Who's got some Ideas on how....

[hvaclover]

...to protect our Testo and Sman gauges in the rain?

I, for one, don't break for a moderate rain fall, especially if I am running behind.

So, anybody got any suggestions?

[vstech]

ziplock baggies?

[HVAC Mechanic]

come on man what kind of post is this....aint supposed to handle refrigerant in the rain especially if you are working on 410a if its a no heat/cool service call then bust out an umbrella or some portable shelter

[crymtide]

Amen to the umbrella. I keep a beach umbrella in the van; have used it in the rain on some medical chiller jobs, and have used it to keep the sun off my neck in august as well. As for moisture and refrigerants if procedures are followed and you control direct contact with water there is no reason not to work while it's raining. Where I live the humidity level is such that one could be off work 6 out of 12 months of the year.

[hvaclover]

come on man what kind of post is this....aint supposed to handle refrigerant in the rain especially if you are working on 410a if its a no heat/cool service call then bust out an umbrella or some portable shelter

Don't quite get you. I think everyone has monitored system press in the rain with analogs..410A included. With gauges attached how is water going to enter the system?

There are schrader valves ...remember? And commercial systems have service valves that can be front seated and back seated.

How you gonna get rain water in?

[hvaclover]

Amen to the umbrella. I keep a beach umbrella in the van; have used it in the rain on some medical chiller jobs, and have used it to keep the sun off my neck in august as well. As for moisture and refrigerants if procedures are followed and you control direct contact with water there is no reason not to work while it's raining. Where I live the humidity level is such that one could be off work 6 out of 12 months of the year.

Agree...but what to do about our new digital in the rain?

[AStudent]

Agree...but what to do about our new digital in the rain?

Well I'm not sure about Testo or Fieldpiece, but the Digi-Cools have been dunk tested....you can find the video on Youtube or their website.

As far as keeping them out of the rain, can we put them in a case/bag until at the condensing unit and then work under an umbrella/shelter?

[jpsmith1cm]

Well I'm not sure about Testo or Fieldpiece, but the Digi-Cools have been dunk tested....you can find the video on Youtube or their website.

As far as keeping them out of the rain, can we put them in a case/bag and work under an umbrella/shelter?

:yes:

I am not at all afraid of rain.

[hvaclover]

More worried about being caught in the open in aunexpected down pour while I am at a crucial point during system check. like to figure out something .....

[hvac wiz 79]

heres an idea just take out the pup

[Dchappa21]

Trade em in for Digi-Cools... I just let mine get poured on.

[hvaclover]

don't like diggi

[AStudent]

don't like diggi

:Faint:

[hvaclover]

:Faint:

:grin2:

[Maineiac]

My Digi 's have been soaked,frozen, burried in snow left over night on a RTu and crash tested to the ground cause some stupid man hung them from his antenna and forgot about them untill @65 MPH wondering about the banging and whats that bouncing down I 95????? I guess the answer is you need Digi Cools:grin2:

[coolwhip]

I dont use a digital gauge manifold, and I don't work in the rain...thats the way I roll.:angel:

[hvaclover]

Coll..now got any ideas how to protect the ones I prefer?

[hvaclover]

I dont use a digital gauge manifold, and I don't work in the rain...thats the way I roll.:angel:

Heck, lets meet for lunch... you can check out my Testo 557 and SMAN 3...got a lot of work lined up too:cheers:

[hvaclover]

I figured it out....heavy gauge slip cover plastic booties! Like Yaya and papou had on their furniture in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".

Heh, not bad for a guy still recovering his health.

Coolwhip you gave me the idea...thanks.

[coolwhip]

Im old fashioned and still like my analogs...Its difficult for me to trust digital stuffs...sometimes they give you wonky readings.

Service is also kickin in for me as well. I am usually busy and am used to that all my life, so when I have down time I don't know what to do with myself besides play my banjo, eat, or read.

[Trehak01]

the zip lock bags sound like a good idea.. If i get a digital set I may use that idea..

