Where to buy a Testo 523 refer analyzer?

[rogerk]

Is this a good price? http://www.valuetesters.com/Testo-523-AC-Refrigeration-Analyzer-0563-5236.php

[mark beiser]

OK price.
Was looking at their Testo 435 kits. They have amazingly bad documentation of exactly what each kit is for, and what is included with it, which is CRITICAL information.
Someone from Testo needs to get with these folks and straighten them out...

[jthom]

I suggest you look at all options before you purchase testo. I have owned 4 different sets in the past 2 years. All sets have leaked out of the service valves. 2 sets have been returned for service or replacement. The last 2 are leaking and will be returned for credit. Very dissappointing product especially with our short cooling season......Just called my supplier yesterday to give the serial number and date code and refrigerant oil leaked out onto my desk.:(

[beachtech]

johnstone supply sells'em for 499 here. (testo 523)
they also have the kit with the printer if you want that option as well.

i just ordered the yellow jacket digital set friday for 649

[rogerk]

i just ordered the yellow jacket digital set friday for 649 A teacher at school has the yellow jackets and said that the temperature probe that plugs into the gauges is way off. Now I have never used the yellow jacket gauges so I dont know if he just had a bad set or what, but it definitely made me hold off on buying a set. Now Im hearing that the Testo's leak. Guess I will have to make it through another summer with my analog gauges. :(

[hvaceric]

A teacher at school has the yellow jackets and said that the temperature probe that plugs into the gauges is way off. Now I have never used the yellow jacket gauges so I dont know if he just had a bad set or what, but it definitely made me hold off on buying a set. Now Im hearing that the Testo's leak. Guess I will have to make it through another summer with my analog gauges. :(

Have the instructor talk to Digi-Cool about that temp probe, I am sure Doug would like to know if it is way off. He's kinda picky like that :D

There was a recall on the Testo's, something about the valves, contact Testo directly and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

[jim bergmann]

There is no problems with leaking on the new generation Testo 523.

The first generation of the testo 523 did leak if the handles were over tightened. (Which was not hard to do.) The replacement handle has a stop installed to prevent overtightening. When the leaking sets were sent into service, they were replaced with brand new sets so the leaking sets could be analyzed.(At the time we did not know why this was happening.) The replacement sets had the same problem, and hence leaked again. If you send them in for service now, the handles will be replaced with a new designed handle and the problem will no longer persist. We are sorry for the inconvenience, however they do carry a full two year warranty, and are well worth repairing.

The new 523 has had no issues with leaking at the valve handles, and is a rock solid instrument. The larger display and more intuitive operation make the instrument much easier to use.

Jim Bergmann
HVACR Technical Specialist
Tecto Inc.

[sparky05]

I found a price at amazon.com for $349.00 That I am seriously considering.

[beachtech]

I found a price at amazon.com for $349.00 That I am seriously considering.

you better do it now!!!! and get me one while your at it :D

[beachtech]

A teacher at school has the yellow jackets and said that the temperature probe that plugs into the gauges is way off. Now I have never used the yellow jacket gauges so I dont know if he just had a bad set or what, but it definitely made me hold off on buying a set. Now Im hearing that the Testo's leak. Guess I will have to make it through another summer with my analog gauges. :(

i just got mine today and only was able to use them on three systems. and all my readings on the temp probe where right inline with my DMM and pipe clamp :)

as far as the testo leaking. sometimes you cannot believe everything you hear. do we know how that guy took care of his gauges?? lot of people really crank down on gauges, and thats a huge mistake!!

i just got my YJ set ,and in a couple months i will get the teto set and see for myself shich ones i like. i have heard numerous people say the YJ's are made by digi-cool. don't know how true it is, but there are alot of similarities :)

[mark beiser]

I found a price at amazon.com for $349.00 That I am seriously considering.

Make sure which one it is before you buy.
There is an "old style" 523 and a "new style" 523 that are very different products.

[weber]

Make sure which one it is before you buy.
There is an "old style" 523 and a "new style" 523 that are very different products.

Yup, really make sure with that price!

[weber]

i have heard numerous people say the YJ's are made by digi-cool. don't know how true it is, but there are alot of similarities :)

Its true, Digi-Cool is the manufacture, has a different face plate and rubber.

[jim bergmann]

The Testo 523 for $349.00 is the old style, they also have the same on trutechtools.com It is really a great buy for the price, the technology is solid, and I still have a set that I use weekly. For the price, it is the best value out there. You can also get them with the software if you want a low cost data logger.

[beachtech]

jim, is the tru tech your dads store?? i was looking at it the other night. i was going to order the new testo 523, but decided to go with the YJ for now. i will be in the market for the testo set in a couple months though, and would like to do business with fellow hvac members here :)

[jim bergmann]

Yes, he has them on hand, He is including the hose holder for free for the next few months. He was also thinking of including some options with hoses. The new firmware in the 523 makes it hands down the best value in the industry. I am working with the 556 now and the data logging is absolutely awesome.

[beachtech]

awesome! i am putting his site in my favorites right now :) how informative is the data logging? you leave your gauges on the system overnight? what are you looking for when you log? i cannot think of a situation where i would need to data log, then again i am doing resi work.

[weber]

awesome! i am putting his site in my favorites right now :) how informative is the data logging? you leave your gauges on the system overnight? what are you looking for when you log? i cannot think of a situation where i would need to data log, then again i am doing resi work.

There are lots of good reasons to use a data logger in resi work!

[beachtech]

and that joker is 1300 plus!! WOW i don't make that kinda monies!!

[mark beiser]

The prices for some of the Testo stuff keeps going up, I guess mostly due to the dollar weakening against the Euro.
When I first started trying to get my boss to buy me a Testo 435 multi function meter, before he spent a bunch of money on other stuff for the company, I could have gotten the kit I wanted for under $1800, now it is almost $2000. :(