GeneralAire GA52F32 User Manual
OWNER’S MANUAL
MODEL GA52F32
RETURN GRILLE MOUNT
ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ MANUAL BEFORE OPERATING UNIT
Features
Lifetime Filter System never needs replacing
Electronically removes dust, mites, pollen, pet dander, tobacco smoke, cooking smoke
and grease, mold, fungi, bacteria, and more down to 0.01 micron
Light Weight Aluminum Collecting Cells are durable and easy to maintain
Plastic Intake Grille is easy to wipe clean
Hinged, Swing Out Door allows easy access to filters
Automatic interlock switch disconnects power when unit is opened
Durable Scratch-Resistant powder coat paint finish resists abrasion
Electronic Air Proving Switch allows for quick wiring, and cycles Air Cleaner on/off with system fan
Indicator Light shows Air Cleaner is working properly at a glance
Easily installs on the wall or ceiling in the main return duct of a central forced air heating/
cooling system
IMPORTANT: Please read entire instructions before
installing, cleaning or repairing the Electronic Air Cleaner.
CONTENTS
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS 2
WHAT THE ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER DOES 2
BENEFITS 2
DESCRIPTION 2
HOW IT WORKS 2
MAJOR COMPONENTS 3
INSTALLATION 3-4
Location 3
Important Installation Notes 3
Installation 4
Wiring 4
SYSTEM CHECK 4
OPERATION 4
WHITE DUST 4
MAINTENANCE 4
Cell and Prefilter Cleaning 4
SERVICE 5-9
Testing Air Proving Switch (APS) 5
Adjusting The APS Sensor Depth 5
Replacing An Air Proving Switch (APS) 5
Testing For High Voltage At Power Board 5
Replacing Performance Light 6
Replacing A Power Board 6
Testing The 24 V Transformer 6
Replacing The 24 V Transformer 6
Testing Voltage Of Power Board 6
Testing Voltage At Cell 7
Setting Approximate Voltage Without High Voltage Meter 7
Testing Cell For Bad Contacts 7
Replacing A Tungsten Ionizing Wire 8
SPECIFICATIONS and DIMENSIONS 8
EXPLODED VIEW and PARTS LIST 9
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE 10
WARRANTY 11
Certified for shock and electrical fire hazard only.
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Read and follow instructions carefully. Follow all local
electrical codes during installation. All wiring must conform
to local and national electrical codes. Improper wiring or
installation may damage Air Cleaner.
Understand the signal words WARNING and CAUTION
which are present in the Owner’s Manual.
WARNING and CAUTION signifies a hazard which
could result in property damage, personal injury or death.
Installation and servicing of Electronic Air Cleaners
can be hazardous. Only trained and qualified service
personnel should install, repair, or service Electronic
Air Cleaners.
WARNING
Before beginning any installation or modification, be certain
that the main line electrical disconnect switch is in OFF
position. Electric shock could result. Tag disconnect switch
with suitable warning labels.
Homeowners or untrained personnel can perform
the basic maintenance functions of cleaning and
replacing filters.
When working on air cleaning equipment, observe
precautions in the manual, labels attached to the unit,
and other safety precautions that may apply. Follow all
safety codes. Wear safety glasses and work gloves.
WHAT THE ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER DOES
Your High Efficiency Electronic Air Cleaner has been
designed to remove atmospheric and household dust, coal
dust, insecticide dust, mites, pollen, mold spores, fungi,
bacteria, pet dander, cooking smoke and grease, tobacco
smoke particles, and more down to 0.01 micron (0.01
micron = 1/2,540,000 of an inch).
BENEFITS
Helps provide relief for allergy or asthma suffering.
Helps prevent damaging black dust from staining walls
and furnishings, reducing the amount of time and
money spent cleaning and redecorating.
Helps protect heating/cooling equipment, prolonging the
operating efficiency.
Improves indoor air quality for a healthier environment,
year-round.
DESCRIPTION
The Electronic Air Cleaner is approximately 29 x 22 x 7
inches (73.6 x 55.9 x 17.8 cm). The unit is designed to be
wall or ceiling mounted in the main return air duct of a
forced air system. The intake grille is hinged to allow easy
access to the collecting cells and prefilters. The unit is rated
up to 2000 CFM (3398 m3/hr).
