| Author | Message | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 792 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 64.55.111.6 Rating: N/A |
When we were discussing Ductless Mini-Split air conditioners/heat pumps here a year or so ago, I recommended Soleus Brand. This was because of price, performance, and lack of failures. MY ENDORSEMENT OF SOLEUS IS HEREBY WITHDRAWN! This is after spending 25 minutes listening to the recording about "being monitored for quality, etc." Then I gave up and pressed the pound key per their instructions "to leave a message which will be promptly returned." Well, we can all figure out that if they can't answer the phone, how can they promptly return a call? Next thing most of us can figure out, is that if a contractor has half an idea about what he is doing, he shouldn't have to call tech support to ask what an error message means, right? Well, after reading the installation manual front to back, removing ALL of the panels looking for diagrams, downloading their entire website, and finding no explanation of fault codes, I am obviously frustrated. Not to mention my customer who would STILL have no heating or cooling, if I had to rely upon their tech service to tell me how to reset a lockout! (Pulling the 240V disconnect works wonders, it forgot all about not wanting to work any more.) E-6 error message is gone, whatever that means, so is 9 blinks of the red led, (which is high head pressure) and everything runs properly. I phoned them at 1010am Pacific time, gave up at 1035am and left a message. Its now 1122am Pacific, and still no call back. CAVEAT EMPTOR! This is the edit. Its now 317pm Pacific, and still no callback or email contact from their site. Rant's over, George (Message edited by george_mc6 on April 13, 2009) | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 125 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.235.190  Rating: N/A |
Ain't modern day innovations wondrous, why sink a pile of technology into planed obsolescence when all you have to do is distribute technical disinformation to render something without use , all out of the installers & customers dime. Ah the future has arrived! | ||
| Nick Badame Refrigeration Co. (Dnick85)
Registered Member Username: Dnick85 Post Number: 290 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 75.196.128.228  Rating: N/A |
Hi George, I feel for ya.... This past week My guy's and I attended a Sanyo commercial equip. update class. Not only was the instructor very careing about his product but, he is very pushey about telling us contractors to use the tech line and fill out warranty forms... You might pay a few dollars more for Sanyo products but, their tech lines and warranty coverage is second to none. And he is correct! Good Luck Nick- | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 315 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 99.0.41.3 Rating: N/A |
Good for you George! Keep it up and they will have their overseas electronic controls sub design more functionality into their units (secret code for more unnecessary complexity) like adding some more "smart" processors. Just think, pretty soon you will be able to get more cryptic and meaningless error codes directly on your favorite laptop. Assuming the board doesn't take a line transient first. Sorry. Mediocre design rant over. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 794 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 64.55.111.6 Rating: N/A |
Obviously their (SOLEUS) warranty coverage is nonexistant. If I had needed a part, I would have been screwed. I still will be if it quits again. Their installation manual is typical of the overseas, done by a college student taking English classes from an overseas prof who took English classes... The problem is twofold. One is that there is no explanation of error codes displayed anywhere. Two is that they don't answer the phone, call back, or respond to an email. The "line transient" comment is interesting. They have a formal filter, and a toroid coil on the incoming line, as they do communicate between the units on top of the high voltage, instead of using a thermostat cable. G | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 316 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 99.0.41.3 Rating: N/A |
Well George, you almost got me started on that one. I will say that on their own, RC filters and torids don't suppress high level transients very well. MOVs a lot better. But the former are good for high frequency noise reduction. Particularly if you are running tuned pulse width modulation communications on 120 vac. If you're still interested in helping me pull the OTR AC on my retirement house (yes I am behind schedule), we can enlighten each other on these and related issues. As we discussed before, anything you want is yours. Bring a big truck! | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member Username: Daved Post Number: 238 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 142.46.199.30  Rating: N/A |
