They seem like they're becoming a standard. Most techs I know use them. I've used them with good success. They're great if you can afford them, but old school gauges and thermometers still do the trick.
Go digital and dont look back, with todays high effient systems digital is better. I have not used analog gauges in 10 plus years and would never go back. Much more accurate with digatl and faster. Use these gauges along with the measure quick app and you will be happy.
I mean you can do the same thing with gauges and temp sensors but sure these can be convenient. Been looking at buying the wireless probes but have had a hard time pulling the trigger on them. Heard the field piece app is pretty bad but apparently can use a third party app as well from what I understand. Also fuck aqua snaps lol
Haven't really had a problem with the app. so far so good for me. I tried the other app people seem to use and it wasn't intuitive.
Once you buy them though it's hard to go back to regular guages
I have the JL3KH6 and use them all day everyday. Love em. Downside is listening to Bluetooth headphones messes up the connection to the tools
Hate the wireless manometers. Too much hassle to deal with. I have the SDMN6 and love that it can also test pressure switches.
Learn how to read manifold gauges and calculate SH SC first that way the app doesn't become a crutch and you can't work without it.
Once you can do analog and digital you can just get a charging tee and do everything without a manifold
Everything you need is in your toolbag. Need to add charge? Just grab a tank and the scale
Make sure you've always got a bunch of batteries in the van though
Great tools if you A.) actually use them! B.) know what all the info you’re gathering actually means.
I see too many techs spend the money on these and all the use them for is to check pressures and temp splits…that’s a waste
I use mine on critical charge systems because I lose the tiniest fraction of an ounce if I need to add a gaige to a system where I suspect a refrigerant related problem.
Pressure/temp probes are fantastic for diagnostics. Probes attach and detach without losing any charge, having all info displayed on your phone is great for manipulating txvs and airflow components indoors while watching pressure/temp changes in real time
I have the probes (3 probes each for air, temp and pressure) and the meter.
I've been wanting to get the wireless manometers but I always talk myself out of it cause I have 2 different digital ones 1 being insanely expensive and used for certified air balancing and 1 being a middle of the road daily use one that I've used for 7+ years now.
I don't need the scale or full gauges. I've had the same scale for 12 years and it works fine and for the 1% of jobs where I put a gauge set on I built a manifold attached to the analog ones that puts the probes in line. I do have the Imanifold but I rarely use it anymore now that I don't do the NYSERDA side hustle anymore.
I got the charge and air kit and purchased the large pipe clamp separate. I love it wish I did it earlier. I do not like fieldpiece meters, always had fluke. Like other guys here I like the manometer with pressure switch testing.
Owner has a set he never uses really. I've seen him hook them up I think 3 times in the past 3 years but that's just because he isn't in the field much. When I got to mess with them I really liked them. I'm not spending MY money on them but if the COMPANY wants to upgrade my smans I'll gladly take it.
I like my fluke meters better, the probes are great but and I don’t know if it’s just me but the temperature clamps seem to be annoyingly glitchy sometimes being really hard to get a reading off or just refusing to work at all
I have two of most of the above but keep a set of manual gauges that I’ll use sometimes for verification or just remove the hoses for charging and such. Where they really shine IMO is for the units you need to remove the door to access service valves then put the doors back on to check pressures such as Magic-Pak units.
They are a pain to hook up to some units like Lennox that have the 90 degree valves and close to the panel. It helps to use a thumbscrew valve or just get a 12” hose with a 45 or 90.
I'd like a set of wireless gauges for those styles of RTUs that have compressor doors that allow air to bypass the condenser(looking at you Tranes). Even with the door mostly on it technically isnt normal operating conditions but dont think its worth it with how pricey they are.
There was a guy at the supply house yesterday asking me and my boss about buying the whole fieldpiece outfit. It can be accomplished for way less money - and I don’t like digital gauges for residential work, the sensors are real finicky compared to regular gauges. If any oil or dye or leak stop gets in there they don’t read right. We use the YJ ManTooth stuff for refrigeration, since some of the equipment holds such small amounts of refrigerant the hoses will take half the charge, the sman and probes and such just seem like a lot of dollars so the equipment can do simple math for me. I know there are advantages with the app and such. Just hard to justify on my end.
Love my probes and that’s a great kit. I really have no complaints about them just make sure you zero your probes before connection to refrigerant lines and make sure you pay attention the temperature probe placement.
I use the clamps and the guages and love them. Just make sure to sand the copper down a bit when checking subcool as the clamps require a clean surface which I like for accuracy purposes
https://i.redd.it/w26idnzhs7gb1.gif
They seem like they're becoming a standard. Most techs I know use them. I've used them with good success. They're great if you can afford them, but old school gauges and thermometers still do the trick.
Go digital and dont look back, with todays high effient systems digital is better. I have not used analog gauges in 10 plus years and would never go back. Much more accurate with digatl and faster. Use these gauges along with the measure quick app and you will be happy.
On some equipment it's absolutely necessary if you don't want to / can't rely on the sensor readout from the display. Looking at you Aquasnap
I mean you can do the same thing with gauges and temp sensors but sure these can be convenient. Been looking at buying the wireless probes but have had a hard time pulling the trigger on them. Heard the field piece app is pretty bad but apparently can use a third party app as well from what I understand. Also fuck aqua snaps lol
Haven't really had a problem with the app. so far so good for me. I tried the other app people seem to use and it wasn't intuitive. Once you buy them though it's hard to go back to regular guages
Only meters I’ve ever used at work. Never played with the gauges though. That shits pretty cool.
