Tooling up a Testo 510 for airflow and other airflow tools

[nchvac]

I bought a 510 about 3 years ago and have yet to tool it up correctly. I have some end of year money and I want to make this tool more useful. Have been looking for what I thought was a kit with the Dwyer A-303 tubes, but I can't find a kit.
Anyway, I know I want the A 303 for static pressure. If someone can direct me to the kit I would appreciate it, as I looked on the internet this morning and could not find one. I did find the 303 itself for about 11 bucks each, and I may have to just go find me a case and buy some tubing.

I also think I want a pitot tube. I am only using this for checking airflow on hvac changeouts and I may use it for varifying airflow on a complaint issue, etc. But mostly it will be for residential airflow verification for system sizing. So you guys know what kind of ductwork we see. I see everything from good systems to 4 foot boxes on the end of the unit as far as what I run into. I just need something that will tell me what I have going through the unit so that I don't bust compressors in 4 years, etc. I want to be able to verify airflow on every install and compare it to my load calc #s.

What size pitot tube will I need for resi work?

Also, I have a vane aneometer. Are these accurate for testing airflow at registers in houses? I don't see a flow hood working in residential because they are so big.
And if anyone knows of a good book on airflow I would appreciate it. I have learned a lot on htalk over the years on airflow, but I need something that will tie it all together.

[ch4man]

start here

http://www.trutechtools.com/Airflow

good info and they have all the toys you need

[snewman24]

Here's the Trutech kit with tips & tubing:

http://www.trutechtools.com/TruTech-...it-_p_630.html

[qwerty hvac]

Here's the Trutech kit with tips & tubing:

http://www.trutechtools.com/TruTech-...it-_p_630.html

Great kit. Use it all the time with my 510.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[nchvac]

So are you guys using just the static tips, or are you using pitot tubes too? I have a vane anometer but I find the reading so varied when averaging that I don't trust it, even though it self averages.

[jim bergmann]

What type of vane? and how are you using it. A vane is much more accurate than a pitot tube in turbulent airflow.

[nchvac]

What type of vane? and how are you using it. A vane is much more accurate than a pitot tube in turbulent airflow.

It is the fieldpiece attachment with the fan wheel. I have used it a couple of times, but it is basically new. I also have a pocket style exteck (I think is the brand).

How can you use a vane aneometer to check inside of the duct? I have used it at the return, but as I say you get so much variance on the large grills.

[jim bergmann]

OK, that makes more sense now. A mini-vane is for in dust traverse of airflow. A large vane like you are using is more for proportional balancing (equal velocity at each register) then airflow measurement. If you want to measure airflow in a register, look at the mini-vane (most accurate) of the Fieldpiece STA2, a very good second to the vane. The vane is better in turbulent airflow, but the Fieldpiece STA2 is a very cost efficient solution. Both the Testo 416 mini vane and the STA2 calculate airflow directly. You could also use a Pitot tube with your 510, it will just take longer and also require a bit of math to get the CFM.

[nchvac]

OK, that makes more sense now. A mini-vane is for in dust traverse of airflow. A large vane like you are using is more for proportional balancing (equal velocity at each register) then airflow measurement. If you want to measure airflow in a register, look at the mini-vane (most accurate) of the Fieldpiece STA2, a very good second to the vane. The vane is better in turbulent airflow, but the Fieldpiece STA2 is a very cost efficient solution. Both the Testo 416 mini vane and the STA2 calculate airflow directly. You could also use a Pitot tube with your 510, it will just take longer and also require a bit of math to get the CFM.

I was told that all I had to do was set up the testo 510 for fpm and insert a pitot tube in the duct in about 3 locations. Then do the cfm calc to convert from fpm.
Some of these digital tools are hard to navigate if you don't use them all of the time. It is the ones with the fewest buttons that concern me, because practice is all that will help you navigate and properly use these tools. I probably verify airflow on systems less than 10 times a year, so I won't be geting much practice.

[ga-hvac-tech]

Here's the Trutech kit with tips & tubing:

http://www.trutechtools.com/TruTech-...it-_p_630.html

Fieldpiece has a kit for the same thing... 2 angle probes (no tubing) for $20. Magnets are round and a little smaller. I bought the tubing at HD.

[ga-hvac-tech]

I bought a 510 about 3 years ago and have yet to tool it up correctly. I have some end of year money and I want to make this tool more useful. Have been looking for what I thought was a kit with the Dwyer A-303 tubes, but I can't find a kit.
Anyway, I know I want the A 303 for static pressure. If someone can direct me to the kit I would appreciate it, as I looked on the internet this morning and could not find one. I did find the 303 itself for about 11 bucks each, and I may have to just go find me a case and buy some tubing.

I also think I want a pitot tube. I am only using this for checking airflow on hvac changeouts and I may use it for varifying airflow on a complaint issue, etc. But mostly it will be for residential airflow verification for system sizing. So you guys know what kind of ductwork we see. I see everything from good systems to 4 foot boxes on the end of the unit as far as what I run into. I just need something that will tell me what I have going through the unit so that I don't bust compressors in 4 years, etc. I want to be able to verify airflow on every install and compare it to my load calc #s.

What size pitot tube will I need for resi work?

Also, I have a vane aneometer. Are these accurate for testing airflow at registers in houses? I don't see a flow hood working in residential because they are so big.
And if anyone knows of a good book on airflow I would appreciate it. I have learned a lot on htalk over the years on airflow, but I need something that will tie it all together.

Over the decade+ I have been licensed to do HVAC... I have found the most intriguing and also the most difficult to learn item is airflow and duct design. Any wonder why it is the most abused part of installs and service...

IMO it just takes time and experience to figure out. And perhaps practice along the way to keep one's skills sharp.

[acguytx]

Over the decade+ I have been licensed to do HVAC... I have found the most intriguing and also the most difficult to learn item is airflow and duct design. Any wonder why it is the most abused part of installs and service...

IMO it just takes time and experience to figure out. And perhaps practice along the way to keep one's skills sharp.

True words..

[nchvac]

OK, that makes more sense now. A mini-vane is for in dust traverse of airflow. A large vane like you are using is more for proportional balancing (equal velocity at each register) then airflow measurement. If you want to measure airflow in a register, look at the mini-vane (most accurate) of the Fieldpiece STA2, a very good second to the vane. The vane is better in turbulent airflow, but the Fieldpiece STA2 is a very cost efficient solution. Both the Testo 416 mini vane and the STA2 calculate airflow directly. You could also use a Pitot tube with your 510, it will just take longer and also require a bit of math to get the CFM.

I want to go back to the part about the mini vane being for duct traverse and for measuring air flow "in" a register. You say the minivane is the most accurate. How can you check "in" a register and traverse in a duct with a mini vane? Are you speaking of checking airflow into the return register?
On the STA2, would this device be accurate on a residential unit with only a 4 foot box for a plenum, or some of the other crap we run into?