[steveoo]

You think .75 psi will make a differance? Why would you need digital?

[mark beiser]

*Insert obligatory story about both of my Digi-Cool sets + torrential downpour + hail*
They need no protection. ;)

I think Fieldpiece has a padded water proof cover you can get for theirs.

he case for the Testo gauges should protect them from rain if you lay it flat.
They should not stray far from their padded case at any time anyway. When using them on a system, open the case and hook the hoses up with the gauge still laying in the case.
That has been the secret to the long life of my first generation Testo 523.
It is my main set for R-410a systems, so it gets regular use.

[Tech it out]

Its a nice toy to have but not necessary. Makes it a little easier and quicker, I will buy some down the road but too many other things to buy to start with. I will get some on second round of tool buying. :grin2:

Wish the digicool had better leads, would make it a no brainer which ones to buy.

[jpsmith1cm]

Wish the digicool had better leads, would make it a no brainer which ones to buy.

The new clamps I bought last week have much improved wire.

[jpsmith1cm]

You think .75 psi will make a differance? Why would you need digital?

You need to review the actual accuracy of the common 2-3-2 analog gauge before you go making foolish statements like this.

It's a good bit more than .75 PSI, friend.

In my opinion, "good enough" isn't.

[Tech it out]

The new clamps I bought last week have much improved wire.

Didn't know the new clamps were out, good to know. Are new clamps coming with the new digi's now?

[jpsmith1cm]

Didn't know the new clamps were out, good to know. Are new clamps coming with the new digi's now?

Clamps are an add-on option or accessory that can be added.

As of now, they are still not available for the AK-900. There is an upgraded sensor for the AK, but not a clamp, yet.

[steveoo]

How do you calibrate your digital gauge?

[jpsmith1cm]

How do you calibrate your digital gauge?

Unlike cheap analogs, a quality digital set doesn't require frequent calibrations.

There is a local zero function to account for variations in atmospheric pressure, but it really isn't calibration.


How do you calibrate your analogs?

Proper calibration requires more than just zeroing a gauge.

[martyinlincoln]

When the down pour is coming I pull the plastic bag off a media filter and use it to protect manifold and meter.

[mark beiser]

How do you calibrate your digital gauge?

The Fieldpiece ones have a calibration function that works pretty much the same as checking the calibration of any gauge against the saturated pressure of a refrigerant at a stable temperature.

Digi-Cool and Testo gauges are not truly field calibratable, but you can still check the calibration of them.

You can kind of "calibrate" a Digi-Cool by pulling a very deep vacuum on the manifold, switching over to displaying absolute pressure, and zeroing the instrument.
It isn't really calibrating the instrument, but it is a handy trick for people at higher altitudes.

The only time my 6 year old, much abused, Digi-Cool BTD-1000 failed a calibration check on one of the sensors, I replaced the sensor and it was spot on. The calibration data is stored on the sensor.

My first generation Testo 523 is still in calibration too.

[HVAC Mechanic]

Yes of course water won't enter the system with gauges attached
It's during the attachment process take off the caps with wet hands water dripping from your rain suit from the unit itself water splashing onto the ports that's how but i have replaced compressors in the rain you gotta do what you gotta do
i have a ten by ten canopy for rainy days and balls hot days but realistically if i wasn't gonna be long i wouldn't carry that thing up on a roof

But if you're worried about your digital gauges don't use them
that's how to protect them from the rain

[hvaclover]

Yes of course water won't enter the system with gauges attached
It's during the attachment process take off the caps with wet hands water dripping from your rain suit from the unit itself water splashing onto the ports that's how but i have replaced compressors in the rain you gotta do what you gotta do
i have a ten by ten canopy for rainy days and balls hot days but realistically if i wasn't gonna be long i wouldn't carry that thing up on a roof

But if you're worried about your digital gauges don't use them
that's how to protect them from the rain

Road apples. Oil residue on the ports repeals water. And I have been wiping off the inside of caps even when it it's dry out side.

:whistle: