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Second Stage Heat / Virtual Dual Fuel / Integrated Controls - Installation and Usage

You may want to check out our webinar on using the Puck Pro as an integrated control.

System Requirements

  • Puck Pros must be installed by a licensed professional to qualify for rebates
  • One Puck Pro per mini split head unit. Distributor list: flair.co/integrated-controls.
  • An ecobee or Honeywell WiFi connected smart thermostat. Compatibility list: flair.co/integrated-controls
  • At least one mini split heat pump capable of heating

Create Installer Account

Download the Flair app to your phone, or go to my.flair.co on a web browser. In the Flair app create your Flair account and check "I am a professional that installs Flair devices." You'll create the system using your Flair account and then, transfer the system to the customer.

Customer Information

Customer information required during Setup:

  • Home WiFi name and password
  • Smart thermostat username and password
  • Remote control model number(s) for mini split(s)
  • Customer’s email address for transferring the Flair system upon completion

Flair App Setup

Tap "Create Home" and Flair will guide you through the following steps:

  1. Make the first Puck Pro a Gateway and connect it to WiFi
  2. Add a smart thermostat (Vent count can be 5)
  3. Add the mini split
  4. Pair the mini split with a Puck Pro and download the remote control codes
  5. Add additional mini splits and Puck Pros

Note: If you experience any issues during WiFi setup on your phone, complete Flair Setup at my.flair.co in a browser on a computer/laptop connected to the customer’s home WiFi.

Pro Tip: Flair will not see 5.0 GHz WiFi networks. Most routers have dual band capability to broadcast both 2.4 and 5.0 GHz frequencies.

Flair Settings

Set Point Controller

  1. Tap the Flair Menu
  2. Then go to Home Settings->System Settings
  3. Set "Set Point Controller" to "Flair App"

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Away Mode

  1. Tap the Flair Menu
  2. Then go to Home Settings->Away Settings
  3. Set "Away Mode" to "Smart Away" or "Off Only"
  4. If set to "Off Only", Flair will turn off mini splits when your home is set to Away
  5. If set to "Smart Away", Flair will use the Smart Away bounds to keep your home at a comfortable temperature when your home is set to Away. Select Smart Away bounds (Minimum room temperature when heating and Maximum room temperature when cooling)

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Set the Mode

In the Control Bar, set "Mode" to "Heat". If your mini splits can cool, set it to "Auto Heat/Cool".

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Zones

Each room with a mini split must belong to two zones: the thermostat's zone and the mini split's zone.

For each room with a mini split do the following:

  1. Tap the room
  2. Tap the 3-dot menu on the room tile
  3. Then go to Settings->Room Info
  4. Check the mini split's zone box and the thermostat's zone box


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Secondary Heat Settings

After completing Flair Setup, configure Secondary Heat settings.

Open Secondary Heat Settings

  1. Tap the Flair Menu
  2. Then go to Home Settings->Thermostats
  3. Tap the down arrow mceclip0.png to expand the thermostat
  4. Tap Use as "Secondary Heat Setting"
  5. If you don't see "Secondary Heat Setting", check Required Flair App Settings

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Choose a Secondary Heat Option

Most systems use Cutover.

  1. Disabled: Flair will not provide staged heating
  2. Supplemental Heat: Mini Splits will remain on and Flair will supplement with secondary heat
  3. Cutover: Flair will switch between primary and secondary heat sources

Set Balance Point

  1. Set the "Cutover Temperature" or the "Enable Supplemental Heat Temperature" to the balance point for the mini split.
  2. Set the "Cutback Temperature" or the "Disable Supplemental Heat Temperature" 5F higher.

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Set Primary Heat Cutoff Delay

When using "Cutover", this setting allows the mini splits to continue to run for a period of time while the secondary heat source warms up. Values range from zero to twenty minutes. A value of zero means that mini splits will turn off immediately when cutting over to the secondary heat source. A value greater than zero means that mini splits will continue to run for that amount of time after switching over to the secondary heat source.

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Seasonal Mode Changes

If the customer has a mini splits that cool and intends to use them during the summer to provide AC to their home, Mode can be set to Auto Heat/Cool. Flair will intelligently switch the mode between heating and cooling during the edge season.

When the outside temperatures drop, Flair will switch between primary and secondary heat systems.

Test Plan

Testing Factors

  • Flair communicates with a smart thermostat every 5 minutes - keep this in mind while testing
  • Perform your tests 15 minutes apart - this gives primary and secondary heat systems time to warm up and cool down
  • If the room is already up to temperature, heat sources may not come on right away

Prior to Testing

  1. Turn off the smart thermostat
  2. Use the remote controls to turn on the mini splits - then remove batteries so their signals can’t interfere with Flair
  3. In the Flair app Control Bar, set the home set point 5F higher than room temperature to get the mini splits to cycle on (may need to go higher)
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  4. Wait the for mini splits to cycle on before proceeding

Testing Cutover

Adjust the “Cutover Temperature” or the “Enable Supplemental Heat Temperature” so it’s above the current outside temperature. Flair displays outside temperature in the control bar.

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This will prompt Flair to turn off mini spits and turn on the smart thermostat (give it at least 5 minutes). If using Supplemental Heat, mini splits will stay on.

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Testing Cutback

Then change the “Cutover Temperature” or the “Enable Supplemental Heat Temperature” so it's below the current outside temperature.

This will prompt Flair to turn on mini splits and turn off the smart thermostat (give it at least 5 minutes). If using Supplemental Heat, mini splits will already be on.

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After Testing

When you've verified secondary heat functionality, set the set point and secondary heat settings to their desired values.

Troubleshooting

If you experience unexpected results during testing, disable the “Use as Secondary Heat” setting and wait 15 minutes. Then re-enable the “Use as Secondary Heat” setting and return to the "Prior to Testing" section to create the initial state and run through tests again.

Note: if the room is up to temperature, the primary and secondary heat sources may not come on right away. Adjust the home set point higher.

Please contact pros@flair.co if you have any questions during testing.