Not sure where to actually put this information, but since I was unsuccessful at locating any troubleshooting repair topics anywhere on the net, I am posting this here in case anyone else has the same issue and goes looking for details.
I have a 5 x 8 Walk In Cooler with a Coolbot Pro and an LG1216ER 12,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner. I've had this unit for about 6 months and recently my Coolbot started alerting me of a room temp error. The room temperature was too cold and the error message indicated a problem with the Coolbot hardware. The Coolbot sends emails based on parameters that you configure. I am glad I had set the limits of my Coolbot to a room temp of 38F and outer limits of +/- 5F degrees.
When I got to the location of the Walk In, I found the room temp at -7F and the LG window unit was iced up, but still blasting cold air. I assumed there was a problem with the Cool Bot, but using their troubleshooting procedures, I pinpointed the problem to the AC unit and not the Coolbot. Thank goodness the Coolbot had these troubleshooting steps and they were straight-forward and easy to follow.
After a quick look at the control mechanisms for the LG unit and reading about other AC units having similar issues, I proceeded to take the front cover off and locate the control board. The control board is contained inside a metal enclosure and in order to get to it you have to slide the guts of the AC unit out a little ways, in order to access the screws of the enclosure. Well, as luck would have it, I had spray foamed the AC unit into the Walk-in, to avoid air leaks and so I was not immediately able to get the AC unit to slide out. I read online that someone had gotten their unit to start working again and the tech suggested that sliding the unit out and back in, probably unseized the relay contacts, but that eventually the problem would return.
So I proceeded to pound gently on the metal enclosure, of the sides I had available to me, to try and break the contacts free. Sure enough, when I plugged the unit back in and fired it up, the AC unit did not blow cold air until the room warmed up to the set point and then started keeping it where it should be....for a day....then I started getting the email alert of the Coolbot error again. Well, at least I was able to determine that the relays were indeed sticking shut and I would need to replace it.
I found the main control board online and ordered two of them, just in case. My original thought was to just replace the relay on the board, but without having the board in hand, I had no idea what relay to get. I figured I would buy a new board, swap it out and then try to locate the relay and replace it. That would be a much cheaper way to go in the future and would insure that I can run this unit long after parts are unavailable. While I was ordering the main control board, I went ahead and ordered the display board too, just to be safe, in case Murphy struck.
After the new board arrived and I was able to cut through the spray foam and unstick the AC unit, I slid it out and swapped out the board. I'll keep tabs on it and also update this post with any changes. I'll also add additional information, once I find the new relay and replace it, so that maybe someone else can save themselves some headache and money.
CoolBot Pro with WiFi
LG LW1216ER/00 Main Control Board - Genuine OEM
I have a 5 x 8 Walk In Cooler with a Coolbot Pro and an LG1216ER 12,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner. I've had this unit for about 6 months and recently my Coolbot started alerting me of a room temp error. The room temperature was too cold and the error message indicated a problem with the Coolbot hardware. The Coolbot sends emails based on parameters that you configure. I am glad I had set the limits of my Coolbot to a room temp of 38F and outer limits of +/- 5F degrees.
When I got to the location of the Walk In, I found the room temp at -7F and the LG window unit was iced up, but still blasting cold air. I assumed there was a problem with the Cool Bot, but using their troubleshooting procedures, I pinpointed the problem to the AC unit and not the Coolbot. Thank goodness the Coolbot had these troubleshooting steps and they were straight-forward and easy to follow.
After a quick look at the control mechanisms for the LG unit and reading about other AC units having similar issues, I proceeded to take the front cover off and locate the control board. The control board is contained inside a metal enclosure and in order to get to it you have to slide the guts of the AC unit out a little ways, in order to access the screws of the enclosure. Well, as luck would have it, I had spray foamed the AC unit into the Walk-in, to avoid air leaks and so I was not immediately able to get the AC unit to slide out. I read online that someone had gotten their unit to start working again and the tech suggested that sliding the unit out and back in, probably unseized the relay contacts, but that eventually the problem would return.
So I proceeded to pound gently on the metal enclosure, of the sides I had available to me, to try and break the contacts free. Sure enough, when I plugged the unit back in and fired it up, the AC unit did not blow cold air until the room warmed up to the set point and then started keeping it where it should be....for a day....then I started getting the email alert of the Coolbot error again. Well, at least I was able to determine that the relays were indeed sticking shut and I would need to replace it.
I found the main control board online and ordered two of them, just in case. My original thought was to just replace the relay on the board, but without having the board in hand, I had no idea what relay to get. I figured I would buy a new board, swap it out and then try to locate the relay and replace it. That would be a much cheaper way to go in the future and would insure that I can run this unit long after parts are unavailable. While I was ordering the main control board, I went ahead and ordered the display board too, just to be safe, in case Murphy struck.
After the new board arrived and I was able to cut through the spray foam and unstick the AC unit, I slid it out and swapped out the board. I'll keep tabs on it and also update this post with any changes. I'll also add additional information, once I find the new relay and replace it, so that maybe someone else can save themselves some headache and money.
CoolBot Pro with WiFi
LG LW1216ER/00 Main Control Board - Genuine OEM
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