magnahelic

[allstar08]

just found this in my service truck. i know what it is for, but how would i use it in my everyday application. in other words how do i use this to solve problems.

[NormChris]

Originally posted by emoney1971
just found this in my service truck. i know what it is for, but how would i use it in my everyday application. in other words how do i use this to solve problems.

You need the little book "Airflow In Ducts" by Leo Meyer. You can get it at http://www.lamabooks.com

This is one of the most useful and easy to understand books on airflow, static pressures, velocity pressures and duct system measurments ever written. Simple and easy to read. Very concise. The book covers the use of the mag in detail. A practical book, not just theory.

[obxtech]

we use it on nearly every call we go on to take the systems blood pressure, or as we call it the external static pressure of a system is and use the equipments blower performance charts to see how many cfm the system is actually capable of at that given static, in which you will increase revenue from utalizing this tool to diagnose problems with duct systems, clogged coils ect.. you will be suprised how many systems you find that are over the recommended external static pressure.

[davidr]

Originally posted by obxtech
you will be suprised how many systems you find that are over the recommended external static pressure.

That would be about 99.9% wouldn't it?

[obxtech]

thats correct seems no one ever verifies their installation actually works like it should, how many companies you know that actually follow a start up procedure and document all the specs for new installs. not many, maybe a few here because just being here shows they are interested in the industry and do their best to do it right.

and davidr you missed the perfect timing for a plug for NCI so guess its up to me look into taking their seminars well worth your time and money, hell you might even learn something. http://www.nationalcomfortinstitute.com/index.cfm

[Edited by obxtech on 09-19-2006 at 10:35 PM]

[watercop]

Originally posted by emoney1971
just found this in my service truck. i know what it is for, but how would i use it in my everyday application. in other words how do i use this to solve problems.

If nothing else, depending on the guage's span (I'm assuming this is a guage), you could rig it to a pitot tube facing forward and have a nifty airspeed indicator for your van.

[allstar08]

so one tube into the return and one into the supply, and poof!!! static pressure.
so give me some senarios. plugged coil, plugged filter, ductwork too small, etc.

[obxtech]

tell you what it would be easier to show you so give me a chance to get some info together and e-mail it to you, just e-mail me with your address mine is obxtechatyahoodotcom I will get it sent to you tomorrow.

[Edited by jrbenny on 09-23-2006 at 10:14 PM]

[dec]

emoney , have you ever wanted to check out a furnace air switch. To see if it is pulling in or out at the preset pressures ???????? Sometimes its going to help you tell if its an airswitch, plugged flu, or plugged collector box connector. There ya go there is one thing. How about checking if your power venter is getting up to enough speed to pull in the air switches ?????? Checking gas or propane pressures to your units.


Oh ya ....... there was a reason it was on that truck. Gotta have one if you want to do things profesionally

[RoBoTeq]

If you are working on IDB furnaces without a magnahelic gauge, you are guessing at what is going on.

The very first thing I connect to a gas furnace with a problem is the magnahelic gauge. Of course, knowing where to connect it and how to read it is a matter for the Pro Tech forum on this site.

[allstar08]

i use a manometer for pressure switches and gas pressure. casn i also use it for static pressure? is it the same a a magnahelic?

[allstar08]

also i have bad typing skills so please forgive

[watercop]

Magnehelic is a (Dwyer) brand name for industry-standard mechanical analog (round-faced meter with swinging needle) low pressure / vacuum / delta pressure guages. There are approximatley 1 zillion ranges available.

'Manometer' is a generic name (i.e 'facial tissue' instead of 'Kleenex') for instruments measuring fairly low values of delta-p, such as those found across HVAC components. Options range from nifty LCD digital meters to unwieldy arrangements of vinyl fish tank tube filled with red-dyed water. All will work if correctly utilized.

If you are making proper use of a manometer with a reasonable range, you are likely duplicating measurements available using a 'Magnehelic' guage