Rack features?

[jpsmith1cm]

A multi-part thread.

First:

What features do you or would you LIKE to see on the systems you are installing or servicing?

Second:

What features DON'T you like on the equipment?

Third:

What would you add if YOU, a service guy, were designing the rack. Carte Blanche here, money isn't an object, just for fun and my curiosity.



I'm just curious what other guys are working on, what technology is being used in other parts of the country and world and what is on the horizon.

[captinsano]

service ports bigger than1/4 on circuits,and an I m pissed button that shows you pictures of bikini clad women to calm you mid call,and a 5/8 ports to evacuate rack if you lost the charge.

[-frozen-ocean-]

Third:

What would you add if YOU, a service guy, were designing the rack. Carte Blanche here, money isn't an object, just for fun and my curiosity.

isolation valves upstream and downstream of all major valves would be nice.and access fittings on both sides of ball valves and major valves. and on all manual stem valves instad of front seating the stems with a little wrench have the screw driver stem like you see on bigger epr's. just using a little stubby to manually open a valve would be nice. and having a blink code screen on the rack like you see on control boards and ice machines would be nice and easy for troublesooting puposes:D

[NedFlanders]

(1)Isolation valves with gauge ports everywhere

(2)1 pressure control for 6 compressers

(3)A "comfy" seat and laptop table with flashing lights and internet access with laser beams that shoot at the manager when keeps walking in to ask me how much longer it will take to get the rack back up after it has been down for 6 hours and nobody called and now it's a big emergency to get up and running.

[slant6]

one size on all manual service valves...

auto-pump down switch

lots of cool blinking l.e.d.'s

mounted flexible-flood lights

"undo" button when #@$#@$ happens

a fluffer in the motoroom ...to hold my tools

[frigeguy]

I do have one store with all the above, well except the fluffer:D It has 3/8 ports in all the right spots, guage ports both sides of the liquid solinoids etc. Its fully remote, has restore on the computer. Its been a pleasure to work on this building for the past 4 years. Its a Hussmann surge with 25 ft of drop leg, one noteable feature is the lead fans are 1/3 hp 600v with a smaller 3 blade fan, perfect for the -20 outdoor temperatures we have now. This setup is microthermo with sporlan steppers, copeland discus compressors. We have ballanced port valves, Hussmann impact cases. 404 on both med and low. Almost no service at all in 4 years. Its useing 7.5 hp at -10f outdoor on the med rack, full subcooling, insulated liquid line from the roof to the valves. I have not seen a better setup so far. I'm sure the 2 1/8 condensate line dropping 25 ft from the roof is a big part of the design that creates a static pressure allowing this system to function this well.
One Note: This building has not needed any gas or oil since it was installed 4 years and counting.

[man from trane]

Controls:

Controller would have a built-in webserver for direct web access. Nix the phone line dial-up scene. :mad:

Controller would use timed diversity logic to cycle circuits instead of allowing say, 6 circuits to call for 10 minutes and then all shut off about the same time. To save the compressors from cycling as much it would bring on circuits in a controlled rotation, taking into account the temp, rather than just randomly. Basically it would incorporate time and what the rest of the system is doing into the circuit control logic.

[NedFlanders]

Controls:

Controller would have a built-in webserver for direct web access. Nix the phone line dial-up scene. :mad:

Controller would use timed diversity logic to cycle circuits instead of allowing say, 6 circuits to call for 10 minutes and then all shut off about the same time. To save the compressors from cycling as much it would bring on circuits in a controlled rotation, taking into account the temp, rather than just randomly. Basically it would incorporate time and what the rest of the system is doing into the circuit control logic.

If you set up floats(floating suction)that would get rid of that....(flame suit on)

as far as the web server thing ...Comtrol has the "CWEB" which replaces the 6K that has that function.
The chain has a website they can access a store through their website.
Although they wont give us the IP.

MicroThermo also has something like that.

The future is getting pretty crazy with controllers.

[man from trane]

If you set up floats(floating suction)that would get rid of that....(flame suit on)

as far as the web server thing ...Comtrol has the "CWEB" which replaces the 6K that has that function.
The chain has a website they can access a store through their website.
Although they wont give us the IP.

MicroThermo also has something like that.

The future is getting pretty crazy with controllers.

Tell me more. I have floats, but all it does is reset the suction target upwards as circuits are satisfied. The problem is taht there's always 1 circuit that needs the lower target most of the time so the float never really comes into play.

Will the CWEB work with a 4K board? I have a 5K modem talking to a 4K now. I guess they have a 4K2 that replaces the 4K now.

[NedFlanders]

Yeah , the CWEB would replace the 5K.
But it's only a cat 5 connection and a comm. line (global) to the 4k's.
There are alot of options on it that aren't enabled yet and it comes with a bag of crap that you don't use. Graphics are nice and it's point and click.

The controller is basically Honeywell Jace I'm told , tweaked for Comtrol.


The floating thing , everything runs , unless it's in defrost.

