Our first member has completed his initial evaluation of the Stargate SG3000. An excerpt from that evaluation:
I worked with the Star Gate 3000 today. I decided to check the system at my own house. Many a Testo and Digi-Cool have been tested there, so I am very familiar with the system.
First things first, I have tested Digi-cool, Testo, Refco, Field Piece, and JB. If there is any common theme I have seen with digital gauges, is the fact that the pressures are almost always identical, something will not find with bourdon tube gauges.
When I started this post, I was going to focus on the mechanical aspect of the product. The construction of the instrument is solid. I do not like the fact that it comes without a manifold and the fact that the temperature sensors have a very large mass and takes a considerable amount of time to change, but it is what it is, and I decided to look at it from a technical standpoint. At the end of the day, if the instrument reduces callbacks, and makes the techs more confident in their work, I figured I could live with the design.
The primary purpose of the SG 3000 seems to be to make the refrigerant charging process easier, faster correct and in real-time. As the load changes, the target SH is recalculated and the technician simply watches the display to determine if the system charge is high, low or OK.
If you have ever used the Carrier or Trane charging calculators, and WB and DB thermometer, you will understand the concept easily. The problem with any of these charts is the load is a dynamic thing. As the load in the house changes, so does the target SH, so the SG3000 by design would seem to minimize footsteps through the house to measure WB, and also eliminate the technician having to calculate required SH and any errors that might result. Additionally measuring WB in the R/A duct where it should be measured provides a much more representative picture of the load the system is seeing if the airflow is correct.
I got a chuckle when reading the instructions as they say “Prior to using the SG3000 make sure that:
• The air conditioning system is operating in accordance with manufacturers specifications.
• All coils are clean and free flowing
• Outside temperature is above 55 degrees F
• ect
I am thinking “I’m hooking it up to make it operate in accordance with the manufacturers specifications”
You still need a very competent technician at the helm. The SG3000 will do what it is designed to do, and do it flawlessly. It is not an intuitive instrument, but does come with good instructions both written and illustrated. The keypad and probe designation are a little quirky, but after a few times it is easy to use. The SG 30000 calculates a target superheat for the indoor WB conditions and outdoor air temperature. It does not consider however the operating load, (More on this to follow.). So if the system requires 8 degrees of superheat, when the SG3000 measures that SH, as you correct the refrigerant level, the charge will go from high or low to OK.
Before I go into the design flaw I see with this product, I feel everyone needs to be on the same page with my thinking. so, back to the basics.
Read more of our Exclusive Instrument Evaluations and the full Evaluation of the Stargate® SG3000™ only at http://www.hvacprotech.com The Source.
