Refrigerant gauges

Dave0176

Wondering, I know winters coming but I've been thinking about that Testo 550 to replace all my gauges, or should I just keep the old analogs?? Currently have a set of 12/22/502, set of 134a/404/507, a set of 134a automotive gauges and a set of 410a. The old 12/22/502 are a pain as they just seem to leak which makes a real pain to leak test a system.

Bob Bona_4

I've been happy with my Fieldpiece SMAN3's. Leak testing is so easy, superheat and subcooling at a glance. I had used analogs for decades, got tired of gages falling apart. I saw another tech using the SMAN3 a couple years ago and that was it.

Dave0176

Hmm I've been very happy with my Testo 320 combustion analizer, so thats why I'm thinking of the 550s. Testo makes some quality equipment.

unclejohn

I find if you put a dab of caulk on the screws on the back of the gauge and the screws that hold on the handles they don't fall apart as much.

Bob Bona_4

Great idea! And that's always been a source of irritation for me Dave, if that tech had Testo, and I liked what saw, I may have gone that way. I do have a Testo combustion analyzer.

ChrisJ

I've only done stuff on the side, my best is a set of Yellow Jacket Brute II's. Has anyone had those "fall apart" ?

http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Jacket-46013-Charging-Manifold/dp/B004JRXK0M


For my monitor tops a gauge set is useless as all I ever use is a Yellowjacket micron gauge. I rarely use them but when I do I've never had any complaints about the Brute II's but they're far from cheap.


Here's the micron gauge I use.

http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Jacket-69086-Hand-Held-Vacuum/dp/B0015A14QI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444047220&sr=8-1&keywords=Yellowjacket+Micron

I'm kind of a Yellowjacket fan I guess.


@Dave0176 I hope you haven't been only using a manifold set to vacuum systems with? The small vacuum range of the typical analog gauge is almost useless IMO.

Dave0176

ChrisJ said:

I've only done stuff on the side, my best is a set of Yellow Jacket Brute II's. Has anyone had those "fall apart" ?

http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Jacket-46013-Charging-Manifold/dp/B004JRXK0M


For my monitor tops a gauge set is useless as all I ever use is a Yellowjacket micron gauge. I rarely use them but when I do I've never had any complaints about the Brute II's but they're far from cheap.


Here's the micron gauge I use.

http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Jacket-69086-Hand-Held-Vacuum/dp/B0015A14QI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444047220&sr=8-1&keywords=Yellowjacket+Micron

I'm kind of a Yellowjacket fan I guess.


@Dave0176 I hope you haven't been only using a manifold set to vacuum systems with? The small vacuum range of the typical analog gauge is almost useless IMO.

No Chris I actually bought the yellow jacket vacuum kit with the manifold to go on the vac pump with two 36" heavy duty black 3/8s hoses, and I use Yellow Jackets micron gauge too, kinda wish I would've bought the Blue Vac gauge though, which I understand their making the same gauge for yellow jacket now rebranded.

Dave0176

I do like some Field Piece stuff I got their digital manometer/static pressure tester that comes with the pressure sensor tester. Really nice tool. I also got a old school Yellow Jacket water manometer.

Bob Bona_4

The SMAN has the micron gauge built in, and temp clamps as well. One stop shopping.

SWEI

We're at the dawn of a revolution in gauges. Check out the iManifold -- there are also several competitors about to hit the market.

Bob Bona_4

Whoa, that's pretty tricked out. Think I'll sit it out for a while and see how that goes. Heck, after 24 years of analog, I'm light years ahead with the SMAN

njtommy

I'm not sure about the digital gauges. I keep going back and forth on getting a pair, but I keep hearing guys having problems with them. Just don't want to shell out that kind of money.

Harvey Ramer

I've been using the I-manifold ever since they became available. It's the toughest manifold I have ever owned and I really like all the features. Intelligent diagnostics.

I give it a big thumbs up.

ratio

I've got the SMAN4 & I think it's great. The only complaint I have is about the k-type clamps - they don't last very long. Fortunately, any k-type clamp will work. I like the UEIs, but the cable is short. I'm also experimenting with leaving a k-type permanently attached to systems. We'll see how long they last.

The latest edition of the SMAN4 shows all the numbers on the screen at once, sc, sh, saturation & line temps, the works. Another feature is that it will communicate wirelessly with a number of other Fieldpiece instruments & give you a live target superheat. Fun!

njtommy

That's part of the problem is clamps. What size copper do they go up to? I'm assuming the make straps to for the bigger tonnage equipment?

