Goodman Downflow Conversion Kit for 1.5 - 3.5 Ton AMST & AMVT Air Handlers DFKE-02
The Goodman DFKE-02 is the factory downflow kit for B and C cabinet AMST and AMVT air handlers in the 1.5 through 3.5 ton range. When a fan coil is set up to blow downward instead of upward, the evaporator drain pan sits directly in the discharge airstream and becomes the coldest surface in the cabinet. The DFKE-02 applies to the underside of that drain pan so condensation does not form and drip onto the supply plenum, the platform, or the finished ceiling below. It is the accessory Goodman specifies for contractors converting a multi-position AMST or AMVT air handler to counterflow duty in closets, utility rooms, and above-ceiling platforms.
Is the DFKE-02 the Right Downflow Kit for Your Cabinet?
Downflow kits are matched to cabinet size, not to system capacity alone. The DFKE-02 covers the smaller B and C chassis air handlers, which in the current R-32 AMST lineup means the 1.5 ton AMST24B, 2 ton AMST30B, 3 ton AMST36C, and 3.5 ton AMST42C, plus the corresponding AMVT variable-speed cabinets in the same widths. If your model number carries a D cabinet designation or a 4 to 5 ton nominal capacity, the larger kit is the correct part.
Whether a downflow kit is optional or mandatory depends on the environment the equipment lives in. Goodman's AMST installation instructions call for the Downflow Kit along with the High Humidity Kit when the return-air environment sees relative humidity above 65 percent, specifically to keep the coil pan from sweating. Attic platforms in the Southeast, unconditioned closets, garages, and coastal installations all push a fan coil toward that threshold, and the pan is the surface that shows it first.
Ideal for: B and C cabinet AMST and AMVT air handlers from 1.5 to 3.5 tons being installed in the downflow position, and high-humidity retrofits where drain pan sweating has already caused a callback.
Working with a larger cabinet? Step up to the Goodman Downflow Conversion Kit DFKE-03 for 4 and 5 ton AMST and AMVT air handlers.
Kit selection depends on the exact air handler model and cabinet letter stamped on the unit's data plate. Confirm your model number before ordering. Request free sizing assistance, contact Budget Heating, or call 813-885-7999.
What's Included
| Kit Model | DFKE-02 — Goodman Downflow Conversion Kit |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Prevents condensation forming on the drain pan in downflow applications |
| Mounting Location | Applied to the bottom of the evaporator drain pan |
| Cabinet Sizes Covered | B and C Chassis |
| AMST Models | AMST24B, AMST30B, AMST36C, AMST42C |
| AMVT Models | AMVT24B, AMVT30B, AMVT36B, AMVT36C, AMVT42C |
| Nominal Capacity Range | 1.5 through 3.5 Tons |
| Application | Downflow / Counterflow Air Handler Installation |
The DFKE-02 is a field-installed accessory, not a factory option, so it ships separately from the air handler and is added during the downflow conversion. The conversion itself involves sliding the coil assembly back into the cabinet on the downflow brackets, and the kit is applied to the pan while the coil is out and accessible. Ordering the kit alongside the fan coil keeps a second trip off the schedule.
Downflow Kit & Air Handler Features
DFKE-02 Downflow Conversion Kit
- Genuine Goodman accessory built for AMST and AMVT cabinets
- Applies to the underside of the evaporator drain pan
- Blocks condensation from forming on the pan in downflow orientation
- Sized for B and C chassis air handlers
- Covers the 1.5 through 3.5 ton nominal range
- Works with both AMST multi-speed and AMVT variable-speed models
- Called for with the High Humidity Kit above 65 percent return-air humidity
- Field installed during the downflow coil conversion
- Protects the plenum, platform, and ceiling below from drip damage
- Keeps the installation within Goodman's published downflow guidance
Compatible AMST & AMVT Air Handlers
- Multi-position cabinets rated for upflow, downflow, and horizontal
- Direct-drive ECM blower motors
- All-aluminum evaporator coil construction
- Compact chassis depth for closet and attic access
- AMST offered in current R-32 and legacy R-410A builds
- AMVT adds variable-speed airflow for tighter humidity control
- Field-installable electric heater kits from 3 kW up to 25 kW
- Downflow electric heat requires an L-shaped sheet metal supply duct
- No supply outlets or registers directly below the heater in downflow
- Coil assembly repositions on factory downflow brackets
Shopping the equipment side as well? Browse standard Goodman air handlers, compare the full air handler with electric heat strip selection, or pick up matching Goodman heat strips. Popular pairings for this kit include the 1.5 - 2 ton AMST24BU1300 and the 2.5 - 3 ton AMST36CU1300.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the DFKE-02 downflow kit actually do?
It is applied to the bottom of the evaporator drain pan to prevent condensation from forming there when the air handler is running in the downflow position. In that orientation the pan sits in the cold discharge airstream, and without the kit moisture can collect on the underside and drip into the supply duct or onto the platform.
Which cabinet sizes does the DFKE-02 fit?
The B and C chassis cabinets. In the AMST line that covers AMST24B, AMST30B, AMST36C, and AMST42C, and in the AMVT line it covers AMVT24B, AMVT30B, AMVT36B, AMVT36C, and AMVT42C. Check the cabinet letter in your model number rather than going by tonnage alone.
Do I need the High Humidity Kit along with the DFKE-02?
Goodman's AMST installation instructions call for the Downflow Kit in addition to the High Humidity Kit when the return-air environment exceeds 65 percent relative humidity, in order to keep the coil pan from sweating. In drier return-air conditions the downflow kit is used on its own for the downflow conversion.
Can I install a 3.5 ton AMVT in downflow without this kit?
The DFKE-02 is the accessory Goodman specifies for that conversion, and skipping it leaves the drain pan unprotected against condensation. For a 3.5 ton C cabinet AMVT42C, the DFKE-02 is the correct part number.
Where does the DFKE-02 mount inside the air handler?
On the underside of the drain pan. The coil assembly is pulled and then slid back into the cabinet on the downflow brackets during the conversion, which is the point in the job where the pan is accessible and the kit goes on.
Does the DFKE-02 change how electric heat is ducted?
The kit itself does not, but the downflow application does. Goodman requires that a downflow installation with electric heat use an L-shaped sheet metal supply duct with no outlets or registers located directly below the heater.
