New Digi-Cool®/Ritchie® Yellow Jacket® Temp. Sensors Available

“These are the bar clamp and the scissor clamp as illustrated below.  Price for the bar or scissor clamp as illustrated is $90.00 plus shipping…..twice the durability at 1/2 the price of the others out there!!!  As per usual….DC tough but DC late…” ~Lockhart~

If you can’t find a source for these yet – contact Zeus at digital.zeus@yahoo.com. Also read two current first user reviews of these new sensors at HVACPROTech.com®

Laminar Airflow | System Performance and the Testo® 435-2

Taking a CFM reading with the 435-2 confirmed that I was moving enough air for the application. So I started looking at airflow characteristics within the system. I cut a large hole in the end cap of the plenum and immediately (you could actually hear it in the evap coil and refrigerant lines) the system settled down and operated within specs. I had no way of blocking off the RA branch line so it can not be said with any certainty that it is either poor laminar airflow or not enough air (but I had a good CFM reading remember).So tomorrow I am going to remove the branch line and reposition it in the end cap of the RA plenum; right now it is 6-8 inches away from the bottom (back) of the AHU; and this is a heat pump application so the coil is right there as well, very close to the branch line tap.

My theory is that the air isn’t mixing well in the RA plenum, not achieving good laminar flow and thereby short circuiting the evap coil. My hope is that by moving the RA branch line to the end cap will give it enough time to stabilize and will then be able to use the whole coil, as designed.

My boss and I have discussed this very thing several times, however, this is the first opportunity I have had to actually control the whole process from start to finish.

His thought process: “there is nothing in the installation data that says it has to be X number of inches away from the back of the AHU”

My thought process: “they don’t care, they design the equipment and leave it up to us to know what we are doing with the duct work design/install” 

 

 

 

 

HVACPROTech.com

Testo® 435-2 Evaluation Review

I have had the opportunity to use my Testo 435-2 Multi Meter for a couple of days now.

The first thing I wanna say is this, Why hasn’t this been thought of before, or better yet, Why haven’t I thought of this before now?

This thing is wicked cool. Not only is the black over stainless case eye catching, it is available with a wide array of instrumentation. You can be a complete ID10T and still look like a pro holding this instrument.

I have two wireless RH/Temp probes and the 2.5 inch Vane Anemometer. When performing a PM (system performance evaluation since I got my 435-2), you can quickly and easily incorporate/confirm airflow and BTU with this instrument, while not adding any noticeable time to the job. You have a better idea of system performance and the customer gets an added benefit at no extra cost, win win!

Telling someone that their system is not performing to it’s full capacity is one thing; being able to show them hard numbers and percentages is something else all together! People don’t really understand what you tell them when you say their 36000 BTU system is performing at 24600 BTU; but they do understand it is only working at 68% of it’s capacity! And that is exactly what the 435 will allow you to do, in about 5 minutes!

Here is how my work flow goes. Arrive at home for PM check. Turn stat down to 70 degrees while talking to customer, turn wireless probes on, run outside hook-up 560-1, get in attic to take M/N, S/N
and blower Amps., plug wireless probes into duct, leave attic and take RA measurements with 435-2, calculate BTU, CFM etc, write it down (or print it if you have the printer), go outside to the CU and finish up PM Check (plenty of time has passed to allow system to stabilize). Make necessary changes, recalculate BTU etc, show customer the improvements.

The head unit is pretty good sized, but it fits the hand well, all the buttons are easy to reach and the menu driven programming flows easily enough. The process for entering area and sizes isn’t that intuitive, but is easily followed logically, especially if you actually look at the button icons and not just push buttons. Once learned, it is logical and flows easily.

