PSA: If you happen to purchase a recent model of an Alen air purifier, you may notice this label in it. When they say "purifier will not operate appropriately with non-Alen filters" they mean that the units are programmed to stop functioning when a third party filter is installed. Like so many companies, they're attempting to force you to purchase their overpriced consumables, instead of the (just as effective) cheaper version from a third party. Filters from third parties are ~$30 while filters from Alen are ~$100. (See this Reddit thread for details/complaints/etc.: https://www.reddit.com/r/AirPurifiers/comments/1slr2nj/psa_alen_air_purifiers_use_rfiddrm_to_block_the/)
Luckily, all we need to do to get around this is pull the RFID tag out of the filter that came with the unit (or a new one if you don't still have the original filter). It's sandwiched between the foam strip that says "This end up" on the top of the filter and the layer of black paper below. If you carefully peel this strip off of the plastic beneath it (I cut the filter at the corners to do it), you'll be left with something that looks like the attached images. This strip can be easily placed on the top of a new, third party filter and installed as normal. The device will think it's an Alen filter.
I won't be purchasing an Alen product again (which is a shame, they're great air purifiers) because fuck companies that do this shit.
