Testo gauges.

[Itstony]

Looking to buy Testo 550 or 557.
Info isn't clear online the ability of these to read vacuum. Wondering if anyone uses this feature alone to evacuate instead of a stand alone vacuum gauge?

[eddiegoodfellar]

Many people use the vacuum gauge in the 557 ( the 550 has no vacuum gauge) and like it. I prefer to use a standalone vacuum gauge far away from the manifold as possible.

[jim bergmann]

The reason to by the 557 is increased accuracy over the 550. Although the 557 can read vacuum, you are far ahead to eliminate the manifold from the evacuation process and use large diameter hoses, core tools and a stand alone micron gauge connected with a brass fitting. Hoses leak, and a manifold with 1/4" hoses slows the process even further.

We sell a lot of Testo 557 and Testo 570 gauges, but we do not sell them nor any micron gauge equipped gauge with the intent of selling an all in one tool. The vacuum gauge was an industry driven feature that was added by several manufacturers that did not have experience with the mechanics of evacuation. I would use it if I did not have anything else, but the times savings with large hoses is so huge, I would not use a manifold for evacuation as an every day tool.

[Itstony]

Thanks guys.
On the 557 what is the range on the gauge?

[eddiegoodfellar]

725psi on high and low side with a 0.5% accuracy. I think the micron and temp are also 0.5% accurate.

[Itstony]

The reason to by the 557 is increased accuracy over the 550. Although the 557 can read vacuum, you are far ahead to eliminate the manifold from the evacuation process and use large diameter hoses, core tools and a stand alone micron gauge connected with a brass fitting. Hoses leak, and a manifold with 1/4" hoses slows the process even further.

We sell a lot of Testo 557 and Testo 570 gauges, but we do not sell them nor any micron gauge equipped gauge with the intent of selling an all in one tool. The vacuum gauge was an industry driven feature that was added by several manufacturers that did not have experience with the mechanics of evacuation. I would use it if I did not have anything else, but the times savings with large hoses is so huge, I would not use a manifold for evacuation as an every day tool.

JLB,
I have checked your website and must say a lot of thought and care has been made.
Very good tips and areas to be concerned with, prices very competative.
I shall look to contact you for my equipment soon.

[Itstony]

JLB,
I have checked your website and must say a lot of thought and care has been made.
Very good tips and areas to be concerned with, prices very competative.
I shall look to contact you for my equipment soon.

Sent an e-mail to JLB via the but no reply :-(

[jim bergmann]

Sent an e-mail to JLB via the but no reply :-(

Sorry about that that email goes to a general email box at the office with hundreds and hundreds a day.

My email addresses in my profile you can contact me directly there.

[itsiceman]

725psi on high and low side with a 0.5% accuracy. I think the micron and temp are also 0.5% accurate.

I don't think the micron function of the testo gauge is 0.5% accurate.
I believe they list ±500 microns with a 500 micron resolution.

[rtufixer]

Dont waste your time or money one of the worst manifolds i have owned. On my second set and getting ready to send this set back.

[eddiegoodfellar]

I was wrong.It is listed in the manual as:
±1% fs (±1 digit)

[itsiceman]

That is confusing how they wrote it.
So is "±1 Digit" ±1 micron? Thats better than a BluVac
Looks like ±1 digit translates to one tic on their scale which is ±500 microns

[eddiegoodfellar]

i think u are right

[joeyd]

That is confusing how they wrote it.
So is "±1 Digit" ±1 micron? Thats better than a BluVac
Looks like ±1 digit translates to one tic on their scale which is ±500 microns

Hi, Ice.

Looking at the Testo 557 datasheet, it rates vacuum accuracy as +/- 1% FS (Full Scale) +/- 1 digit (at 22C).

This is a helluva way to rate a micron gauge! I don't know what they consider as "full scale", but, generally, when working with vacuum, I would consider FS to be 760,000 microns. Therefore, 1% FS would be 7,600 microns! In addition, 1 digit, represents 500 microns, as you have indicated.

From my vantage point, then, a reading of +/- 8,100 microns (at any vacuum level and at 22C) would be within factory spec. And no specs are given outside of the 22C temperature point. TIFWIW!

Full disclosure for those who don't know: I am the inventer, designer, and manufacturer of the AccuTools BluVac & BluVac LTE gauges.

Edit: Upon further reading of the datasheet, the vacuum range is 0 to 1 bar. So, one bar, or 750,064 microns, should be "full scale".

[eddiegoodfellar]

what is the accuracy of the bluvac?

[Itstony]

I'm getting a Testo anyway. Just deciding on which vacuum gauge.
The fieldpiece look good value at $126.

[itsiceman]

I'm getting a Testo anyway. Just deciding on which vacuum gauge.
The fieldpiece look good value at $126.

IMO Stick with the vacuum indicator in the testo gauge till you can afford anything but the very best micron gauge like a Thermal or BluVac. Anything else will be a headache

[Itstony]

IMO Stick with the vacuum indicator in the testo gauge till you can afford anything but the very best micron gauge like a Thermal or BluVac. Anything else will be a headache

OK, I will go for the BluVac lite. Just waiting for Jim from Trutech to get back to me.

[joeyd]

what is the accuracy of the bluvac?

The BluVacs' rated accuracy is +/- 5% (of reading) +/- 5 microns from 10°F to 122°F (-12°C to 50°C).

Additionally, the BluVacs can be recalibrated to factory specifications simply by placing it in your freezer. No return to factory necessary for calibration.

[eddiegoodfellar]

So if we are sitting at 1000 microns on the Bluvac

It would be in the 1045 micron to 945 micron range?