because it isn't very cold, but I wonder if it might be in mid-winter.)

The thermostat spec. shows that it is capable of controlling a 3-stage furnace, but I have no idea if the signals shown in setting “2” actually do that or not. If they do, I wonder if “2” might be a better setting because the thermostat at least knows the difference between set-point and room temperature, and might, therefore, stage a bit more aggressively when necessary.

Naturally I'll speak to my installer before I change anything, but I'd greatly appreciate any comments you folks might have before I do.

 

[Gunnery Sergeant Hartman]

Why didn't you get the Infinity Control???

You bought a Mercedes Benz with no cruise control or power windows!

 

[wobble]

Why didn't you get the Infinity Control???

You bought a Mercedes Benz with no cruise control or power windows!

LOL!

I drive an old pickup and never saw a need for cruise control or power windows. I wanted a simple thermostat (how hard is it to change the set-point?) and the dealer said this one could exploit all the features of this system.

 

[danielworkerbee]

contact your contractor and have him set up the t-stat for 2 stage operation, so when your come home for lunch you can turn up the t-stat and have it warm right away instead of waiting for the furnace to time for the 2nd stage.
luck dan

 

[seadragon]

You really should get the Infinity Control... seriously. It is hands down the best control for your system. And it's not complicated to use.

 

[joemach]

I agree with seadragon,

Once you get used to using the infinity control you will wonder how you ever controlled your comfort without it.

It is really not that complicated.

 

[seadragon]

In fact, I think Carrier should make sure everyone has an Infinity Control for their system. They should increase the price of the furnace by a couple hundred bucks and bundle the control with it.

 

[joemach]

In fact, I think Carrier should make sure everyone has and Infinity Control for their system. They should increase the price of the furnace by a couple hundred bucks and bundle the control with it.

I agree wholeheartedly.

 

[DanW13]

Interesting, when I had my Infinity MVC installed actually prior to my installer told me upfront that he would not install this furnace without buying the Infinity Controller, infact he gave it to me at his cost because he believed every one who has this furnace should have the basic set-up and have the proper equipment to run this furnace.

As has been mentioned, the Infinity Controller is not at all difficult to lern how to use, I thought the samething as you when I went to a prior customers home to look at this furnace and the customer showed me the stat and I was like wow another PC to learn how to operate !!!! Whic in reality couldn't be farther from the truth. Spend the money and trade in what youcurrently have for a Infinity Controller you'll be glad you did. Once you have the controller it will in a couple of weeks learn your homes needs for h/c in a matter of a couple of weeks and when you have your set point figured out set it and forget it and run your blower fan 24/7 and enjoy the comfort.

With the ECM blower motor running 24/7 is on;y going to cost you a couple of pennies/day to operate and IMO is much better for the blower motor to run continuously than to have this motor or any motor for that matter to run/stop all the time is alot harder on a motor, if you not sure about that ask someone who repairs motors they'll tell you the samething. Don't just buy half a system, get the full Monte and be happy op:

 

[mike_home]

When you buy an Infinity system (furnace, condenser, and controller) the Carrier rebate is $1000. If you substitute the Infinity controller with another Carrier thermostat, the rebate is only $550. With this deal, getting an Infinity controller is a no brainer.

 

[egads]

If you wanted simplicity, why did you buy an infinity system?

 

[lamrith]

I have been told the Infinity Controller can also controll a performance HP, no info on if it does rest of performance items thugh. Apparently the performance HP has the same circuitboard as the Infinity, but only a 1stage pump, not the 2stage scroll.

 

[teaysvalley]

I have been told the Infinity Controller can also controll a performance HP, no info on if it does rest of performance items thugh. Apparently the performance HP has the same circuitboard as the Infinity, but only a 1stage pump, not the 2stage scroll.

Yes, that is right. I have the Infinity ICS furnace with the Performance heat pump. The Infinity control recognized both pieces of equipment on intitial startup. The Perfomance HP has the 4 wire ABCD connection for the Infinity control wiring. It also uses the Performance HP's outdoor air temp and coil temp probes. It controls the defrost cycle also. It records runs time, defrost time, faults, etc. I'm not sure what else you would want.

They tried to sell me the "Edge" thermostat. I already knew that I wanted the Infinity control by doing my research upfront on here.

 

[wobble]

If you wanted simplicity, why did you buy an infinity system?

Are you suggesting the Infinity is more complex to operate than other systems? If so, I'll admit I didn't know. However, so far it's been pretty simple... I set the temperature and it is maintained very well. I hope it doesn't get any more complex than that.

Or are you suggesting the Infinity is internally more complex than many other systems? I think I might have guessed that, but as long as the thing runs effectively, efficiently, and reliably, I don't care.

I bought the system because I had heard and read good things about it and because, from a reputable dealer, I got a lower price than any other brands that (honestly) qualified for full federal tax credit and gas/electric company rebates.

Hope I didn't screw up!

 

[wobble]

contact your contractor and have him set up the t-stat for 2 stage operation, so when your come home for lunch you can turn up the t-stat and have it warm right away instead of waiting for the furnace to time for the 2nd stage.
luck dan

Dan,

I've been digging around in the installation manuel and I believe the Equipment Configuration Options Table shows that, while this tstat will control both A/C stages, it can control only stage #1 and #2 of the furnace. (Don't know how stage #3 is controlled.) I'll check with my installer, but perhaps all I have to do is set Option 32 to give furnace staging control to the tstat which I can do myself.

Make any sense?

 

[beshvac]

infinity control is way simpler than the edge it's not a true infinity system without the control....

 

[wobble]

infinity control is way simpler than the edge it's not a true infinity system without the control....

OK, I'll bite... how is it simplier? On the tstat I have I press the "up" button for more heat and the "down" button for less. How does the Infinity tstat work?

 

[beshvac]

The infinity control communicates with the indoor and outdoor units. there are no jumpers to set. If you want to change settings you go into the control and change them and see how it does. There aren't any "tables" to look at how changing one setting will affect any other. The staging is all automatic (or you can take control)

If something fails, you will get an error message and know something is wrong before you notice your house is 90 degrees (or 50 degrees)

Infinity works the same way....set it higher if you want it warmer and set it lower if you want it colder.

 

[egads]

Are you suggesting the Infinity is more complex to operate than other systems? If so, I'll admit I didn't know. However, so far it's been pretty simple... I set the temperature and it is maintained very well. I hope it doesn't get any more complex than that.

Or are you suggesting the Infinity is internally more complex than many other systems? I think I might have guessed that, but as long as the thing runs effectively, efficiently, and reliably, I don't care.

I bought the system because I had heard and read good things about it and because, from a reputable dealer, I got a lower price than any other brands that (honestly) qualified for full federal tax credit and gas/electric company rebates.

Hope I didn't screw up!

I'm a home owner and not a pro. What I have gleaned from reading around here is that the Infinity system is among the best available so I doubt you screwed up. But it is in fact complex. Actually all modern HVAC systems are. What I have also learned is that you don't get anywhere near what you paid for without the Infinity stat. Hopefully some other home owners who have the Infinity stat will chime in here and tell you their experiences with day to day operation. From what I understand, it's not that it's complex for you to operate, it's that it communicates and controls the complexity for maximum comfort and energy savings. It also alerts for trouble, allowing a tech to have a good idea of what may be wrong before he comes out. That, in theory anyway, would save troubleshooting time.

That Pickup may be old, but depending on how old, it could be far more complex than you imagine. Luxury options or not.