ENSTO ECO900 Frost Protection System Instruction Manual

ENSTO ECO900 Frost Protection System

Introduction

The ECO900 is a device for the control of frost protection in outdoor areas, ramps, roofs, and rainwater systems. The device is intended for installation in panel boards. The device complies with the standard EN 60730. The device accepts sensors of various kinds depending on the application.

Components for frost protection of outdoor areas

• ECO900 frost protection control unit (figure 3)
• ECOA901 snow and ice sensor with a heating resistor for ground installation (figure 4)
• ECOA902 humidity and temperature sensor for ground installation (figure 5)

Components for frost protection of rainwater systems

• ECO900 frost protection control unit (figure 3)
• ECOA903 snow and ice sensor with a heating resistor for installation in rainwater gutters (figure 6)
• ECOA904 temperature sensor for temperature measurement in rainwater gutters (figure 7)

The ECO900 frost protection control unit is supplied with an 82 kΩ resistor. An air temperature sensor ECOA904 can be installed instead of the resistor (figure 1 and 2). To ensure proper operation the system should be taken in use before there is frost and snow. We recommend keeping the system on for the entire heating period.

Safety Instructions

Electrically skilled person

• The installation must only be done by an electrician with the appropriate qualifications.
• Read this manual carefully before starting the installation work.
• Follow the instructions in this manual, and make sure that the installation complies with national safety regulations, installation methods and restrictions.
• The information provided in this manual in no way exempts the installer or user from the responsibility to follow all applicable safety regulations.
• Keep this manual for future installation and service.

WARNING: Danger of electric shock! Risk of fire!

• Disconnect the power supply before carrying out any installation or maintenance work on this control unit and associated components.
• Do not switch on the power supply before the installation work is completed.
• Improper installation can cause personal injury and property damage.
• Do not operate a defective frost protection system.

Using ECO900 frost protection control unit

Controls

The settings of the frost protection control unit can be checked and changed using three buttons.

of the display

The display will return into basic display mode 20 seconds after a button has been pressed.

Basic display mode

The present measured values are displayed in the basic display mode. GROUND/ROOF and AIR alternate with MOISTURE and HEATING in 3-second intervals.

(-49…+172,4 °F)
AIR| Air temperature*| -45…+78 °C (-49…+172,4 °F)
MOISTURE| Humidity level| 1…8, OFF
HEATING| Heating state| ON, OFF

The air temperature will be indicated only if the sensor ECOA904, which measures the outdoor temperature is connected to connectors 20 and 21. If the sensor is not used, the 82 kΩ resistors supplied with the device must be connected to the connectors otherwise the alarm will go off, indicating a fault in the system.

Menus

In the menu mode, the menu text is displayed on the top line and the set value on the bottom line. By pressing the MENU button enables moving from one menu to the following one. The desired menu is activated and the setting options are shown by pressing once the VALUE button. When the maximum value has been reached, the display starts again with the lowest value. The selected value is stored by pressing ENTER and the top line still shows the present menu. The selected value is left-justified and the word ACTIVE is right-justified on the bottom line of the display.

APPLICATION

• Options: GROUND, ROOF
• Default: GROUND

The application is chosen depending on the use of the frost protection system, outdoor areas or rainwater gutters. The selected application will retain even if the standard program is reverted.

RANGE

• Range: -20…-5 °C, OFF (-4…+23 °F)
• Default: -10 °C

This temperature value specifies the lowest operating limit. The predetermined value for the highest operating limit is +6 °C.

TEMPERATURE

• Range: 0…+6 °C (+32…+42.8 °F)
• Default: +3 °C

The desired temperature of the heated area is entered in this menu. If the humidity sensor is on, the heating will be switched on when the temperature drops below the set value and the chosen humidity level is exceeded. If the humidity sensor is off, the heating will be switched on when the temperature drops below the set value.

MOISTURE

• Range: 1…8, OFF
• Default: 3

The humidity level can be entered or the humidity sensor can be switched off in this menu. The humidity level 1 is almost dry and 8 very wet.

BASE TEMPERATURE

• Range: -15…-1 °C, OFF (+5…+32.2 °F)
• Default: OFF

In the application GROUND, the base temperature can be switched off or it is possible to enter a value. If the temperature drops below the set base temperature the heating will be switched on irrespective of the humidity. This menu is hidden in the application ROOF.

AFTER RUN TIME

• Range: 10 MIN…24 HOURS, OFF
• Default: 20 MIN

A subsequent heating time between 10 minutes and 24 hours can be entered in this menu. The heating will remain on during the set time after the set value of temperature and/or moisture is exceeded. The function can even be switched off.

OPERATION

• Options: AUTOMATIC, PERMANENT
• Default: AUTOMATIC

The heating can manually be switched on continuously, irrespective of the set temperatures and humidity. The heating remains on during an alarm.

