Testo 550 Reliability?

[Keith73]

I noticed that the new ones came with the ground clamp.

I'm glad to hear your success with them.

It's too easy to hear the negative comments and too hard to get people to post the good ones.

[jpsmith1cm]

Yes, I noticed those. It looks like a good deal. I'm still wavering between the Digicools and Testo. The 550 is obviously cheaper but the 1250 will work on my 4 valve. The Testo 4 valve are way out of my budget. then again I don't know if I will completely eliminate the need for a standard 2 valve.

You would not be disappointed with a Digi-cool.


Why would you need a 2 valve if you already have a 4 valve? I used a 4 valve for a year or so until I decided that it was a POS, and only pulled the 2 valves out of the truck to get at something that was behind them.

[Reeferman]

Yes, I noticed those. It looks like a good deal. I'm still wavering between the Digicools and Testo. The 550 is obviously cheaper but the 1250 will work on my 4 valve. The Testo 4 valve are way out of my budget. then again I don't know if I will completely eliminate the need for a standard 2 valve.

Buy the Digicools.

[Keith73]

You would not be disappointed with a Digi-cool.


Why would you need a 2 valve if you already have a 4 valve? I used a 4 valve for a year or so until I decided that it was a POS, and only pulled the 2 valves out of the truck to get at something that was behind them.

At present I only use the 4 valve for system repairs.

[papa_jo]

I have used my testos all late spring and summer and now into fall of this year and I have had NO issuses with mine,, like the showing of superheat and subcooling at same time and the blacklighted screen is good.. like the heatpump option for not having to swicth your hoses around-- maybe I got lucky or whatever but I have had No issuses... I would recommend them

[itsiceman]

Yes, I noticed those. It looks like a good deal. I'm still wavering between the Digicools and Testo. The 550 is obviously cheaper but the 1250 will work on my 4 valve. The Testo 4 valve are way out of my budget. then again I don't know if I will completely eliminate the need for a standard 2 valve.

You would not be disappointed with a Digi-cool.


Why would you need a 2 valve if you already have a 4 valve? I used a 4 valve for a year or so until I decided that it was a POS, and only pulled the 2 valves out of the truck to get at something that was behind them.

My 1250 is mounted on a two valve and if I'm evacuating I'll use two core removers with the DC hooked to the high low sides and refer tank and then two 3/8 hoses direct to my pump off the thru ports of the core removers. Be willing to bet it's quicker evacuating than just about any 4 valve out there.

[jpsmith1cm]

My 1250 is mounted on a two valve and if I'm evacuating I'll use two core removers with the DC hooked to the high low sides and refer tank and then two 3/8 hoses direct to my pump off the thru ports of the core removers. Be willing to bet it's quicker evacuating than just about any 4 valve out there.

I am building an evacuation manifold for myself this weekend.

3/8" hoses with 1/4" adapters on one end.

[Al Gregory]

I used to squeak my way by with 22 but with all these new units I had to order one. Ask me to install a steam boiler any day over an AC call.

[Texas-Tech]

I have had no problems with mine either. If you want to spend 3 times as much you sure can do it. Personally I don't think it's necessary.

[Rydfree]

We bought 3 Testo 550's back in Sept and love them. I took the supplied grounding clamp and put a ring terminal on one end and slid it between the rubber housing and the manifold. A drop of super glue on the rubber side with a wire tie around the middle nipple and it stays put. I use the clamp whenever I am running refrigerant through the hoses as the manual dictates. I would like to find a stainless braided charging hose that would solve the grounding issue without having the extra wire but haven't had any luck so far in finding one.

So far the Testo has made service calls a lot quicker and we have had no problems with them..

[hvaclover]

We bought 3 Testo 550's back in Sept and love them. I took the supplied grounding clamp and put a ring terminal on one end and slid it between the rubber housing and the manifold. A drop of super glue on the rubber side with a wire tie around the middle nipple and it stays put. I use the clamp whenever I am running refrigerant through the hoses as the manual dictates. I would like to find a stainless braided charging hose that would solve the grounding issue without having the extra wire but haven't had any luck so far in finding one.

So far the Testo has made service calls a lot quicker and we have had no problems with them..

YJ has braided aviation grade evacuation hoses. Ones i saw were kinda short but check with them.

[bwalley]

Hi, have to chime in. I have read about the problems with the testo 550. Now I have experienced the problem. Here is the glitch:

The unit is susceptible to static discharge damage. Basically the leads will short something out in the electronics so that it will not show temperatures.

Mine lasted 2 months. The manufacturer is not reengineering the unit, as I have read about this in the past. As of late July 2010, I bought mine.

Everything about the unit looks solid. It just has some defects that make it not work too good unless you wrap it in electonic protective wrap and ground it to the unit you are working on. That's what buying a tool is all about, right? (making things easier??)

I just bought one and it comes with a grounding wire and a warning that it needs to be used because of the blended refrigerants like 410a and them being charged in the liquid state.

I like it so far and in some ways like it better than my Digicool 1250 and it is a much better value, I had to replace the sensors already on my digicool and they were $125, yet they come with the Test 550.

[bwalley]

Buy the Digicools.

Why?