Testo® 556/560 Probe Mapping Tutorial

An excerpt from just one of the extensive HVACPROTech.com® field based member reviews. Read the rest of this comprehensive – ongoing review here:http://hvacprotech.forumwise.com/hvacprotech-thread7741-0.html or any of our hundreds of others – only at THE Source – your HVACPROTech.com® 

Testo® 556 Probe Mapping

Probe mapping is a little less intuitive, but I think if we understand addressing we will have a better idea of what we are doing.First, the values that the 556 use to calculate superheat and subcooling have to come from somewhere. We have two choices, either a wired probe, or a wireless probe. Probe mapping will tell the 556 which probe to use to either calculate a value, or just display a value.

We are going to set our 556 to use the wireless probes (with a K type temp. sensor) to display our superheat/VLT/T3 and subcooling/LLT/T4.

Turn on the wireless probes and the 556.

Perform a probe search.

 

Now we will map the probes. Here we will tell the 556 which probe to recognize for which value or calculation, you can choose to have the 556 use a wired probe or a wireless probe.Here we are telling the 556 to recognize a wireless probe for the Tev (Temperature evaporator) calculation. This is the value that will be used to calculate SH and will display as VLT and T3 in the appropriate screens.

 

Here we are telling the 556 to recognize a wireless probe for the Tcn (Temperature condensing) calculation. This is the value that will be used to calculate DC and will display as LLT and T3 in the appropriate screens.

Now the 556 knows to look for a wireless probe, but it doesn’t know which wireless probe. Each wireless handle has a unique RFID # that must be addressed to the correct location. Look at the RFID # on the bottom of the wireless handle.

You can use the smaller RFID # handle for the Suction and the Larger for the Liquid, or you can put a sticker on the handles like I have done (L and S appropriately). I have also thought of painting the collar that holds the actual probe to the body, one Blue and the other Red for quicker indexing.We did the probe search earlier so the 556 now has recognized the wireless probes; we just need to tell it which probe to use for what.

 

Go to Pick wireless probe, here we will ‘pick’ which one we want to use.
In the left hand corner the RFID # menu holds all the RFID #s that the 556 has received. Toggle to the correct RFID # that you want to use for the SH and hit Apply.
1) Toggle to RFID #
2) That you want to display here
3)And hit Apply under the correct frame.

Do the same for the Liquid side.

 

now both RFID #s should be showing in the appropriate Blue or Red frame.Escape out and see if the probes are receiving correctly. Stick one in the refrigerator or something to make sure the right one you think you have addressed for suction is the one that is actually showing the VLT; you can also just turn one off to check.

 

 

 

 

 

Cooper-Atkins® MFM300™ FieldTest – Come On You Know Where

Yea you know where. There’s only one place that you can read – discuss – comment and participate in real time, no bullshit evaluations of the cutting edge instruments and tools that are reshaping the landscape of HVAC/R equipment diagnostics. If you said HVACPROTech.com® – take Monday off and go fishing. If you said anything but HVACPROTech.com® – go to jail, go directly to jail – do not pass go, do not………  

This one I’m a little embarassed about it. The Cooper-Atkins® MFM300™ Multi-Fucntion Instrument has managed to fly just below my radar screen for sometime now. For well over a year to be precise. A reader of the Zeus Journal and/or a member of the PROTech® Boards brought this piece to my attention when he submitted an image of his to be included in the Zeus Gauge Gallery – don’t bother looking, it still isn’t there yet, but it will be added in the next group of 10.

Cooper has long enjoyed a quality reputation in the temperature measurement and indication instrumentation field.  I was very happy to see the Cooper-Atkins® name associated with the MFM300™. And we are equally as happy to add the MFM300™ to the ever expanding HVACPROTech® FieldTest and Evaluations list of advanced diagnostics instruments.

If you don’t know much, or anything at all about the instrument – don’t fret – we’re going to rectify that situation. Zeus has added the U/O Manual for the MFM300™ to his Little Black File Box located in the right column of the Journal. Take a minute, download it and familiarize yourselves with it – this may be your next instrument investment. Check out the clip below and then meet us over on the PROTech® Boards – ’cause everyone knows, that’s where the rubber meets the road. 