SENSOR HEATER

• Options: AUTOMATIC, ON
• Default: ON

In AUTOMATIC mode the sensor heater is switched off when the heating system is switched on, this is specifically for roof applications where the heating cables cross, but should not be touching, or are next to the gutter sensor. In ON mode the sensor heater stays on when the heating system is switched on.

STANDARD PROGRAM

• Options: ON, OFF
• Default: ON

The settings can be reverted to default values in this menu. However, this does not apply to the following menus: APPLICATION, LANGUAGE, TEMP. UNIT and COUNTER. Desired changes must be done in the menus in question. It is possible to choose only the alternative ON in this menu because when the default settings have been changed the menu will automatically change into OFF mode.

LANGUAGE

• Options: DEUTSCH, ENGLISH, FRANCAISE, SUOMI, SVENSKA, CESKY, DUTCH, MAGYAR, TURKCE, POLSKI,ITALIANO
• Default: DEUTSCH

Various languages can be selected in this menu. The selected language will retain even if the standard program is reverted.

TEMP. UNIT °C/°F

• Options: °C, °F
• Default: °C

The temperature scale can be either Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F). The selected temperature unit will retain even if the standard program is reverted.

COUNTER

Range: 00000H00M…65535H59M

The counter calculates the time, in minutes and hours, during which the heating has been on. The counter reading will retain even if the standard program is reverted. To reset the counter, select RESET with the VALUE button and then press ENTER to reset.

Alarm messages

In the event of an alarm, the display starts flashing in one-second intervals and the alarm relay closes (connectors 5 and 6). The word ALARM appears on the top line and the reason of the alarm on the bottom line. This alarm display alternates with the measured values so that each option is displayed 3 seconds at each time. The heating relay opens (connectors 8 and 9) turning off the heater, unless the continuous heating has been selected. The alarm message appears on the display still for 5 seconds after fault clearance. It is possible to change menu options during the alarm.

Operating the frost protection system

The heating resistor of the snow and ice sensors ECOA901 and ECOA903 keeps the surface of the sensor at a constant temperature of approximately +4 °C. It will melt the snow and ice, which are detected as moisture. When the temperature measured by the sensor ECOA902 or ECOA904 drops below the set value in the TEMPERATURE menu and the set humidity level is exceeded, the heating will turn on by closing the heater relay (connectors 8 and 9). The heating remains on until either the set temperature is attained or the humidity level drops below its set value. In the post-heating, the heating remains on during the selected time when either the set temperature is attained or the humidity level drops below its set value. This function can be used for example if there is still snow beside the heated area after the heating otherwise would switch off. The post-heating can be used at temperatures below 0 °C.

The lowest operating temperature can be set between -20…-5 °C in the RANGE menu. The factory’s predetermined value for the highest operating limit is +6 °C. Outside these temperature limits, the heating can only be switched on using the continuous heat menu item. An appropriate operating limit prevents unnecessary energy consumption in cases there is no snow or ice in spite of frost. In the application GROUND, it is possible to set a base temperature under which the temperature of the heated area may not drop. If the temperature drops under the base temperature, the heating will turn on irrespective of the humidity level. The lowest operation temperature set in the RANGE menu has however priority over the base temperature. If the base temperature is set lower than the lowest temperature limit, the base temperature cannot be exceeded. The ECO900 frost protection control unit is supplied with an 82 kΩ resistor connected to connectors 20 and 21 but the air temperature sensor ECOA904 can be connected instead. In this case, the air temperature is also shown on basic display mode in addition to the ground/gutter temperature and the humidity level. If the air temperature drops rapidly, predicting the probable start of the rain, the heating will switch on for one hour below temperatures of +7 °C. Afterward, the heating will switch off or remain on depending on the set temperature and humidity values.

Installation of sensors

sensors for ground installation ECOA901 and ECOA902

Figure 8 shows the minimum installation distances. The snow and ice sensor ECOA901 (5 leads) is installed at least 200 mm outside the heated area. The humidity and temperature sensor ECOA902 (4 leads) is installed inside the heated area because the sensor is used to measure the temperature and humidity level on the surface of the heated area. The heating cables must be at least 25 mm from the ECOA902 sensor. The sensors must be installed so that they are directly exposed to weather conditions (snow, rain, meltwater). However, the sensors should not be installed in a place where e.g. snow from a snow plow can cover them. Additionally, dirt on top of the sensor will prevent proper operation. The ground sensors must lie in a horizontal position even if they are installed on a slope (figure 9).

