Digital Zeus™ HVAC Tool & Instruments Journal

Troubleshooting Guide and FAQs
Superheat/Subcooling
SSX34, ASH3, ASX14, ASX24

The ‘cold beer’ test is good enough no longer. You must check superheat or subcooling to charge a modern air conditioner properly for efficient operation. Below you’ll find the most common technical questions and answers associated with superheat/subcooling measurements and the use of Fieldpiece Instruments superheat/subcooling tools. 

1. What equipment do I need?

2. How do I know if I should be measuring superheat or subcooling? 3. What is superheat and subcooling?

4. When should I take my actual and target superheat/subcooling measurements?

5. How do superheat subcooling tools work?

6. How do I use either subcooling or superheat to charge a system?

7. How do I calculate ACTUAL superheat?

8. How do I calculate ACTUAL subcooling?

9. How do I measure refrigerant temperature (the ACTUAL temperature of the refrigerant)?

10. What do I do with my ACTUAL superheat or ACTUAL subcooling measurements?

11. How do I calculate TARGET superheat?

12. How do I calculate TARGET subcooling?

13. What if my ACTUALS are far different from my TARGETS, but the system seems to be running properly?

14. Why is my meter displaying pressure when it is not hooked up to any pressure source?

15. Why does my pressure reading keep changing when I am testing superheat / subcooling?

16. Why is my PRESSURE READING displayed as “OL” (or) “-OL”?

17. Why is my TEMPERATURE reading displayed as “OL” or “-OL”?

18. Why is my SUPERHEAT / SUBCOOLING reading displayed as “OL” or “-OL”?

19. My ambient temperature reading is off. How do I calibrate temperature on my Fieldpiece tool?

Read the Rest of this Article as well as the Entire Collection of Fieldpiece® Technical Articles: http://hvacprotech.forumwise.com/hvacprotech-post-11659.html#11659 Courtesy Fieldpiece® Instruments.