The WASH light on a W8600E will come on when the Amperage drops across the Ionizing wires. If the light comes on too early (2 days after washing cells, for example), try wiping down the Ionizer Wires after washing the cell. You may have to keep wiping down the wires every week for the first few months of operation. If that is of no help, you can clip the R43 resistor on the power board (only if the date code is older than 9341). If the date code is newer than 9341, then the R43 resistor has already been removed. This will allow the WASH light to come on only if the efficiency drops down to around 50%.

Honeywell recommends that only qualified service personnel test the air cleaner power supply.

The power light indicates when power is coming into the Electronic Air Cleaner. The light is on only when a Sail Switch or an Airflow Switch has proven the system fan is on. Therefore, the power light should only be on when the fan is blowing. If the light does not come on when the fan is running your air cleaner may have a short.

1. Try pressing the test button on the door of the air cleaner. If you hear a snap the air cleaner if working and the neon light bulb is probably burnt out.
2. Next try removing the cell(s), If the light comes on with the cell(s) removed, you have a short in the electronic cell(s) somewhere.
3. If the light does not come on with the cells removed, you may have a bad power supply. Please call your local contractor for service.

Warning! Do not attempt to service power supply The power supply produces high voltage and could cause electric shock.

When the F50 is operating normally, you should not hear frequent or continuous arcing or snapping noises. Arcing occurs when high voltage in the air cleaner jumps across a gap to a ground source (like static electricity in dry weather). You may hear occasional arcing while the unit is operating. This is normal.

If you have frequent or constant arcing during operation then you should turn power off to the air cleaner and remove your electronic cells. Close the door, turn the air cleaner and the system blower fan on. If the arcing continues then call your service technician. If the arcing stops then inspect the cells for broken wires, bent plates or hair or dust caught in the cells. If you are not able to find the source of the arcing then call your service technician.

This is more general troubleshooting for any time you do not think the air cleaner is working properly:

If you think the air cleaner is not working properly, turn on the fan and check that the power light is on.

If your power light is on, then press the test button on the door of the air cleaner. If you hear a snap, this means the air cleaner is working properly

Arcing is generally caused by bent collector plates. Arcing will usually show up after washing a cell, the cause being damage done to the cell during the washing process. When a plate is bent, the voltage will jump from a positively charged plate to a negatively charged plate. Positively powered plates carry about 4075Vdc, and the negatively charged plates are grounded. If the collector plates are bent and touching one another or close to touching, an arc can occur. Also check for broken ionizer wires.

Ozone (O3), a 3-atom form of oxygen, is a normal trace element in the earth’s atmosphere. Ozone is a different chemical than common oxygen (O2) which supports life on our planet. Like many substances, ozone is beneficial to life and to man, but can also be harmful in excessive concentrations. Ozone is created naturally by the action of the sun on oxygen; it also is created by man as a byproduct of processes such as combustion, power generation and operation of common appliances such as some sun lamps, copy machines or electric hair dryers.

Like other household appliances (hairdryers, mixers and electric fans), the Honeywell Electronic Air Cleaner, and any other high efficiency electronic air cleaner will produce trace levels of ozone when they are running. [In extensive testing of electronic air cleaners performance both in test chambers and in actual homes, under normal operating conditions, ozone levels measured are in the range of .005 to .020 parts per million (PPM), well below indoor safety levels set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).] For outdoor air, levels above .120 are considered excessively stressing to people with a respiratory illness or who are sensitive to ozone. [In general, levels below .080 are considered acceptable for outdoors, but these levels are often exceeded in some urban areas. The FDA sets .050 with a 24 hour a day exposure as the maximum indoor ozone concentration acceptable.] [An electronic air cleaner can be expected to add about .005 PPM ozone to the steady state indoor level.] As the electronic air cleaner loads with dirt, the level of ozone produced further decreases. Odor perception for ozone varies quite a bit among people. Some people can smell levels as low as .003 PPM. Most people can smell a level of .020 PPM well below the FDA standard. The smell of ozone is not necessarily an indicator the level is above normal, or even near the recommended limit set by the FDA.

Using the dishwasher.

Honeywell recommends consulting the manufacturer of your dishwasher before you attempt to wash the electronic cells.

• The only recommended washing methods for Electronic Air Cleaner cells are with soaps that are safe for use on aluminum, such as automatic dishwasher detergents.
• Do not use Coil Cleaners or Contact Cleaners.
• When placing the cells in a dishwasher, set four glasses upside-down to rest the cells on top of. This will protect the cells from the dishwasher spikes that may break ionizing wires, and bend collector plates.
• Never allow the cells to go through the drying cycle. This will "bake on" any materials that were not removed during the wash cycle.
• Be careful when removing cells after washing. The cells may be hot, and sharp edges may cause cuts.
• After washing the cells, take a clean cloth and gently wipe down the ionizing wires.
• Establish a regular schedule for washing your cells
   

Using a tub

You may also use a tub with hot water to wash your electronic cells.

• Dissolve approximately 3/4 of a cup of automatic dishwasher detergent per cell in a large plastic tub.
• Let soak for 15-20 minutes.
• Agitate up and down few times then remove.

   

The F50 electronic air cleaner captures a significant amount of the airborne particles, 0.3 microns and larger, from the air circulated through the unit. When the Electronic Air Cleaner is initially installed, it will have a higher efficiency than when it gets loaded up with dust. Efficiency and arrestance ratings of the F50 are based on the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 52.1-92 and 52.2.

The following ratings are the data for the 20 x 25-inch filter at 1400 cfm:
 

• Initial Atmospheric Dust Spot Efficiency:
• 86% Average Atmospheric Dust Spot Efficiency:
• 78% Average Synthetic Dust Weight Arrestance:
  
   

98% Fractional Efficiency at 500 fpm:
 

• 70% efficient on 0.3 micron particles.
   
• 90% efficient on 1.0 micron particles.
   
• 99% efficient on 10.0 micron particles.

ASHRAE Dust Holding Capacity: 55 grams

When comparing the efficiency of air cleaners, it is important to know what test method has been used. As you can see in the above data, it is possible to make both of the following statements:
 

• "The efficiency of the F50 is 70%."
   
• "The efficiency of the F50 is 99%."

All replacement parts, are available through your contractor. If your air cleaner is still under warranty, you should go to your installing contractor for replacement.
 

Air Cleaners will remove dust and other staining particles from the air. Larger dust particles have a tendency to settle out on flat surfaces before they make it to the cold air return. An air cleaner can only remove particles that pass through it. The reason these particles settle on a surface is due to their weight. The air cleaner can not "dust" a home, but it will remove dust particles that make it to the air cleaner. The particles that do not make it to the cold air return will settle out on flat surfaces and will need to be removed by hand. These large particles will begin to appear white because they are no longer being stained by the smaller particles. The smaller staining particles (5 microns or smaller) stay continuously suspended and thus make it to the cold air return. White dust is actually an indicator of air cleaner efficiency