I know , it depends on the system and the type cases on the header.
I usually float stuff to mellow a rack out if possible. That way the load is more of a constant.

[man from trane]

The floating thing , everything runs , unless it's in defrost.

I know , it depends on the system and the type cases on the header.
I usually float stuff to mellow a rack out if possible. That way the load is more of a constant.

I get it. The problem with mine is some circuits run 30%, others are energized 80% of the time. If the target floats upward to keep the meat cooler barely at temp, the produce displays are still cycling in and out every 5minutes. Looking at the plans, everything was designed for different suction temps. Poor sizing, no EPRs on anything either. I just hate to see compressors cycling while loads are remaining constant. Pet peave.

The CWEB sounds sweet. Too bad all 3 of my stores use different controllers.

[NedFlanders]

I get ............... I just hate to see compressors cycling while loads are remaining constant. Pet peave.

.

Me too:rolleyes:

[thegoodhumorman]

(1)Isolation valves with gauge ports everywhere

(2)1 pressure control for 6 compressers

(3)A "comfy" seat and laptop table with flashing lights and internet access with laser beams that shoot at the manager when keeps walking in to ask me how much longer it will take to get the rack back up after it has been down for 6 hours and nobody called and now it's a big emergency to get up and running.


Ditto on more isolation ball valves, and those lasers need to be targeted low:rolleyes: I think a taser gun would be a lot more fun now that I think about it heh heh heh... "fish outta water"
I still appreciate those discharge checkvalves on seperators, and would love a discharge diff valve that would last more than a year without a rebuild coz that Hussmann Koolgas style of piping with a diff. valve in the liquid line sucks - it is pretty simple true but my subcooling goes kinda nutty on low temp racks during defrost as liquid packs into receiver.

Hey can I get better lighting, satellite radio and a ten minutes in the ring with the Hill rack design guy who puts all those hot gas iso valves waaaay back behind the suction/liq line header piping?

Mostly would like my rack to be running 502 and c-3 oil.

Can I get a flamethrower for spider control?

[NedFlanders]

Ditto on more isolation ball valves, and those lasers need to be targeted low:rolleyes: I think a taser gun would be a lot more fun now that I think about it heh heh heh... "fish outta water"
I still appreciate those discharge checkvalves on seperators, and would love a discharge diff valve that would last more than a year without a rebuild coz that Hussmann Koolgas style of piping with a diff. valve in the liquid line sucks - it is pretty simple true but my subcooling goes kinda nutty on low temp racks during defrost as liquid packs into receiver.

Hey can I get better lighting, satellite radio and a ten minutes in the ring with the Hill rack design guy who puts all those hot gas iso valves waaaay back behind the suction/liq line header piping?

Mostly would like my rack to be running 502 and c-3 oil.

Can I get a flamethrower for spider control?

Forgot the lighting and sat. radio.
how about shag carpet....(blue of course);)

all good ones.....let's do it!

[icemeister]

Direct stairways to mezzanines and penthouses (no straight or ship ladders)
Water and 120v power next to condensers
Roof lighting for service
Permanent rolling hoist for mezzanine or penthouse
Refrigerant charging line from loading dock to penthouse or mezzanine
Workbench with a vice (and maybe a parts washer)
As-built refrigeration piping & system drawing mounted on the wall
Utility sink with hand cleaner dispenser and towels
Authorization (from high up) to toss out anything that doesn't belong

[man from trane]

^ Make that a freight elevator. I hate lugging things up stairs. :cool:

[jpsmith1cm]

Direct stairways to mezzanines and penthouses (no straight or ship ladders)
Water and 120v power next to condensers
Roof lighting for service
Permanent rolling hoist for mezzanine or penthouse
Refrigerant charging line from loading dock to penthouse or mezzanine
Workbench with a vice (and maybe a parts washer)
As-built refrigeration piping & system drawing mounted on the wall
Utility sink with hand cleaner dispenser and towels
Authorization (from high up) to toss out anything that doesn't belong


Dang, I must be a lucky guy, or work for a very good customer.

About half of the stores that I work on have these:

Water and 120v power next to condensers
Roof lighting for service
Permanent rolling hoist for mezzanine or penthouse
Refrigerant charging line from loading dock to penthouse or mezzanine
As-built refrigeration piping & system drawing mounted on the wall
Authorization (from high up) to toss out (ALMOST) anything that doesn't belong

And, yes, man from trane, I even have stores with elevators.

What I wouldn't give for a good vice, though... No more clamping pipes to shopping carts, no more standing on something while wrenching on it...

I'm working on an idea, though. It just might work...

[crackertech]

Direct stairways to mezzanines and penthouses (no straight or ship ladders)
Water and 120v power next to condensers
Roof lighting for service
Permanent rolling hoist for mezzanine or penthouse
Refrigerant charging line from loading dock to penthouse or mezzanine
Workbench with a vice (and maybe a parts washer)
As-built refrigeration piping & system drawing mounted on the wall
Utility sink with hand cleaner dispenser and towels
Authorization (from high up) to toss out anything that doesn't belong


Now all that would be great.