Therma-Stor Products Group 200 MAX User Manual

PO Box 8680 • Madison, WI 53708

Owner’s Manual — Phoenix 200 MAX

Installation, Operation & Service Instructions

Read and Save These Instructions

The Phoenix 200 MAX is one of the most effective and versatile drying devices available. The 200
MAX removes more water and has more grain depression than other refrigerant dehumidifiers, even
though it only requires 7.4 amps of electricity.

The term LGR (Low Grain Refrigerant) was created to describe the unique drying capabilities of the
Phoenix 200 dehumidifier. These units were known for delivering substantially drier air, as well as
for drying areas to much lower humidity levels than conventional dehumidifiers. The Phoenix 200
MAX, an improved version of the original Phoenix 200, is the culmination of over a decade of LGR
manufacturing and design expertise.

Phoenix 200 MAX

TS-262C

The Phoenix 200 MAX LGR,

High Capacity Dehumidifier

• Improved water removal

+16 gals/day (133 pints) AHAM (80ºF, 60%)
30 gals/day maximum

• Improved grain depression

The driest air from an LGR

• Multiple air filter options

Standard 65% MERV-11, 57% MERV-8, or
95% MERV-14

• Multiple ducting options

12” intake, 10” lay-flat exhaust

• Less than 7.5 amps

Removes the most pints of water per kilowatt

• Stainless steel cabinet

• Internal pump with 30 feet of hose

• Five-year warranty on the sealed refrigeration
system.

Specifications subject to change without notice.

Phoenix 200 MAX
PN 4024920

Revised 1/07

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Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................1

1. Specifications ........................................................2

2. Operation .............................................................2

2.1 Transporting the Phoenix 200 MAX ...................2

2.2 Location .........................................................2

2.3 Electrical Requirements ...................................3

2.4 Condensate Removal .......................................3

2.5 Ducting ...........................................................3

2.6 Power Switch ..................................................3

2.7 Pump Purge Switch ..........................................3

2.8 Hour Meter .....................................................3

2.9 Defrost Control Adjustment ..............................

2.10 Low Pressure Control .....................................4

3. Maintenance .........................................................4

3.1 Air Filter ..........................................................4

3.2 Storage ..........................................................4

4. Service .................................................................4

4.1 Warranty .........................................................4

4.2 Technical Description .......................................4

4.3 Troubleshooting ...............................................5

4.4 Refrigerant Charging ........................................5

4.5 Blower Replacement ........................................5

4.6 Compressor/Capacitor Replacement ................6

4.6A Checking Compressor Motor Circuits .........6

4.6B Replacing a Burned Out Compressor .........6

4.6C Replacing a Compressor- Non-Burn Out ......7

4.7 Defrost Thermostat & Timer .............................7

4.8 Condensate Pump ...........................................7

4.9 Gravity Drain Option .........................................

4.10 Relay ............................................................

5. Wiring Diagram .....................................................8

6. Service Parts List ..................................................

7. Warranty .............................................................11

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1 Specifications

Part No. 4024920

Power 110-120 Vac, 7.4 amps; 851 watts

Water 133 pints/day @ AHAM (80°F, 60%)
Removal 240 pints/day @ saturation

30 gal/day maximum @ saturation

Refrigerant 1 lbs., 14 oz. R-22
Charge

Blower 265 CFM
Internal Condensate Pump with 20 lift,
30’ vinyl hose

Operating 33°F to 105°F
Range

Filters 16” x 20”

Standard 2” Pleated Media 30%* MERV-6
Optional 2” Pleated Media 30%* MERV-8
Optional 2” Pleated Media 65%* MERV-11
Optional 4” Mini-Pleat Media 95%* MERV-14

Duct Intake – 12” Flex-Duct
Options Supply – 10” Lay-Flat

Warranty Five years;

First year 100% of Parts and Labor
Second-fifth year 100% of Parts of sealed
refrigeration system.

Dimensions:

Cabinet w/Cart Shipping

Width 20” 24-1/4” 27-1/2”

Height 40” 40” 45-1/2”

Depth 18-1/4” 21-3/8” 22”

Weight 131 lb 160 lb

2 Operation

Serial No. ___________________________

Purchase Date ______/______/_____

Dealer’s Name ___________________________________

Read the operation and maintenance instructions
carefully before using this unit. Proper adherence to these
instructions is essential to obtain maximum benefit from
your Phoenix 200 MAX dehumidifier.

