Plasmacluster Ion Photo Essay
This is the photo essay accompanying the Sharp FPN60CX Plasmacluster Ion air purifier review. The first photo shows the machine and remote better than most pics available on the web. The plasma cluster ionizer and fan are controlled primarily through the remote, which may take some getting used to. Once acclimated to the remote, I couldn't use an air cleaner without one. Many people have too many remotes already and don't need yet another. The silver button on the top right will step through the manual fan speeds only. I consider the FPN60CX Sharp Plasmacluster a handsome and well constructed air purifier.
Next, detail of the Sharp fpn60cx remote. Note that only the red button at the upper left turns the unit on and off. Other "off" buttons pertain only to their specific function. This remote provides complete control over the air purifier. I have seen a user review calling this remote "ugly." I think it's perfect. Buttons are spaced just far enough apart and in a pattern which allows me to feel for them in the dark. Auto mode, with sensor controlled power adjustment, is the default power-up setting. Note there are two sections to this remote. The top section, with round buttons, controls the fan. The lower section, with pie-section buttons, operates the ionizer. To manually adjust the fan speed, hit the manual button and step through the speeds one at a time. Pollen mode selects a timed up and down cycle, designed to match the sporadic character of hay fever allergens. I see no real utility for this feature on a machine as quiet as the plasmacluster, just run it on max. Timer functions have the last button on the right. On a couple occasions I have inadvertently pushed this and wondered why my air purifier shut down. The display on/off button turns the bright plasma cluster ion signal light off for sleep. Many air purifiers neglect this feature, causing users to put tape over a bright light at night. The lower panel controls the plasmacluster ion emissions. Auto uses the sensor to regulate positive and negative ion output according to pollutant load. Clean turns on the positive ion "plasmacluster" feature. Ion control selects negative ion emissions only. Off turns off only the ionizer. The machine beeps a reply to each command, and if selected, changes the ion light to blue/green. 
The photo below shows the rear, with top discharge vents showing. Air comes out of the horizontally mounted squirrel cage fan at a 45 degree angle, not straight up. Those with tight spaces may find this inconvenient. I like to put it at the foot of my bed at night, in ion control mode (no pos ions = green light), with the air blowing gently across my bed. This removes carbon dioxide from my immediate airspace and keeps the negative ions flowing.
 The filter reset button restarts the filter monitor timer, which lights a red "filter" lamp on the display, and powers off the unit.  The next pic shows washing of the carbon granule bag. Mine has about 8 months of 24/7 operation, and four washings seem not to have affected it. Whether it will last many years I doubt. This bag picks up lots of dust which would otherwise get into the HEPA filter.
Across the bottom.
As stated in the main review, I like the Sharp FPN60CX Plasmacluster Ion air puifier. After 2 years of heavy use without a filter change I have found only one thing to complain about. The ion wire has lost some power, I expect due to oxidation. Looking into the purifier at night, the wire glows less brightly than when new. This is common in all electronic air cleaners. Sharp has doubled the ion wires in newer models, but these are not yet for sale in the US. End Plasmacluster Ion Photos, Go to top of page Return to Sharp Plasmacluster FPN60CX Review Return to Sharp Plasmacluster Air Purifiers Main Page
|
