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Re: DEAD WRONG
One thing about writing a book is that it's like giving birth to a child. Once it's done, it's out there. I wrote Lost Art 31 years ago. I thought I knew everything then. I've learned more since and I feel dumber than ever. There's always something new with the old, and age teaches humility, if you allow it to do so.
I wish I could go back 31 years and talk to that young fella who used to wear my clothes. He wasn't as smart as he thought.
I wish I could go back 31 years and talk to that young fella who used to wear my clothes. He wasn't as smart as he thought.
Re: DEAD WRONG
I'm with Holohan here, I work on well over 60 of these EXACT two pipe air vent systems in operation TILL this day. They work quietly and fine. The radiators are gorgeous and TREMENDOUS... many over 1000lbs. I just got several back from Sandblaster and Powder-Coater. They look straight outta the Foundry. We'd all be fools NOT to make our own conclusions about ideas and history. STUDY YOUR HISTORY....KNOW YOUR HISTORY!!! Yours is an Honest and humble approach.
That being said, the Deadman were NOT Dead Wrong. They WERE "Right" for their time, IN GENERAL...and for many years beyond. They gave us warm homes. That in and of itself was a Watershed moment as big as the indoor toilet! It's very easy to criticize the Inventors of anything, but THEY brought us to The Dance, Man. The first wheels were stone and wood, right? That accomplished great things for civilization. Tires eventually were made of high quality rubber, Steel Belted, White Walls, et cetera. It's alot easier improving on the Design of ANYTHING than to dream up, create and build the original paradigm, no?
All good..Socratic Method and spirited intellectual sparring. My most revered credit still lies with the Early Deadman..and of course, James Watts who perfected SAFETY....Carry on, men! Mad Dog 🐕
That being said, the Deadman were NOT Dead Wrong. They WERE "Right" for their time, IN GENERAL...and for many years beyond. They gave us warm homes. That in and of itself was a Watershed moment as big as the indoor toilet! It's very easy to criticize the Inventors of anything, but THEY brought us to The Dance, Man. The first wheels were stone and wood, right? That accomplished great things for civilization. Tires eventually were made of high quality rubber, Steel Belted, White Walls, et cetera. It's alot easier improving on the Design of ANYTHING than to dream up, create and build the original paradigm, no?
All good..Socratic Method and spirited intellectual sparring. My most revered credit still lies with the Early Deadman..and of course, James Watts who perfected SAFETY....Carry on, men! Mad Dog 🐕
Re: DEAD WRONG
The original two pipe , air vent system was a major flop. Steam would enter the supply and return sides. Invented by and installed by the Deadmen. Big flop. Was improved by the Deadmen who followed.
Re: Charging and manifold gauges...
Download the free app called SkillCat. You can take the test for free at any time. You have to submit a photo of your driver's license. The app records you taking it on video, and they claim to record your screen. They watch the video to make sure that you don't cheat.
This method has been approved by the EPA. The app also has practice questions in it, but I also took many online practice tests 3-4 times until I could pass them. Some of the questions are stuff one can just know from experience. Others are things no one could know without study because they are memorizing dates of the Montreal Protocol or how many inched of Hg vacuum is needed for various situations. Those are all things that in the real world I would just look up as I needed them, but still - it was useful for them to be on the test because it drilled into me the kinds of things I would need to double-check if I had to recover a system.
Here are some practice tests I used:
https://nationaltradesman.com/building-trades/hvac-techs/epa-608-certification-info/608-types/type-2/high-pressure-practice-test-2/
https://www.escogroup.org/practice/practiceexamsession.aspx?uid=fa8ce666-7049-47cf-9250-90da79b55cd2&q=13
https://www.hvaccertificationpracticetests.com/epa-608/epa-608-free-practice-test-1-type-2-exam/
https://epa.practicetestgeeks.com/epa-608-type-ii-practice-test/
This method has been approved by the EPA. The app also has practice questions in it, but I also took many online practice tests 3-4 times until I could pass them. Some of the questions are stuff one can just know from experience. Others are things no one could know without study because they are memorizing dates of the Montreal Protocol or how many inched of Hg vacuum is needed for various situations. Those are all things that in the real world I would just look up as I needed them, but still - it was useful for them to be on the test because it drilled into me the kinds of things I would need to double-check if I had to recover a system.