HOW IT WORKS
The High Efficiency Electronic Air Cleaner operates on
the principle of electrostatic precipitation. Millions of
airborne pollutants are carried through the return air duct of
the heating/cooling system and treated through three stages
of filtration.
The prefilter removes all large visible particles such as
lint. Smaller particles then pass through to a two-stage
electrostatic collecting cell. First, particles are given a
powerful positive electrical charge by the ionizing wires.
1 Dirty Air
2 Prefilter
3 Ionizing
Section
1 Dirty Air
2 Prefilter
3 Ionizing
Section
4 Collecting Cell
Plates
5 Clean Air to
Heating/Cooling
System or
Air Conditioner
Fig. 1
2
Second, charged particles move into the collecting area
where they are attracted to a series of grounded plates.
Pollutants are held in this section like a magnet until
washed away during cleaning.
MAJOR COMPONENTS
Cabinet
The cabinet is constructed of 18 gauge steel, painted
with a tough powder-coated, scratch-resistant finish.
Holes are provided to facilitate mounting to the ductwork.
Access to the collecting cells and prefilters is through a
hinged door.
The access door is interlocked to cut power to the unit
when opened.
Prefilters
The washable prefilters, measuring 11½ x 20 inches
(29.21 x 50.8 cm) are constructed of multi-layers of
aluminum mesh for maximum filtration of large particles.
Collecting Cells
The dual voltage collecting cells are constructed of
heavy gauge aluminum to resist rust and damage. The
first stage, the ionizing section, is charged at
approximately 7000 VDC. The collecting plates are
alternately grounded and charged at 4600 VDC. The
arrow on the cells indicates the direction of air flow which
must point toward the rear of the unit.
Electrical Compartment
The electrical compartment contains the system
switch, safety interlock, high voltage power board,
transformer, air proving switch and performance indicator
light.
INSTALLATION
Location
The Air Cleaner should be installed to the return air
duct in the living area of the home or office. It can be
installed either in a wall or ceiling, but not in the floor. This
unit will replace the existing return air grille currently
installed to the main return duct. For the unit to perform
properly, all the return air must pass through the
Electronic Air Cleaner.
In a wall installation, the unit must be installed
with the hinge down.
The return duct or transition should end slightly
behind the finished wall or framing. It should be
approximately 1/4 -1/2 inch (.63 - 1.27 cm) larger than the
Air Cleaner to allow the back of the unit to slip into the
duct when installing.
When the air duct does not fit the Air Cleaner
opening, a gradual transition is recommended to reduce
air turbulence through the Air Cleaner and to increase its
efficiency. There should not be more than 20º of
expansion used for the transition fitting.
Important Installation Notes
When installing this Air Cleaner, it is important that
there is adequate air flow over the Air Proving Switch
(APS) sensor to activate the power supply when the fan is
operating. To ensure the flow of air over the sensor, the
attached ducting and transition to the Air Cleaner must be
sized and positioned correctly.
If rectangular duct is fitted to the back of the unit, it
must be placed so the opening is over the APS sensor or
transitioned deep enough to ensure air flow over the
sensor.
If round duct is used, it must be positioned over the
center of the opening in the back of the Air Cleaner and
should be at least 18” diameter. (See Fig. 2) If the
connecting duct back to the furnace or air handler is
smaller, a reducing collar should be used down the line to
reduce the duct to the required size. If the duct opening at
the rear of the Air Cleaner needs to be off-set because of
installation restrictions, it must be off-set so that the
position of the air opening is closer to the APS sensor.
With a round duct or under sized rectangular duct it is
important that the transition area between the back of the
Air Cleaner and the bottom of the duct opening is
maintained. A transition height of 10” will allow proper flow
across the sensor. (See Fig. 3)
The APS sensor can be adjusted further into the air
stream. This may be required if the APS sensor is not
directly in the air stream and a multi-speed or variable
Fig. 2 Fig. 3
3
speed motor drops the air flow to a point the sensor will
not activate the power board.
Installation
Carefully remove the Air Cleaner from the carton.
Remove the cells and prefilters from the unit. Remove the
access door from the unit by removing the screw on the
end of the retaining link in the enclosure. Lower the
access door and remove the nuts securing the hinge to
the enclosure.