2.1 Transporting the Phoenix

The Phoenix 200 MAX must always be upright when
transported by vehicle. It may be tipped on to its handle
and back for loading and moving by hand.

2.2 Location

Note the following precautions when locating the Phoenix
200 MAX:

• It is designed to be used INDOORS ONLY.

• If used in a wet area, plug it into a GROUND FAULT
INTERRUPTER.

• DO NOT use the Phoenix 200 MAX as a bench or table.

• It must always be used in the upright position.

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• The air inlet on top & the side outlet must be at least
1 foot from walls and other obstructions to air flow.

• If the humid area is very large, dehumidification can
be improved by adding an outlet duct to circulate air to
stagnant areas (see Sec. 2.5).

2.3 Electrical Requirements

The Phoenix 200 MAX plugs into a common grounded
outlet on a 15 Amp circuit. It draws 7.4 Amps at 80°F,
60% RH. Amp draw increases with increasing temperature
and\or humidity; e.g. 10.2 amps at 90°F, 85% RH. If used
in a wet area, a ground fault interrupter (GFI) is required.

If an extension cord is required, it must have a minimum of
14 gauge conductors if 25 feet long or less and 12 gauge
conductors if greater than 25 feet long.

2.8 Hour Meter

The digital hour meter measures the cumulative time that
the unit is turned on to tenths of an hour. It stores its
total when the unit is unplugged; the previous total will be
displayed when the unit is next turned on. It resets to zero
after 99,999.9 hours of operation.

2.9 Defrost Control Adjustment

When the Phoenix 200 MAX is used in a cool area, or the
dewpoint is below 50°, frost will form on the cooling coil
as it dehumidifies. When enough frost forms, the defrost
thermostat will initiate the timed defrost cycle. The cycle
periodically turns off the compressor while allowing the
blower to run. The frost is melted by the air that the blower
draws through the cooling coil.

2.4 Condensate Removal

The Phoenix 200 MAX is equipped with an internal
condensate pump to remove the water that is condensed
during dehumidification. This allows the condensate to be
pumped 30’ with the attached hose. If the condensate
must be pumped more than 20 feet above the unit, a
second pump must be added to relay the condensate. If
the pump fails and the unit must be used before it can be
replaced, the condensate can be drained by gravity (see
Sec. 4.9).

2.5 Ducting

A detachable rectangular exhaust collar is supplied
that will allow 10” round lay-flat duct to be attached to
the Phoenix 200 MAX outlet. Lay-flat plastic ducting is
available from Therma-Stor.

To attach ducting to a collar, put the plastic duct end
through the collar center and roll the duct end outward
so that it overlaps the outside of the collar. The duct and
collar may then be quickly attached to the Phoenix 200
MAX by snapping the collar over the four screws at the
blower outlet.

2.6 Power Switch

The power switch (right of hour meter) lights up when
the unit is turned on. The unit will continue to run in
all conditions until the switch is turned off; there is no
dehumidistat. If the unit is going to run for more than 2
hours in an area below 50°F, the defrost timer should be
adjusted to improve performance (see Sec. 2.9).

DRYING TIP: Air’s ability to absorb moisture from wet
surroundings and the Phoenix 200 MAX’s ability to remove
moisture from that air is greatly improved at higher
temperatures. We recommend that the area to be dried be
heated to over 70°F if possible. Less drying time will be
required and efficiency will improve.

The defrost cycle is automatic and designed for optimum
performance above 50°F. If the unit is used in an area that
is below 50°F for more than 2 hours, adjustment of the
defrost timer is recommended. To adjust the defrost timer:

1. Unplug the unit.

2. Remove the top panel and the front cover (6 screws).

3. The timer is fastened to the base at the front of the
unit. Every fourth peg around the dial is pushed out
from the dial center except one section with 5 pegs
out in a row. See figure 1. Each fourth “out” peg
represents 15 minutes of compressor “off” time
during every hour that the unit is in the defrost cycle.

