Digital Zeus™ HVAC Tool & Instruments Journal

Gas furnace inspection procedures and documentation sheet. Includes data entry for two-stage equipment. Developed by Jim Bergmann and written in Microsoft Word to faciliatate field modification to suit your specific applications.

Download Documentation Sheet here:  http://www.mediafire.com/?wjg330hmi91

We are interested in talking to technicans that have experience with this instrument in a field setting. As the name of our Journal indicates, we are pro-digital, actually not even necessarily pro-digial - we like to talk about the instruments that are available to the technician to make him a better, more effective - efficient technician. Unfortunately most often the only resource for information on instruments come from their respective OEM’s. At least that has been true up until HVAC PROTech.com® introduced the Exclusive FieldTest Evaluation Boards.

We have industry recognized authorities with published documents and Articles relevant to the subject of the troubleshooting procedures and techinques that are unique and specific to the Honeywell® SmartValve™ we are currently in the process of scanning and uploading such a publication from Timmie McElwain - we will make it available exclusively to our members. The oustanding issue however, remains -  is the SmarTester™ a legitimate instrument? Will it tell you anything that the valve itself will not tell you.

We have a SmarTester™ currently in use on the boards but it has yet to achieve the status of a FieldTest. A single use proved the instrument capable of troubleshooting an ignition circuit quicker than conventional techniques - but - single use is not adequate to prove the instrument worthy of inclusion in our, “Gotta Get-It” category. So we would like additional input from the readers of the Zeus Journal. You have one - you use it - useful or useless, please let me know at digital.zeus@yahoo.com   

The Fundamentals of Gas

I thought it would be a good idea to post a little bit on Fundamentals of Gas as a review for some or perhaps new to others. I will add a little on this subject as I have time.

The general composition of Natural Gas a “HYDROCARBON” that is a compound of hydrogen and carbon CH4. The major part of natural gas is composed of METHANE, about 85%, 12% ethane and other gases.

Natural gas is odorless out of the ground so an odorant (mercaptan ) is added for detection purposes. The gas is basically non-toxic but can at times displace the oxygen in a confined area.

The specific gravity of the gas is from .4 to .8 as compared to air, which is 1.0. We typically use .6 as a point of reference for charts and tables. The .6 SG means that natural gas will rise (lighter than air) when leaking as compared to LP gas, which has a SG of 1.52 and will tend to accumulate in low areas.

Specific gravity affects two things:

1. The flow of gas through orifices, also pressure upstream will affect flow.
2. The flow of gas through pipes

A gas ORIFICE is a small hole punched into a brass fitting called a SPUD.

Read the Rest of This Gas Fundamentals Article as well as Others by Timmie McElwain in our Gas Technologies Board: http://hvacprotech.forumwise.com/hvacprotech-thread2292.htmll Only at the Technicians Forum. HVAC PROTech.com®

Smart Valve Gas Ignition System Overview

• All Smart Valves eliminate the need for a separate device, remotely mounted, that contains the electronics necessary to control the sequencing of the pilot, the main gas burner and flame sensing circuit. All of these functions take place in the valve’s operating head.

• Each of the many varieties of this Smart Valve system use flame rectification for flame proving .

• All of the system’s electrical wiring occurs on the valve’s top using Amp-type electrical connectors to plug in to receptacles on the valve (except on Generation I systems, which have the 4-pin power receptacle located on the valve’s gas outlet face).

• All of the different low voltage systems use Norton’s 24 VAC type silicon nitride igniter. This igniter has a low starting resistance to current flow and it heats to the temperatures needed in +/- 2 seconds. As its temperature rises its resistance increases.

Learn More About the SmartValve™ at HVAC PROTech.com®