Ultimate Air RecoupAerator DX 200 Timer/Controller Issue
I have an Ultimate Air RecoupAerator DX200 installed/manufactured ca 2010-01. The controller on the left side of the unit can be used to turn the blower on/off, but it that is the only way to turn the blower on, with that main power switch. The wall controllers (3 total, each installed in a bath) no longer turn the unit on at all, and the only way to turn it off is to flip that main power switch. It behaves as though it is unaware of the wall controllers. The wall units are, I believe, the simplest that were sold at the time, with like 20 min, 60 min and maybe off buttons. I’m unable to even get to the Ultimate Air web site due to security issues, so I can’t verify the model of the controllers (it’s not installed in the home I actually live in). Any suggestions warmly welcomed–my own inclination is to remove the unit in its entirety and be done with it, but that’s a big project.
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If the unit otherwise works, this sounds like a likely controls issue - either the control board or the transformer.
It looks like UlimateAir may be out of business - every link on their website returns "Cannot connect" Maybe someone here has a contact for you.
A bit of googling indicates your unit is an ERV, and is no longer available, either ever (per http://freshairventilation.net/ultimate-air.html) or temporarily due to covid (per https://www.blueridgecompany.com/radiant/hydronic/637/ultimateair-recoupaerator-accessories)
The second website lists this device as a timer: http://s3.amazonaws.com/media.blueridgecompany.com/documents/UltimateAire_Wattstopper%20Timer.pdf
The documentation for this timer indicates has a special wiring diagram for using it with your ERV, which indicates it is wired to the ERV control board
This website also has a link to the 52 page install manual for the unit
http://s3.amazonaws.com/media.blueridgecompany.com/documents/UltimateAir_200DX%20Install.pdf
That document indicates there may be a transformer for the low voltage controls.
I'd try to find a contact for Ultimate Air, or get someone who knows more than me about this to determine if your issue may only be the transformer, which can probably be replaced, or buy a cheap used unit on Ebay for parts, including the control board.
Thanks--that's very helpful. Yeah, inability to contact the manufacturer really settles it for me--the complexity (ie, more than one moving part) far outweighs any practical benefit for this home, where PV and thermal solar provide nearly everything needed as-is.
I was going to suggest a new post asking if anyone has any contact info for someone from UltimateAir, then recalled posts about a company with an interesting product that people were trying to contact. A quick search on UltimateAir confirms those posts were about them. Hopefully the contact info in this thread will be helpful to you. Update us on your progress in solving this.
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/question/ultimateair-contact
Based on your description, your system is exhausting bathroom air, which is a critical function since that air is either too humid or too smelly.
ERV's also generally exhaust stale air from very tight houses.
The second benefit of an ERV is that they bring in fresh air, to make up for the air they exhaust and keep the house positive. Your unit sounds like it brings in fresh air in proportion to what is exhausted.
It would probably not be advisable to go without an ERV, or to go without bath exhaust fans. I'm not aware of other ERV's that do double duty as bath exhaust fans, but that one link in the above GBA link might. Or maybe you can find out how to repair your unit based on the youtube links, or maybe get in contact with someone whose unit has a dead motor to swap parts. If you replace with a regular ERV you might end up revising your ductwork and wiring to support stand alone bath fans.
Fixing what you have will probably result in better function, less cost, less waste and the least disruption.