A brief description of the instrument from Cooper-Atkins.com®

Lighten your load and increase your capabilities by using the MFM300. It’s your choice …use the following instruments and tools: Digital Thermometers, Anemometers, Sling Pyrchrometers, Data Loggers, Gauge Sets, P-T Charts and Psychrometric Charts or just use one,…. the MFM300. The MFM300 has the ability to measure, calculate and display the following: Temperature – 3 zones, Delta T, Min, Max and Average; Pressure; Superheat and Sub-cooling; Psychrometrics; Air Flow; Data Logging and is Upgradeable. The MFM300 is designed as a modular, upgradeable and expandable system allowing the user to add as needed; probes; features and capabilities. Eliminates Cost!

Specially designed for professionals who service and install HVAC/R equipment, these kits contain the necessary test instruments to keep your installations up and running. Depending on your specific needs and applications choose from Air Conditioning, General Purpose, Real-time Superheat / Sub-Cooling or Deluxe kits. Each kit contains the specific equipment needed for that task and comes packaged in an attractive portable case that organizes and protects your instrument and accessories. Now you’ll always have the right equipment on hand!

Air Conditioning (MFM300-Kit-1):

• Assists in determining system efficiency
• Instantly displays psychrometrics
• Perform basic air balancing

General Purpose (MFM300-Kit-2):

• Expands MFM300 capability to include humidity and psychrometric readings
• Instantaneously calculates superheat/sub-cooling as pressure and temperature change
• Speed & accuracy improved greatly over traditional analog gauge sets

Real-time Superheat/Sub-Cooling (MFM300-Kit-3):

• Perform Superheat / Sub-cooling simultaneously
• Eliminates manual input of pressure readings
• Superheat / Sub-cooling instantaneously calculated as pressure and temperatures change
• Compatible with all common refrigerants (Additional refrigerants available)

Deluxe (MFM300-Kit-4):

• Maximize the capabilities of the MFM300 and get it all

The Digi-Cool® “Stalker”™ Manifold

Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder – and you don’t typically associate artwork and the HVAC/R trades – but……there is always an exception to every rule. We’ve been sitting on this Article for about 3 maybe 4 months now give or take a month. And it has not been easy – we are just as excited about the new Digi-Cool® manifold as we are almost positive you’re going to be. The beauty of this manifold is that it is more than skin deep, not only does it look like an awesome manifold it performs like one as well.

Starting with true 3/8″ “Full Flow” porting and flow bores – not a single 3/8″ bore but a full 3/8″ bore from each port. It is also the only manifold with a through the body sightglass. It’s the only manifold worthy of being branded with the Digi-Cool® logo.

Immediately below are a few of the original CAD conceptual drawings of the manifold that HVACPROTech® was provided for Archiving purposes. The design considerations that led to the creation of this manifold are apparent in the CAD drawings.

TOP VIEW

BOTTOM VIEW

FRONT VIEW

ANGLE VIEW

As noted above and illustrated in the conceptual CAD Back View below, this is the only  manifold with a forward to reverse through body Ambient Light Optimization™ sight glass – we’re betting it will not be the last though. It will be interesting to see which OEM copies this concept first.

 

The design considerations do not end with the apparent revolution in appearance when compared to typical manifolds. From the offset valves in the manifold body that offer more “finger” room to the valves themselves, this is an evolution of the manifold.

Original Prototype Images:

If you think that’s about all that could be done to modify manifold design – you don’t know Lockhart. Kicking the design customization up another notch, the concept I like to call The Stalker ……………………………

HVACPROTech® will have the full scoop on the new manifold, the DRSA™ 1600, the DRSA™ 1250 and some new stuff on the Digi-Cool® drawing boards that will offer some insight into Lockhart’s vision for the DReeSA™ in our soon to be published second interview with the instrument designer.

There’s only one source for the information, data and news that you want to know…..first……..HVACPROTech.com® and Digital Zeus™ – THE Source.