Chances are the filters are to prevent RF interference generated by the equipment from being transmitted not to protect the equipment from transients. Typically such protection is at the input, but internal to the equipment. FWIW DaveD | ||
| Nick Badame Refrigeration Co. (Dnick85)
Registered Member Username: Dnick85 Post Number: 291 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 75.197.13.204 Rating: N/A |
Hi George, Speaking of filters... Most dustless split mfg's are requireing "Sheilded Wires" for communication between the indoor and outdoor units. This is to prevent interferance from RF signals. Last year I purchaced 4- 1000' rolls of #14 shielded Thhn stranded at a whopping $340 a roll... Go Figure! Nick- | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 796 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 64.55.111.6 Rating: N/A |
Chuck, I still am, if you still are! Do got a heavy duty 3/4 ton too! Holler when, or just plain holler. Their decode sheet is a laugh, but the fault indicated by an led is high pressure. They list four faults for improper communication and signals, but no decode for letter + number faults displayed indoors? Regards, George | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 801 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 64.55.111.6 Rating: N/A |
Next page in the saga! I got a call from a very unhappy lady at Soleus this morning, who said "I was just given your email, and I have to have your contractors license number before I can talk to you." I did ask her where she had been Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and this morning, which made her really hostile. Anyhow, I gave her my license number, and she gave me the number of an independent tech they use. Then she said she would send me an email to confirm our conversation. I asked her if she would include a reason for not responding for 3 days, and I guess I shouldn't have, as I haven't gotten it yet. The tech was helpful, and suggested I do what I did on Sunday, pull the disconnect to erase the fault. He also promised to send me an updated fault code list... Guess what Chuck? E-6 is a communication fault! He blames it on an infrared mouse, or a TV remote. Regards, George | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 322 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 99.0.41.3  Rating: N/A |
Hi George, I'll give you a call. I have seen/heard of multiple infrared devices causing similar problems. Not surprising. I didn't know your customer's unit had remote control capability. But that is the very reason why I have stayed away from RC ceiling fans, etc. Even networks. Recently dumped all the WiFi crap and went back to CAT5. No interference, no DOA boards, network now 4X faster, wife's happy, my stress level way down. Talk to ya soon. Take care Chuck | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 804 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 64.55.111.6 Rating: N/A |
Chuck, This thing's plugged in now too, and like you say, its a lot faster. Now all they have to do is figure out how to speed me up! Probably the last page in the SOLEUS saga... The tech said "The failure codes for the model 18 are listed in the back of the model 12 book, and I'll send it to you." HE DID! Only one problem, the decode list he sent stops at 8 blinks, and as I said above, I've got 9. At least it does list the letter + number faults.. Anyhow, its still running after I killed the power, and reset everything. I'm still waiting for the lady to send me the email, but I'm not holding my breath! G | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 632 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.210.92.66 Rating: N/A |
Huh?????  RCB | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 806 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 69.105.211.30 Rating: N/A |
A little more on this as info... The unit has quit again, this time without an error code displayed inside. I had the owners turn the power off and back on, which cleared whatever was wrong, and at this moment, it is working. But MAC, remember what I said in my post of April 16, "I have to have your Contractors License number before I can talk to you." This means that there is no warranty or parts availability from them on internet sales!! Not to mention it has been two weeks since the first email to them, and she still hasn't replied! So, once again, SOLEUS=CAVEAT EMPTOR! In fairness, they're not the only company that won't warrant an internet purchase. Several HVAC manufacturers don't want their products sold on the net because of the liability from improper installations by non-qualified people. Warranty labor in all of these cases is NOT covered, you will have to remove, ship, and replace it yourself. George | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 354 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 74.193.225.134  Rating: N/A |
Yeesh. Sounds like a bit of a nightmare to me bud....  -Mac | ||
| Cullen Newsom (Cullennewsom)
Registered Member Username: Cullennewsom Post Number: 77 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 203.176.193.103 Rating: N/A |
That sounds like just about every company's tech "support" these days. |