Conduct Preliminary Testing Before Mounting an Enclosure Air Conditioner

Once you’ve purchased the correctly sized enclosure air conditioner, there are a few preliminary steps involved before mounting your new equipment.

The AC unit will be shipped separately from the enclosure, along with its instructional manual. This packet will contain specifics about mounting, transporting and servicing the unit, which will help you maintain its optimal performance and safety.

Before you begin, you’ll need to conduct preliminary testing on the AC unit.

This checklist outlines the typical requirements for enclosure air conditioners that contain condensate management systems, but always consult the specific product manual included with your enclosure air conditioner before usage.

Basic Prep

1. Record the data listed on the unit label for future reference. This step will make it easy to ensure that refrigeration types and amounts are recharged properly for the unit and simplify warranty compliance.

2. Manually verify that the power source is compatible with the equipment to prevent personal injury or equipment damage. (i.e., proper voltage and phase; ground and neutral wire per 2014 NEC, and proper circuit protection device/sizing) The unit specifications included in the product manual will include information on correct circuit protection sizing.

3. Allow the unit to remain in an upright position for 24 hours before beginning the test. This allows the compressor oil to settle properly.

Preliminary Testing

1. Start the evaporator fan by connecting power to the unit. The enclosure AC unit is equipped with factory default settings, but at this point, you can determine and/or change the set points for the heating, cooling, and alarms, if necessary.

(Note: To permit low ambient operation and limit current inrush at the initial power on, the condenser fan will kick on only after the operating pressure builds up because it is controlled by the refrigerant pressure.)

2. Run the air conditioner for 15 minutes, ensuring that the ambient temperature is at least 75° F. This step will allow the condenser coil to warm, turning on the condenser fan.

3. Turn the unit off if you hear any hard mechanical sounds or notice excessive vibrations. Refer to the troubleshooting section of the unit’s instructional manual if this occurs.

4. Ensure that the cold air supply is at least 10° F cooler than the return air entering the unit.

5. Once you are satisfied that the unit is operating properly, turn it off and disconnect the power source. Now you’re ready to mount the unit on the enclosure, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

For more information about conducting preliminary tests on enclosure air conditioners, speak with a qualified expert at Thermal Edge.