The sensor is supplied with a metal base plate and a wooden mold. The metal base plate is set in the ground during the construction phase and the wooden mold is placed on top. A metal protective tube must be installed to the wooden block for the connection cable. Seal the tube ends to avoid surfacing materials (e.g. tar, concrete) clogging the tube. After applying the surface, the wooden mold is removed and the sensor is attached on the steel plate with an M6 x 35mm screw. Any gaps around the sensor should be filled with e.g. silicone, mortar or suchlike. The highest permissible temperature of the filler is 80 °C. The connection cable can be extended to 50 meters by using a 1.5 mm2 cable. It is recommended to use a cable with numbered leads for the extension as it is very helpful for example when trying to locate faults during a malfunction. The sensors work with low voltage, so it is recommended that their leads are installed at a sufficiently long distance from the heating circuit supply cables.

shows a cross-section of the sensors to be installed in the ground

1. Steel plate for installation
2. Attachment screw M6 x 35mm
3. Ground sensor ECOA901 or ECOA902
4. Filler
5. Metal protective tube for the connection cable
6. Watertight junction box
7. Surfacing

Sensor for installation in rainwater gutters ECOA903

The snow and ice sensor ECOA903 is installed between the heating cables in a rainwater gutter and attached by cable clamp or adhesive (neither one is supplied with the equipment). The sensor must not be in contact with the heating cables. The sensor is installed in the same direction as the water flow in the gutter with the two metal pipes upwards. It is recommended to install the sensor at the lowest point of the gutter near the drainpipe. The water running off is led to the sensor surface by extruded strips. The strips can be cut to fit the existing conditions of the gutter. The connection cable can be extended to 50 meters by using a 1.5 mm2 cable. It is recommended to use a cable with numbered leads for the extension as it is very helpful for example when trying to locate faults during a malfunction.

shows the installation of the snow and ice sensor ECO903 and the air temperature sensor ECOA904

1. Air temperature sensor ECOA904
2. Sensor ECOA904 clamp
3. Rainwater gutter
4. Sensor ECOA903 clamp
5. Snow and ice sensor ECOA903
6. Heating cables
7. The direction of water flow

Installation of air temperature sensor ECOA904

The air temperature sensor ECOA904 is installed with a cable clamp (not supplied with the equipment) either outside the gutter or on the wall nearby. Ensure that the sensor is protected from direct sunlight. The sensor must not be fitted in areas where heat accumulation can occur, like above windows, near lights or a chimney. The connection cable can be extended to 50 meters by using a 1.5 mm2 cable. It is recommended to use a cable with numbered leads for the extension as it is very helpful for example when trying to locate faults during a malfunction.

Technical data

Frost protection control unit ECO900

NOTE. Below 0 °C (32 °F) the correct reading of the LCD display cannot be guaranteed. This will not, however, affect the operation of the equipment.

Snow and ice sensor with a heating resistor for ground installation ECOA901

The sensor is equipped with a heating element that melts ice and snow gathered on the sensor. Additionally, the sensor has an NTC resistor to measure the sensor surface temperature as well as two metal rings as humidity sensors.

NTC resistor, yellow and brown wires

• Heating element, brown and green wires: 9 Ω
• Humidity sensor, white and grey wires: ∞ Ω with dry sensor surface

Temperature and moisture sensor for ground installation ECOA902

The combined sensor is equipped with an NTC resistor for ground temperature measurement and two metal rings as humidity sensors. This sensor is not independently heated.

NTC resistor, yellow and brown wires

Humidity sensor, white and grey wires: ∞ Ω with dry sensor surface

Snow and ice sensor with a heating resistor for rainwater gutters ECOA903

The sensor is equipped with a heating element that melts ice and snow gathered on the sensor. Additionally, the sensor has an NTC resistor to measure the sensor surface temperature as well as two metal pipes as humidity sensors.

NTC resistor, yellow and brown wires

• Heating element, brown and green wires:  20 Ω
• Humidity sensor, white and grey wires: ∞ Ω with dry sensor surface

Air temperature sensor ECOA904

The temperature sensor is composed of a cable with an insulated NTC resistor

NTC resistor, brown and blue wires

Maintenance

Ensure that the surfaces of the sensors installed in-ground and gutter are kept clean at all times. Dirt on a sensor surface will prevent its proper function. A regular inspection of the control unit is recommended so that any alarm messages can be recognized and repaired within a reasonable amount of time. By following the maintenance instructions the frost protection system will function properly.

Warranty

The warranty period for Ensto ECO900 is 2 years from the date of purchase but no longer than 3 years from the date of manufacture. For warranty conditions, see www.ensto.com

Disposal

Do not dispose of electrical and electronic devices including their accessories with household waste. The product’s cardboard packing is suitable for recycling. When a heating system is at the end of the life cycle the cables, conduits, and electronic components must be disposed of properly according to local recycling guidelines.

References

• Ensto – Leading Expert for Distribution System Operators
• Ensto – Leading Expert for Distribution System Operators

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