4. To improve performance below 50°F, the compressor
“off” time must be increased to 30 minutes per hour
to allow the frost to completely melt. To do this, push
the pegs out from the dial center so that the pegs
alternate with 2 toward the center, then 2 out from
the center, all the way around the dial except for the
section now with 6 pegs out in a row (see Fig. 1).

5. Replace the cover and top panel.

Change the timer pegs back to the original pattern for use
above 50°F.

2.7 Pump Purge Switch

This switch (left of hour meter) minimizes the water left
in the condensate pump reservoir for moving or storage.
Pressing and holding the pump purge switch will cause the
condensate pump to run. Hold the switch in until the flow
from the condensate hose stops.

Figure 1: Defrost
timer adjustment

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Above 50° F

Below 50° F

2.10 Low Pressure Control

If the low side refrigerant pressure drops to 15 PSIG, the
low pressure control opens and shuts off the compressor
and blower. It is an automatically reset control. Its primar y
function is to prevent damage to the compressor if a leak
develops in the refrigeration system. It may also open if
the unit is A) used in a cool area (below 50°F) and the
defrost timer is not adjusted (see Sec. 2.9) or B) stored
where it is below 40°F and then started. Under these
conditions, the unit will restart within several minutes; it
may cycle several times until the unit warms up.

3 Maintenance

3.1 Air Filter

The Phoenix 200 MAX is equipped with a pleated fabric air
filter that must be checked regularly. The standard filter
is a MERV-11 high efficiency filter. Operating the unit with
a dirty filter will reduce the dehumidifier’s capacity and
efficiency and may cause the compressor to cycle off and
on unnecessarily on the defrost control.

The filter can generally be vacuumed clean several times
before needing replacement. Replacement filters can be
ordered from the factory or purchased locally if available.
DO NOT operate the unit without the filter or with a less
effective filter as the heat exchange coils inside the unit
could become clogged and require disassembly to clean.

4 Service

CAUTION: Servicing the Phoenix 200 MAX with its high
pressure refrigerant system and high voltage circuitry
presents a health hazard which could result in death,
serious bodily injury, and/or property damage. Only
qualified service people should ser vice this unit.

4.1 Warranty

A warranty certificate has been enclosed with this unit;
read it before any repair is initiated. If a warranty repair
is required, call the factory first at 1-800-533-7533 for
warranty claim authorization and technical assistance.

4.2 Technical Description

The Phoenix 200 MAX uses a refrigeration system similar
to an air conditioner’s to remove heat and moisture from
incoming air, and to add heat to the air that is discharged
(see Fig. 2).

3.2 Storage

There are two issues to consider when the Phoenix 200
MAX is stored between uses and both pertain to the
water trapped in the unit: damage caused by freezing or
biological growth. The effect of the trapped water can be
greatly reduced if precautions are taken to remove as
much as possible before storage.

1. Use the pump purge switch (see Sec. 2.7 & Fig. 4) to
reduce the water level in the reservoir.

2. Stretch the hose flat to drain it completely. Walk under
out of the hose to open end.

If the unit will not be exposed to freezing temperatures, an
alternative to reduce biological growth is to flush the unit
with a bio-fungicide that is approved for use with copper,
aluminum and polyethylene. To flush:

1. Run the hose to a drain.

2. Plug in the unit but do not turn it on.

3. Remove the air filter. Slowly pour a quart of the
chemical through the heat exchanger

4. Hold in the pump purge switch to reduce the water
level in the reservoir.

5. Flush with water.

Figure 2: Refrigeration system of Phoenix

Hot, high pressure refrigerant gas is routed from the
compressor to the condenser coil (see Figure 2). The
refrigerant is cooled and condensed by giving up its heat
to the air that is about to be discharged from the unit.
The refrigerant liquid then passes through a filter/drier
and capillary tubing which cause the refrigerant pressure
and temperature to drop. It next enters the evaporator
coil where it absorbs heat from the incoming air and
evaporates.

The evaporator operates in a flooded condition, which
means that all the evaporator tubes contain liquid
refrigerant during normal operation. A flooded evaporator
should maintain constant pressure and temperature
across the entire coil, from inlet to outlet.

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