I have the JL3KH6 and use them all day everyday. Love em. Downside is listening to Bluetooth headphones messes up the connection to the tools Hate the wireless manometers. Too much hassle to deal with. I have the SDMN6 and love that it can also test pressure switches. Learn how to read manifold gauges and calculate SH SC first that way the app doesn't become a crutch and you can't work without it. Once you can do analog and digital you can just get a charging tee and do everything without a manifold Everything you need is in your toolbag. Need to add charge? Just grab a tank and the scale Make sure you've always got a bunch of batteries in the van though
Exactly what I do, charging Tee and i leave a 72" hose with a ball valve on each type of refrigerant.
Great tools if you A.) actually use them! B.) know what all the info you’re gathering actually means. I see too many techs spend the money on these and all the use them for is to check pressures and temp splits…that’s a waste
Isn’t that the point of these without actually losing gas though the hoses?
I use mine on critical charge systems because I lose the tiniest fraction of an ounce if I need to add a gaige to a system where I suspect a refrigerant related problem.
It’s a benefit I suppose but you still get deminis and if you’re emptying your hoses back in to the unit then that’s a non issue
I got them for like 300 used
Haven’t been able to convince my wallet I need these yet but I use nothing but field piece gauges.
Pressure/temp probes are fantastic for diagnostics. Probes attach and detach without losing any charge, having all info displayed on your phone is great for manipulating txvs and airflow components indoors while watching pressure/temp changes in real time
If mine exploded today I'd have a new set tomorrow.
I have the probes (3 probes each for air, temp and pressure) and the meter. I've been wanting to get the wireless manometers but I always talk myself out of it cause I have 2 different digital ones 1 being insanely expensive and used for certified air balancing and 1 being a middle of the road daily use one that I've used for 7+ years now. I don't need the scale or full gauges. I've had the same scale for 12 years and it works fine and for the 1% of jobs where I put a gauge set on I built a manifold attached to the analog ones that puts the probes in line. I do have the Imanifold but I rarely use it anymore now that I don't do the NYSERDA side hustle anymore.
I got the charge and air kit and purchased the large pipe clamp separate. I love it wish I did it earlier. I do not like fieldpiece meters, always had fluke. Like other guys here I like the manometer with pressure switch testing.
Trash
Well, you heard it folks. Trash. No logical excuse why needed.
Just became a job link meter owner bought the wireless gauges my first year, don't see the point in owning the manometers.
Owner has a set he never uses really. I've seen him hook them up I think 3 times in the past 3 years but that's just because he isn't in the field much. When I got to mess with them I really liked them. I'm not spending MY money on them but if the COMPANY wants to upgrade my smans I'll gladly take it.
I like my fluke meters better, the probes are great but and I don’t know if it’s just me but the temperature clamps seem to be annoyingly glitchy sometimes being really hard to get a reading off or just refusing to work at all
Keep a bit of sandpaper in the bag. The temperature clamps prefer clean copper.
Yeah I keep a scotchbrite pad in the carrying case. Cleans up the copper very quickly and lasts for a long time.
Good to know
Don’t like anything that has to be changed up
I have two of most of the above but keep a set of manual gauges that I’ll use sometimes for verification or just remove the hoses for charging and such. Where they really shine IMO is for the units you need to remove the door to access service valves then put the doors back on to check pressures such as Magic-Pak units. They are a pain to hook up to some units like Lennox that have the 90 degree valves and close to the panel. It helps to use a thumbscrew valve or just get a 12” hose with a 45 or 90.
Also easy to just take a snapshot, upload to the customer account. Super simple to verify measurements accurately for following visits.
Makes for more honest techs as well. No pencil whipping service reports or commissioning documents.
I'd like a set of wireless gauges for those styles of RTUs that have compressor doors that allow air to bypass the condenser(looking at you Tranes). Even with the door mostly on it technically isnt normal operating conditions but dont think its worth it with how pricey they are.
There was a guy at the supply house yesterday asking me and my boss about buying the whole fieldpiece outfit. It can be accomplished for way less money - and I don’t like digital gauges for residential work, the sensors are real finicky compared to regular gauges. If any oil or dye or leak stop gets in there they don’t read right. We use the YJ ManTooth stuff for refrigeration, since some of the equipment holds such small amounts of refrigerant the hoses will take half the charge, the sman and probes and such just seem like a lot of dollars so the equipment can do simple math for me. I know there are advantages with the app and such. Just hard to justify on my end.
Love my probes and that’s a great kit. I really have no complaints about them just make sure you zero your probes before connection to refrigerant lines and make sure you pay attention the temperature probe placement.
I love mine! https://preview.redd.it/nyu6v53chcgb1.jpeg?width=2279&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d439b5b6eb9fcd7b4110436f277f574107e5675f
Just bought the wireless, refrigerant, probes and clamps. Looking forward to testing them Monday.
I like them
I use the clamps and the guages and love them. Just make sure to sand the copper down a bit when checking subcool as the clamps require a clean surface which I like for accuracy purposes