A015_Z to A020_Z: Zone Damper Fault
Status
This is a critical fault.
Description
The EcoNet zoning system has detected that it there is difficulty operating a zone's damper(s).
A015_Z refers to Zone 1 Damper
A016_Z refers to Zone 2 Damper
A017_Z refers to Zone 3 Damper
A018_Z refers to Zone 4 Damper
A019_Z refers to Zone 5 Damper
A020_Z refers to Zone 6 Damper
Cause
The system is unable to control the damper or dampers of the specific zone.
This could be a result of a mis-wire, damaged wiring, or a wire that is not properly connected at the damper output of the zone panel or at the damper actuator itself. In some cases you may have multiple dampers for any given zone. It could be one or all of those dampers have the difficulty.
This may also indicate a damper actuator that is not responding to a demand from the panel.
Also, you may need to look at the actual damper position. Recently on a job, I found when the actuator was right, the damper had somehow slipped on the shaft. The actuator and system said it was open but the damper was 3/4 of the way closed.
The alarm will tell you which zone to focus on when troubleshooting.
Pay close attention to the time and date faults. If the fault occurs every seven days, its happening during the duct measurement process. Perform a duct measurement and pay attention to statics. It should make sense that the static during each zone is less than all zones open. You can toggle back and forth to the air handler status and zoning status during the duct assessment. It should also have a higher static at the end when all dampers are closed. If the static is lower, how can that be? Look at the damper's true position.
Multiple Faults
If multiple zone faults occur, the alarm may be set during a duct assessment which is done at commissioning and on weekly schedule (Normally Monday mornings after the filter check). Check the following.
1. Check for un-zoned ducts. Runs that dont have dampers can cause a system balance issue during the duct assessment. Close or zone any un-zoned runs.
2. Check for mechanical minimum damper positions that may be allowing air to pass. Similar to an un-zoned run, it can cause a problem with the system's duct measurement calculations.
3. If a zone has multiple dampers, make sure they are all opening and closing together. One damper opening while the other is closing can cause a problem with duct measurement.
4. If during the final process in the duct measurement where it is checking for duct leakage, and you witness the static all of the sudden drop to near 0, while the motor RPM's are over 1200, you will need to reach out to your distributor service coordinator and have them contact their Factory Technical Rep.
5. Check for a bypass damper that is controlled either separately from the system or uses system static to open and close such as a barometric type bypass damper. Remove or disable these type dampers as they are not allowed.
6. Bypass type humidifier. If a bypass humidifier has a damper, try to adjust it closed to see if fault continues. If this resolves the issue, adjust damper to a mid point that allows bypass but not enough to cause the fault.
7. Check dampers physical movement. Are they completely closed when they should be closed, or are they completely open when they should be open.
Solution
Check wiring from panel zone outputs to all dampers within the specific zone. Look for accidental mis-wires, loose wires, shorted or otherwise damaged wires.
If multiple dampers are installed in the alarming zone, you may wire each damper one by one to find one that is not acting as expected. Once found, correct the issue.