Here are some practice tests I used:
https://nationaltradesman.com/building-trades/hvac-techs/epa-608-certification-info/608-types/type-2/high-pressure-practice-test-2/
https://www.escogroup.org/practice/practiceexamsession.aspx?uid=fa8ce666-7049-47cf-9250-90da79b55cd2&q=13
https://www.hvaccertificationpracticetests.com/epa-608/epa-608-free-practice-test-1-type-2-exam/
https://epa.practicetestgeeks.com/epa-608-type-ii-practice-test/
rsilvers
1
Re: Soft Start Kit ?
Another rural point of data.
My hood also has a transformer for each home, and I have a whole house Generic 16 KW genset. The 16 KW rating is overly optimistic, and for running watts, not starting watts.
My AC dims the lights on grid power. The AC will start on genset power, but I don't recommend it. I had a power outage, and during the outage the thermostat called for cooling. Both the AC and the genset struggled. There should have been a sub panel for genset power loads, but that was installed before my ownership. If your friend wants AC on backup power, the smallest 240 volt window shaker would be less stress on the generator and AC. 240, so it pulls from both legs.
A droop in voltage (dimming lights) doesn't necessarily indicate an issue. It depends on how much of a droop and for how long.
When I was testing out my home built 8KW natural gas generator I tried starting my 3 ton 2 stage A/C on it.
The generator certainly didn't like it, but the compressor didn't seem to care much. It started fine.
If it was 90F+ out and our power goes out for any length of time I can guarantee I'll be running the A/C on that generator. Although I may manually control it so I can keep the load to a minimum during starting.
In my specific case, mine is a B&S 570cc vtwin with a 12KWH alternator. So, when it comes to running a 3 ton AC it's definitely a baby. And even though the alternator can do 50A @ 120V *2, the engine can't. It makes life easier if the load is imbalanced, but the total output is still limited to 8-9kw.
The 16KW Generac my dad has uses the same engine as their much larger 20kw model, I think 1000cc. His has absolutely no problem starting the 3 ton single stage A/C. In fact, I think he did a test where the well pump was running and several other large loads and it still started the A/C just fine.
A soft start can very well make it easier on things especially if the dimming lights bothers people, or even causes issues with equipment etc but it's probably usually not necessary.
In regards to stress on a generator, in my opinion, the generator doesn't care and isn't effected in the least by the short 80A draw from an AC compressor. It causes an abrupt blip of the throttle and a sudden slow down of frequency and drop in voltage, but I don't think the actual equipment is effected by it. It's not long enough to create any heat in the alternator.
Other things being powered may not tolerate the drop in voltage and frequency, but I don't think the generator cares at all.
ChrisJ
1
Re: Necessity is the Mother of Invention...
I was thinking you needed the machine to do it on a curve, you can do it albeit rather tediously on a straight section with a brake. Now that i think about it more, i bet the curved pittsburgh is done on a flat piece that is rolled in to a curve after and the 90 that locks in to it is made around the curve with something like a hand seamer. i don't know if it is a regional thing, but this is how most ductwork is made around here.
There is a machine that can form that on the edge of a piece of sheetmetal with a series of rollers sort of like a continuous gutter machine.
mattmia2
1
Re: Necessity is the Mother of Invention...
Just cut the factory ends off & reflare them. (That's what the groove in the tubing cutter wheel is for! I didn't know!!) If you take a look at the factory end & a flare that you've made, you'll see what I'm talking about.
You can braze them in if you want, but that's a lot more work—unless you live in Chicago. I hear they're not allowed to use flares, or weren't. Do flow N₂, Never had a problem with clogging the screens with that.
ratio
1
Re: Necessity is the Mother of Invention...
I'd be super concerned about people reaming the copper if that were the case.
mattmia2
1
Re: Necessity is the Mother of Invention...
Even with N2 there is the potential of copper oxide forming. Minis DO NOT have the safety of filter driers just several very fine screens. It doesn’t take much to plug one of these up but is a nightmare figuring out what one or two ARE plugged!mattmia2 said:why not? if you actually trickle N2 or CO2 as required and heat sink it before the unit i don't see a difference between the 2.No brazing on minis!Mad Dog_2 said:Oh yeah? Leakers? Reflare em or braze em? Mad Dog
pecmsg
4
Re: Necessity is the Mother of Invention...
When you asked about this i was going to say you should make friends with a machine that can roll a pittsburgh but looks like you won't need that.
mattmia2
1