Dave0176

Bob Bona said:

The SMAN has the micron gauge built in, and temp clamps as well. One stop shopping.

I think the Testo 570s have the integrated micron gauge, but these gauges go for about $500 bucks.

Dave0176

I'm surprised no one has any experience with the Testos, did I mention I love my 320 combustion analyzer.......lol

ratio

@njtommy, they claim IIRC 1-3/8, but one of the problems I've run into is that the spring is strong enough to stress-fracture the hinge point after a year of light usage. The other thing I've run into is the mini connector becoming intermittent internally, although that might have been caused by my little buddy putting it back into it's storage bag without unplugging them - only once though! I replaced the connector a few days ago & it seems to be working fine now.

WRT the UEI clamps, they have a little metal strain relief on the connector, makes me think they're built a lot stouter compared to the molded connectors on the Fieldpiece. They also have one that has a Velcro attachment that fits up to something like 2-5/8. The cords are short though. I picked up some female connectors, I'm going to try some extension cables.

njtommy

@ratio thanks for the input. Will be looking into the testos and Smans.

ratio

I'm gonna plug the four-port manifolds too. I sucked down a warehouse cooler with a 140 lb receiver to under 500 microns in just a few hours using a Imperial four port manifold & a 1/2" vacuum house attached to my 7 cfm vac. All three of the other hoses were nippled onto the system - I had to go on both sides of the head pressure control valve, so I was going to end up with a four port anyway. It's analog, in fact I just replaced the gauges on it. I'm pretty pleased with that one too. I use the charging port to attach my micron gauge when I'm working on splits. You just gotta shut the vac port to get a real micron reading.

njtommy

I have 2 sets of 4 port analog gauges and absolutely love them, but I leave them on units overnight a lot to on the pump. I wouldn't leave a set a digital gauges on over night. Lol.

Today's job two copeland swap outs

ratio

Nice. The afore mentored cooler, came with a brass shaving inside the suction king valve. For free! The supplier couldn't get a factory replacement in a timely manner, so I had to change the flange out too - 2-5/8. Took a 32 tip on a B tank, & I had to get pissed off too before it came off!

I don't leave my digitals overnight either, but I let my guys use them from time to time.

Bob Bona_4

You know pretty darn quick if you have a leak with the digitals, vs the analog

ChrisJ

Bob Bona said:

You know pretty darn quick if you have a leak with the digitals, vs the analog

You know pretty darn quick on an SO2 unit in the complete dark without gauges.

Dave0176

njtommy said:

I have 2 sets of 4 port analog gauges and absolutely love them, but I leave them on units overnight a lot to on the pump. I wouldn't leave a set a digital gauges on over night. Lol.



Today's job two copeland swap outs

Nice big Copeland, I'm used to the big 6 cylinder Carlyle's, in Carrier A/Cs.

njtommy

null

Micron gauge too. Some times leaks really mess your home day up. It really sucks when you can't find them and you know it's there somewhere.

njtommy

Another job from this summer. Oil pump failure as you can see.

njtommy

Like this one @Dave0176

njtommy

Here is some copper plateing for you @Dave0176

Dave0176

Yes sir, speaking of which, I'm working on a 30 ton Carrier split condenser with a Carlyle 06E, there is some cooling and I found the compressor for what ever reason to keep cycling on the unloader, my head was only 225, but then it cyles down and head drops to like 175?? Also the second condenser fan wasn't running but givin the cool temps its not supposed to run.

njtommy

Is it electronic unloader or mechanical?

Dave0176

This is a mechanical unloader.

Dave0176

Maybe its weak??

njtommy

Is set by your suction pressure. I would recheck your charge as by there chargeing chart and recheck you suction pressure and super heat. This time of year your going to cycle a bit between loaded and unloaded. Is this on a VAV system to?

njtommy

You can adjuste them but you need to look at the total system.
What's your return air
Supply air
Super heat
subcooling

What is set point by the controller or controls? If it's a VAV system it's normally 55 supply air set point. Maybe 60 in the winter.
Does this also have Hot gas bypass?

Dave0176

No VAV just a regular single speed AHU. I did notice a lot of oil around the liquid line solenoid valves. Can't seem to find any leaks though.