Remove the screws securing the electrical
compartment cover.
The hole in wall or ceiling should be made to fit the Air
Cleaner opening as closely as possible. The opening
should be framed to provide adequate support for the Air
Cleaner. Before mounting the Air Cleaner, cover the
framing and close the opening to within 1/4 in. (.63 cm) of
the dimension of the rear of the enclosure of the Air
Cleaner. Match the finish to the existing wall.
Mount the Air Cleaner into the framed hole and slide
into the duct until the front flange is flush with the wall.
Secure the Air Cleaner to the frame using sheet metal
screws. Do not overtighten screws as this may distort the
enclosure. Once the unit is secured to the wall, the access
door and retaining link can be replaced.
Wiring
Wiring should only be performed by qualified
personnel only. All wiring must comply with all applicable
codes and standards. The voltage of the power source
must match the voltage indicated on the Air Cleaner. The
Air Cleaner should operate ONLY when the system fan is
running. Make sure the Air Cleaner is properly grounded.
WARNING
Electrical shock can cause injury or death. Be certain
main line disconnect switch is off before wiring.
Wire the Air Cleaner directly to the power source. The
APS will power the Air Cleaner when there is sufficient
airflow to activate the sensor.
Connect the black lead of the Air Cleaner to the line
side of power source. Connect the white lead to the
neutral side of the power source. Connect the green lead
to ground. See Fig. 5.
SYSTEM CHECK
Perform the following system check before operation.
1. Replace the prefilters and collecting cells. Close
access door and replace thumb screw.
2. Turn Air Cleaner power switch ON. Ensure system fan
is operating. The performance indicator light should
be lit showing that the Air Cleaner is operating.
Note: There may be some arcing or snapping sounds
from the collecting cells. This is normal when the unit is
new. In about 2 weeks, as the sharp edges of the cells
become smoother, the arcing will disappear.
OPERATION
The Air Cleaner will run as long as there is airflow
through the ducts. The Air Cleaner will not run if the
system fan is off. For proper operation, follow these
simple steps:
1. Run heating/cooling system fan continuously, and on
low speed if available.
2. Remove any furniture which may block the return air
grille, so that air moves freely to the furnace/ air
conditioner.
3. Check for proper operation of the system fan.
WHITE DUST
After installation of the Air Cleaner, you may notice
some white dust on tabletops and shelves. Most large
particles such as lint, are too heavy to remain airborne
and tend to settle quickly, never reaching the Air Cleaner.
This white visible dust is normally referred to as “clean
dust.” As the Air Cleaner is removing the dark and
staining particles from the air, the lint will also be cleaner.
Lint dust is most noticeable on dark furnishings; in
homes containing new carpeting; and where there is a lot
of household traffic from occupants and pets. To reduce
lint dust, use continuous fan operation and keep return
vents unrestricted to create an efficient airflow.
Note: The Air Cleaner does NOT produce more lint or
dust.
MAINTENANCE
It is important to follow a scheduled maintenance for
maximum performance of the Air Cleaner.
CAUTION
Damage to cells may occur if improperly handled or
washed. Do not wash cells in a dishwasher. Never use
any object to clean between the cell plates, as this may
cause damage to plates or ionizing wires. Never place
cell in oven to dry.The edges of the cell may be sharp handle with care.
Cell And Prefilter Cleaning
The collecting cells and prefilters must be cleaned on
a regular basis for the Air Cleaner to function at its peak
efficiency. The frequency of cleaning will vary from one
location to another. On average, the cells should be
cleaned every 3 months.
1. Turn OFF power switch and wait 15 seconds. Open
access door and remove collecting cells and prefilters.
In a ceiling application open the door carefully.
2. Place cells in a laundry tub. Rinse with hot water and
spray completely with DAX Detergent (or a nonchlorine, non-corrosive, non-abrasive liquid household
detergent.) Allow detergent to run down both sides of
plates and ionizing wires. Let stand for 5 minutes and
rinse with hot water. Repeat process three times.
3. Rinse cells well with hot water (maximum 120°F/49°
C).
4. If dirt remains, let cells soak in a solution of DAX
Detergent and hot water for 30-60 minutes, then rinse.
5. Tilt cells on 45° angle on their short side, with arrows
pointing sideways. Allow to dry completely,
4
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